On the constitution and phylogeny of Staphyliniformia (Insecta: Coleoptera)

The Staphyliniformia is one of the most diverse lineages of Coleoptera, with representatives occupying every conceivable non-marine niche. Phylogenetic relationships among its varied families and lower taxa have defied resolution. The problem has been further complicated by the recent suggestion that another major coleopteran series, Scarabaeiformia, is derived from within it. Here we present the first phylogenetic analyses, based on 18S rDNA sequences and morphological data, to explicitly examine this possibility. Thorough evaluation of alternative alignments and tree construction methods support the contention that Scarabaeiformia is derived from within Staphyliniformia. Though the analyses yielded strong support for few family level groupings within the expanded Staphyliniformia, they conclusively support a close relationship between Hydraenidae and Ptiliidae, which has often been debated. The primary factor hindering additional resolution appears to be the inconsistent rate of divergence in 18S among these taxa.     

Head morphology of selected Staphylinoidea (Coleoptera: Staphyliniformia) with an evaluation of possible groundplan features in Staphylinidae

In insects, anatomical features of the head have been found to provide important information for phylogenetic and comparative evolutionary studies. We analyzed the internal head morphology of three (omaliine, tachyporine, oxyteline group) out of the four subfamily groups of the beetle family Staphylinidae plus two non‐staphylinid outgroups (i.e., Agyrtidae and Leiodidae). Synchrotron X‐ray micro‐tomography was used to obtain comparative head anatomical datasets of eight species to describe (i) the presence/absence of muscles inside the head capsule and (ii) the variability in their points of origin. Nineteen of these muscles were phylogenetically informative (nine with respect to presence/absence and eleven with respect to the origin; one muscle had an influence on both analyses) and were used in character mapping analyses to reconstruct groundplan patterns of the head musculature in Staphylinidae and their subgroups. Three muscles (Mm. 7, 9, 50) were identified as possibly autapomorphic for Staphyliniformia. The taxon (Agyrtidae + Leiodidae) is supported by the absence of M. 9. The monophyly of the tachyporine group is supported by a common origin of M. 4. Aleocharinae, a subfamily within the tachyporine group, is supported by the absence of M. 42 and possibly by numerous points of origin of various muscles (Mm. 1, 17, 28, 29, 30). Our analysis of the general organization of the hypopharynx‐prementum‐complex has revealed that this complex is organized in a similar way in the investigated staphylinoids, i.e., with the prementum lying anteriorly to and being in line with the hypopharynx and the mentum. We have found deviating conditions in the investigated species of the Aleocharinae, in which the prementum can be largely retracted posteriorly. Consequently, it is sandwiched between the ventral mentum and the dorsal hypopharyngeal region. The hypopharyngeal region is thus lifted dorsad to a large extent, approaching the cibarial roof. This situation is paralleled by a loss of the hypopharyngeal retractor (M. 42) and a shift of origin of premental retractors (Mm. 28–30) posteriorly toward the gula. J. Morphol. 270:1503–1523, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

三种隐翅虫下颚须和下唇须感器超微结构的比较研究(鞘翅目:隐翅虫总科)

利用扫描电子显微镜对3种隐翅虫成虫的下颚须和下唇须外部形态进行观察,结果表明,3种隐翅虫成虫的下颚须、下唇须末节感器变化较大。梭毒隐翅虫Paederus fuscipes Curtis下颚须末节有毛形感器、刚毛形感器、柱形感器、感器簇和板形感器,其中柱形感器、感器簇和板形感器在其它昆虫下颚须中未见报道,下唇须末节有锥形感器。闪蓝束毛隐翅虫Dianous coeruleotinctus Puthz和瘦突眼隐翅虫Stenus tenuipes Sharp下颚须、下唇须末节较光滑,仅闪蓝束毛隐翅虫下颚须末节有孔状结构。此外,文中还探讨了这些感器的功能及在分类学上的意义。