Systematics and biogeography of the genus Actenodia (Coleoptera: Meloidae: Mylabrini)

Abstract.  The genus Actenodia Laporte de Castelnau (Meloidae: Mylabrini) is revised. It includes 18 species distributed in the Mediterranean and Saharo-Arabian regions, and in eastern and southern Africa; A. carpanetoi sp.n. from Mozambique is described. The bionomics of the genus is summarized, according to a collection of records on phenology, elevation, habitat preference and host plants. A classification of the genus is proposed after a morphological cladistic analysis: one Afrotropical lineage clearly emerged with three distinct groups of species, whereas other taxa, all Palaearctic except A. mirabilis , remained unresolved. The analysis of the nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 rDNA sequences of some Palaearctic and Afrotropical species supports the distinction of the Afrotropical lineage. The first instar larvae of two species, A. chrysomelina from southern Africa and A. denticulata from Arabia, are described for the first time and compared with two other Palaearctic species described previously; inferences from larval morphology are discussed. The adult morphology of all species is described briefly and illustrated, and a key to the species is provided, as well as locality data. Three new synonymies are proposed: A. extera Dvořák, 1993 syn.n. = A. septempunctata Baudi di Selve, 1878; A. sexpunctata Pic, 1948 syn.n . = A. curtula Fähraeus, 1870 ; A. unimaculata lanzai Kaszab, 1973 syn.n . = A. unimaculata Pic, 1908. The biogeography of the genus is discussed within the framework of a more general analysis of the disjunct distribution models.     

中国绿芫菁属分类纪要（鞘翅目:芫菁科）

简要介绍了绿芫菁属Lytta 9亚属的分类历史。记述了采自西藏的1中国新记录种:赛兰绿芫菁Lytta(Asiolytta)selanderi Saha,并对2个种的亚属分类地位进行了重新处理:Lytta(Lytta)battonii(Kaszab),Lytta(Lytta)sifanica(Semenov);列出了中国绿芫菁属已知种类的名录,并编制了分种检索表。中国新记录种标本保存在河北大学博物馆。     

中国绿芫菁属一新种（鞘翅目：芫菁科）

记述采自中国河北的绿芫菁属Lytta Fabricius 1 新种:周氏绿芫菁Lytta choui sp. nov.。新种外形与绿边绿芫菁L. suturella (Motschulsky, 1860)十分相似,但新种:1)头部黄色额斑菱形;2)前足胫节末端 2 距,外距细小,内距大而弯;3)第8节背板锐角凹陷;4)前胸前缘凹陷较浅;5)中茎腹钩发达,阳茎细长等特征可与后者区别。文中还给出了新种的成虫和形态特征图。模式标本保存于河北大学博物馆。     

Geographical diversification of the genus Cicer (Leguminosae: Papilionoideae) inferred from molecular phylogenetic analyses of chloroplast and nuclear DNA sequences

Cicer L. (Leguminosae: Papilionoideae) consists of 42 species of herbaceous or semi-shrubby annuals and perennials distributed throughout the temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere. The origin and geographical relationships of the genus are poorly understood. We studied the geographical diversification and phylogenetic relationships of Cicer using DNA sequence data sampled from two plastid regions, trnK / matK and trnS - trnG , and two nuclear regions, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and external transcribed spacer (ETS) regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA, from 30 species. The results from the phylogenetic analyses of combined nuclear and chloroplast sequence data revealed four well-supported geographical groups: a Middle Eastern group, a West-Central Asian group, an Aegean–Mediterranean group, and an African group. Age estimates for Cicer based on methods that do not assume a molecular clock (for example, penalized likelihood) demonstrate that the genus has a Mediterranean origin with considerable diversification in the Miocene/Pliocene epochs. Geological events, such as mountain orogenesis and environmental changes, are major factors for the dispersal of Cicer species. The early divergence of African species and their geographically distinct region in the genus suggest a broader distribution pattern of the genus in the past than at present.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2007, 154 , 175–186.     

New species of the genus Attagenus (Coleoptera, Dermestidae) from the Palaearctic fauna

Attagenus arboreus sp. n. differs from A. silvaticus Zhant. in the structure of the antennae and aedeagus. A. cuneatus sp. n. may be distinguished from A. turcomanus Zhant. by the enlarged eyes and by the structure of the male antennae and aedeagus; A. gilanicus sp. n. differs from the two preceding species in the dark elytra and in the structure of the aedeagus, and from A. turcomanus, in addition, in the structure of the antennae of the male. A. fortis sp. n. differs from A. steinbergi Zhant. in the shape of the body and structure of the male antennae and aedeagus. A. doricus sp. n. differs from A. posticalis Fairm. and A. lynx Muls. et Rey in the fine pubescence, absence of distinct pale elytral bands, and the structure of the aedeagus. A. omanicus may be distinguished from the species mentioned above mainly by the structure of the aedeagus.     

Late Miocene diversification of the genus Hydrochus (Coleoptera, Hydrochidae) in the west Mediterranean area

We provide a reconstruction of the phylogenetic relationships, the geographical and temporal origin, and the mode of diversification of the Mediterranean species of the aquatic beetle family Hydrochidae (Coleoptera, Hydrophiloidea). A total of ca. 3KB of sequence data of three mitochondrial and two nuclear genes were used to reconstruct the phylogeny of 62 specimens of 21 species of Hydrochus, including all western Mediterranean species but one. We estimated the times of divergence using Bayesian methods and an evolutionary rate of 0.0115 substitutions/site/MY, and used an ultrametric calibrated tree to construct a Lineage Through Time (LTT) plot to test alternative models of diversification. A well resolved, well supported phylogeny showed that all western Mediterranean Hydrochus formed a clade, sister to a group including species with a central and eastern European distribution. The origin of the western Mediterranean clade was estimated to be at ca. 13MY, and the speciation events took place between this time and the end of the Messinian, at about 5.3MY. The LTT plot best fitted a model with a shift in the rate of diversification at ca. 8 MY, with a single speciation event (originating two Iberian endemics) subsequent to this period. We conclude that most of the western Mediterranean species of Hydrochidae, including the Ibero-Maghrebian endemics, are ancient elements likely to have remained in the same geographical area since their Miocene origin. Our results add to a growing body of evidence showing the importance of Mediterranean long-term, Tertiary refugia as both cradles and museums of diversity.     

A new species group of the genus Epicauta Dejean of southern South America, the bella group (Coleoptera: Meloidae)

Epicauta includes two subgenera, and within the nominotypical subgenus several species groups. Analyzing species of southern South America, a set of species of Epicauta has the particularity to present two distinctive characters which separates this group from the other species groups of American Epicauta: color pattern of pubescence in elytra is not coincident with color pattern of tegument and endophalic hook robust. Based on these characters I propose a new group of species herein named bella group. This group includes the Neotropical species Epicauta bella M?klin, E. brunneipennis (Haag-Rutemberg), E. diagramma (Burmeister), E. griseonigra (Fairmaire), E. luctifera (Fairmaire), E. riojana (Fairmaire) (new status), and E. zebra (Dohrn). This group is endemic of southern South America, inhabiting the Chaco biogeographical subregion, mainly in the arid northern areas of Argentina. Here we redefine the species of the bella group, consider new characters, illustrate the species in the group, provide maps of their distribution, and a key to identify them.     

基于触角感器的部分芫菁属、种分类地位和关系分析(鞘翅目:芫菁科)

针对斑芫菁族分类系统中伪斑芫菁属Pseudabris分类关系的不确定,选择该族6个代表种,对其触角感器的形态特征、类型变化和分布位置做了记述、分析比较,提供了扫描电镜照片;基于14个触角特征的分析数据,构建了该族3个属和6个种可能的系统发育树。属间关系:沟芫菁属Hycleus+(伪斑芫菁Pseudabris+苹斑芫菁Mylabris);种间关系:(眼斑沟芫菁H.cichorii+大斑沟芫菁指名亚种H.phaleratus)+((长角伪斑芫菁P.hingstoni+长腹伪斑芫菁P.longiventris)+(苹斑芫菁M.calida+丽斑芫菁M.speciosa))。     

Ecological and evolutionary diversification of the seed beetle genus Stator (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae)

Ehrlich and Raven's (1964) hypothesis on coevolution has stimulated numerous phylogenetic studies that focus on the effects of plant defensive chemistry as the main ecological axis of phytophagous insect diversification. However, other ecological features affect host use and diet breadth and they may have very different consequences for insect evolution. In this paper, we present a phylogenetic study based on DNA sequences from mitochondrial and protein-coding genes of species in the seed beetle genus Stator, which collectively show considerable interspecific variation in host affiliation, diet breadth, and the dispersal stage of the seeds that they attack. We used comparative analyses to examine transitions in these three axes of resource use. We argue that these analyses show that diet breadth evolution is dependent upon colonizing novel hosts that are closely or distantly related to the ancestral host, and that oviposition substrate affects the evolution of host-plant affiliation, the evolution of dietary specialization, and the degree to which host plants are shared between species. The results of this study show that diversification is structured by interactions between different selective pressures and along multiple ecological axes.     

Phylogeny and evolutionary history of the blister beetles (Coleoptera, Meloidae)

Meloid beetles are well characterised by both morphological and biological features. Previous phylogenetic hypotheses based on morphological characters assumed the repeated parallel evolution of complex biological novelties. In this work relationships among several taxa of the four subfamilies and almost all tribes representing meloid diversity are examined by using mitochondrial (16S) and nuclear (ITS2) DNA sequences, in 25 genera (using Anthicidae as outgroup). Secondary structure of 16S and ITS2 rRNAs were modelled. ITS2 structure represents a synapomorphic condition for the family and informative characters at the tribal level. Phylogenetic hypotheses based on separate and combined analysis of the 16S and ITS2 rDNA sequences, and morpho-biological characters were tested, and compared with previous morphological classifications. Molecular dating allowed an outline of the main steps of the evolutionary history of Meloidae, which evolved during Early Cretaceous and then radiated considerably with the adoption of hypermetaboly and parasitic behaviour, and with repeated, parallel evolution of larval phoresy on its hosts.     

Phylogeny of the genus Aleochara inferred from mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase sequences (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

The phylogeny of the genus Aleochara was previously poorly understood due to difficulties with phylogenetic reconstruction by morphological characters. We present here a phylogeny based on the sequences of a 2022-bp fragment of the COI/II genes; 50 Aleochara and 10 outgroup species were included in the analysis. We used parsimony, minimum-evolution, and maximum-likelihood analyses to infer the phylogeny of the group. Our data do not support the commonly assumed sister group relationship between Aleocharini and Hoplandriini. Aleochara is resolved as a monophylum, although A. clavicornis might not belong to the genus. Within Aleochara, there are two large monophyletic clades. Many of the existing subgenera are shown to be para- or polyphyletic; others are likely to be monophyletic. Tinotus morion, previously assigned to the Hoplandriini, is strongly supported as belonging to Aleochara. According to our data, the mesosternal carina that has been used as an important character for classification has arisen and been reduced independently in several clades within Aleochara.     

A new genus of Entiminae from North Africa,supported by a phylogenetic analysis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae)

The genus Holcophloeus gen. nov. is here proposed to include Trachyphloeus cruciatus Seidlitz, 1868, and two new species native to North Africa, based on a phylogenetic analysis and an evaluation of the diagnostic characters. The taxonomic position of Holcophloeus in relation to the tribes Trachyphloeini Lacordaire, 1863, and Holcorhinini Desbrochers, 1898, is discussed, and the new genus is attributed to the Holcorhinini. Holcophloeus laurae sp. nov. from south‐eastern Morocco and Holcophloeus weilli sp. nov. from northern Libya are described and illustrated and a key to the species of the new genus is given. The lectotype of Trachyphloeus cruciatus Seidlitz, 1868, is designated. The genus Massimiellus Borovec, 2009, is transferred from Trachyphloeini to Holcorhinini. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London     

First non-feeding Sericini beetles (Coleoptera,Scarabaeidae): new genus from Amazonia and phylogenetic position

Organisms Diversity & Evolution - Two unusual scarab species discovered from two localities in the Amazonian Basin are described. We used comparative morphology and phylogenetic analysis to...     

A genome-wide phylogeny and the diversification of genus Liriomyza (Diptera: Agromyzidae) inferred from anchored phylogenomics

The genus Liriomyza Mik (Diptera: Agromyzidae) is a diverse and globally distributed group of acalyptrate flies. Phylogenetic relationships among Liriomyza species have remained incompletely investigated and have never been fully addressed using molecular data. Here, we reconstruct the phylogeny of the genus Liriomyza using various phylogenetic methods (maximum likelihood, Bayesian inference, and gene tree coalescence) on target-capture-based phylogenomic datasets (nucleotides and amino acids) obtained from anchored hybrid enrichment (AHE). We have recovered tree topologies that are nearly congruent across all data types and methods, and individual clade support is strong across all phylogenetic analyses. Moreover, defined morphological species groups and clades are well-supported in our best estimates of the molecular phylogeny. Liriomyza violivora (Spencer) is a sister group to all remaining sampled Liriomyza species, and the well-known polyphagous vegetable pests [L. huidobrensis (Blanchard), L. langei Frick, L. bryoniae. (Kaltenbach), L. trifolii (Burgess), L. sativae Blanchard, and L. brassicae (Riley)]. belong to multiple clades that are not particularly closely related on the trees. Often, closely related Liriomyza species feed on distantly related host plants. We reject the hypothesis that cophylogenetic processes between Liriomyza species and their host plants drive diversification in this genus. Instead, Liriomyza exhibits a widespread pattern of major host shifts across plant taxa. Our new phylogenetic estimate for Liriomyza species provides considerable new information on the evolution of host-use patterns in this genus. In addition, it provides a framework for further study of the morphology, ecology, and diversification of these important flies.     

中国斑芫菁后翅形态比较

选取中国斑芫菁属11个代表种,对比分析了它们的后翅形态特征; 以苹斑芫菁Mylabris calida Pallas, 1782为模式,探讨了斑芫菁属后翅的翅脉名称,并对其性状进行了描述。研究结果将斑芫菁属翅脉归纳为3种类型：1）南方型：东洋种,翅深褐色,各脉粗大,骨化程度高,皱褶多而明显;2）高原型：青藏高原特有种,翅乳白色,半透明,仅前缘和MP_1＋2形成明显的大翅室,余脉淡而不显,骨化程度低;3）北方型：为以上两种类型的中间过渡,古北种,翅褐色,各脉清晰,中度骨化。根据研究结果,初步探讨了斑芫菁属翅脉的形态进化。     

A review of the weevil genus Ptochus Schoenh. (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) of the fauna of Daghestan

A review of, and a key to seven species of the genus Ptochus Schoenherr from Daghestan are given. Five new species from inner Daghestan are described: P. gulnarae sp. n., P. obrieni sp. n., P. korotyaevi sp. n., P. davidiani sp. n., and P. avaricus sp. n. Ectmetaspidus daghestanicus Formánek, 1908 is transferred to Ptochus.     

芫菁体内斑蝥素的含量及存在形式

【目的】测定芫菁体内斑蝥素的含量及其存在形式。【方法】利用气相色谱法测定了8种芫菁和作为对照的黑翅红蝉体内总斑蝥素和游离斑蝥素的含量,总斑蝥素含量是通过酸水解法测得的,游离斑蝥素含量是通过直接浸提法测得的,以总斑蝥素与游离斑蝥素含量之差作为结合斑蝥素含量; 并比较了结合斑蝥素与钙、镁含量之间的相关性。【结果】芫菁体内总斑蝥素的含量为游离斑蝥素含量的1～9倍,总斑蝥素的含量一般多于虫体干重的2.0%,而游离斑蝥素的含量均低于虫体干重的1.7%。黑翅红蝉体内不含任何形式的斑蝥素。斑芫菁属和豆芫菁属昆虫中的结合斑蝥素含量与钙元素呈正相关,斑芫菁属中结合斑蝥素含量与镁元素呈正相关,而豆芫菁属中结合斑蝥素含量与镁元素呈负相关。斑芫菁属昆虫体内钙元素的摩尔量要低于结合斑蝥素的摩尔量。【结论】芫菁体内总斑蝥素含量远高于游离斑蝥素的含量;结合斑蝥素可能是以斑蝥素酸钙和斑蝥素酸镁形式存在。