Revision of the genus Miridiba Reitter, 1901 (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Melolonthinae)

The genus Miridiba is here reviewed on the basis of external morphological and genital characters. This genus now contains 27 species, eight of which are new transfers from Holotrichia Hope, 1837; Holotrichia (Pledina) ; Melolontha Fabricius, 1775; and Neodontocnema . A type series of thirteen species is designed. Hippotrichia and Neodontocnema are described in detail.     

A molecular phylogeny of the Sierra-Finches (Phrygilus, Passeriformes): extreme polyphyly in a group of Andean specialists

The unparalleled avian diversity of the Neotropics has long been argued to be in large part the evolutionary consequence of the incredible habitat diversity and rugged topography of the Andes mountains. Various scenarios have been proposed to explain how the Andean context could have generated lineage diversification (e.g. vicariant speciation or parapatric speciation across vertical ecological gradients), yet further study on Andean taxa is needed to reveal the relative importance of the different processes. Here we use mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences to derive the first phylogenetic hypothesis for Phrygilus (Sierra-Finches), one of the most species-rich genera of mainly Andean passerines. We find strong evidence that the genus is polyphyletic, comprising four distantly related clades with at least nine other genera interspersed between them (Acanthidops, Catamenia, Diglossa, Haplospiza, Idiopsar, Melanodera, Rowettia, Sicalis and Xenodacnis). These four Phrygilus clades coincide with groups previously established mainly on the basis of plumage characters, suggesting single evolutionary origins for each of these. We consider the history of diversification of each clade, analyzing the timing of splitting events, ancestral reconstruction of altitudinal ranges and current geographical distributions. Phrygilus species origins date mainly to the Pleistocene, with representatives diversifying within, out of, and into the Andes. Finally, we explored whether Phrygilus species, especially those with broad altitudinal and latitudinal Andean distributions, showed phylogeographic structure. Our best-sampled taxon (Phrygilus fruticeti) exhibited no clear pattern; however, we found deep genetic splits within other surveyed species, with Phrygilus unicolor being the most extreme case and deserving of further research.     

Review of the subgenus Polyphylla (Granida) from continental Asia (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Melolonthinae)

A review of Polyphylla Harris, 1841, species belonging to the subgenus Granida Motschulsky, 1861, from continental Asia is presented. One new species is described from Thailand: Polyphylla (Granida) simonisp. n.Polyphylla (Granida) nikodymi de Wailly, 1993, is recorded from Thailand for the first time. Polyphylla (Granida) minor Nomura, 1977, is recorded from Yunnan (China) for the first time. The previously unknown female of Polyphylla (Granida) phongsali Zídek, 2006, is described.     

Arecanut white grubs Leucopholis species (Melolonthinae: Scarabaeidae: Coleoptera) morphological,molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis

Arecanut (Areca catechu) is one of the most important commercial crops in India, which grows extensively in the malnad and coastal areas. White grubs are the most important pests on this crop and cause considerable yield loss. Surveys were conducted to record species that are infested with white grubs of Karnataka and Kerala states. Three species of white grubs were collected and described using morphological and molecular characters. A detailed study of male genitalial structures such as aedeagus and endophallus in three species of Leucopholis Dejean, 1833 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) viz., Leucopholis lepidophora Blanchard, 1850, Leucopholis burmeisteri Brenske, 1894 and Leucopholis coneophora Burmeister, 1855 showed substantial differences. The mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene was sequenced for molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis in this respect. L. lepidophora, L. burmeisteri and L. coneophora species were successfully identified by employing COXI gene. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the COXI DNA barcode fragment of Leucopholis species and out-group taxa, available in genetic databases, confirms the species identity.     

Revision of the genus Amadotrogus Reitter, 1902 (n. stat.) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae)

In this paper, the subgenus Amadotrogus Reitter, 1902 and its taxonomic status as a subordinate taxon of genus Amphimallon are reviewed. Two kinds of character sets are discussed; those relative to the external morphology of the adult and those of the male and female genitalia. Subgenus Amadotrogus is compared with its recognized allied genera in the same clade (Coca-Abia 1995) Amphimallon Berthold, 1827; Geotrogus Guérin, 1842; Monotropus Erichson, 1847; Pseudoapeterogyna Escalera, 1914 and Rhizotrogus Berthold, 1827 to asses the realtionships of these taxa. Phylogenetic analysis discloses that Amadotrogus, considered to be a subgenus of Amphimallon, has synapomorphic characters which justify its elevation to generic rank. Thus, genus Amadotrogus includes seven species distributed across the Northern Mediterranean basin. The type species, Amadotrogus quercanus (Burmeister, 1855), and six others, transferred from genus Rhizotrogus: Amadotrogus grassii (Mainardi, 1902), Amadotrogus insubricus (Burmeister, 1855), Amadotrogus oertzeni (Brenske, 1886), Amadotrogus patru- elis (Reiche, 1862), Amadotrougs truncatus (Brenske, 1886) and Amadotrogus vicinus (Mulsant, 1842) (Coca-Abia & Martín-Piera 1998). In addition, Rhizotrogus rugifrons Burmeister, 1855 is considered a new synonym of Amadotrogus vicinus. Rhizotrogus bolivari Martínez y Sáez, 1873, Amphimallon cata- launicum Báguena, 1956 and Rhizotrogus lajonquierei Baraud, 1970 are synonymized with Amadotrogus patruelis.     

Evolution of European cockchafers (Melolonthinae: Scarabaeidae: Coleoptera): a morphological, molecular and chromosomal study of intra- and inter-specific variations

In cockchafers of the genus Melolontha, there is a marked intraspecific polymorphism for morphological characters, making some specimens of one species resemble another. A cytogenetic and molecular (mitochondrial COI gene sequence) study of typical and atypical forms of M. melolontha and M. hippocastani, captured at the same period and area, was performed. Karyotypes and haplotypes clearly characterize each taxon, placing atypical specimens in one or the other species unambiguously. This formally discards the role of hybridization in phenotypic resemblance, as usually proposed. Karyotypes and haplotypes were compared to those of M. pectoralis and Phyllophaga pleei, a more distantly related Melolonthinae, and some Dynastinae species, to reconstruct their ancestral karyotype. The karyotype of M. melolontha is the most derivative and that of P. pleei the most conserved among the Melolonthinae studied, which fits with the phylogeny established by COI gene analysis. Both karyotypes and COI haplotypes demonstrate the proximity of M. pectoralis and M. melolontha. The karyotype of M. melolontha is polymorphic, without relationship with morphological variations. Finally, the existence of similar morphological variations in different Melolontha species and chromosomal polymorphism in M. melolontha is discussed in relation with a network (reticulated) mode of speciation.     

A preliminary cladistic analysis of Nipponoserica,with implications for phylogenetic relationships among sericine chafers (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Sericini)

A cladistic analysis of the species of Nipponoserica Nomura, 1972, was executed using 36 morphological characters of adults. From the generated phylogenetic tree, the monophyly of the genus is supported, when Pseudosericania Kobayashi, 1980 is included. Consequently, Pseudosericania Kobayashi, 1980 is considered a junior subjective synonym of Nipponoserica Nomura, 1972. Interestingly, the analysis indicates the monophyly of the East Asian Nipponoserica and the North American Stilbolemma. A new genus, Xenoserica gen. nov., is established for the basal monophyletic clade found for the Himalayan species so far assigned to Nipponoserica including the first brachypterous species of Sericini from the Himalaya. Two new species are described: Xenoserica brachyptera sp. nov. from Nepal, and Nipponoserica dahongshanica sp. nov. from Hubei (China).     

A molecular phylogeny of the Odonata (Insecta)

Abstract. We estimated the phylogeny of the order Odonata, based on sequences of the nuclear ribosomal genes 5.8 S, 18S, and ITS1 and 2. An 18S‐only analysis resolved deep relationships well: the order Odonata, as well as suborders Zygoptera and Epiprocta (Anisoptera + Epiophlebia), emerged as monophyletic. Some other deep clades resolved well, but support for more recently diverged clades was generally weak. A second, simultaneous, analysis of the 5.8S and 18S genes with the intergenic spacers ITS1 and 2 resolved some recent branches better, but appeared less reliable for deep clades with, for example, suborder Anisoptera emerging as paraphyletic and Epiophlebia superstes recovered as an Anisopteran, embedded within aeshnoid‐like anisopterans and sister to the cordulegastrids. Most existing family levels in the Anisoptera were confirmed as monophyletic clades in both analyses. However, within the corduliids that form a major monophyletic clade with the Libellulidae, several subclades were recovered, of which at least Macromiidae and Oxygastridae are accepted at the family level. In the Zygoptera, the situation is complex. The lestid‐like family groups (here called Lestomorpha) emerged as sister taxon to all other zygopterans, with Hemiphlebia sister to all other lestomorphs. Platystictidae formed a second monophylum, subordinated to lestomorphs. At the next level, some traditional clades were confirmed, but the tropical families Megapodagrionidae and Amphipterygidae were recovered as strongly polyphyletic, and tended to nest within the clade Caloptera, rendering it polyphyletic. Platycnemididae were also non‐monophyletic, with several representatives of uncertain placement. Coenagrionids were diphyletic. True Platycnemididae and non‐American Protoneurids are closely related, but their relationship to the other zygopterans remains obscure and needs more study. New World protoneurids appeared relatively unrelated to old world + Australian protoneurids. Several recent taxonomic changes at the genus level, based on morphology, were confirmed, but other morphology‐based taxonomies have misclassified taxa considered currently as Megapodagrionidae, Platycnemididae and Amphipterygidae and have underestimated the number of family‐level clades.     

A molecular phylogeny of the Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera)

Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera) are extremely diverse with more than 23,000 species described and over 500,000 species estimated to exist. This is the first comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of the superfamily based on a molecular analysis of 18S and 28S ribosomal gene regions for 19 families, 72 subfamilies, 343 genera and 649 species. The 56 outgroups are comprised of Ceraphronoidea and most proctotrupomorph families, including Mymarommatidae. Data alignment and the impact of ambiguous regions are explored using a secondary structure analysis and automated (MAFFT) alignments of the core and pairing regions and regions of ambiguous alignment. Both likelihood and parsimony approaches are used to analyze the data. Overall there is no impact of alignment method, and few but substantial differences between likelihood and parsimony approaches. Monophyly of Chalcidoidea and a sister group relationship between Mymaridae and the remaining Chalcidoidea is strongly supported in all analyses. Either Mymarommatoidea or Diaprioidea are the sister group of Chalcidoidea depending on the analysis. Likelihood analyses place Rotoitidae as the sister group of the remaining Chalcidoidea after Mymaridae, whereas parsimony nests them within Chalcidoidea. Some traditional family groups are supported as monophyletic (Agaonidae, Eucharitidae, Encyrtidae, Eulophidae, Leucospidae, Mymaridae, Ormyridae, Signiphoridae, Tanaostigmatidae and Trichogrammatidae). Several other families are paraphyletic (Perilampidae) or polyphyletic (Aphelinidae, Chalcididae, Eupelmidae, Eurytomidae, Pteromalidae, Tetracampidae and Torymidae). Evolutionary scenarios discussed for Chalcidoidea include the evolution of phytophagy, egg parasitism, sternorrhynchan parasitism, hypermetamorphic development and heteronomy.     

A molecular phylogeny of the genus Ichthyocotylurus (Digenea, Strigeidae)

Three nucleotide data sets, two nuclear (ribosomal internal transcribed spacer regions 1 and 2, ITS1 and ITS2) and one mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, CO1), were analysed using distance matrix and maximum likelihood methods to determine the inter-relationships amongst the four species attributed to the genus Ichthyocotylurus Odening, 1969. Sequence data obtained from all gene loci investigated supported the position of Ichthyocotylurus variegatus as a species discrete from Ichthyocotylurus platycephalus. Phylogenetic analyses yielded congruent trees, with I. variegatus isolates comprising a common clade to which I. platycephalus constitutes a sister taxon. Ichthyocotylurus erraticus and Ichthyocotylurus pileatus were found to demonstrate a similarly close inter-specific relationship. The greatest intra-generic divergence occurred in the CO1 region (16% variability), with resultant disparities in three to eight encoded amino acids. PCR amplification yielded multiple ITS1 products for all Ichthyocotylurus spp. Analyses of equivalent-sized amplicons showed 5.4% intra-generic variation and several point mutations between I. variegatus isolates from different geographical localities and from different piscine hosts. The ITS2 locus was extremely conserved, with less than 1% variation between species. No intra-specific variation was recorded for any CO1 or ITS2 sequences.     

The male reproductive system of Costelytra zealandica (White)(Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae)

Abstract

The morphology and histology of the male internal reproductive organs of Costelytra zealandica show many similarities to other Scarabaeoidae, and are particularly close to other Melolonthinae and to Rutelinae. Testes follicles of C. zealandica have the usual structure for Melolonthinae with basal lobes surrounding the ends of the vasa efferentia. Epithelial cells of the vasa efferentia, vasa deferentia, and vesiculae seminales have similar densely basophilic cytoplasm but muscle layers are best developed around the latter. Accessory glands lack muscle and are not differentiated histologically into regions but do differ from their reservoirs. The ejaculatory duct has a cuticular intima and is differentiated into anterior and posterior regions. Both are surrounded by a muscular sheath which expands in the posterior region to enclose fluid. This forms a hydraulic mechanism for everting the internal sac during intromission. The parameres hook into the female’s genital chamber during copulation and have no pincer action. Probable homologies are listed between muscles of the external genitalia and anus of C. zealandica and other Scarabaeoidea.     

Biogeographic hypothesis explaining the diversity of the genus Amphimallon Berthold, 1827, in the Mediterranean Basin (Coleoptera,Scarabaeidae, Melolonthinae,Rhizotrogini)

In this paper, the analysis of the current distribution of species, or species-groups, of the Western–Palaearctic genus Amphimallon Berthold, 1827, based on a phylogenetic hypothesis recently provided and relevant paleogeographical events that occurred in the Mediterranean Basin from Late Paleogene (35 Myr BP) to the present, supports a biogeographical scenario to explain species diversity within this genus. The center of origin of this genus is hypothesized to be in the Iberian Peninsula. Microplate fragments drifting from the Iberian Peninsula, successive landmass suture events between the Eastern and Western Mediterranean Basins, separation of Tethys and Paratethys Oceans, re-establishment of marine connections, uplift of the Alps, and drying out of the Mediterranean are hypothesized as the principal events allowing dispersal of populations throughout Mediterranean Basin and biogeographical vicariances within the genus Amphimallon.     

DNA-based taxonomy for associating adults and larvae in multi-species assemblages of chafers (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

DNA sequences provide a universal character system in taxonomy for associating all developmental stages of organisms, but ambiguity arises due to genetic variation within species. The problem is compounded where target groups are less well studied or incompletely represented in DNA databases. Here we investigate the utility of DNA for larval-adult species associations within chafer (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) communities from four sites in the tropical lowlands of Nepal. We sequenced ca. 1600 bp of mitochondrial cox1 and rrnL and 700 bp of nuclear 28S rRNA from 250 larval and adult specimens. Individuals were grouped into putative species using statistical parsimony analysis and population aggregation analysis (PAA), whereby specimens from each locality were grouped according to the presence of diagnostic nucleotides. In addition, species membership was determined based on shifts in branching rates on clock-constrained trees to detect the putative transition from speciation to population coalescence patterns. Using these two methods we delineated between 48 and 56 groups, of which 16-20 were composed of larval and adult individuals. Nuclear and mtDNA-based groups were highly congruent; variation of 28S rRNA within groups was very low, while one widespread 28S rRNA genotype was universally found in a paraphyletic group of five mtDNA clusters. Linnean names could be assigned to 19 groups, and hence between 86.1% and 92.7% of larval specimens could be associated to species by their membership in clearly delineated groups that contained fully identified adults. The remaining larvae were delineated as five species, four of which could be assigned to Anomala or Adoretus based on their phylogenetic position. We conclude that the sequence variation was highly structured in this complex assemblage of chafers and that any given individual (larva or adult) can be readily associated with a particular DNA group using the criterion of diagnos ability. The association of different developmental stages therefore becomes a matter of determining the extent of the DNA-based groups, rather than matching of sequences from adult and larval individuals. This indicates the need for a purely sequence-based taxonomic system when associating different life stages via DNA.     

Factors associated with occurrence,potential distribution and conservation of Polyphylla ragusae,an endemic Scarabaeidae (Melolonthinae) from Sicily

Journal of Insect Conservation - Polyphylla ragusae (Coleoptera Scarabaeidae) is an endemic beetle restricted to the island of Sicily (Italy). This species is among the most threatened...     

A molecular phylogeny of the tribe Ochthebiini (Coleoptera,Hydraenidae, Ochthebiinae)

Ochthebiinae, with c. 650 species distributed worldwide, are the second most speciose subfamily of the aquatic beetle family Hydraenidae. They are ecologically the most diverse hydraenid subfamily, with terrestrial species as well as species in almost all types of aquatic habitats, including hypersaline waters. Ochthebiinae include the tribes Ochtheosini (four species in three genera) and Ochthebiini. We provide here the first comprehensive phylogeny of the tribe Ochthebiini, based on 186 species and four subspecies from most genera, subgenera and species groups. We obtained sequence data for a combination of mitochondrial and nuclear gene fragments including the 5′ and 3′ ends of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, the 5′ end of 16S RNA plus the leucine tRNA transfer plus 5′ end of NADH dehydrogenase subunit I, and internal fragments of the large and small ribosomal units. The analyses with maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian probabilities consistently recovered a generally well supported phylogeny, with most currently accepted taxa and species groups as monophyletic. We provide a new classification of the tribe based on our phylogenetic results, with six genera: Meropathus Enderlein, Ochthebius Leach, Protochthebius Perkins, Prototympanogaster Perkins, Tympallopatrum Perkins and Tympanogaster Janssens. The genus Ochthebius is here divided into nine subgenera in addition to Ochthebius s.s.: (1) O. (Angiochthebius) Jäch & Ribera; (2) O. (Asiobates) Thomson; (3) O. (Aulacochthebius) Kuwert; (4) O. (Cobalius) Rey; (5) O. (Enicocerus) Stephens; (6) O. (Gymnanthelius) Perkins comb.n. ; (7) O. (Gymnochthebius) Orchymont; (8) O. (Hughleechia) Perkins comb.n. ; and (9) O. (Micragasma) Sahlberg. Within Ochthebius s.s., 17 species groups are proposed, five of them newly established (3, 9, 11, 13 and 16): (1) andraei; (2) atriceps; (3) corrugatus; (4) foveolatus; (5) kosiensis; (6) lobicollis; (7) marinus; (8) metallescens; (9) nitidipennis; (10) notabilis; (11) peisonis; (12) punctatus; (13) quadricollis; (14) rivalis; (15) strigosus; (16) sumatrensis; and (17) vandykei. We elevated to species rank two subspecies of Ochthebius: O. fallaciosus Ganglbauer stat.n. (former subspecies of O. viridis Peyron) and O. deletus Rey stat.rest. (former subspecies of O. subpictus Wollaston).     

A molecular approach to arthrotardigrade phylogeny (Heterotardigrada,Tardigrada)

The marine order Arthrotardigrada (class Heterotardigrada, phylum Tardigrada) is known for its conspicuously high morphological diversity and has been traditionally recognized as the most ancestral group within the phylum. Despite its potential importance in understanding the evolution of the phylum, the phylogenetic relationships of Arthrotardigrada have not been clarified. This study conducted molecular phylogenetic analyses of the order encompassing all families except Neoarctidae using nuclear 18S and 28S rRNA fragments. Data from two rare families, Coronarctidae and Renaudarctidae, were included for the first time. The analyses confirmed the monophyly of Heterotardigrada and inferred Coronarctidae as the sister group to all other heterotardigrade taxa. Furthermore, the results support a monophyletic Renaudarctidae + Stygarctidae clade, which has been previously suggested on morphology. Our data indicated that two subfamilies currently placed in Halechiniscidae are only distantly related to this family. We propose that these taxa are each elevated to family level (Styraconyxidae (new rank) and Tanarctidae (new rank)). The morphology of tardigrades is discussed in the context of the inferred phylogeny.