A phylogenetic study on genera of Cidariini from the Holarctic and the Indo-Australian areas (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Larentiinae)

A cladistic analysis of forty-one species, belonging to ten genera, of the Cidariini sensu Herbulot from the Holarctic and the Indo-Australian areas, was performed using seventy-seven characters including larval and pupal data. Eight most parsimonious cladograms were found (length 398, CI 0.30, RI 0.70). The monophyly of the Cidariini is demonstrated, using selected species of Xanthorhoini sensu Herbulot as the outgroup. The relationships among the genera are as follows: ( Ecliptopera ( Eulithis ( Cidaria (( Plemyria ( Chloroclysta , Dysstroma ))(( Thera , Pennithera ) ( Heterothera ))))). This result suggests some taxonomic changes: Dysstroma Hübner, stat. rev. and Chloroclysta Hübner stat. rev. are sister taxa; Heterothera Inoue stat. rev. includes Viidaleppia Inoue, syn.n., Heterothera firmata (Hübner) comb.n. is transferred from Pennithera Viidalepp to Heterothera sensu lato . The results of confirmation and incongruence tests suggest that the characters from adult and immature stages exhibit the same evolutionary pattern. Thus the phylogeny derived from the combined data matrix does not give a misleading conclusion, even though there are many missing states in the larval data set.     

Phylogeny of Paussus L. (Carabidae: Paussinae): unravelling morphological convergence associated with myrmecophilous life histories

Ant nest beetles (Paussus L.) are ecologically fascinating and phenotypically bizarre. Obligate myrmecophiles, Paussus have undergone extreme adaptations for life with ants and their profound range of phenotypic diversity has been difficult to reconcile in a systematic framework. We conducted a detailed morphological study of Paussus utilizing novel techniques and character systems in order to discover anatomical apomorphies diagnostic of the major clades of Paussus strongly supported by molecular data. Bayesian inference (BI) of molecules alone, morphology alone and varying combinations of the two data types reveal that morphology is informative for placing Paussus species, despite the extreme phenotypic diversity and convergence prevalent in the group. We propose a new classification for Paussus based on this phylogeny. The genus Paussus is revised to include all genera, subgenera and species formerly classified as Paussus by Nagel (2003) in addition to Hylopaussus syn.n. , Hylotorus syn.n. and Granulopaussus syn.n. The following species are transferred to Paussus: Paussus sebakuanus (Péringuey) comb.n. , Paussus gracilis (Reichensperger) comb.n. , Paussus bucephalus Gyllenhal, Paussus caroli (Reichensperger) comb.n. , Paussus uelensis (Reichensperger) comb.n. , Paussus hottentottus (Westwood) comb.n. , Paussus blanchardi (Raffray) comb.n. , Paussus basilewskyi (Luna de Carvalho) comb.n. , Paussus granulatus Westwood, Paussus sankuruensis Reichensperger, Paussus leleupi (Reichensperger) comb.n. , Paussus reichenspergeri (Luna de Carvalho) comb.n. We formally delineate and diagnose the following major subgroups of Paussus: Paussus I series, comprising the subgenera Bohemanipaussus Luna de Carvalho stat. rev. sensu n. , Bathypaussus Wasmann stat. rev. sensu n. , and Edaphopaussus Kolbe stat. rev. sensu n. ; the Paussus II series comprising the subgenera Paussus L. stat. rev. sensu n. , Klugipaussus Kolbe stat. rev. sensu n. , Scaphipaussus Fowler stat. rev. sensu n. , Hylotorus Dalman stat.n. sensu n. , and Anapaussus Wasmann stat. rev. sensu n. ; and the Paussus III series comprising the subgenera Lineatopaussus Kolbe stat. rev. sensu n. and Shuckardipaussus Kolbe stat. rev. sensu n.     

Phylogeny and taxonomy of the Prenolepis genus‐group of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Abstract. We investigated the phylogeny and taxonomy of the Prenolepis genus‐group, a clade of ants we define within the subfamily Formicinae comprising the genera Euprenolepis, Nylanderia, gen. rev. , Paraparatrechina, gen. rev. & stat. nov. , Paratrechina, Prenolepis and Pseudolasius. We inferred a phylogeny of the Prenolepis genus‐group using DNA sequence data from five genes (CAD, EF1αF1, EF1αF2, wingless and COI) sampled from 50 taxa. Based on the results of this phylogeny the taxonomy of the Prenolepis genus‐group was re‐examined. Paratrechina (broad sense) species segregated into three distinct, robust clades. Paratrechina longicornis represents a distinct lineage, a result consistent with morphological evidence; because this is the type species for the genus, Paratrechina is redefined as a monotypic genus. Two formerly synonymized subgenera, Nylanderia and Paraparatrechina, are raised to generic status in order to provide names for the other two clades. The majority of taxa formerly placed in Paratrechina, 133 species and subspecies, are transferred to Nylanderia, and 28 species and subspecies are transferred to Paraparatrechina. In addition, two species are transferred from Pseudolasius to Paraparatrechina and one species of Pseudolasius is transferred to Nylanderia. A morphological diagnosis for the worker caste of all six genera is provided, with a discussion of the morphological characters used to define each genus. Two genera, Prenolepis and Pseudolasius, were not recovered as monophyletic by the molecular data, and the implications of this result are discussed. A worker‐based key to the genera of the Prenolepis genus‐group is provided.     

A revision of the ant genus Mystrium in the Malagasy region with description of six new species and remarks on Amblyopone and Stigmatomma (Hymenoptera,Formicidae, Amblyoponinae)

The genus Mystrium is revised for the Malagasy region. Six species, Mystrium barrybressleri sp. n., Mystrium labyrinth sp. n., Mystrium eques sp. n., Mystrium mirror sp. n., Mystrium shadow sp. n., and Mystrium janovitzi sp. n. are described as new. Two existing names, Mystrium fallax Forel and Mystrium stadelmanni Forel, are synonymized with Mystrium voeltzkowi Forel and Mystrium mysticum Roger, respectively. All recognized species, including species outside of the Malagasy region, are assigned to one of the three newly proposed species groups. The associations between existing names and males are reexamined, and males of eight of the ten Malagasy species are described or redescribed. The taxonomic history of Mystrium highlights the importance of using unique identifiers when designating type specimens and the use of deposited vouchers in phylogenetic and ecological studies. Keys to species for workers, queens, and males are provided. Furthermore, a neotype for Mystrium mysticum is designated, as well as lectotypes for Mystrium camillae Emery, Mystrium rogeri Forel, Mystrium fallax Forel, Mystrium oberthueri Forel, Mystrium stadelmanni Forel, and Mystrium voeltzkowi Forel. Stigmatomma gingivale (Brown) is reassigned to Amblyopone as comb. rev. and Amblyopone awa Xu & Chu, Amblyopone kangba Xu & Chu, Amblyopone meiliana Xu & Chu, and Amblyopone zomae Xu & Chu are transferred to the genus Stigmatomma as comb. n.     

Infrafamilial Phylogeny of the Aquatic Angiosperm Podostemaceae Inferred from the Nucleotide Sequences of the matK Gene

Abstract: The infrafamilial relationships of Podostemaceae were deduced from nucleotide sequences of the chloroplast matK gene. The matK phylogenetic analyses show that Podostemaceae are composed of two major clades that correspond to the subfamily Tristichoideae sensu stricto and Weddellina and the subfamily Podostemoideae. Weddellina, which has long been recognized as a member of the Tristichoideae, is sister to the Podostemoideae, supporting the classification that recognized a third subfamily Weddellinoideae. Malaccotristicha malayana and Terniopsis sessilis form a basal clade in Tristichoideae sensu stricto. Tristichoideae show a high morphological diversity and, surprisingly, a close relationship exists between Dalzellia zeylanica and Indotristicha ramosissima, which remarkably differ in their body plans. A few genera defined by particular characters, such as Synstylis and Torrenticola, merge into clades of other larger genera. The Podostemoideae taxa studied are composed of two American clades, an Asian-Australian clade and a Madagascan clade, and may suggest that the subfamily perhaps originated in America and migrated to the Old World.     

Combined molecular and morphological phylogeny of Eulophidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea), with focus on the subfamily Entedoninae

A new combined molecular and morphological phylogeny of the Eulophidae is presented with special reference to the subfamily Entedoninae. We examined 28S D2–D5 and CO1 gene regions with parsimony and partitioned Bayesian analyses, and examined the impact of a small set of historically recognized morphological characters on combined analyses. Eulophidae was strongly supported as monophyletic only after exclusion of the enigmatic genus Trisecodes. The subfamilies Eulophinae, Entiinae (=Euderinae) and Tetrastichinae were consistently supported as monophyletic, but Entedoninae was monophyletic only in combined analyses. Six contiguous bases in the 3e′ subregion of the 28S D2 rDNA contributed to placement of nominal subgenus of Closterocerus outside Entedoninae. In all cases, Euderomphalini was excluded from Entiinae, and we suggest that it be retained in Entedoninae. Opheliminae n. stat. is raised from tribe to subfamily status. Trisecodes is removed from Entedoninae but retained as incertae sedis in Eulophidae until its family placement can be determined new placement . The genera Neochrysocharis stat. rev. and Asecodes stat. rev. are removed from synonymy with Closterocerus because strong molecular differences corroborate their morphological differences. Closterocerus (Achrysocharis) germanicus is transferred to the genus Chrysonotomyia n. comb. based on molecular and morphological characters.     

Dracula ant phylogeny as inferred by nuclear 28S rDNA sequences and implications for ant systematics (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Amblyoponinae)

Ants are one of the most ecologically and numerically dominant families of organisms in almost every terrestrial habitat throughout the world, though they include only about 1% of all described insect species. The development of eusociality is thought to have been a driving force in the striking diversification and dominance of this group, yet we know little about the evolution of the major lineages of ants and have been unable to clearly determine their primitive characteristics. Ants within the subfamily Amblyoponinae are specialized arthropod predators, possess many anatomically and behaviorally primitive characters and have been proposed as a possible basal lineage within the ants. We investigate the phylogenetic relationships among the members of the subfamily, using nuclear 28S rDNA sequence data. Outgroups for the analysis include members of the poneromorph and leptanillomorph (Apomyrma, Leptanilla) ant subfamilies, as well as three wasp families. Parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian analyses provide strong support for the monophyly of a clade containing the two genera Apomyrma+Mystrium (100% bpp; 97% ML bs; and 97% MP bs), and moderate support for the monophyly of the Amblyoponinae as long as Apomyrma (Apomyrminae) is included (87% bpp; 57% ML bs; and 76% MP bs). Analyses did not recover evidence of monophyly of the Amblyopone genus, while the monophyly of the other genera in the subfamily is supported. Based on these results we provide a morphological diagnosis of the Amblyoponinae that includes Apomyrma. Among the outgroup taxa, Typhlomyrmex grouped consistently with Ectatomma, supporting the recent placement of Typhlomyrmex in the Ectatomminae. The results of this present study place the included ant subfamilies into roughly two clades with the basal placement of Leptanilla unclear. One clade contains all the Amblyoponinae (including Apomyrma), Ponerinae, and Proceratiinae (Poneroid clade). The other clade contains members from subfamilies Cerapachyinae, Dolichoderinae, Ectatomminae, Formicinae, Myrmeciinae, and Myrmicinae (Formicoid clade).     

Phylogeny and classification of Cucujoidea and the recognition of a new superfamily Coccinelloidea (Coleoptera: Cucujiformia)

A large‐scale phylogenetic study is presented for Cucujoidea (Coleoptera), a diverse superfamily of beetles that historically has been taxonomically difficult. This study is the most comprehensive analysis of cucujoid taxa to date, with DNA sequence data sampled from eight genes (four nuclear, four mitochondrial) for 384 coleopteran taxa, including exemplars of 35 (of 37) families and 289 genera of Cucujoidea. Maximum‐likelihood analyses of these data present many significant relationships, some proposed previously and some novel. Tenebrionoidea and Lymexyloidea are recovered together and Cleroidea forms the sister group to this clade. Chrysomeloidea and Curculionoidea are recovered as sister taxa and this clade (Phytophaga) forms the sister group to the core Cucujoidea (Cucujoidea s.n .). The nitidulid series is recovered as the earliest‐diverging core cucujoid lineage, although the earliest divergences among core Cucujoidea are only weakly supported. The cerylonid series (CS) is recovered as monophyletic and is supported as a major Cucujiform clade, sister group to the remaining superfamilies of Cucujiformia. Currently recognized taxa that were not recovered as monophyletic include Cucujoidea, Endomychidae, Cerylonidae and Bothrideridae. Biphyllidae and Byturidae were recovered in Cleroidea. The remaining Cucujoidea were recovered in two disparate major clades: one comprising the nitidulid series + erotylid series + Boganiidae and Hobartiidae + cucujid series, and the other comprising the cerylonid series. Propalticidae are recovered within Laemophloeidae. The cerylonid series includes two major clades, the bothriderid group and the coccinellid group. Akalyptoischiidae are recovered as a separate clade from Latridiidae. Eupsilobiinae are recovered as the sister taxon to Coccinellidae. In light of these findings, many formal changes to cucujiform beetle classification are proposed. Biphyllidae and Byturidae are transferred to Cleroidea. The cerylonid series is formally recognized as a new superfamily, Coccinelloidea stat.n. Current subfamilies elevated (or re‐elevated) to family status include: Murmidiidae stat.n. , Teredidae stat.n. , Euxestidae stat.n. , Anamorphidae stat.rev. , Eupsilobiidae stat.n. , and Mycetaeidae stat.n. The following taxa are redefined and characterized: Cleroidea s.n. , Cucujoidea s.n. , Cerylonidae s.n. , Bothrideridae s.n. , Endomychidae s.n. A new subfamily, Cyclotominae stat.n. , is described. Stenotarsinae syn.n. is formally subsumed within a new concept of Endomychinae s.n.     

Resurrection of the genus Yezoterpnosia Matsumura (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadini) based on a new definition of the genus Terpnosia Distant

The genus Terpnosia Distant is newly defined. Terpnosia elegans (Kirby) stat. rev. is resurrected from junior synonymy with Terpnosia psecas (Walker). Seven species are now considered to belong to Terpnosia sensu stricto, including two species currently placed in this genus: T. psecas (Walker) and T. elegans (Kirby) stat. rev. Five species are transferred from Pomponia Stål to Terpnosia: T. polei (Henry) comb. nov., T. lactea (Distant) comb. nov., T. similis (Schmidt) comb. nov., T. simusa (Boulard) comb. nov., and T. graecina (Distant) comb. nov. Yezoterpnosia Matsumura stat. rev. is resurrected from junior synonymy with Terpnosia. Six species formerly in the genus Terpnosia are transferred to Yezoterpnosia: Y. nigricosta (De Motschulsky), Y. ichangensis (Liu) comb. nov., Y. shaanxiensis (Sanborn) comb. nov., Y. vacua (Olivier) comb. nov., Y. obscura (Kato) comb. nov., and Y. fuscoapicalis (Kato) comb. nov. Terpnosia is placed in the subtribe Psithyristriina of the tribe Cicadini, and Yezoterpnosia is placed in the subtribe Leptopsaltriina of Cicadini. Terpnosiina syn. nov. is synonymized with Psithyristriina.     

Molecular phylogenetic analysis of Euphorbiaceae sensu stricto based on plastid and nuclear DNA sequences and ovule and seed character evolution

A phylogenetic analysis of Euphorbiaceae sensu stricto is presented using sequences from rbcL, atpB, matK and 18S rDNA from 85 species and 83 genera. The combined analysis of four molecular markers resulted in only one most parsimonious tree and also generated new supported clades, which include Euphorbioideae + Acalyphoideae s.s., subclades A2 + A3, subclades A5 + A6 and a clade uniting subclades A2–A8 within Acalyphoideae s.s. A palisadal exotegmen is a possible synapomorphy for all the Euphorbiaceae, except for the subfamily Peroideae. The presence of vascular bundles in the inner integument and a thick inner integument were shown to be synapomorphies for the clade of inaperturate and articulated crotonoids and for the large clade of Euphorbioideae, Acalyphoideae s.s., inaperturate and articulated crotonoids, respectively. Characters of the aril and vascular bundles in the outer integument are discussed. The selected embryological characters were seen to be highly correlated with the molecular phylogeny. When the results of molecular phylogenetic analysis of a previous study and this study were adjusted along with the selected embryological characters, all clades within Euphorbiaceae were supported except for a clade comprising Euphorbioideae + Acalyphoideae s.s. + inaperturate crotonoids + articulated crotonoids + Adenoclineae s.l. and a clade uniting subclades A4–A8 within Acalyphoideae s.s. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Phylogeny and reclassification of Cryptini (Hymenoptera,Ichneumonidae, Cryptinae), with implications for ichneumonid higher‐level classification

The first comprehensive phylogenetic study of the wasp tribe Cryptini (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Cryptinae) is presented, based on 109 morphological characters and molecular data from seven loci. The dataset includes 370 species, 308 of which are from Cryptini, covering 182 of its 250 genera. Results from parsimony and likelihood analyses are generally congruent. The topology has several implications for ichneumonid higher‐level classification. Previous definitions of the Ichneumoniformes clade are supported, though newly including the Microleptinae. The cryptine subtribe Ateleutina is consistently recovered outside of the Cryptini clade and should be treated as a separate subfamily, Ateleutinae stat.n. The tribe Phygadeuontini is shown to be polyphyletic: while most of the sampled taxa were recovered in a single clade, many of its members are more closely related to the Ichneumoninae, Ateleutinae or Cryptini. Pending a more detailed study, the group should be treated as a separate subfamily, Phygadeuontinae stat. rev . The former Hemigastrini are recovered as largely monophyletic but with important exceptions. Hemigaster Brullé is recovered as part of the Phygadeuontini and is transferred to that group. Echthrus Gravenhorst is consistently recovered as part of Cryptini, rendering Aptesini as the correct name for the tribe. The subfamily Cryptinae should be restricted to the tribes Aptesini and Cryptini. Within Cryptini, the results show little support for the current subtribal classification, with most subtribes recovered as polyphyletic. A number of relatively stable clades are identified and discussed, but the relationships among them are weakly supported. Most of these clades are morphologically heterogeneous and building a subtribal classification based on them would be ineffectual; they are therefore treated under the informal designation of genus groups. The results highlight the ubiquity of morphological homoplasy in Cryptini, and provide a framework from which to address further systematic and evolutionary questions on this hyperdiverse group of parasitic wasps.     

Weighted parsimony phylogeny of the family Characidae (Teleostei: Characiformes)

The family Characidae, including more than 1000 species, lacks a phylogenetic diagnosis, with many of its genera currently considered as incertae sedis . The aims of the present study are to propose a phylogenetic diagnosis and to assess higher-level relationships of and within Characidae. In this regard, 360 morphological characters are studied for 160 species of Characidae and related families. Phylogenetic analyses under implied weighting and self-weighted optimization are presented, exploring a broad range of parameters. The analysis under self-weighted optimization is innovative for this size of matrices. Familial status of Serrasalmidae is supported, and Acestrorhynchidae and Cynodontidae are included in a monophyletic Characidae. Engraulisoma taeniatum is transferred from Characidae to Gasteropelecidae. Thus constituted, the monophyly of Characidae is supported by seven synapomorphies. A new subfamily, Heterocharacinae, is proposed, and the subfamilies Aphyocharacinae, Aphyoditeinae, Characinae, Gymnocharacinae, and Stevardiinae are redefined. The Glandulocaudinae are included in Stevardiinae together with remaining members of "clade A" ( sensu Malabarba and Weitzman, 2003 . Comun. Mus. Ciênc. Tecnol. PUCRS, Sér. Zool. 16, 67–151.) and the genera Aulixidens and Nantis . Most incertae sedis genera are assigned, at least tentatively, to a phylogenetically diagnosed clade.     

A molecular phylogeny of Cochylina,with confirmation of its relationship to Euliina (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

This work presents a multiple-gene phylogenetic analysis of 70 species representing 24 genera of Cochylina and eight species representing eight genera of Euliina, and a maximum-likelihood analysis based on 293 barcodes representing over 220 species of Cochylina. The results confirm the hypothesis that Cochylina is a monophyletic group embedded within a paraphyletic Euliina. Six major monophyletic lineages are recognized and defined within Cochylina: a Phtheochroa Group, a Henricus Group, an Aethes Group, a Saphenista Group, a Phalonidia Group and a Cochylis Group. The work summarizes the groups (including related genera not included in our analysis), provides morphological characters that support the molecular data, and compares results to previous phylogenies of Cochylina. The following nomenclatural changes are proposed: Brevicornutia, rev.stat. ; Neocochylis, rev.stat. ; Paracochylis, rev.stat. ; Pontoturania, rev.stat. ; and Platphalonidia, rev.stat.     

Phylogeny of the Aphnaeinae: myrmecophilous African butterflies with carnivorous and herbivorous life histories

The Aphnaeinae (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) are a largely African subfamily of 278 described species that exhibit extraordinary life‐history variation. The larvae of these butterflies typically form mutualistic associations with ants, and feed on a wide variety of plants, including 23 families in 19 orders. However, at least one species in each of 9 of the 17 genera is aphytophagous, parasitically feeding on the eggs, brood or regurgitations of ants. This diversity in diet and type of symbiotic association makes the phylogenetic relations of the Aphnaeinae of particular interest. A phylogenetic hypothesis for the Aphnaeinae was inferred from 4.4 kb covering the mitochondrial marker COI and five nuclear markers (wg, H3, CAD, GAPDH and EF1α) for each of 79 ingroup taxa representing 15 of the 17 currently recognized genera, as well as three outgroup taxa. Maximum Parsimony, Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference analyses all support Heath's systematic revision of the clade based on morphological characters. Ancestral range inference suggests an African origin for the subfamily with a single dispersal into Asia. The common ancestor of the aphnaeines likely associated with myrmicine ants in the genus Crematogaster and plants of the order Fabales.     

Molecular phylogenetics reveals Leontodon (Asteraceae, Lactuceae) to be diphyletic

The plastid matK gene, trnL/F spacer, and nuclear rDNA ITS were sequenced for 36 species of Leontodon and 29 taxa of related genera of tribe Lactuceae. Phylogenetic relationships inferred from the independent and combined data are largely congruent and reveal that Leontodon sensu lato (s.l.) as presently defined is diphyletic: L. subgenus Leontodon forms a clade with Helminthotheca, Picris and Hypochaeris as sister genera, whereas L. subgenus Oporinia appears as a separate clade with strong bootstrap support and is thus better treated as a separate genus. Previous sectional classifications of Leontodon s.l. are considered in the light of DNA and additional morphological and karyological data. Support is presented for a core group of Hypochaeridinae sensu stricto (s.s.) with the two clades of Leontodon s.l., Helminthotheca, Picris, and Hypochaeris, whereas Urospermum, Hyoseris, Aposeris, and Rhagadiolus appear to be positioned more distantly.     

The Neotropical ‘polymorphic earless praying mantises’ – Part I: molecular phylogeny and revised higher‐level systematics (Insecta: Mantodea,Acanthopoidea)

We perform phylogenetic analyses of the ‘polymorphic earless praying mantises’, a heterogeneous assemblage comprising c. 55% of mantodean diversity in the Neotropics. Bayesian and maximum‐likelihood were implemented on a DNA dataset of 9949 aligned nucleic acid characters comprising ten mitochondrial and nuclear genes. Our analyses largely resolved congruent relationships with high levels of support for higher‐level taxonomic groups, but revealed extensive inconsistencies between the resolved topology and morphology‐based classification systems. The polymorphic earless praying mantises, now granted superfamily status as the Acanthopoidea stat. n., comprises 8 families, 15 subfamilies and 18 tribes. Our newly revised organization required the following taxonomic changes: (i) Thespidae sensu n., including subfamilies Pseudopogonogastrinae subfam. n., Pseudomiopteryginae sensu n., Bantiinae subfam. n., Miobantiinae sensu n. and Thespinae sensu n. (tribes Musoniellini trib. n. and Thespini sensu n. ); (ii) Angelidae stat. n. et sensu n. ; (iii) Coptopterygidae stat. n. ; (iv) Liturgusidae sensu n. ; (v) Photinaidae stat. n., including Macromantinae stat. n., Cardiopterinae stat. n., Photiomantinae subfam. n. and Photinainae sensu n. (tribes Microphotinini trib. n., Orthoderellini stat. n. and Photinaini sensu n. ); (vi) Stenophyllidae stat. n. ; (vii) Acontistidae stat. n. ; and (viii) Acanthopidae sensu n. Our new system also resulted in the reassignment of various genera to new and existing higher‐level taxa, the exclusion of old world genera otherwise traditionally classified among the Thespidae, Liturgusidae and Angelidae, the confirmation of Stenophylla Westwood as member of this clade, and the revalidation of Paradiabantia Piza stat. r. We provide diagnoses for all suprageneric taxa using external morphological characters and male genitalia. A key to higher‐level groups is provided. We incorporate egg case structural variation as a novel approach for taxon delineation. This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:29E37322‐30EB‐4F64‐80C9‐E2149B5B0195 .     

Comprehensive phylogeny of the Cleroidea (Coleoptera: Cucujiformia)

The first thorough molecular phylogeny of the superfamily Cleroidea, represented by 377 taxa, and the first with an emphasis on Trogossitidae, was undertaken. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses were performed on a four‐gene dataset (18S, 28S, cox1, cytb) of 395 taxa (along with 18 outgroups), including all 16 currently recognized families of Cleroidea and all current and formerly recognized tribes of Trogossitidae. The superfamily as a whole received strong support in Bayesian analyses. On the basis of phylogenetic results, 18 families in Cleroidea are recognized, including three taxa elevated to family for the first time and two reinstated families. The former tribe Rentoniini (Trogossitidae: Peltinae) was strongly supported as a monophyletic group apart from the remainder of Trogossitidae, and is herein elevated to family status, Rentoniidae stat.n. Protopeltis was also found to be an isolated lineage and becomes Protopeltidae stat.n. Peltini + Larinotini were recovered as a weakly supported sister grouping; Peltini (including only Peltis) becomes Peltidae stat.rest. The trogossitid subfamily Lophocaterinae, to the exclusion of Decamerini, formed a clade which is here designated Lophocateridae stat.rest. and sensu n. The Trogossitinae tribes Calityini, Egoliini (represented by Egolia) and Larinotini were recovered apart from core Trogossitidae but showed no strong affinities to other taxa or congruence between analyses; they are here conservatively retained in Trogossitidae as Calityinae stat.rest. , Egoliinae stat.rest. and Larinotinae stat.rest. The genus Thymalus of the peltine tribe Thymalini was indicated with moderate to strong support as the sister group of the Decamerini (Trogossitidae: Lophocaterinae); together these represent Thymalidae stat.n. and sensu n. with subfamilies Decamerinae stat.rest. ( new placement ) and Thymalinae stat.n. The remainder of Trogossitinae, the tribes Trogossitini and Gymnochilini, formed a well‐supported clade which comprises the Trogossitidae: Trogossitinae sensu n. The tribe Gymnochilini syn.n. is synonymized with Trogossitini. The monotypic family Phloiophilidae was recovered, contradicting a recent placement within Trogossitidae. The melyrid lineage was recovered with moderate (maximum likelihood) to strong (Bayesian analyses) support and includes the families Phycosecidae, Rhadalidae, Mauroniscidae, Prionoceridae and Melyridae (including Dasytidae and Malachiidae). The genus Dasyrhadus is tentatively transferred from Rhadalidae to Mauroniscidae. The genus Gietella, once proposed as a distinct family but recently placed within Dasytidae, was recovered as strongly sister to Rhadalidae sensu n. , and we transfer it to that family as Gietellinae new placement . Attalomiminae (formerly Attalomimidae) syn.n. is synonymized with Melyridae: Malachiinae: Lemphini sensu n. Melyridae sensu n. includes only Dasytinae, Malachiinae and Melyrinae. Metaxina is returned to the Chaetosomatidae sensu n. , of which Metaxinidae syn.n. becomes a junior synonym. Resolution within Cleridae was generally poor, but a broadly defined Korynetinae stat rest. + Epiclininae received high support (Bayesian analyses). Outside of Trogossitidae, the main focus of this study, major rearrangements of the classification of Cleroidea were not undertaken, despite evidence indicating such changes are needed.     

Morphological phylogeny of army ants and other dorylomorphs (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Abstract. The dorylomorph group of ants comprises the three subfamilies of army ants (Aenictinae, Dorylinae, Ecitoninae) together with the subfamilies Aenictogitoninae, Cerapachyinae, and Leptanilloidinae. We describe new morphological characters and synthesize data from the literature in order to present the first hypothesis of phylogenetic relationships among all dorylomorph genera. These data include the first available character information from the newly discovered male caste of Leptanilloidinae. We used ant taxa from Leptanillinae, Myrmeciinae, and the poneromorph (Ponerinae sensu lato) subfamilies Amblyoponinae, Ectatomminae, and Paraponerinae as outgroups. We scored a total of 126 characters from twenty-two terminal taxa and used these data to conduct maximum parsimony and bootstrap analyses. The single most-parsimonious tree and bootstrap results support a single origin of army ants. The Old World army ant genus Dorylus forms a monophyletic group with the enigmatic genus Aenictogiton, which is currently known only from males; the second Old World army ant genus Aenictus is sister to this clade. This result generates the prediction that females of Aenictogiton, when discovered, will be observed to possess the army ant syndrome of behavioural and reproductive traits. The monophyly of the New World army ants (Ecitoninae) is supported very strongly, and within this group the genera Eciton, Nomamyrmex, and Labidus form a robust clade. The monophyly of Leptanilloidinae is also upheld. The subfamily Cerapachyinae appears paraphyletic, although this conclusion is not supported by strong bootstrap results. Relationships among genera of Cerapachyinae similarly are not resolved robustly, although parsimony results suggest clades consisting of (Acanthostichus + Cylindromyrmex) and (Cerapachys + Sphinctomyrmex). We tested for the effect of incompletely known taxa by conducting a secondary analysis in which the two genera containing ∼50% missing character data (Aenictogiton and Asphinctanilloides) were removed. The strict consensus of the seventeen most-parsimonious trees from this secondary analysis is poorly resolved outside the army ants and contains no clades conflicting with the primary analysis. The position of Leptanilla shifts from forming the sister group to Leptanilloidinae (without high bootstrap support) in the primary analysis, to falling within a polytomy at the base of the root of the dorylomorphs when incompletely known taxa are removed. This instability suggests that the placement of Leptanilla within the dorylomorphs in our primary analysis may be spurious.