Phylogeny and distribution of the phoracanthine genus Atesta (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) from Australia

The phylogeny of the phoracanthine genus Atesta (thirty-four species) is analysed using cladistic methods. The monophyly of Atesta is confirmed. Three major monophyletic species groups are recognized: (1) the thorntoni -group including twelve species: A.thorntoni, A.balteata, A.latifasciata, A.mediana, A.patula, A.newi, A.angasi, A.bifasciata, A.besti, A.ciliata, A.paratasmanica and A.tasmanica ; (2) the sisyrioides -group consisting of seventeen species: A.ibidionoides, A.carteri, A.longoelytrata, A.pubescens, A.stigmosa, A.sita, A.vittata, A.sparsa, A.minuta, A.tropicalis, A.unifasciata, A.sisyrioides, A.nigrihumerus, A.apicalis, A.brittoni, A.antennalis and A.brooksi , and (3) the houstoni -group containing five species: A.mapida, A.houstoni, A.tripartita, A.dixoni and A.centroaustralica. The distribution patterns of Atesta are described and discussed. Five distinct areas of endemism are found for Atesta: the Torresian, Timorian, Kosciuskan, Western and Eyrean Subregions. The Torresian Subregion has nine species, three of which are endemic to the subregion; the Timorian has four species, two of which are endemic; the Kosciuskan has twenty-three species, sixteen of which are endemic, the Western has five species, four of which are endemic, and the Eyrean has three species, one of which is endemic. Two kinds of distribution patterns for Atesta are identified: the wet adapted (peripherial), including the thorntoni -group and sisyrioides -group, and the wide-adapted, consisting of the houstoni -group. The thorntoni -group is typically a southern Australian species group, distributed in south-eastern and south-western Australian continent and Tasmania. The sisyrioides -group is mainly distributed in southeastern, eastern and northern Australian continent and Tasmania. The distribution of the houstoni -group includes central and peripherial Australian continent.