A New Tribe of the Ladybird Beetle Subfamily Microweiseinae (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) Discovered on an Island in the North Atlantic Ocean

Abstract

Microweiseinae is a quite recently established subfamily within ladybird beetles (Coccinellidae). According to recent analyses of morphological and molecular data, it has been divided into three tribes. Members of the subfamily are distributed mostly in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Despite several recent taxonomical studies of this group, its diversity and distribution is still not fully understood. Recent field collecting on Madeira Island resulted in the discovery of interesting specimens belonging to a yet unknown taxon, described here as Madeirodula atlantica gen. et sp. nov. Phylogenetic analysis of morphological characters indicate that the new taxon form a distinct branch within the subfamily Microweiseinae, for which we propose a new tribe Madeirodulini trib. nov. Evolutionary trends within the subfamily are discussed, and an updated key to the tribes of Microweiseinae is provided.

Phylogeny and divergence dating of the ladybird beetle tribe Coccinellini Latreille (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Coccinellinae)

“…With about 6000 described species and 360 genera, the family Coccinellidae (the iconic ladybirds or ladybugs) is the most diverse family in the recently defined superfamily Coccinelloidea, which corresponds to the former cerynolid series of Cucujoidea (Robertson et al ., 2015). Following shift in ranks of several coccinellid subfamilies to the tribe level and the merging of several tribes, the family now consists of two subfamilies and 38 tribes (Vandenberg, 2002; Ślipiński, 2007; Ślipiński & Tomaszewska, 2010; Bouchard et al ., 2011; Seago et al ., 2011; Szawaryn et al ., 2020). Ladybird beetles have a worldwide distribution, with most species distributed in tropical or subtropical regions (Ślipiński & Tomaszewska, 2010).…”

Molecular characterization of mitochondrial COI gene sequences in Micraspis allardi from Pakistan

“…The genus Micraspis ) comprises vast genetic diversity, yet the unknown number of cryptic species may be present and should be reviewed using morphological and molecular characterization. The family Coccinellidae comprises two subfamilies: Microweiseinae Leng, and Coccinellinae Latreille also Coccinellinae consists of two tribes: Coccinellini and Chilocorini [ 36 ]. Coccinellidae contains a group of beetles that are considered important for their role in biological control [ 37 ; 38 ] and their diversity in varied habitats [ 5 ].…”

On the nomenclatural status of type genera in Coleoptera (Insecta)

“…The following works, which were issued and distributed electronically only, are unavailable because they failed to meet one or more of the criteria of availability published in ICZN (2012f) : Legalov (2017a , 2018c , but see Legalov 2023c ), Kirejtshuk (2020) , Rosa et al (2020a , but see Rosa et al 2020b ), Szawaryn et al (2020) and Motyka et al (2023a) . The new names and nomenclatural acts included in those works are therefore nomenclaturally unavailable.…”

“…LeConte & G.H. Horn, 1883 [PI] = Phymaphorinae Jakobson, 1915 Subfamily Xenomycetinae Strohecker, 1962 Subfamily Danascelinae Tomaszewska, 2000 Subfamily Cyclotominae Imhoff, 1856 Subfamily Endomychinae Leach, 1815 = Stenotarsinae Chapuis, 1876 Subfamily Epipocinae Gorham, 1873 Subfamily Lycoperdininae Bromhead, 1838 = Eumorphinae Gistel, 1848 H = Dapsinae Gerstaecker, 1858 = Corynomalinae Gorham, 1873 = Amphicinae Csiki, 1910 = Beccariinae Arrow, 1925 [PI] = Amphisterninae Strohecker, 1964 = Mycetininae Lafer, 1992 Family Tetrameropsidae Kirejtshuk & Azar, 2008 † Family Mycetaeidae Jacquelin du Val, 1857 Family Cerasommatidiidae Brèthes, 1925 112 Family Eupsilobiidae Casey, 1895 = Eidoreidae Sasaji, 1986 Family Coccinellidae Latreille, 1807 113 Subfamily Microweiseinae Leng, 1920 Tribe Carinodulini Gordon et al, 1989 Tribe * Madeirodulini Szawaryn et al, 2020 Tribe Microweiseini Leng, 1920 Tribe Serangiini Blackwelder, 1845 Tribe Sukunahikonini Kamiya, 1960 = Scotoscymnini Duverger, 2003 Subfamily Monocoryninae Miyatake, 1988 H Subfamily Coccinellinae Latreille, 1807 Tribe Argentipilosini Gordon & de Almeida, 1991 Tribe Aspidimerini Mulsant, 1850 ...…”