Female terminalia morphology and cladistic relations among Tok‐Tok beetles (Tenebrionidae: Sepidiini)

Abstract

Tok-tokkies are one of the most iconic lineages within Tenebrionidae. In addition to containing some of the largest darkling beetles, this tribe is recognized for its remarkable form of sexual communication known as substrate tapping. Nevertheless, the phylogenetic relationships within the group remain poorly understood. This study investigates the usefulness of female terminalia morphology for delimiting Sepidiini and reconstructing relationships among it. Data on the structure of the ovipositors, genital tubes and spicula ventrali have been generated for >200 species representing 28 Pimeliinae tribes. This dataset was used in a comparative analysis at the subfamilial level, which resulted in recognition of several unique features of tok-tokkie terminalia. Additionally, new features linking phenotypically challenging tribes also were recovered (Cryptochilini + Idisiini + Pimeliini). Secondly, 23 characters linked to the structure of female terminalia were defined for tok-tok beetles. Cladistic analysis demonstrates the nonmonophyletic nature of most of the recognized subtribes. The morphological dataset was analysed separately and in combination with available molecular data (CAD, Wg, cox1, cox2, 28S). All obtained topologies were largely congruent, supporting the following changes: Palpomodina Kami nski & Gearner subtr.n. is erected to accommodate the genera Namibomodes and Palpomodes; Argenticrinis and Bombocnodulus are transferred from Hypomelina to Molurina; 153 species and subspecies previously classified within Psammodes are distributed over three separate genera (Mariazofia Kami nski nom.n., Piesomera stat.r., Psammodes sens.n.). Psammodes sklodowskae Kami nski & Gearner sp.n. is described. Preliminary investigation of the ovipositor of Mariazofia basuto (Koch) comb.n. was carried out with the application of microcomputed tomography, illuminating the muscular system as a reliable reference point for recognizing homologous elements in highly modified ovipositors.

Phylogenomics of darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) from the Atacama Desert

“…That clade also includes Sepidiini and Adelostomini, which do not occur in South America ( Bouchard et al, 2021 ). Kamiński et al (2022) suggested Sepidiini and Adelostomini as closely related tribes, considering the morphology of female terminalia and several genes. However, they did not place Elenophorini close to these tribes.…”

“…Blapstinus appears to be the only tenebrionid genus from the Atacama Desert that has close relatives in North America. The corresponding subtribe Blapstinina Mulsant & Rey, 1853 is in fact restricted to Nearctic and Neotropical regions ( Lumen et al, 2020 ; Kamiński et al, 2022 ). Monophyly of the analyzed taxa of Lagriinae, Blaptinae, Stenochinae, and Alleculinae was confirmed with maximum branch supports, respectively.…”

Welcome Home: Phylogenetic Placement and Taxonomy of an Enigmatic Subtribe Stenolamina Koch, 1956 (Tenebrionidae: Blaptinae: Opatrini)

“…Nevertheless, within the tribe, the genus displays some degree of morphological similarity toward representatives of Blapstinina Mulsant and Rey, 1853 (Lumen et al . 2019, Kamiński et al . 2022).…”

“…Both genera are clearly distinguished by the different structures of antennae (stenolamoid sensoria in Stenolamus vs simple sensoria in Dilamus ), and temporae (postocular sulcus on tempora in Stenolamus vs rounded tempora in Dilamus ). The first of these features seems to be exclusively assigned to Stenolamus within the whole Blaptinae, which all lack compound sensoria (Kamiński et al . 2019).…”

Taxonomic revision of the genus Phylacastus Fairmaire (Tenebrionidae, Eurynotina): shortfalls of anatomical nomenclature with notes on aedeagal homology

“…Morphological terminology follows that of Matthews at al. (2010), with additional specialized terms used for the female terminalia following Kamiński et al (2022) . Dissections were performed following methodology illustrated by Kamiński (2021) ; specimens were soaked in 10% KOH solution for dissection of genitalia before staining with chlorazol black.…”