First insights into the phylogeny of tok-tokkie beetles (Tenebrionidae: Molurina, Phanerotomeina) and examination of the status of thePsammodes vialisspecies-group

Abstract

The first molecular phylogeny of the tribe Sepidiini is inferred from analyses of DNA sequence data from the following five loci (CAD, wg, COI, COII, 28S rRNA). Bayesian and maximum likelihood analyses were performed on a dataset containing 41 taxa, of which a majority represent Molurina (27) and Phanerotomeina (6). The resulting topologies were used to discuss phylogenetic placement and diagnostic characters of all of the genera representing Molurina. Within the subtribe, the results revealed paraphyly of the genus Psammodes. The P. vialis species-group, currently classified within Psammodes, was recovered as sister to all other Molurina genera. Based on this topology and morphological investigations, a new genus named Toktokkus gen. nov. is established. Within Phanerotomeina, Ocnodes is paraphyletic with regard to Tarsocnodes. In order to restore the monophyly of Ocnodes, the subgenus Chiliarchum stat. nov. is elevated to generic level. Finally, as the homology of female terminalia structures has never been fully assessed for Sepidiini, a comparative study of ovipositor morphology was conducted. As a result, this paper presents the first fully annotated ovipositors for tok-tokkie beetles.

A new species and distributional notes on the genus Toktokkus Kamiński & Gearner, 2021 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Sepidiini)

“…The present note is a direct continuation of my taxonomic studies on the tribe Sepidiini Eschscholtz, 1829 (Kamiński et al 2019, 2022 and in particular the recently published revision of the genus Toktokkus (Kamiński et al 2021. Up to now, I have investigated a diverse set of specimens concerning Toktokkus from several entomological collections around the world, including most of the type material (Kamiński et al 2021). During my recent visit to the Natural History Museum London (BMNH) I discovered a new species representing this genus and Angolan specimens significantly extending the distributional ranges of previously known species.…”

“…Due to the presence of microtubercles on the elytra, relatively small body size (21.0 mm), and extremely finely punctate pronotal disc this new species is close to Toktokkus tuberculipennis (Haag-Rutenberg, 1871) (see Fig. 2D in Kamiński et al 2021). However, it can be sharply distinguished from that species, and all other congeners, by the presence of three distinctly elevated parallel rows on each elytron (Fig.…”

“…The present note is a direct continuation of my taxonomic studies on the tribe Sepidiini Eschscholtz, 1829 (Kamiński et al 2019, 2022 and in particular the recently published revision of the genus Toktokkus (Kamiński et al 2021. Up to now, I have investigated a diverse set of specimens concerning Toktokkus from several entomological collections around the world, including most of the type material (Kamiński et al 2021).…”

Taxonomic status of Parapraocis, a new genus of Praociini (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pimeliinae) from Peru

“…Koch (Flores & Vidal, 2009) and Praocis (Praocis) Eschscholtz (Flores & Pizarro-Araya, 2012). Conversely, in a recent study of the African representatives of the Pimeliinae, tribe Sepidiini, Kaminski et al (2020) found diagnostic characters in the coxite configuration (ovipositor) at the generic level while morphology of genital tubes seems to be stable across the tribe.…”

“…Terminology and ratios of female genitalia are those proposed by Tschinkel & Doyen (1980) and Doyen (1994). Following the suggestion of Kaminski et al (2020) to assess homologies in the morphology of female genitalia, we compared the female genitalia of this new genus with previous studies antennomere 10 broader than long (Figs. 2-3), apical tomentose sensory patches on antennomere 9 in two areas, internal larger than external, on antennomere 10 in a semicircle dorsally continuous, on antennomere 11 on distal half (Fig.…”