From museum drawer to tree: historical DNA phylogenomics clarifies the systematics of rare dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) from museum collections

Abstract

Although several methods exist for extracting and sequencing historical DNA originating from drypreserved insect specimens deposited in natural history museums, no consensus exists as to what is the optimal approach. We demonstrate that a customized, low-cost archival DNA extraction protocol (∼ €10 per sample), in combination with Ultraconserved Elements (UCEs), is an effective tool for insect phylogenomic studies. We successfully tested our approach by sequencing DNA from scarab dung beetles preserved in both wet and dry collections, including unique primary type and rare historical specimens from internationally important natural history museums in London, Paris and Helsinki. The focal specimens comprise enigmatic dung beetle genera (Nesosisyphus, OnychotechusandHelictopleurus) that varied in age and preservation. The oldest specimen, the holotype of the now possibly extinct Mauritian endemicNesosisyphus rotundatus, was collected in 1944. We obtained high-quality DNA from all studied specimens to enable the generation of a UCE-based dataset that revealed an insightful and well-supported phylogenetic tree of dung beetles. The resulting phylogeny suggested the reclassification ofOnychotechus(previouslyincertae sedis) within the tribe Coprini. Our approach demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of combining DNA data from historic and recent museum specimens to provide novel insights. The proposed archival DNA protocol is available at DOI 10.17504/protocols.io.81wgbybqyvpk/v1HighlightsWe combined custom low-cost archival DNA extractions and Ultraconserved Element phylogenomicsDNA from rare museum specimens of enigmatic dung beetles revealed their phylogenetic connectionsGenomic data was obtained from the holotype of a potentially extinct monoinsular endemic speciesGenomic data allowed a rare and enigmatic species of previously unknown affinity to be classifiedThe morphology of museum specimens remained intact following non-destructive DNA extractionAbstract Figure