Higher level molecular phylogeny of darkling beetles (Coleoptera:Tenebrionidae)

Abstract

Insect diversity represents about 60% of the estimated million-and-a-half described eukaryotic species worldwide, yet comprehensive and well-resolved intra-ordinal phylogenies are still lacking for the majority of insect groups. This is the case especially for the most species-rich insect group, the beetles (Coleoptera), a group for which less than 4% of the known species have had their DNA sequenced. In this study, we reconstruct the first higher level phylogeny based on DNA sequence data for the species-rich darkling beetles, a family comprising at least 20 000 species. Although amongst all families of beetles Tenebrionidae ranks seventh in terms of species diversity, the lack of knowledge on the phylogeny and systematics of the group is such that its monophyly has been questioned (not to mention those of the subfamilies and tribes contained within it). We investigate the evolutionary history of Tenebrionidae using multiple phylogenetic inference methods (Bayesian inference, maximum likelihood and parsimony) to analyse a dataset consisting of eight gene fragments across 404 taxa (including 250 tenebrionid species). Although the resulting phylogenetic framework only encompasses a fraction of the known tenebrionid diversity, it provides important information on their systematics and evolution. Whatever the methods used, our results provide strong support for the monophyly of the family, and highlight the likely paraphyletic or polyphyletic nature of several important tenebrionid subfamilies and tribes, notably the polyphyletic subfamilies Diaperinae and Tenebrioninae that clearly require substantial revision in the future. Some interesting associations in several groups are also revealed by the phylogenetic analyses, such as the pairing of Aphtora Bates with Phrenapatinae. Furthermore this study advances our knowledge of the evolution of the group, providing novel insights into much-debated theories, such as the apparent relict distribution of the tribe Elenophorini.

Phylogeny and classification of Cucujoidea and the recognition of a new superfamily Coccinelloidea (Coleoptera: Cucujiformia)

“…Furthermore, topological support among tenebrionoid lineages was generally low, as in other studies to date (Haran et al, 2013;Gunter et al, 2014;Kergoat et al, 2014). However a few noteworthy results recovered herein bear upon tenebrionoid relationships and should be noted.…”

“…However, molecular studies treating the phylogenetic relationships of specific subgroups of Cucujiformia (Robertson et al, 2008;Marvaldi et al, 2009;McKenna et al, 2009;Kergoat et al, 2014) or Coleoptera as a whole (Hunt et al, 2007;Bocak et al, 2014) provide myriad hypotheses and arrangements of cucujiform taxa. In fact, there is little consensus regarding the major divergences within Cucujiformia between these studies.…”

Karyotype and sex chromosome differentiation in two Nalassus species (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae)

“…In consequence of undergoing multiple evolutionary radiations, tenebrionids show considerable morphological variations and several adaptations in life history traits such as feeding behaviour, habitat preferences, flight ability etc. Although higher level of tenebrionid phylogeny based on sequences from seven out of nine subfamilies shows well supported monophyly, the subfamilies Diaperinae, Pimeliinae and Tenebrioninae were recovered as paraphyletic or polyphyletic (Kergoat et al 2014a, b). …”

Spider phylogenomics: untangling the Spider Tree of Life

“…Angiosperms radiated extensively at 125-90 Ma (Crane & Friis, 1987;Wang, Zhang & Jarzembowski, 2013), as did various plant-dependent insect lineages, including beetles (McKenna et al, 2009;Mckenna et al, 2015), lepidopterans (Wahlberg, Wheat & Peña, 2013), ants (Moreau et al, 2006 and holometabolous insects in general (Misof et al, 2014), although some insect lineages do not show a pulse (e.g., darkling beetles; Kergoat et al, 2014). Spiders, as important insect predators, may also have diversified rapidly along with their prey (e.g., Penney, Wheater & Selden, 2003;Peñalver, 2006;Selden & Penney, 2010).…”