Molecular phylogeny of the tribe Erotini with description of a new genus from China (Coleoptera: Lycidae)

Abstract

Erotini is a small tribe of net‐winged beetles known from the northern temperate zone. We investigated relationships and limits of tribes and genera using a molecular phylogeny inferred from rrnL, cox1 and nad5 mtDNA fragments. Lopheros Leconte, 1881 and Pseudaplatopterus Kleine, 1940 were inferred in current molecular analyses as terminal lineages within Erotini. Therefore, we consider Lopherotini Kazantsev, 2012 and Pseudaplatopterina Kazantsev, 2012 as junior synonyms of Erotini Leconte, 1881. The Platycis genus group comprises 19 species representing several genus‐group taxa previously placed in Platycis s. l. Konoplatycis Nakane, 1969 was recovered as a deeply rooted lineage of Erotini and we inferred another independent lineage for which we propose a new genus Sinoplatycis gen. nov. Additionally, we studied the diversity of Platycis s. l. in Asia, found their highest diversity in the temperate forest habitats of Eastern Asia and inferred the paraphyletic character of the subgenus Erotides s. str. Five new species are described from China: Sinoplatycis cardinalis sp. nov., S. zhani sp. nov. (type species of Sinoplatycis gen. nov.), Erotides brunnescens sp. nov., E. pusillus sp. nov. and E. slipinskii sp. nov. The molecular phylogeny shows deep splits of Japanese species with respect to the continental Eurasian fauna and the role of shallow seas and mountain systems in the diversification of the Platycis genus group.

Neogene climatic fluctuations and poor connectivity with the centres of diversity shaped the Western Palearctic net-winged beetle fauna

“…of ∼160 spp. worldwide), one of the three earliest lineages of the family (Kusy et al ., 2019) that is most diverse in the temperate Holarctic and uncommon in the tropics (Kazantsev, 2004; Li et al ., 2017; Masek et al ., 2018). Other groups, the Calochrominae (6 spp.)…”

“…Kusy et al (2019) redefined subfamilies and tribes using phylogenomic data, and Motyka et al (2021b) built the phylogeny of >500 species, i.e., about 12% of world fauna utilizing the combination of the phylogenomic backbone and Sanger data. The DNA data on Chinese fauna were reported by Li et al (2015Li et al ( , 2017, Motyka et al (2017), and Kusy et al (2021). We add further sequences for the Western Palearctic species.…”

“…The DNA data on Chinese fauna were reported by Li et al . (2015, 2017), Motyka et al . (2017), and Kusy et al .…”

“…T. Nakane and other Japanese entomologists have studied the net-winged beetles in eastern Asia since the 1950s (e.g., Nakane, 1969, Matsuda, 2010. Recently, numerous species have been described in China (e.g., Kazantsev, 1997Kazantsev, , 2004Li et al, 2015Li et al, , 2017.…”

The Malacca Strait separates distinct faunas of poorly-flyingCautiresnet-winged beetles

“…Although their colonization capacity has not been studied, the earlier published phylogenies have shown that net-winged beetle faunas with high species turnover can be separated by narrow sea straits (Malohlava & Bocak, 2010; Li, Bocak & Pang, 2015a; Li et al, 2015b; Li, Pang & Bocak, 2017b; Masek et al, 2018) and only some flower-visiting net-winged beetles are more effective colonists (Motyka, Masek & Bocak, 2017). Due to biological characteristics, Cautires have a lower dispersal capacity than long living, well-sclerotized and well-flying beetles such as water or dung beetles (Balke et al, 2009; Masek et al, 2014, 2015; Toussaint et al, 2015; Li, Pang & Bocak, 2017a ; Bocek et al, 2018). The genus was supposedly brought to Asia with drifting India 35–55 mya, its diversification started before the colonization of the Sunda Shelf and resulted in ∼170 described species from the Oriental region (Kleine, 1933; Bocak, 2002; Dudkova & Bocak, 2010; Sklenarova, Chesters & Bocak, 2013; Sklenarova, Kubecek & Bocak, 2014).…”