Phylogeny and divergence dating of the ladybird beetle tribe Coccinellini Latreille (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Coccinellinae)

Abstract

We reconstruct a comprehensively sampled molecular phylogeny for the second most species‐rich tribe of the ladybird beetle family Coccinellidae, the charismatic Coccinellini. We analysed a dataset consisting of five nuclear and three mitochondrial gene fragments from 150 taxa to provide a detailed phylogeny and estimates of historical divergence times using Bayesian relaxed clocks and primary fossil calibrations and an assessment of the evolution of feeding habits. The results of phylogenetic analyses provide strong support for the monophyly of the tribe Coccinellini, highlight the existence of four major clades and most sampled Coccinellini genera (30 out of 34) were recovered monophyletic. Our dating analyses suggest an Early Cretaceous origin for Coccinellidae at ca. 140 millions years ago (Ma) and a Late Cretaceous origin for the tribe Coccinellini at ca. 83.8 Ma. Ancestral character state estimation of feeding habits highlights a high level of phylogenetic niche conservatism on aphids and indicates that the most common recent ancestor of Coccinellini likely also fed on aphids. Our reconstruction of feeding habits and assessment of the aphid fossil record suggests that the diversification of Coccinellini paralleled that of Aphididae, although with substantial variation in host‐breadth and the tendency for a few specialized lineages towards non‐aphid feeding.

Comparative and phylogenomic analyses of mitochondrial genomes in Coccinellidae (Coleoptera: Coccinelloidea)

“…The present study recovered a similar branching pattern based on the mitogenome data, with Halyziini and Coccinellini being placed in a clade. This result is congruent with the results of phylogenetic reconstruction based on combining analyses of nuclear and mitochondrial gene fragments ( Nattier et al, 2021 ; Tomaszewska et al, 2021 ).…”

“…In addition, the sister group relationship between Chilocorini and Coccinellini was robustly supported. Within Coccinellini, the sister-group relationships between Coelophora and Propylea , between Hippodamia and Harmonia were supported, consistent with the prior studies by Escalona et al (2017) , Nattier et al (2021) and Tomaszewska et al (2021) .…”

“…Recent studies recovered members of the former tribe Halyziini within Coccinellini ( Nattier et al, 2021 ; Tomaszewska et al, 2021 ). Some authors have proposed that Coccinellini, including Halyziini, constitutes a monophyletic group ( Che et al, 2021 ; Nattier et al, 2021 ; Seago et al, 2011 ; Tomaszewska et al, 2021 ). The present study recovered a similar branching pattern based on the mitogenome data, with Halyziini and Coccinellini being placed in a clade.…”

Aphidophagous ladybird beetles adapt to an aphid symbiont

“…Ladybird beetles mainly feed on insects in the Sternorrhyncha group, for example, aphids, coccids, psyllids and whiteflies (Giorgi et al, 2009). As the main aphid‐feeding group among ladybirds, Coccinellini species have a diversification history parallel to that of Aphididae species (Nattier et al, 2021; Tomaszewska et al, 2021). Moreover, S. symbiotica has an ancient association with aphids, at least with the common ancestor of the basal group Lachninae (Manzano‐Marin et al, 2017).…”

“…The aphidophagous ladybirds mainly belong to the tribe Coccinellini, or the ‘true ladybirds’ (Giorgi et al, 2009). Molecular phylogeny suggests that the common ancestor of Coccinellini underwent a transition from a coccid feeder to an aphid feeder in the Late Cretaceous and further diversified in parallel to aphids (Nattier et al, 2021; Tomaszewska et al, 2021). Also, S. symbiotica has an ancestral association with aphids at least from the Last Cretaceous (Manzano‐Marin et al, 2017; Monnin et al, 2020; Szwedo, 2018).…”