Revision ofMecinus heydeniispecies complex (Curculionidae): integrative taxonomy reveals multiple species exhibiting host specialization

Abstract

Revision of Mecinus heydenii species complex (Curculionidae): integrative taxonomy reveals multiple species exhibiting host specialization. -Zoologica Scripta, 43, 34-51. A combined taxonomic, morphological, molecular and biological study revealed that the species presently named Mecinus heydenii is actually composed of five different species: M. heydenii Wencker, 1866; M. raphaelis Baviera & Caldara sp. n., M. laeviceps Tournier, 1873; M. peterharrisi To sevski & Caldara sp. n. and M. bulgaricus Angelov, 1971. These species can be distinguished from each other by a few subtle characteristics, mainly in the shape of the rostrum and body of the penis, and the colour of the integument. The first four species live on different species of Linaria plants, respectively, L. vulgaris (L.) P. Mill., L. purpurea (L.) P. Mill. L. genistifolia (L.) P. Mill. and L. dalmatica (L.) P. Mill., whereas the host plant of M. bulgaricus is still unknown. An analysis of mtCOII gene sequence data revealed high genetic divergence among these species, with uncorrected pairwise distances of 9% between M. heydenii and M. raphaelis, 11.5% between M. laeviceps, M. heydenii and M. raphaelis, while M. laeviceps and M. peterharrisi are approximately 6.3% divergent from each other. Mecinus bulgaricus exhibits even greater divergence from all these species and is more closely related to M. dorsalis Aub e, 1850. Sampled populations of M. laeviceps form three geographical subspecies: M. laeviceps laeviceps, M. laeviceps meridionalis To sevski & Jovi c and M. laeviceps corifoliae To sevski & Jovi c. These subspecies show clear genetic clustering with uncorrected mtDNA COII divergences of approximately 1.4% from each other. Corresponding author: Ivo To sevski, CABI,

Rhinusa Stephens: a taxonomic revision of the species belonging to the R. tetra and R. bipustulata groups (Coleoptera Curculionidae)

“…In fact, on the basis of preliminary molecular studies, Rhinusa and Gymnetron seem not monophyletic with respect to each other, and could present multiple lineages that are disjunct between southern Africa and the Palaearctic. Moreover the R. tetra and the R. bipustulata groups seem very different in DNA from all other species of Rhinusa and might belong to another lineage (Hernández-Vera et al 2013).…”

“…aper (Desbrochers des Loges, 1892), Mecinus variabilis (Rosenhauer, 1856) vs M. caucasicus Reitter, 1907and M. ludyi Reitter, 1907, Mecinus janthinus Germar, 1821vs M. janthiniformis Toševski & Caldara, 2011, Mecinus heydenii Wencker, 1866 (Caldara 2008a;Caldara et al 2008;Caldara et al 2010;Caldara & Fogato 2013;Toševski et al 2011, Toševski et al 2013 showing clear elements of cryptic speciation. Therefore, at least in the Mecinini, but probably in many other herbivorous weevil tribes, it seems that rostrum and dorsal vestiture are the first characters that change in recently diverged species more than genitalia.…”

“…Therefore, at least in the Mecinini, but probably in many other herbivorous weevil tribes, it seems that rostrum and dorsal vestiture are the first characters that change in recently diverged species more than genitalia. By morphological and biological studies, it was seen that a different curvature of the rostra corresponds often to different species (Caldara et al 2008;Toševski et al 2013), whereas sometimes it is not so concerning the difference in their length.…”

“…neta (Germar, 1821), M. sicardi Hustache, 1920, M. janthinus Germar, 1821, M. heydenii Wencker, 1866(Toševski et al 2011, Toševski et al 2013, Caldara & Fogato 2013, where before pupation mature larvae produce a tunnel which ends just in proximity of the external cuticle of the stem or the ovary. Therefore, when leaving its cell, adults have only to bore a subtle layer although in the meantime the plant has become dry and hard (Caldara & Fogato 2013;Caldara pers.…”

Host‐associated genetic divergence and taxonomy in theRhinusa pilosaGyllenhal species complex: an integrative approach

“…The distribution of the three taxa belonging to the R. pilosa group follows that of their host–plant distribution. Ecological speciation within the R. pilosa group is congruent with speciation events found in other Mecinini associated with Linaria spp., where genetic diversification appears to have been initiated by divergent selection associated with different host plant species (Hernández‐Vera et al ., ; Toševski et al ., , ).…”