Taxonomic revision and phylogenetic analysis of the enigmatic scorpionfly genus Leptopanorpa MacLachlan (Mecoptera: Panorpidae)

Abstract

The representatives of the enigmatic genus Leptopanorpa MacLachlan are characterized by exaggeratedly elongated male abdomens and are likely endemic to Java and Sumatra, Indonesia. Here, we present a taxonomical revision of 14 species of Leptopanorpa, including two new species: Leptopanorpa linyejiei sp. n. from West Java and Leptopanorpa majapahita sp. n. from East Java. A key to species of Leptopanorpa is provided. Leptopanorpa sieboldi MacLachlan is treated as a junior synonym of Leptopanorpa charpentieri (Burmeister), and Leptopanorpa pi decorata Lieftinck is synonymized with Leptopanorpa pi (van der Weele). Leptopanorpa peterseni Lieftinck is reported from Bali for the first time. In order to unravel the phylogeny of Leptopanorpa and other groups with elongated male abdomens, maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference analyses were performed based on 61 morphological characters and partial sequences of one nuclear gene (28S ribosomal RNA) and two mitochondrial genes (cytochrome c oxidase subunits I and II). Thirty‐three species in Panorpoidea were selected as in‐group taxa and two species in Choristidae as out‐group taxa. The results highly support a monophyletic Leptopanorpa, which nests within a paraphyletic Neopanorpa van der Weele. Both parsimonious and Bayesian results suggest that Leptopanorpa can be divided into four subclades. We elucidated the evolutionary history of Leptopanorpa with regard to the paleogeological events of Sundaland and corroborated the multiple origins of elongated male abdomens in Panorpoidea. We also hypothesized that the ventral hook on the male abdominal sternum VI of L. linyejiei sp. n. is very likely used to control the female's abdomen during copulation.

The mitochondrial genomes of Panorpidae: sequence, structure and phylogenetic analysis

“…According to a molecular phylogenetic analysis [22], Neopanorpa is the sister taxon with all other genera of Panorpidae. However, Neopanorpa is considered paraphyletic with Leptopanorpa based on another molecular phylogenetic analysis [23] and morphological phylogeny [20]. Based on our present mitogenome phylogenetic study, Neopanorpa forms a sister taxon with Furcatopanorpa.…”

“…Through a recent molecular phylogenetic analysis, however, Neopanorpa was confirmed a sister taxon to all other genera of Panorpidae excluding Leptopanorpa [22]. Based on a maximum parsimony analysis, Leptopanorpa is nested with Neopanorpa [20]. This means that the phylogenetic relationships of Panorpidae have not been satisfactorily resolved to date.…”

“…270 spp) is distributed in the Holarctic and northern Oriental regions. Leptopanorpa MacLachlan, 1875 (15 spp) is exclusively distributed in Java and Sumatra, Indonesia [19,20]. Neopanorpa van der Weele, 1909 (ca.…”

Morphological phylogeny of Panorpidae (Mecoptera: Panorpoidea)

“…and Sinopanorpa Cai & Hua (3 spp.). The Panorpidae are widely dispersed in the subtropical and temperate zones of Eurasia and North America (Penny & Byers, 1979; Wang & Hua, 2017, 2018, 2019a,b; Bicha, 2018; Wang et al ., 2019; Hu & Hua, 2020), with a number of species penetrating into the equatorial zones, e.g ., the Indian Western Ghats, the Mainland Southeast Asia, the Sunda Islands and the Mexican Plateau (Rust & Byers, 1976; Chau & Byers, 1978; Penny & Byers, 1979; Wang & Hua, 2020).…”

Review of the scorpionfly genus Dicerapanorpa Zhong & Hua (Mecoptera: Panorpidae), with descriptions of two new species

“…Leptopanorpa MacLachlan, 1875 (with 14 spp.) is restricted to Java and Sumatra of Indonesia (Wang & Hua 2020). The remaining five genera (Sinopanorpa Cai & Hua, 2008, Furcatopanorpa Ma & Hua, 2011, Dicerapanorpa Zhong & Hua, 2013, Cerapanorpa Gao, Ma & Hua, 2016and Megapanorpa Wang & Hua, 2019 are endemic to China (Cai et al 2008;Zhong & Hua 2013;Hu et al 2015;Gao et al 2016;Miao et al 2019;.…”