The effectiveness of DNA‐based delimitation inSynchonnusnet‐winged beetles (Coleoptera: Lycidae) assessed, and description of 11 new species

Abstract

Synchonnus Waterhouse, 1879 from Australia is revised. Achras Waterhouse, 1879 and Enylus Waterhouse, 1879 are found to be junior synonyms of Synchonnus due to the absence of diagnostic characters and result in the new combinations of Synchonnus amplus (Kleine, 1930), S. limbatum (Waterhouse, 1877), and S. segregatus (Waterhouse, 1879). Synchonnus is reported from the Australian mesic and monsoon zones, and 11 new species are described: S. flavonotatum sp. nov., S. maseki sp. nov., S. ailaketoae sp. nov., S. dubenovae sp. nov., S. chilvertonensis sp. nov., S. slipinskii sp. nov., S. monteithi sp. nov., S. eungellensis sp. nov., S. crypticum sp. nov., S. variabilis sp. nov. and S. campestris sp. nov. The morphology-based species limits are compared with delimitation inferred from the shape of the phylogenetic tree and genetic distance. DNA-based species limits agree with morphological delimitation in two clades, but a deep conflict was identified in another clade of Synchonnus consisting of three species with allopatric distributions and diversified genitalia, but strong similarities in cox1 mtDNA sequences. The failure of molecular species delimitation in some Synchonnus points to our inability to predict the performance of a barcoding approach even in closely related lineages and calls for an integrative taxonomical approach whenever possible. The Synchonnus fauna of Australia is presented as highly diverse and fragmentation of habitat in the last~15 million years is hypothesised as the principal factor leading to the observed alpha-taxonomic diversity.

A new species of Synchonnus (Coleoptera: Lycidae) from New Guinea, with an identification key to the Papuan species

“…When a limited number of species was known, variability in the number of pronotal areolae led to the description of four separate genera (WATERHOUSE 1879). Based on molecular phylogeny, the status of these genera was revised (KUSY et al 2017). Now, Synchonnus contains species which have diverse male genitalia and pronotal carinae.…”

“…Additionally, they have symmetrical phallus with thorns in the internal sac, but the shape of the phallus and the position of the thorns are variable. Phallus can be long and slender, but also robust and short (KUSY et al 2017). Always two separate thorns are present, they are close to each other and can be located either at the base of the phallus, in the middle part or close to the apex.…”

“…Strophicus Waterhouse 1879 was synonymized to Enylus Waterhouse, 1879 (BOCAK 2002). All known species of Synchonnus can be now identifi ed only using simultaneously the shape of pronotal ridges and the morphology of male genitalia (KUSY et al 2017). Synchonnus is now treated as a genus merging all species previously placed in Synchonnus, Achras Waterhouse, 1879, Enylus, and Strophicus (KLEINE 1933, KUSY et al 2017.…”

“…All known species of Synchonnus can be now identifi ed only using simultaneously the shape of pronotal ridges and the morphology of male genitalia (KUSY et al 2017). Synchonnus is now treated as a genus merging all species previously placed in Synchonnus, Achras Waterhouse, 1879, Enylus, and Strophicus (KLEINE 1933, KUSY et al 2017. Recently, molecular studies placed Synchonnus in relationships with Leptotrichalus Kleine, 1926 andWakarumbia Bocak, 1999 and showed that the delimitations of the genera Achras and Enylus were unjustifi ed and these are junior synonyms of Synchonnus (SKLENAROVA et al 2013, KUSY et al 2017.…”

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

“…; Kusy et al. in press). Therefore, to avoid paraphyletic taxa in the phylogenetic classification, we prefer to use the broad concept of Erotini and consider Lopherotini as a junior synonym.…”