Molecular biogeography of Mediterranean and southern African disjunctions as exemplified by pollen beetles of the Meligethes planiusculus species-group and related taxa (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae; Meligethinae)

We investigated the apparent disjunction expressed in two related assemblages of species of the genus Meligethes, i.e. M. fruticola and its allies in the Cape region of South Africa and the M. planiusculus group in the Mediterranean region. We also inferred possible dynamics in the radiation of the Meligethes planiusculus complex within Macaronesia utilizing morphological, molecular and bionomical data, exploring potential historical and palaeoecological scenarios regulated by a molecular clock dating system. We reconstructed phylogenetic relationships of the M. planiusculus complex and of related Mediterranean (M. tristis), tropical (M. scotti) and southern African (M. chevrolati, M. conformis, and M. fruticola) species, using COI mitochondrial gene sequences. Phylogenetic reconstructions support an unambiguous distinction of two major clades grouping European-Mediterranean M. canariensis, M. isoplexidis andM. planiusculus specimens in one clade and the South-African specimens related to M. fruticola in another. Molecular markers suggested that the European-Mediterranean taxon M. tristis is unambiguously more distantly related to the partly sympatric M. canariensis, M. isoplexidis and M. planiusculus, than to the geographically isolated Southern African taxon, M. fruticola. However, morphological data revealed that M. tristis is more closely related to M. planiusculus and its allies while occupying a position internal to the M. planiusculus species group, but external to the M. planiusculus complex. Results of divergence estimation analyses suggest a splitting between ancestors of the European-Mediterranean species of the M. planiusculus complex and that of the African species M. fruticola at ~21-23 MYA. Molecular results also demonstrated that the remaining Afrotropical species are more related to the M. planiusculus and M. fruticola complexes than to M. tristis. This evidence clearly indicates that the Holarctic M. planiusculus group represents a paraphyletic assemblage with heterochronic Afrotropical origin. The estimated times of divergence supports evidence from other researchers of an ‘Arid Corridor’, or of a ‘Central or Eastern High Africa Corridor’, which connected several times in the last twenty MY the European-Mediterranean and eastern/southern African areas, and facilitated species migration northwards and southwards. The dynamics of the Meligethes planiusculus complex radiation in Macaronesia apparently followed a contradictory biogeographical scenario than the sequence of events recently hypothesized for their host-plants (Echium, Boraginaceae)

Primera cita de Phenolia (Lasiodites) limbata tibialis (Boheman, 1851) para España (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), y de otros coleópteros nuevos o interesantes para Cataluña

Es cita per primera vegada per a Espanya el Nitidulidae invasor Phenolia (Lasiodites) limbata tibialis (Boheman, 1851), recentment citat per primer cop de Portugal que ha representat el primer registre europeu de l'espècie, àmpliament estesa pel continent africà i introduïda a les Açores, Madeira i illes Hawaii. Es donen noves localitzacions, per a Catalunya, de 10 interessants espècies, 6 de les quals són saproxíliques. Recollides en els Parcs Naturals del Cadí-Moixeró i Montseny, en els paratges naturals de l'Albera i Poblet, i en la Reserva Natural de Sebes. De totes les espècie es dóna la seva distribució coneguda en l'àrea peninsular i es comenta la seva biologia, de dues s'acompanya l'habitus.The alien species Phenolia (Lasiodites) limbata tibialis (Boheman, 1851) (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) is recorded for first time for Spain, recently recorded for Portugal, first european record for this species widely distributed in Africa and introduced in Azores, Madeira and Hawaii islands. New records for Catalonia are given for ten interesting species, six of which are saproxylic, collected in Cadí-Moixerò and Montseny Natural Parks, Albera and Poblet Natural Sites and Sebes Natural Reserve. For all species, known distribution in peninsular area is given, their biology is discussed and habitus of two of them is figured.Se cita por primera vez para España el Nitidulidae invasor Phenolia (Lasiodites) limbata tibialis (Boheman, 1851), recientemente citado por primera vez de Portugal que ha representado el primer registro europeo de la especie, ampliamente extendida por el continente africano e introducida en las Azores, Madeira e islas Hawaii. Se dan nuevas localizaciones, para Cataluña, de 10 interesantes especies, 6 de las cuales son saproxílicas. Recolectadas en los Parques Naturales del Cadí-Moixeró y Montseny, en los Parajes Naturales de l’Albera y Poblet, y en la Reserva Natural de Sebes. De todas las especie se da su distribución conocida en el área peninsular y se comenta su biología, de dos se acompaña el habitus

Revision of Pocadius Erichson (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae)

A revision of Pocadius Erichson (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) was completed. A total of 46 species were (re)described, including 25 new species, a key to species constructed, and phylogenetic analysis performed. Taxonomic changes, including nomenclatural emendations, reinstatement of species, and description of new taxa, within this dissertation do not constitute formal changes as defined by the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Illustrations of the genitalia, key characters, and dorsal habitus of species are provided. The phylogeny demonstrates a monophyletic Pocadius. The phylogeny suggests a Palearctic origin of the genus with subsequent speciation into the Old World tropics and New World. Host specialization on gasteromycetes fungi by Pocadius species was shown not to be obligate but rather facultative. Some sympatric species were shown to have temporally disjunct occurrences that may provide reproductive isolation

Revision and Reclassification of the Genera of Phalacridae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea)

The family Phalacridae is monographed at the genus level using modern phylogenetic and classification methods. A morphological matrix of 106 characters and 2063 base pairs of aligned 18S rDNA sequence data were analyzed both separately and in a concatenated matrix, using maximum parsimony, Bayesian methods, and maximum likelihood. The phylogenetic hypotheses were used to construct a new subfamilial classification for the family. I recognize eight subfamilies, including two described as new: Biophytinae Guillebeau 1894, Eustilbinae Guillebeau 1892, Ochrolitinae Guillebeau 1894, Olibrinae Guillebeau 1892, Olibroporinae, subfam. nov., Olibrosominae, subfam. nov., Phaenocephalinae Matthews 1899, Phalacrinae Guillebeau 1892. Twenty-eight new generic synonymies are established. Ten new genera and seven new species are described: Antennogasmus, gen. nov. (type species: A. cordatus, sp. nov.), Austroporus, gen. nov. (type species: A. victoriensis (Blackburn)), Malagasmus Gimmel, gen. nov. (type species: M. thalesi, sp. nov.), Malagophytus, gen. nov. (type species: M. steineri, sp. nov.), Neolitochrus, gen. nov. (type species: N. pulchellus (LeConte)), Paracylomus, gen. nov. (type species: P. asiaticus (Champion)), Platyphalacrus, gen. nov. (type species: P. lawrencei, sp. nov.), Ranomafanacrinus, gen. nov. (type species: R. nigrinus, sp. nov.), Steinerlitrus, gen. nov. (type species: S. warreni, sp. nov.), Sveculus, gen. nov. (type species: S. lewisi, sp. nov.). Generic reassignments resulted in 201 new combinations. Two new names have been established for secondary homonyms. Type species are designated for two previously described genus-group names. Three new species-group synonymies are established. One name is resurrected from synonymy. Lectotypes are designated for 23 species. One genus and two species are excluded from Phalacridae: Sternosternus Guillebeau (type species: S. grouvellei Guillebeau) and Parasemus parvopallidus Lea, both of which belong in Hydrophilidae. All 34 resulting genera in the family Phalacridae (except Pseudolibrus Flach, nomen inquirendum) are keyed, described, and illustrated. A comprehensive literature review summarizes the present knowledge of the biology, immature stages, distribution, and taxonomy of all taxa of Phalacridae, and a world catalogue is given for the group. Presentation of nomenclatural changes in this dissertation does not constitute formal publication