High altitude morphotype of the widespread Lobrathium multipunctum (Gravenhorst, 1802) (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Paederinae) revealed by DNA-barcoding

High altitude ecosystems are often home to endemic species that have evolved in isolation from their low elevation counterparts. In many cases, especially in insects, such mountain endemics are often apterous (due to their reduced ability to fly and disperse). In most cases, so far, these mountain endemics are genetically differentiated from lowland sister species or populations. During an excursion in Central Spain, we encountered two such strikingly different morphotypes of the rove beetle Lobrathium multipunctum (Gravenhorst, 1802) (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Paederinae). The morphotype from high elevation was smaller and paler than those at low elevation, which were slightly larger, darker and regularly coloured. The high altitude morphotype was earlier considered a separate species (Lobrathium hispanicum Dodero, 1916) from its widespread lower-land counterpart (Lobrathium multipunctum (Gravenhorst, 1802)) before their relatively recent synonymy. Using the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) barcode region, we tested whether these distinct morphotypes are distinct species. We found that their synonymy is supported, based on multiple species delimitation methods. We suggest that this phenomenon may be more widespread amongst insects and other organismal groups. We note that the presence of high altitude morphotypes which are phylogenetically nested within, or genetically identical to, widespread lowland species (regular morphotype) is rarely reported in the literature on beetles (and other insects). These findings thus highlight the need for caution when describing mountain endemics and further highlight DNA barcoding as a helpful tool for their study

Taxonomic reappraisal of the European fauna of the bark beetle genus Cryphalus (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae)

Species in the genus Cryphalus are small and notoriously difficult to identify. Even among the relatively well studied European species, erroneous identifications are evident from literature and in museum collections. These misidentifications relate to the small size and similar appearance of Cryphalus species but they are also a product of insufficient diagnostic characters. This is especially unfortunate since some European species are considered pests. Based on the study of more than 1000 specimens and a thorough literature review, robust morphological and molecular evidence supporting all five hitherto recognised native species of Cryphalus in Europe is provided. A key for the reliable identification of these repetition species including new diagnostic characters recognised for the first time, including those from male genitalia, has been constructed. Each native species is provided with a detailed morphological description and their economic significance, distribution, and ecology discussed. Significant genetic variability is observed between certain clusters that should be further explored in a broader geographic context. Lastly, the need for a taxonomic revision of the genus Cryphalus for the entire Palearctic region due to the presence of many similar looking species which are often confused, thus distorting the knowledge of each species is highlighted

Express barcoding with NextGenPCR and MinION for species‐level sorting of ecological samples

The use of DNA barcoding is well established for specimen identification and large‐scale biodiversity discovery, but remains underutilized for time‐sensitive applications such as rapid species discovery in field stations, identifying pests, citizen science projects, and authenticating food. The main reason is that existing express barcoding workflows are either too expensive or can only be used in very well‐equipped laboratories by highly‐trained staff. We here show an alternative workflow combining rapid DNA extraction with HotSHOT, amplicon production with NextGenPCR thermocyclers, and sequencing with low‐cost MinION sequencers. We demonstrate the power of the approach by generating 250 barcodes for 285 specimens within 6 h including specimen identification through BLAST. The workflow required only the following major equipment that easily fits onto a lab bench: Thermocycler, NextGenPCR, microplate sealer, Qubit, and MinION. Based on our results, we argue that simplified barcoding workflows for species‐level sorting are now faster, more accurate, and sufficiently cost‐effective to replace traditional morpho‐species sorting in many projects.Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100002347Carlsbergfondet http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100002808Peer Reviewe

Hypogean<I> Quedius</I> of Taiwan and their biogeographic significance (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae)

As a result of the integrative (morphology and DNA barcodes) revision of the Taiwanese species of the rove beetle genus Quedius belonging to the abnormalis group, in the subgenus Microsaurus, three valid hypogean species are reported for the fauna of this island: Quedius masuzoi Watanabe, 1989,Q. nishikawai Watanabe, 1991 and Q. adilus sp. nov. A new synonymy, Quedius masuzoi = Quedius chiangi Smetana, 1995 syn. nov., is established along with providing additional records, a larval description and bionomic information for this species. Finally, the biogeographic origin of the abnormalis group in Taiwan is discussed.</p

Ikaros navarretei (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Staphylininae), a new apterous rove beetle species from high elevations in Colombia

A new species of the xanthopygine genus Ikaros Chatzimanolis & Brunke, 2021 is described from Colombia: Ikaros navarretei sp. nov. Illustrations and a key are provided to identify the four known species of Ikaros

Quedius meridiocarpathicus Smetana A. Solodovnikov 1958

Quedius meridiocarpathicus Smetana, 1958 (Figs 1, 2C, 4, 8B, 13F, 20) Quedius meridiocarpathicus Smetana, 1958: 365 [Type locality: Slovensko, Kamenný Most, Slanec] Quedius dalmatinus Korge, 1960b: 68 [Type locality: Dalmatia: Castelnuovo] References. Cඈංൿൿൺංඍ (1961): 53 (characters); KඈඋGൾ (1962): 153 (synonymy of Q. dalmatinus); Sආൾඍൺඇൺ (1962): 138 (characters); LඈHඌൾ (1964): 212 (characters); Hඈඋංඈඇ (1965): 277 (distribution); Sආൾඍൺඇൺ (1967): 558 (distribution); Bඈඋൽඈඇං (1976): 99 (characters); Cඈංൿൿൺංඍ (1978): 195 (characters); TඬඍH (1984): 129 (characters); Sආൾඍൺඇൺ (1993): 50 (distribution); Cංർൾඋඈඇං & Zൺඇൾඍඍං (1995): 32 (distribution); Lගඌඓඅඬ (1998): 137 (distribution); Aඇඅൺ෡ (2009): 230 (distribution); Sඈඅඈൽඈඏඇං&kgreen;ඈඏ (2012): 33 (distribution); Pൾඍඋൾඇ&kgreen;ඈ (2015): 80 (distribution); Sൺඅඇංඍඌ&kgreen;ൺ & Sඈඅඈൽඈඏඇං&kgreen;ඈඏ (2019): 49 (characters and distribution). Type material examined. Quedius meridiocarpathicus: Lൾർඍඈඍඒඉൾ J (cSme), designated by Sඈඅඈൽඈඏඇං&kgreen;ඈඏ (2012), labelled: “ Slovakia mer. Kamen. Most 5.5.1955 Smetana 1955 / Quedius meridiocarpathicus s. Smetana det. 1957 / Lectotype Quedius meridiocarpathicus Smetana A. Solodovnikov des. 2009 / Quedius meridiocarpathicus Smetana A. Solodovnikov det. 2009”. Pൺඋൺඅൾർඍඈඍඒඉൾඌ: 1J, labelled:“ Slovakia mer. Kamen.most 3.5.1955 Smetana / Quedius meridiocarpathicus Smetana det. 1957 / Quedius meridiocarpathicus A. Solodovnikov det. 2009 / PARALECTOTYPE Quedius meridiocarpathicus SmetanaA.Solodovnikov des.2009 / NHMD 00523118” (NHMD); 1&female;, labelled: “ Slovakia mer.Kamen.most 3.5.1955 Smetana / Quedius meridiocarpathicus Smetana det. 1957 / Quedius meridiocarpathicus A. Solodovnikov det. 2009 / PARALECTOTYPE Quedius meridiocarpathicus Smetana A.Solodovnikov des.2009 / NHMD 00523117”. Additional material examined. ALBANIA: Kolonjë, 3 km ENE Leskovik, 40.1586, 20.6216, flooded pasture, 990 m, 28.V.2010, M. Schülke (1 J cSch). BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: Jajce, [44.34, 17.27], 12.-23.VI.1967, leg.Baderle (1 J 3&female;&female; NMW); Trebinje, [42.71, 18.35], 1903 O. Leonhard (1 &female; SDEI). BULGARIA: Burgas, Black Sea coast, [42.50, 27.48], 8.-19.V.1985, leg. D.W. Wrase (1 J 5 &female;&female; ZMHB); Kiten, [42.24, 27.77], 29.V.1982, leg. H. Wendt (1 &female; ZMHB); Melnik, [41.52, 23.38], 12.-20.V.1981 (2 &female;&female; ZMHB); Nessebar, [42.66, 27.71], 6.-7.VI.1982, leg. H.Wendt (1 J 2&female;&female; ZMHB); Pomorie, Black Sea coast, [42.58, 27.62], 9.-18.V.1985, leg. D.W. Wrase (1 J cSch); Primorsko, [42.26, 27.75], VII.1980, leg. I. Pokorný (1 &female; cSch); Rupite, General Todorov, [41.43, 23.24], 5.V.1984, leg. Hieke (1 &female; ZMHB); nr. Sandanski, [41.55, 23.23], 28.IV.1985, leg. B. Jaeger (1 J 1 &female; ZMHB); Slivno, [42.67, 26.32] (1 J NHMD); Veliko Tarnovo, [43.08, 25.63], 25.VII.1984, leg. U. Opitz (2 &female;&female; ZMHB). CROATIA: Castelnuovo [Kaštel Novi], [43.55, 16.31], 1895, leg. F. Müller (1 &female; SDEI); nr. Plitvice, [44.86, 15.58], 19.VII.1910, leg. Hochetlinger (1 &female; NHMD); nr. Zagreb, [45.78, 15.98] (1 J NMW). GREECE: Alexandroupolis, [40.85, 25.87], 20.-30.IV.1967, leg. Krätschmer; 4 km NO of Anthili, Thessalia, Lamia, 38.8655, 22.5224, 6.II.2015, leg.T.Wolsch (1J cSch); Essymi [Aesymi], [41.01, 25.95], 700 m, 25.IV.1978, leg. Heinz (1 J 1 &female; ZMHB); Ioannina, Metsovo, Lago O Pigon, [39.81, 21.11], 18.V.2005, 1500m, leg.Angelini (2 &female;&female; NHMD); Janina [Ioannina], [39.66, 20.85], IV.1927, leg.C. Purkyne (2 JJ NHMD); Keramidi, Thessalia, Palamas, 39.5627, 22.0801, 5.II.2015, leg. T. Wolsch (1 &female; cSch); Lavrio, 60 km S Athina, [37.71, 24.06], 10.IV.1993, leg. P. Jørum (1 &female; NHMD); Parnass. [Parnassos], [38.53, 22.62] (3 JJ NHMD); Skarfia, 20 km WSW Lamia, 38.8405, 22.6988, salt meadows, 6.II.2015, leg. T. Mainda (1 J cSch). Cඈඋൿඎ: Val di Ropa, [38.24, 21.73], 1905, leg. O. Leonhard (1 &female; SDEI). Cඋൾඍൾ: Crete [35.41, 24.75], leg. Paganetti (1 J NMW) [potentially mislabelled or introduced specimen clearly belonging to this species]. Kൾൿൺඅඈඇංൺ: Paranetti, [38.21, 20.58], leg. F. Müller (1 &female; SDEI). Pൾඅඈඉඈඇඇൾඌ: 3 km E Kalogria, 20 km NW of Varda, [38.19, 21.39], 15.IV.1993, leg. P. Jørum (1 &female; NHMD); Nomos Lakonias, Near Fokiano, 37.0741, 22.9676, 0 m, sifting, waters edge, stagnant water, salt marsh, 02.IV.2019, leg. M. J. Justesen & A.K.Hansen (1 J NHMD). ZൺKඒඇඍHඈඌ: Kalamaki, [37.74, 20.89], 1909, leg. M. Hilf (1&female; ZMHB). HUNGARY: Hódmez&odblac;vásárhely, [46.41, 20.34], 16.-22.VI.1995, leg Probst (2 &female;&female; NMW); Rapnitz [Rábca] river, Neusiedler See, [47.67, 16.81], V.1994 (1J ZMHB); Velencei, Dinnyes, [47.17, 18.54], salt lake with gravel banks, 15.VI.1979, leg. M. Uhlig (1 J 1&female; ZMHB). ITALY: Albareto, Emilia, [44.53, 10.40], 8.II.1994, leg.A. Fiori (2&female;&female; ZMHB); NE of Bibione, left bank of Canale di Lugugnana mouth at Bibione, Veneto, 45.6259, 12.9791, sifting flood debris and litter, 29.V.2016, leg. A. Solodovnikov & M. Salnitska (2 JJ 1 &female; NHMD); Casinalbo, Emilia, [44.53, 10.40] 25.VII.1996, leg.A. Fiori (2 JJ ZMHB); Cascine Del Riccio, Riva Ema [43.73, 11.25], 14.I.1970, leg. Mascagnia (1 J cBor); Comacchio, [44.69, 12.17], 28.III.1974, leg. P. Garaghahi (2 &female;&female; cBor); Firenzuola, [44.12, 11.37], VII.1970, leg. Mascagnia (1 J cBor); Lido di Jesolo, [45.51, 12.62], 10.VIII.1962, leg. Salvato (1 &female; cBor); Noghera Istria, [45.58, 13.81] (1 J NHMD); Padova, [45.39, 11.90], IX.1969 (1 J ZMHB); Roma, Portonaccio, [41.90, 12.54], IX.1937, leg. G. Sacca (1 J 4 &female;&female; cBor); Tencarola, [45.39, 11.80], 10.XII.1961, leg. Salvato (1 &female; cBor). NORTH MACEDONIA: Bitola, Jugoslavia, [41.02, 21.32], 1962, leg. J.T. Skovgaard (1 &female; NHMD); Katlanovo nr. Skopje, [41.89, 21.68], 17.IX.-12.X.1966, leg. Gruber (1J 1&female; ZMHB); Treska River, Sara, [41.97 21.30], 3.VI.1980, leg.F. Hieke (1 J ZMHB); Vardar River, n. Skopje, [41.98, 21.49], 26.V.1980, leg. F. Hieke (1 J 3 &female;&female; ZMHB). ROMANIA: Predeal, [45.49, 25.57], 20.VI.1977 (1 &female; MZLU). RUSSIA: Kඋൺඌඇඈൽൺඋ Kඋൺං: 15 km S of vill. Taman, [45.21, 36.70], 15.V.1995, sandy sea shore, under logs (2 JJ NHMD); Temruk, mud volcano Gefest, 45.2566, 37.4326, leaf litter in meadows, 12.VI.2017, leg. M. Salnitska (1 NHMD) Karabetova Gryada 5 km SE of vill. Taman, [45.12, 36.76], in litter at the bank of the permanent pond (1 &female; NHMD); Mt.Tkhab, valley of river Zhene, [44.58, 38.35], in forest litter, 21.VI.1992, leg. M. Savitsky (1 J NHMD). SLOVENIA: 9 km SE Piran, [45.48, 13.59], 26.VI.1981, leg. F. Hieke (1 &female; ZMHB). TURKEY: Adapazar&imath;, [40.79, 30.40], flooding, 15.VII.1965, leg. Korge & Heinz (1 J ZMHB); SW Arnavutköy and Yass&imath;ören, [41.17, 28.65], 60 m, 19.IV.1990, leg. Heinz (1 J ZMHB); Caykasi River, Erfelek, Sinop, [41.89, 34.92], 26.V.1989, leg. Schönmann & Schillhammer (1 J 3 &female;&female; NMW); 6 km E Gebze, Izmit, [40.78, 29.49], IV.1983, leg. Heinz (1 J 2 &female;&female; ZMHB); 20 km W Gebze, [40.87, 29.22], IV.1989, leg. Heinz (2 JJ 1 &female; ZMHB); Gelibolu, [40.41, 26.67], 10 m, 3.V.1982, leg. Boffa (2 &female;&female; cBor) &Idot;nönü, Eski&scedil;ehir, [39.82, 30.14], 850 m, 3.IV.1986, leg. Heinz (1 &female; ZMHB); Ke&scedil;an, [40.85, 26.62], 22.IV.1978, leg. Heinz (2 JJ ZMHB) E Pamucak, Selcuk, [37.96, 27.27], swamp, 28.III.1986, leg. Heinz (1 J ZMHB); 2 km E Sar&imath;salt&imath;k, 39.1241, 39.2475, 1594 m, 19.V.2011, leg. Anla&scedil; (1 &female; NHMD); Saray, 30 km W Ankara, [40.07, 32.61], 23.II.1973, leg. Exp. Nat. Mus. Praha (1 J NHMD); Sö&gbreve;üt, SE of Bilecik, [40.02, 30.18], 1200 m, 4.IV.1992, leg. Heinz (1 J 2 &female;&female; ZMHB); Susuz-Dag, Dokuz-Göl, Elmal&imath;, [36.50, 29.76], 1700-2000 m, 20.VII.1971, leg. Heinz (1 J ZMHB). UKRAINE: Environs Odessa, right bank of Kujalnitskij estuary, [46.57, 30.73], 10.VI.2005, under stones, leg.A. Gontarenko (3 JJ 1 &female; NHMD); Nikitsky botanical garden, [44.50, 34.23], by the sea, stones, 16.IX.1966 (1 J cRyv). Redescription. Measurements JJ (n = 7): HW = 1.73– 1.82 (1.78); HL = 1.47–1.56 (1.51); HL/HW 0.82–0.88 (0.85); PW = 2.27–2.47 (2.36); PL = 2.09–2.31 (2.19); PL/PW 0.89–0.95 (0.93); EW = 2.27–2.47 (2.36); EL = 2.09–2.24 (2.17); EL/EW 0.87–0.99 (0.92); EL/PL 0.92–1.05 (0.99); PW/HW 1.50–1.66 (1.56); forebody length 5.71–6.02 (5.86). &female;&female; (n = 3): HW = 1.64–1.76 (1.71); HL = 1.33–1.51 (1.43); HL/HW 0.81–0.86 (0.83); PW = 2.07–2.36 (2.21); PL = 1.96–2.13 (2.05); PL/PW 0.91–0.95 (0.93); EW = 2.16–2.38 (2.28); EL = 1.98–2.24 (2.12); EL/EW 0.90–0.97 (0.93); EL/PL 1.00–1.09 (1.03); PW/HW 1.52–1.56 (1.54); forebody length 5.27–5.78 (5.60). Medium sized, robust species; body light to dark brown (Fig. 8B). Head black, distinctly transverse, with eyes medium sized (EyL/TL = 1.50–1.67 (1.56)); microsculpture of transverse waves; no interocular punctures between anterior frontal punctures (cf. Fig. 6F); antennae pale reddish, antennomeres elongate; palpi pale reddish. Thorax: pronotum light to dark brown, slightly wider than long, wider than head, with microsculpture of transverse waves; three punctures in dorsal row and one to two in sublateral row with its posteriormost puncture reaching just beyond the level of first puncture of dorsal row; scutellum punctured and pubescent; elytra most often reddish brown rarely fully darkened, uniformly pubescent, slightly wider than long, roughly same length as pronotum; legs reddish brown with inner face of tibia darker. Abdomen light to dark brown, tergites uniformly punctured, without clear iridescence. Male. Aedeagus (Fig. 13F): paramere spatulate with clear proximal to medial attenuation and extending into paddle-like structure near apex, reaching just beyond apex of median lobe, with sensory peg setae forming a broad horseshoe shaped band of relatively large peg setae; median lobe broad with gentle constriction to a point at apex, on parameral side with two small teeth pointing slightly basad, positioned at level near basal level of peg setae band of paramere; internal sac without a continuation of C-sclerite. Differential diagnosis. Quedius meridiocarpathicus is very similar to other species in the molochinus -group with red elytra, viz Q. molochinus, Q. balticus, and Q. vicinus. It can be distinguished from Q. balticus by the pale base of the basal three antennomeres. Generally, it has paler middle antennomeres compared to Q. molochinus. Compared to Q. vicinus it is generally slightly darker, elytra brownish red (pale red to yellowish in Q. vicinus), abdomen dark brown (light brown in Q. vicinus). For confident discrimination of these species, their genitalia should be checked: the aedeagus of Q. meridiocarpathicus differs from Q. molochinus in the absence of an extension of the C-sclerite in the internal sac, in the spatula-shaped paramere with clear proximal to medial attenuation, and larger peg setae. It can be distinguished most easily from Q. balticus by the shape of the paramere, which is medially broadened in Q. balticus and broadened towards apex in Q. meridiocarpathicus. It differs from Q. vicinus in the absence of a blunt apical hook on the paramere (parameral side). Quedius meridiocarpathicus can be confused with Q. picipes of the subgenus Raphirus, which may occur in similar environments. It can be readily distinguished from the latter by more parallel-sided abdomen and entire labrum. Synonymic notes. Independent of each other, Sආൾඍൺඇൺ (1958) and KඈඋGൾ (1960b) recognized that a species very similar to Q. molochinus was present in Southeastern Europe. KඈඋGൾ (1962) himself synonymized Q. dalmatinus Korge, 1960 with Q. meridiocarpathicus Smetana, 1958. Based on the description and illustration of Q. dalmatinus, it clearly agrees with the concept of Q. meridiocarpathicus herein. Bionomics. Quedius meridiocarpathicus appears to be found most frequently in wet debris and under rocks near water bodies, both fresh and saline. We (AKH and AS) have collected this species in the flood debris of a salt lagune near Bibione, Italy, in debris around the stagnant salt pond near the beach of Fokiano, Greece (Fig. 2C) and on the marsh debris near the Gefest Mud Volcano in the Taman Peninsula in southern Russia. Like many other Quedius s. str., the species is found at lower elevations in the northern part of its range and at much higher elevations (up to 2000 m) towards the southern part of its range. Distribution. Quedius meridiocarpathicus is distributed from Italy through Southeastern Europe to the Crimea, Western Caucasus and Anatolia (Fig. 20). There seem to be rather well defined distributional boundaries between this species, and Q. molochinus and Q. vicinus. The northern range of Q. meridiocarpathicus is roughly delimited by the Alps and Carpathians, where it is replaced by Q. molochinus to the North of these mountain chains. The species continues north around the Black Sea to the western foothills of the Caucasus. To the South it extends to northern and western Anatolia, mainly along the coast, but it is also found more inland in some sites. In southern and eastern Anatolia Q. meridiocarpathicus is gradually replaced by Q. vicinus, with which it seems to co-occur to some extent in southern Anatolia.Published as part of Hansen, Aslak Kappel, Brunke, Adam, Simonsen, Thomas & Solodovnikov, Alexey, 2022, Revision of Quedius sensu stricto (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), pp. 225-299 in Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae (Acta. Ent. Mus. Natl. Pragae) (Acta. Ent. Mus. Natl. Pragae) 62 (1) on pages 257-259, DOI: 10.37520/aemnp.2022.017, http://zenodo.org/record/739970

Fig. 18 in Revision of Quedius sensu stricto (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

Fig. 18. Distribution of Quedius afrofuliginosus Gusarov, 1991 (top), Q. curtipennis Bernhauer, 1908 (middle) and Q. fuliginosus (Gravenhorst, 1802) (bottom).Published as part of Hansen, Aslak Kappel, Brunke, Adam, Simonsen, Thomas & Solodovnikov, Alexey, 2022, Revision of Quedius sensu stricto (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), pp. 225-299 in Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae (Acta. Ent. Mus. Natl. Pragae) 62 (1) on page 282, DOI: 10.37520/aemnp.2022.017, http://zenodo.org/record/739970

Ikaros navarretei (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Staphylininae), a new apterous rove beetle species from high elevations in Colombia

A new species of the xanthopygine genus Ikaros Chatzimanolis & Brunke, 2021 is described from Colombia: Ikaros navarretei sp. nov. Illustrations and a key are provided to identify the four known species of Ikaros