David Král

The peril of dating beetles

Recently, McKenna et al., 2015 (MCK15 hereafter) investigated the higher level phylogenetic relationships of beetles (Insecta, Coleoptera) using the most comprehensive molecular dataset to date, and inferred the absolute ages of major groups using multiple fossil calibrations across the beetle tree of life. Based on the result of their dating analysis, beetles diverged from Strepsiptera in the Early Permian c. 278.33 Ma with a 95% credibility interval (95% CI) of 288.28 to 271.89 Ma, and the crown age of Coleoptera was estimated for the Late Permian c. 252.89 Ma (95% CI: 267.68 to 238.78 Ma), supporting the view that beetles originated before and survived through the End-Permian Mass Extinction that occurred c. 252 Ma (Shen et al., 2011). However, some of the age estimates found in MCK15 are in conflict with current knowledge of the beetle fossil record (e.g. Nikolajev & Ren, 2010; Pan et al., 2011, Prokin & Ren, 2011; Fikáček et al., 2012a; Wang et al., 2013, 2014; Cai et al., 2014b, 2015a; Kirejtshuk et al., 2014; Boucher et al., 2016) and with other recently published molecular age estimates for some major beetle clades (e.g. Zhang & Zhou, 2013; Ahrens et al., 2014; Bloom et al., 2014; Kergoat et al., 2014; Kim & Farrell, 2015; Bocák et al., 2016; Gunter et al., 2016). In some cases, the difference in age estimates is significant and might change our understanding of the mode and tempo of diversification dynamics of these groups. Based on a careful examination of the data and analyses performed in MCK15, we propose that the divergence time estimates which they found are likely to underestimate clade ages. We believe this is due to the subset of fossil Coleoptera that MCK15 selected as calibration points, as well as the methodological approach used in their analyses. To explore the impact of fossil selection on the age of Coleoptera, we derived an alternative set of fossil calibration points based on best-practice recommendations (e.g. Parham et al., 2012),

Description of the larvae of Dicronocephalus wallichi bourgoini Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) with observations on nesting behavior and life cycle of two Dicronocephalus species under laboratory conditions

Abstract Larva of the fruit beetle Dicronocephalus wallichi bourgoini Pouillaude 1914 is described and illustrated. The following unique morphological characters within Cetoniinae are discussed: shape of claw, spindle-shaped last antennomera, general body shape. The presence of metathoracic egg-bursters in the first instar larva has been found. Its significance for distinguishing the first instar larvae of Cetoniinae is discussed. The nesting behaviours of D. wallichi bourgoini and D. adamsi(Pascoe 1863) are described. The course of the life cycle of both species under laboratory condition is presented and discussed.

Immature stages of Euchirinae (Coleoptera : Scarabaeoidea): genera Cheirotonus and Propomacrus with comments on their phylogeny based on larval and adult characters

We report the discovery of the larvae of Propomacrus bimucronatus (Pallas, 1781) in their natural habitat; providing notes on their biology based on field observations and laboratory-bred specimens. We give a detailed description of Cheirotonus formosanus Ohaus, 1913 and P. cypriacus Alexis & Markis, 2002 larvae as well as a redescription of the immature stages of P. bimucronatus and present the first diagnosis of larval Euchirinae. Based on 105 morphological and ecological characters of adults and larvae in 24 taxa of Scarabaeoidea, we discuss the phylogenetic relationships of Euchirinae within the group. Our results corroborate Euchirinae monophyly, supported by two larval synapomorphic characters; however, no adult autapomorphic characters were detected. The results of 15 separate phylogenetic analyses (differing in the set of terminalia, characters and in the optimality criteria) indicate a possible sister group relationship between Euchirinae and a clade comprising Melolonthinae + Rutelinae + Dynastinae, with Cetoniinae being a sister group to the whole clade. Larval characters represent a valuable source of information for the systematics of Scarabaeoidea; however, special effort should be paid to improve the still unsatisfactory sampling of immature data.

The classification and phylogenetic status of Jekelius ( Reitterius ) punctulatus (Jekel, 1866) and Jekelius ( Jekelius ) brullei (Jekel, 1866) (Coleoptera: Geotrupidae) using molecular data

The phylogenetic placement of Jekelius brullei (Jekel, 1866) and J. punctulatus (Jekel, 1866) (Coleoptera: Geotrupidae) was assessed using mitochondrial and nuclear molecular data to discern contrasting nomenclatural views provided by López-Colón (1996) and the Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera (Löbl et al. 2006). Our results support both the monophyletic and classification status of the genus Jekelius López-Colón, 1989; and the splitting of the genus into the subgenera Jekelius López-Colón, 1989 and Reitterius López-Colón, 1996. The basal phylogenetic placement of these two species also suggests an oriental origin for Jekelius within the western Palaearctic region. Finally, we include a potential distributional map of Jekelius (Reitterius) punctulatus (Jekel, 1866) based on an exhaustive search of occurrence data.

Lethrus (Lethrus) schneideri sp. n. (Coleoptera, Geotrupidae) from Greece

Abstract Lethrus (Lethrus) schneideri Král & Hillert, sp. n. from Thrace, Greece, is described. The new species is morphologically most similar and probably closely related to Lethrus (Lethrus) apterus (Laxmann, 1770) and Lethrus (Lethrus) ares Král, Rejsek & Schneider, 2001. Diagnostic characters (shape of mandibles, ventral mandible processes, pronotum and parameres) are illustrated. Character matrix for separation of males of the Lethrus species closely related to Lethrus schneideri Král & Hillert, sp. n. and geographic ranges for all species studied are mapped.

Tanyproctus ( Tanyproctus ) arher (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Tanyproctini), a new species from the Socotra Island, Yemen

Tanyproctus (Tanyproctus) arher Bezděk, Sehnal & Král, new species, is described from Socotra Island (Yemen), based on external morphology including male genitalia.

An unusual new species of the genus Paulianellus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) from Yunnan, China

The genus Paulianellus was erected by Balthasar (1938) as a subgenus of the genus Aphodius Hellwig, 1798 for a single species, Aphodius maderi Balthasar, 1938 from Sichuan.

Ahermodontus bischoffi —rediscovery of an endemic dung beetle species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) in Albania after more than 80 years

The genus Ahermodontus Báguena, 1930 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) is currently comprised of three species: A. marini Báguena, 1930 and A. ambrosi (Pardo Alcaide, 1936) from southern Spain and Morocco and A. bischoffi (Všetečka, 1939) from Albania (see e.g., Dellacasa et al. 2001, 2002, 2016). The distribution and bionomy of both of the western Mediterranean Ahermodontus species are relatively well known. Contrastingly, A. bischoffi was described using a single female specimen collected by A. Bischoff in Llogara, Albania in 1934 (Všetečka 1939) and additional specimens remained unknown until now. Geodesist Alfons Bischoff (1890-1942) was a famous Albanian speleologist and insect collector (Horn et al. 1990; Genest Juberthie 1994; Zhalov 2015). He often made his insect material accessible to specialists on particular insect groups and several species is dedicated to him: for example, the Carabidae (Coleoptera) species Duvalius bischoffi Meschnigg, 1936, Pterostichus bischoffianus Jedlička, 1936, and Zabrus bischoffi Müller, 1936, and the paper wasp Polistes bischoffi Weyrauch, 1937 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae).

Glaresis hespericula sp. n. from the Cape Verde Islands (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea, Glaresidae)

Abstract Glaresishespericulasp. n. from the Cape Verde Islands (Boa Vista Island) is described and its diagnostic characters are illustrated. The new species is compared with similar and probably closely related species Glaresiswalzlae Scholtz, 1983. The differential diagnosis is mainly based on the different shape of meso- and metatibiae.

Phylogeography and DNA-based species delimitation provide insight into the taxonomy of the polymorphic rose chafer Protaetia (Potosia) cuprea species complex (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) in the Western Palearctic

The development of modern methods of species delimitation, unified under the “integrated taxonomy” approach, allows a critical examination and re-evaluation of complex taxonomic groups. The rose chafer Protaetia (Potosia) cuprea is a highly polymorphic species group with a large distribution range. Despite its overall commonness, its taxonomy is unclear and subject to conflicting hypotheses, most of which largely fail to account for its evolutionary history. Based on the sequences of two mitochondrial markers from 65 individuals collected across the species range, and a detailed analysis of morphological characters including a geometric morphometry approach, we infer the evolutionary history and phylogeography of the P. cuprea species complex. Our results demonstrate the existence of three separate lineages in the Western Palearctic region, presumably with a species status. However, these lineages are in conflict with current taxonomic concepts. None of the 29 analyzed morphological characters commonly used in the taxonomy of this group proved to be unambiguously species- or subspecies- specific. The geometric morphometry analysis reveals a large overlap in the shape of the analyzed structures (pronotum, meso-metaventral projection, elytra and aedeagus), failing to identify either the genetically detected clades or the classical species entities. Our results question the monophyly of P. cuprea in regard to P. cuprina, as well as the species status of P. metallica. On the other hand, we found support for the species status of the Sicilian P. hypocrita. Collectively, our findings provide a new and original insight into the taxonomy and phylogeny of the P. cuprea species complex. At the same time, the results represent the first attempt to elucidate the phylogeography of these polymorphic beetles.