Simone Sabatelli

Molecular ecology and phylogenetics of the water beetle genus Ochthebius revealed multiple independent shifts to marine rockpools lifestyle

Marine rockpools represent a dynamic ecosystem where inhabiting species usually suffer changeable conditions, with consequent phenomena of local populations’ size expansions and reductions. Nevertheless, a few specialized insect groups are known to live in marine rockpools, and among them, several species belong to the water beetle family Hydraenidae. Three groups of Ochthebius sensu lato (s.l.) live in fact in marine rockpools: the putative subgenus Calobius, the former subgenus Cobalius (both mostly Mediterranean–Macaronesian) and two species of the O. capicola group from South Africa. In this work, we performed a molecular phylogeny of Ochthebius s.l., running molecular clocks, aiming to address the following questions: Are these three groups related? Which is their position within Ochthebius s.l.? How many different times and in how many lineages of Ochthebius s.l. a shift from inland waters to marine rockpools environments happened? Is the current taxonomic status of these three groups supported by genetics? We found that Calobius, Cobalius and the O. capicola group represent three distinct groups, with no sister relationships, suggesting that a shift from fresh/brackish waters to marine rockpools happened independently at least three different times along the diversification of the genus. Cobalius represents an effective separate subgenus, whereas such a rank is not supported by molecular data for Calobius, which represents a monophyletic clade within the nominal subgenus Ochthebius sensu stricto (s.str.). However, as Calobius is monophyletic and characterized by strongly peculiar and distinguishing morphology, we suggest referring to this group as the ‘Calobius’ lineage. Three Mediterranean taxa within this lineage represent likely valid new species, to be described soon. In the same way, the taxonomy of Cobalius should be revised, with two previously formally recognized species found to be paraphyletic, and the possible presence of two additional cryptic species.

Fauna Europaea: Coleoptera 2 (excl. series Elateriformia, Scarabaeiformia, Staphyliniformia and superfamily Curculionoidea)

Abstract Fauna Europaea provides a public web-service with an index of scientific names (including synonyms) of all living European land and freshwater animals, their geographical distribution at country level (up to the Urals, excluding the Caucasus region), and some additional information. The Fauna Europaea project covers about 230,000 taxonomic names, including 130,000 accepted species and 14,000 accepted subspecies, which is much more than the originally projected number of 100,000 species. This represents a huge effort by more than 400 contributing specialists throughout Europe and is a unique (standard) reference suitable for many users in science, government, industry, nature conservation and education. Coleoptera represent a huge assemblage of holometabolous insects, including as a whole more than 200 recognized families and some 400,000 described species worldwide. Basic information is summarized on their biology, ecology, economic relevance, and estimated number of undescribed species worldwide. Little less than 30,000 species are listed from Europe. The Coleoptera 2 section of the Fauna Europaea database (Archostemata, Myxophaga, Adephaga and Polyphaga excl. the series Elateriformia, Scarabaeiformia, Staphyliniformia and the superfamily Curculionoidea) encompasses 80 families (according to the previously accepted family-level systematic framework) and approximately 13,000 species. Tabulations included a complete list of the families dealt with, the number of species in each, the names of all involved specialists, and, when possible, an estimate of the gaps in terms of total number of species at an European level. A list of some recent useful references is appended. Most families included in the Coleoptera 2 Section have been updated in the most recent release of the Fauna Europaea index, or are ready to be updated as soon as the FaEu data management environment completes its migration from Zoological Museum Amsterdam to Berlin Museum für Naturkunde.

Morphological, genetic and host-plant diversification in pollen-beetles of the Brassicogethes coracinus group (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae: Meligethinae)

The 17 known members of the mostly Western Palaearctic Brassicogethes coracinus species group (highly specialized pollen beetles associated with flowers of Brassicaceae) were re-analyzed, with the aim to reconstruct their phylogenetic relationships and the pattern of evolution of their larval/host-plant associations. Evidence from mtDNA data (COI marker), combined with an estimation of divergence times, placed the main differentiation of the clade around 5 My with most species likely differentiated in the last 1–2 My. Combined evidence from mtDNA, morphology and ancestral state parsimony reconstruction of larval/host-plant associations, suggested that Brassicaceae of the tribe Brassiceae likely represented the ancestral host plants for the group, with a subsequent series of independent host shifts during the evolution and radiation of the clade (in association first with Cardamineae, and later with Arabideae, Sisymbrieae, Erysimeae, Hesperideae and Anchonieae). Molecular and ecological evidence also suggests the need to formally separate European populations of the widespread Brassicogethes subaeneus (Sturm, 1845) into two distinct and widely sympatric cryptic taxa, one of them described herein as new (Brassicogethes cardaminicola sp. nov.). The neotype of the true B. subaeneus is also herein designated.

Unraveling cryptic species diversity in an aposematic sap beetle genus (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae: Cryptarchinae) from northern Europe

The saproxylic sap beetle Glischrochilus ( Glischrochilus ) quadripunctatus (Linnaeus, 1758), is associated with subcortical habitats of coniferous trees. This species is widely distributed across Europe and Siberia, and is the best known and largest European nitidulid species. A closely related cryptic species, G. ( G. ) tremulae sp. nov. has been discovered in a xerothermic area of SE Finland in association with old aspens. The two species exhibit a sympatric occurrence in SE Finland, on their respective host trees. We analyze the COI barcode region to compare G. ( G. ) quadripunctatus , G. ( G. ) tremulae sp. nov. , and G. (Librodor) hortensis (Fourcroy, 1785). Morphological, ecological, and molecular data confirm the presence in SE Finland of two Glischrochilus s.str. species. We provide a description of the new species. The new Glischrochilus apparently represents a relictual taxon associated with old hollow aspens, and should be considered a species with inherent conservation value within European saproxylic beetle communities.

Rediscovery of Brassicogethes salvan (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae, Meligethinae) in the southwestern Alps

Brassicogethes salvan (Audisio et al. Insect Systematics and Evolution, 34, 121) is certainly among the most important and unexpected recent discoveries in the European beetle fauna. The species was initially described from a couple of unidentified specimens collected in 1912 on the Maritime Alps (NW Italy). Despite a long series of attempts to recollect the species at the type locality (Rovina Lake, Mount Argentera Massif, Cuneo Province, Piedmont, NW Italy) and several neighbouring areas of the SW Alps between 2002 and 2016, no specimens of this species were found. We re‐discovered B. salvan in a small high valley of the Regional Natural Park of the Maritime Alps, a few dozen kilometers from the type locality. The previously unknown larval host‐plant as Descurainia tanacetifolia (L.) Rchb., Brassicaceae was determined. Some unusual life history traits were also observed. In an effort to yield a suitable taxonomic placement for this species, we present a partial preliminary molecular phylogeny for this species and related taxa. A discussion regarding some issues about its actual and potential geographic distribution in southern France and northwestern Italy is also provided. We propose an EN (Endangered) classification for this species following the IUCN criteria, and discuss aspects of its rather problematic conservation biology.

Taxonomical and bionomical notes on the Sicilian endemic water beetle Ochthebius (Cobalius) biltoni (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae)

In this paper we present additional information on taxonomy, ecological preferences and conservation biology of the rare and poorly known Sicilian endemic Ochthebius biltoni Jach & Delgado, 2017. It represents one of the most outstanding endemic elements of the Sicilian and Italian water beetle fauna.

New species and records of pollen and sap beetles for Iran (Coleoptera: Kateretidae, Nitidulidae)

During recent expeditions in North and Southwest Iran, 10 species of Kateretidae and Nitidulidae (Coleoptera) were found. One species of Kateretidae, Brachyleptus bicoloratus Reitter, 1896, and three nitidulid species, Afrogethes schilskyi (Reitter, 1897), Stachygethes khnzoriani (Kirejtshuk, 1979), and S. nigerrimus (Rosenhauer, 1856) are recorded for the first time for the Iranian fauna (the latter is also a new record for Asia). Thymogethes ahriman (Jelínek, 1981) is herein resurrected to species rank, and two species, Thymogethes kassites sp. nov. and T. khorasanicus sp. nov., are described as new. An updated key to the known Near East and Afghan species of the genus Thymogethes Audisio & Cline, 2009 is also provided. Available and recently collected biological and distributional data, as well as short taxonomic comments, are given for the discussed species.

Figures 11 – 18 In New Species And Records Of Pollen And Sap Beetles For Iran (Coleoptera: Kateretidae, Nitidulidae)

FIGURES 3 – 10. Male genitalia (median lobe of aedeagus and tegmen) of: 3 – 4. Thymogethes ahriman (Jelinek, 1981) (male from Iran, Zagros Mts., Mt. Oshtoran); 5 – 6. T. klapperichi (Easton, 1957) (male from Pakistan, Madaglasht); 7 – 8. T. kassites sp. nov. (male holotype from Iran, Zagros Mts., Mt. Oshtoran); 9 – 10. T. rebmanni (Easton, 1957) (male from Afghanistan, Kabul). Scale bar = 0.17 mm (Figs 3 – 6); = 0.20 mm (Figs 7 – 10).

Revision of the African pollen beetle genera Tarchonanthogethes and Xenostrongylogethes , with insect-host plant relationships, identification key, and cladistic analysis of the Anthystrix genus-complex (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae: Meligethinae)

The Afrotropical endemic pollen beetle genera Tarchonanthogethes Audisio & Cline and Xenostrongylogethes Audisio & Cline, of the Anthystrix genus-complex, are revised. Eleven new species of Tarchonanthogethes (T. autumnalis, sp. nov., T. bisignatus, sp. nov., T. fasciatus, sp. nov., T. gratiellae, sp. nov., T. hermani, sp. nov., T. hystrix, sp. nov., T. lilliputianus, sp. nov., T. maasai, sp. nov., T. manconiae, sp. nov., T. pectinipes, sp. nov., T. thalycriformis, sp. nov.) and one new Xenostrongylogethes (X. cychramoides, sp. nov.) are described, illustrated and compared with related taxa. Tarchonanthogethes hirtus Kirejtshuk & Easton, 1988 is synonymized with T. martini (syn. nov.). Meligethes assutus Easton, 1960 from Kenya is transferred from Afrogethes Audisio & Cline to Tarchonanthogethes (comb. nov.). Meligethes singularis Grouvelle, 1919 from southern Africa is transferred from Tarchonanthogethes to Meligethinus Grouvelle, 1906 (comb. nov.). Larval host-plants for Tarchonanthogethes and Xenostrongylogethes include dioecious bushes and trees of Tarchonantheae Asteraceae (genera Brachylaena R.Br. and Tarchonanthus L.). All species currently attributed to the genera Anthystrix Kirejtshuk, Sebastiangethes Audisio, Kirk-Spriggs & Cline, Tarchonanthogethes and Xenostrongylogethes (Anthystrix genus-complex) are included in a morphology-based cladistic analysis to provide a rigorous hypothesis of phylogenetic relationships. An identification key to all 25 known species in the Anthystrix genus-complex, including all available data on insect host plant relationships, is presented.