Wangang Liu

Evolutionary constraints in hind wing shape in Chinese dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae).

This study examines the evolution hindwing shape in Chinese dung beetle species using morphometric and phylogenetic analyses. Previous studies have analyzed the evolution of wing shape within a single or very few species, or by comparing only a few wing traits. No study has analyzed wing shape evolution of a large number of species, or quantitatively compared morphological variation of wings with proposed phylogenetic relationships. This study examines the morphological variation of hindwings based on 19 landmarks, 119 morphological characters, and 81 beetle species. Only one most parsimonious tree (MPT) was found based on 119 wing and body characters. To better understand the possible role of the hindwing in the evolution of Scarabaeinae, additional phylogenetic analyses were proposed based on the only body features (106 characters, wing characters excluded). Two MPT were found based on 106 body characters, and five nodes were collapsed in a strict consensus. There was a strong correlation between the morphometric tree and all phylogenetic trees (r>0.5). Reconstructions of the ancestral wing forms suggest that Scarabaeinae hindwing morphology has not changed substantially over time, but the morphological changes that do occur are focused at the base of the wing. These results suggest that flight has been important since the origin of Scarabaeinae, and that variation in hindwing morphology has been limited by functional constraints. Comparison of metric disparity values and relative evolutionary sequences among Scarabaeinae tribes suggest that the primitive dung beetles had relatively diverse hindwing morphologies, while advanced dung beetles have relatively similar wing morphologies. The strong correlation between the morphometric tree and phylogenetic trees suggest that hindwing features reflect the evolution of whole body morphology and that wing characters are suitable for the phylogenetic analyses. By integrating morphometric and cladistic approaches, this paper sheds new light on the evolution of dung beetle hind wings.

Evolutionary patterns of hind wing morphology in dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae).

The shape of wings can be a good predictor of adaptations to different selective pressures and the value of wing features in taxonomy and phylogeny has long been recognized. In our investigation of the hind wing evolution of dung beetles (Scarabaeinae) we use geometric morphometrics combined with a cladistic approach. The variations of entire hind wings and of three specific regions of 80 dung beetle species were investigated using 19 landmarks and outline data. Extensive evidence indicates that the wing as a whole and the three separate regions were under different selective pressures. The detailed evolutionary patterns of the three regions and the reconstruction of the ancestral forms were computed by mapping the geometric morphometrics data onto a tree based on a cladistic character analysis.

A revision of the species of the Neoserica (sensu lato) vulpes group (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Sericini)

This paper revises the species belonging to the Neoserica (sensu lato) vulpes group and results in one new combination, Neoserica (sensu lato) vulpes (Arrow, 1946) comb. nov., and 24 new species originating mainly from south-western China: N. baishuiensis sp. nov., N. baoshana sp. nov., N. biuncinata sp. nov., N. dundai sp. nov., N. ganhaiziana sp. nov., N. heishuiana sp. nov., N. kereni sp. nov., N. laocaiana sp. nov., N. lateriuncinata sp. nov., N. leiboensis sp. nov., N. luzhouana sp. nov., N. ningyuanensis sp. nov., N. nykli sp. nov., N. parausta sp. nov., N. pseudovulpes sp. nov., N. rubellula sp. nov., N. ruzickai sp. nov., N. shinkaisiensis sp. nov., N. sichuanica sp. nov., N. usta sp. nov., N. weishanensis sp. nov., N. xiaguanensis sp. nov., N. kunmingensis sp. nov. and N. yangjiapingensis sp. nov. A key to species and illustrations of genitalia and habitus of adults are given, including distribution maps of all species. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3FE6CC54-DB3A-4201-A6F9-332E4A397268

A taxonomic review of the Neoserica (sensu lato) abnormis group (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Sericini)

Abstract The present paper revises the species belonging to the Neoserica (sensu lato) abnormis group, so far known only with two nominal species. Twenty new species are herein described from Indochina and southern China: N. abnormoides sp. n. (Vietnam, China), N. allolaotica sp. n., N. namthaensis sp. n., N. simplicissima sp. n. (Laos), N. thailandensis sp. n. (Thailand), N. alloputaoana sp. n., N. kanphantensis sp. n., N. natmatoungensis sp. n., N. putaoana sp. n., N. taunggyiana sp. n. (Myanmar), N. lamellosa sp. n., N. tonkinea sp. n. (Vietnam), N. bairailingshanica sp. n., N. euyunnanica sp. n., N. huangi sp. n., N. jiangxiensis sp. n., N. trifida sp. n., N. yaoi sp. n., N. yingjiangensis sp. n. (China), N. cardamomensis sp. n. (Indochina and southern China). One new combination is established: Neoserica ponderosa Arrow, 1946, comb. n. The lectotypes of Neoserica abnormis Moser, 1908 and the taxonomically uncertain N. inclinata Brenske, 1898, which very likely also belongs to this species group, are designated herein. A key to the species and to species groups is given, the genitalia of all species including their habitus are illustrated. Maps of species distribution are included.

A taxonomic review of the Neoserica (sensu lato) septemlamellata group (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Sericini).

Abstract In the present paper the species belonging to the Neoserica (sensu lato) septemlamellata group, that included so far only four known species, are revised. Here we describe eleven new species originating mainly from Indochina and Southern China: N. daweishanica sp. n., N. gaoligongshanica sp. n., N. guangpingensis sp. n., N. igori sp. n., N. jiulongensis sp. n., N. plurilamellata sp. n., N. weishanica sp. n., N. yanzigouensis sp. n. (China) N. sapaensis sp. n. (China, Vietnam), N. bansongchana sp. n., N. takakuwai sp. n. (Laos). The lectotypes of Neoserica septemlamellata Brenske, 1898 and N. septemfoliata Moser, 1915 are designated. Keys to the species and species groups are given, the genitalia of all species and their habitus are illustrated and distribution maps are included.

A phylogeny of Sericini with particular reference to Chinese species using mitochondrial and ribosomal DNA (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Sericini chafer beetles are inconspicuous and morphologically rather uniform. Their morphological homogeneity has resulted in taxonomic difficulties particularly with the generic classification but also with the recognition of the species in general. Here, we present a phylogenetic analysis of Sericini using maximum likelihood and Bayesian tree inference based on partial 28S ribosomal DNA (rDNA), cytochrome oxidase I (cox 1), and 16S rDNA (rrnL) for 26 genera and 173 species of Sericini, with major focus on Chinese taxa. Chinese taxa were resolved within two major clades of the subtribe Sericina, while basal lineages of Sericini as well as Trochalina did not include species from China. Our results confirm previous findings in which species relationships were not consistent with the current genus-level classification, as well as in a previously hypothesized close phylogenetic link between southwestern Chinese and Himalayan species. Large genera such as Neoserica, Serica, and Maladera all resulted to be polyphyletic, being split in several distantly related branches. But also, less intensely sampled groups like Lasioserica and Microserica were non-monophyletic. The major implication from this analysis is that the existing taxonomic system needs to be significantly revised by integrating morphology carefully in the context of a robust backbone phylogeny to allow delineation of monophyletic but unambiguously diagnosable genera.

New species and records of the Neoserica (sensu stricto) group (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Sericini)

In this paper we examined newly collected specimens of the Neoserica Brenske, 1894 (sensu stricto) species group housed in Chinese collections. Four new species are described from China: Neoserica (s. str.) mengsongensis Liu & Ahrens, sp. nov. (Yunnan Prov.), Neoserica (s. str.) pseudosangangana Liu & Ahrens, sp. nov. (Guizhou Prov.), Neoserica (s. str.) taibaiensis Liu & Ahrens, sp. nov. (Shaanxi Prov.) and Neoserica (s. str.) yongkangensis Liu & Ahrens, sp. nov. (Zhejiang Prov.). Habitus and the male genitalia are illustrated. Additionally, we provide new distribution records, an updated distribution map and an updated key to the species of the Neoserica (sensu stricto) group. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A3C6B300-EAC3-445E-8B14-E1DBB7BBFB7F

A taxonomic revision of the Neoserica (sensu lato) pilosula group (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Sericini)

Abstract Nine new species of the Neoserica (sensu lato) pilosula Moser, 1915, group are described from China: Neoserica curvipenis sp. n., N. emeishanensis sp. n., N. lincangensis sp. n., N. ludingensis sp. n., N. lushuiana sp. n., N. rangshuiensis sp. n., N. shennongjiaensis sp. n., N. tianeana sp. n., and N. weibaoshanica sp. n. The lectotype of Neoserica pilosula Moser, 1915, is designated. Habitus and male genitalia are illustrated, a key to the species of the group and a map of species distribution are given.

A taxonomic review on the species of Tetraserica Ahrens, 2004, of China (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Sericini)

Abstract A review on the Chinese species of Tetraserica Ahrens, 2004, is presented. The lectotype of Tetraserica tonkinensis (Moser, 1908), comb. n. is designated. Twenty-nine new Tetraserica species are described from China and adjacent regions: Tetraserica anhuaensis sp. n., Tetraserica changjiangensis sp. n., Tetraserica changshouensis sp. n., Tetraserica damaidiensis sp. n., Tetraserica daqingshanica sp. n., Tetraserica fikaceki sp. n., Tetraserica graciliforceps sp. n., Tetraserica jinghongensis sp. n., Tetraserica leishanica sp. n., Tetraserica liangheensis sp. n., Tetraserica linaoshanica sp. n., Tetraserica longipenis sp. n., Tetraserica longzhouensis sp. n., Tetraserica maoershanensis sp. n., Tetraserica mengeana sp. n., Tetraserica menglongensis sp. n., Tetraserica pingjiangensis sp. n., Tetraserica ruiliana sp. n., Tetraserica ruiliensis sp. n., Tetraserica sculptilis sp. n., Tetraserica shangsiensis sp. n., Tetraserica shunbiensis sp. n., Tetraserica sigulianshanica sp. n., Tetraserica tianchiensis sp. n., Tetraserica wandingensis sp. n., Tetraserica wangtongensis sp. n., Tetraserica xichouensis sp. n., Tetraserica yaoanica sp. n., Tetraserica yaoquensis sp. n. A key to the Chinese Tetraserica species is given, species distribution as well as the habitus and male genitalia of all species are illustrated.

A taxonomic revision of Neoserica (sensu lato): the species groups N. lubrica, N. obscura, and N. silvestris (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Sericini)

Abstract The species of the Neoserica lubrica Brenske, 1898, Neoserica obscura (Blanchard, 1850) and Neoserica silvestris Brenske, 1902 species groups are revised. The study resulted in the following new synonymies and combinations: Neoserica obscura (Blanchard, 1850) = Microserica roeri Frey, 1972, syn. n., = Maladera chinensis (Arrow, 1946), syn. n.; Neoserica hainana (Brenske, 1898), comb. n., and Neoserica minor (Arrow, 1946), comb. n. The known species are redescribed. The following nine new species are described from China: Neoserica allobscura Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n., Neoserica dongjiafenensis Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n., Neoserica fugongensis Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n., Neoserica mantillerii Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n., Neoserica menglunensis Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n., Neoserica pseudosilvestris Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n., Neoserica sakoliana Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n., Neoserica shuyongi Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n., and Neoserica tahianensis Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n. A key to the Sericini genera with multilamellate antenna, species groups of Neoserica of mainland Asia, and species of the species groups examined here are provided. Maps of the species distribution are provided, habitus and male genitalia are illustrated.