Molecular phylogeny of Megacephalina Horn, 1910 tiger beetles (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae)

Taxonomic and nomenclatorial revision of the Neotropical genus Phaeoxantha Chaudoir (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae)

Taxonomic and nomenclatorial revision of the Neotropical tiger beetle genus Phaeoxantha Chaudoir, 1850 (originally Megacephala Latreille, 1802) is presented. Ammosia Westwood, 1852 (with type species Megacephala bifasciata) is confirmed as a junior synonym of Phaeoxantha. The results by Naviaux (2008), who rectified commonly confused taxonomy and nomenclature of Phaeoxantha nocturna (Dejean, 1831) and P. laminata (Perty, 1830) versus P. limata, based on Megacephala limata Perty, 1833 which is an unjustified emendation by Perty (1833) in Perty (18301833), are confirmed the date of the unjustified emendation is newly rectified here. Megacephala laminata Perty, 1830 is confirmed as the type species of Phaeoxantha. Lectotype of Megacephala nocturna Dejean, 1831 is designated here, based on syntypes from the Dejean-Chaudoir collection in MNHN. The genus is subdivided here into two clearly differentiated subgenera: Phaeoxantha (Phaeoxantha) and Phaeoxantha (Euphaeoxantha) subgen. nov. The nominotypical subgenus is represented by Phaeoxantha laminata (Perty, 1830), P. (P.) nocturna (Dejean, 1831), P. (P.) nocturna crassipunctata ssp. nov., P. (P.) paranocturna sp. nov., P. (P.) epipleuralis W. Horn, 1923, P. (P.) tremolerasi (W. Horn, 1909), P. (P.) cruciata (Brull, 1837) and P. (P.) bifasciata (Brull, 1837). The latter, based on Megacephala bifasciata Brull, 1837, was published by Brull in order to rectify the concept of Megacephala aequinoctialis sensu auctorum, (primarily sensu Dejean 1825, 1833, 1836), which has been commonly yet incorrectly treated in literature as Phaeoxantha aequinoctialis aequinoctialis (Dejean, 1825). Although Dejean (1825) clearly characterized the same Megacephala species, his act cannot be interpreted as a valid description under Article 12 of the ICZN (1999), because he explicitly referred to the publications by Linnaeus (1763) and redescription by Fabricius (1775). Therefore, his act must be interpreted as a misidentification and subsequent usage of the name Cicindela aequinoctialis Linnaeus, 1763, which is in fact a bombardier beetle (Brachinini, Carabidae), presently known as Pheropsophus aequinoctialis (Linnaeus, 1763), misidentified by Dejean as Megacephala. In contrast, the name Megacephala bifasciata Brull, 1837 was validly published, supported by a rather appropriate illustration and preserved type specimen, being also in common use to the present day; therefore, the confused name aequinoctialis cannot be preserved and is considered an unavailable name being excluded here from Megacephalini and Cicindelidae. The new subgenus Phaeoxantha (Euphaeoxantha) subgen nov. (type species Megacephala testudinea Klug, 1834) comprises following five species: P. (E.) testudinea (Klug, 1834), P. (E.) klugii (Chaudoir, 1850), P. (E.) bucephala (W. Horn, 1909), P. (E.) wimmeri (Mandl, 1958) and P. (E.) lindemannae (Mandl, 1964). Keys to the two subgenera and to their species, descriptions or differential diagnoses and colour photographs of the habitus and of characters of available type specimens of all species of the genus, as well as the variability and characters of individual populations, are presented and their distribution discussed.

Genetic diversity of Calliphora vicina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in the Iberian Peninsula based on cox1, 16S and ITS2 sequences

The study of Diptera at the scene of a crime can provide essential information for the interpretation of evidence. Phylogeographic reconstruction could help differentiate haplotypes of a dipteran species in a geographical area, clarifying, for example, the details of a possible relocation of a corpse. In addition, inferring the ancestral areas of distribution helps to understand the current status of the species and its biogeographic history. One of the most important species in forensic entomology is Calliphora vicina Rovineau-Desvoidy, 1830 (Diptera: Calliphoridae). The aim of this work is to increase our knowledge of this species in the Iberian Peninsula using 464 specimens from Spain and Portugal. These samples were identified using morphological keys and by molecular methods using fragments of the cox1, 16S and ITS2 genes. The phylogeographic history of these populations was inferred from haplotype networks and the reconstruction of ancestral areas of distribution. The molecular results corroborated the morphological identifications of the samples. Phylogeographic networks showed no geographical structure, as haplotypes are shared among almost all populations. reconstruct ancestral state in phylogenies analyses showed a high rate of movement among populations, possibly related to human activity. These results suggest that this species had a very rapid and recent spatial and demographic expansion throughout the Iberian Peninsula.

Catalogue of Geadephaga (Coleoptera, Adephaga) of America, north of Mexico

All scientific names of Trachypachidae, Rhysodidae, and Carabidae (including cicindelines) recorded from America north of Mexico are catalogued. Available species-group names are listed in their original combinations with the author(s), year of publication, page citation, type locality, location of the name-bearing type, and etymology for many patronymic names. In addition, the reference in which a given species-group name is first synonymized is recorded for invalid taxa. Genus-group names are listed with the author(s), year of publication, page citation, type species with way of fixation, and etymology for most. The reference in which a given genus-group name is first synonymized is recorded for many invalid taxa. Family-group names are listed with the author(s), year of publication, page citation, and type genus. The geographical distribution of all species-group taxa is briefly summarized and their state and province records are indicated.

One new genus-group taxon, Randallius new subgenus (type species: Chlaenius purpuricollis Randall, 1838), one new replacement name, Pterostichus amadeus new name for Pterostichus vexatus Bousquet, 1985, and three changes in precedence, Ellipsoptera rubicunda (Harris, 1911) for Ellipsoptera marutha (Dow, 1911), Badister micans LeConte, 1844 for Badister ocularis Casey, 1920, and Agonum deplanatum Ménétriés, 1843 for Agonum fallianum (Leng, 1919), are proposed. Five new genus-group synonymies and 65 new species-group synonymies, one new species-group status, and 12 new combinations (see Appendix 5) are established.

The work also includes a discussion of the notable private North American carabid collections, a synopsis of all extant world geadephagan tribes and subfamilies, a brief faunistic assessment of the fauna, a list of valid species-group taxa, a list of North American fossil Geadephaga (Appendix 1), a list of North American Geadephaga larvae described or illustrated (Appendix 2), a list of Geadephaga species described from specimens mislabeled as from North America (Appendix 3), a list of unavailable Geadephaga names listed from North America (Appendix 4), a list of nomenclatural acts included in this catalogue (Appendix 5), a complete bibliography with indication of the dates of publication in addition to the year, and indices of personal names, supraspecific names, and species-group names.

Mandibles and labrum-epipharynx of tiger beetles: basic structure and evolution (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Cicindelitae)

Using for comparison with, and as outgroups for, supertribe Cicindelitae, we describe and illustrate the mandibles and labrum-epipharynx of the basal geadephagans Trachypachus gibbsii LeConte, 1861 (family Trachypachidae), and family Carabidae: Pelophila rudis (LeConte, 1863) (supertribe Nebriitae, tribe Pelophilini) and Ceroglossus chilensis (Eschscholtz, 1829) (supertribe Carabitae, tribe Ceroglossini). The range and pattern of variation in structure of mandibles and labrum-epipharynx within the supertribe Cicindelitae was assessed using scanning-electron (SEM) images of these structures in nine exemplar taxa: Amblycheila baroni (Rivers, 1890), Omus californicus (Eschscholtz, 1829) and Picnochile fallaciosa (Chevrolat, 1854) (representing the Amblycheilini); Manticora tuberculata (DeGeer, 1778) (representing the Manticorini): Tetracha carolina (Linnaeus, 1767) (representing the Megacephalini); Pogonostoma chalybeum (Klug, 1835) (representing the Collyridini); and Therates basalis Dejean, 1826, Oxycheila species, and Cicindela longilabris Say, 1824 (representing the Cicindelini). An evolutionary transformation series was postulated for the mandibles and labrum-epipharynx, based on a reconstructed phylogenetic sequence, which, in turn, was based on morphological and DNAevidence.Principal features of the transformation series for the mandibles included development of a densely setose basal face; wide quadridentate retinaculum; a lengthened incisor tooth; a multidentate terebra (one to five teeth; two-three most frequent), followed by subsequent loss of one or more such teeth; development of a diastema in the occlusal surface; development and subsequent loss of scrobal setae, and reduction and loss of the scrobe. Principal features of the transformation series for the labrum included evolution of form from transverse, sub-rectangular to elongate almost square, to triangular; position and number of setae evolved from dorsal to insertion on the apical margin, the number increased from 8-10 to as many as 36, and decreased to as few as four. The epipharynx broadened evolutionarily, the pedium evolving in form from narrow, triangular and nearly flat, to broad, palatiform, and markedly convex; anterior parapedial setae both increased and decreased in number, and in orientation, from a row parallel to the parapedial ridge to a setal row extended forward at about a right angle to the latter.