Phylogenomic Data Yield New and Robust Insights into the Phylogeny and Evolution of Weevils

Orthoptera-specific target enrichment (OR-TE) probes resolve relationships over broad phylogenetic scales

Phylogenomic data are revolutionizing the field of insect phylogenetics. One of the most tenable and cost-effective methods of generating phylogenomic data is target enrichment, which has resulted in novel phylogenetic hypotheses and revealed new insights into insect evolution. Orthoptera is the most diverse insect order within polyneoptera and includes many evolutionarily and ecologically interesting species. Still, the order as a whole has lagged behind other major insect orders in terms of transitioning to phylogenomics. In this study, we developed an Orthoptera-specific target enrichment (OR-TE) probe set from 80 transcriptomes across Orthoptera. The probe set targets 1828 loci from genes exhibiting a wide range of evolutionary rates. The utility of this new probe set was validated by generating phylogenomic data from 36 orthopteran species that had not previously been subjected to phylogenomic studies. The OR-TE probe set captured an average of 1037 loci across the tested taxa, resolving relationships across broad phylogenetic scales. Our detailed documentation of the probe design and bioinformatics process is intended to facilitate the widespread adoption of this tool.

Delimiting species, revealing cryptic diversity in Molytinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) weevil through DNA barcoding

The subfamily Molytinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), being the second largest group within the family Curculionidae, exhibits a diverse range of hosts and poses a serious threat to agricultural and forestry industries. We used 1,290 cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) barcodes to assess the efficiency of COI barcodes in species differentiation and uncover cryptic species diversity within weevils of Molytinae. The average Kimura 2-parameter distances within species, genus, and subfamily were 2.90%, 11.0%, and 22.26%, respectively, indicating significant genetic differentiation at both levels. Moreover, there exists a considerable degree of overlap between intraspecific (0%-27.50%) and interspecific genetic distances (GDs; 0%-39.30%). The application of Automatic barcode gap discovery, Assemble Species by Automatic Partitioning, Barcode Index Number, Poisson Tree Processes (PTP), Bayesian Poisson Tree Processes (bPTP), and jMOTU resulted in the identification of 279, 275, 494, 322, 320, and 279 molecular operational taxonomic units, respectively. The integration of 6 methods successfully delimited species of Molytinae in 86.6% of all examined morphospecies, surpassing a threshold value of 3% GD (73.0%). A total of 28 morphospecies exhibiting significant intraspecific divergences were assigned to multiple MOTUs, respectively, suggesting the presence of cryptic diversity or population divergence. The identification of cryptic species within certain morphological species in this study necessitates further investigation through comprehensive taxonomic practices in the future.

The mitochondrial genome of an important edible insect species, the African palm weevil (Rhynchophorus phoenicis)

The African palm weevil (Rhynchophorus phoenicis) is a species of high economic importance in sub-Saharan Africa, both as a culturally traditional edible insect and as an agricultural pest. Here we provide a de novo assembly and annotation for the mitochondrial genome of this species from whole-genome sequence data. The mitogenome was AT-rich and 17,161bp in length, containing 13 protein-coding, 22 transfer RNA, and two ribosomal RNA genes. Phylogenetic reconstruction showed the African palm weevil to cluster within the genus Rhynchophorus and the weevil tribe Rhynchophorini. This mitogenome will be important for future genetic research into this emerging edible insect species.

The genome of the invasive and broadly polyphagous Diaprepes root weevil, Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera), reveals an arsenal of putative polysaccharide-degrading enzymes

The Diaprepes root weevil (DRW), Diaprepes abbreviatus, is a broadly polyphagous invasive pest of agriculture in the southern United States and the Caribbean. Its genome was sequenced, assembled, and annotated to study genomic correlates of specialized plant-feeding and invasiveness and to facilitate the development of new methods for DRW control. The 1.69 Gb D. abbreviatus genome assembly was distributed across 653 contigs, with an N50 of 7.8 Mb and the largest contig of 62 Mb. Most of the genome was comprised of repetitive sequences, with 66.17% in transposable elements, 5.75% in macrosatellites, and 2.06% in microsatellites. Most expected orthologous genes were present and fully assembled, with 99.5% of BUSCO genes present and 1.5% duplicated. One hundred and nine contigs (27.19 Mb) were identified as putative fragments of the X and Y sex chromosomes, and homology assessment with other beetle X chromosomes indicated a possible sex chromosome turnover event. Genome annotation identified 18,412 genes, including 43 putative horizontally transferred (HT) loci. Notably, 258 genes were identified from gene families known to encode plant cell wall degrading enzymes and invertases, including carbohydrate esterases, polysaccharide lyases, and glycoside hydrolases (GH). GH genes were unusually numerous, with 239 putative genes representing 19 GH families. Interestingly, several other beetle species with large numbers of GH genes are (like D. abbreviatus) successful invasive pests of agriculture or forestry.

Taxonomy, Biology, Symbionts, Omics, and Management of Rhynchophorus Palm Weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Dryophthorinae)

Palm weevils, Rhynchophorus spp., are destructive pests of native, ornamental, and agricultural palm species. Of the 10 recognized species, two of the most injurious species, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus and Rhynchophorus palmarum, both of which have spread beyond their native range, are the best studied. Due to its greater global spread and damage to edible date industries in the Middle East, R. ferrugineus has received more research interest. Integrated pest management programs utilize traps baited with aggregation pheromone, removal of infested palms, and insecticides. However, weevil control is costly, development of resistance to insecticides is problematic, and program efficacy can be impaired because early detection of infestations is difficult. The genome of R. ferrugineus has been sequenced, and omics research is providing insight into pheromone communication and changes in volatile and metabolism profiles of weevil-infested palms. We outline how such developments could lead to new control strategies and early detection tools.

The first host plant dataset of Curculionidae Scolytinae of the world: miscellaneous Tribes

Tribes Coriacephilini, Corthylini, Cryphalini, Ernoporini, Trypophloeini, Xyloctonini, and Xyloterini (Coleoptera: Curculionidae; Scolytinae) include spermophagous, phloeophagous, and xylomycetophagous species. Besides direct damage caused by burrowing into host plant tissues, some species are vectors of aggressive pathogens causing plant dieback and death, with consequent economic and ecological relevance. The international trade in plants and wood products is one of the main pathways for the introduction of non-native species worldwide. In this context, data availability on host plants and their economic uses is essential in pest risk assessment and for planning effective detection and monitoring strategies against invasive species. This paper provides a complete and updated list of host plants, with economic categorization, for 2139 scolytine species.

On the nomenclatural status of type genera in Coleoptera (Insecta)

More than 4700 nominal family-group names (including names for fossils and ichnotaxa) are nomenclaturally available in the order Coleoptera. Since each family-group name is based on the concept of its type genus, we argue that the stability of names used for the classification of beetles depends on accurate nomenclatural data for each type genus. Following a review of taxonomic literature, with a focus on works that potentially contain type species designations, we provide a synthesis of nomenclatural data associated with the type genus of each nomenclaturally available family-group name in Coleoptera. For each type genus the author(s), year of publication, and page number are given as well as its current status (i.e., whether treated as valid or not) and current classification. Information about the type species of each type genus and the type species fixation (i.e., fixed originally or subsequently, and if subsequently, by whom) is also given. The original spelling of the family-group name that is based on each type genus is included, with its author(s), year, and stem. We append a list of nomenclaturally available family-group names presented in a classification scheme. Because of the importance of the Principle of Priority in zoological nomenclature, we provide information on the date of publication of the references cited in this work, when known. Several nomenclatural issues emerged during the course of this work. We therefore appeal to the community of coleopterists to submit applications to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (henceforth "Commission") in order to permanently resolve some of the problems outlined here. The following changes of authorship for type genera are implemented here (these changes do not affect the concept of each type genus): CHRYSOMELIDAE: Fulcidax Crotch, 1870 (previously credited to "Clavareau, 1913"); CICINDELIDAE: Euprosopus W.S. MacLeay, 1825 (previously credited to "Dejean, 1825"); COCCINELLIDAE: Alesia Reiche, 1848 (previously credited to "Mulsant, 1850"); CURCULIONIDAE: Arachnopus Boisduval, 1835 (previously credited to "Guérin-Méneville, 1838"); ELATERIDAE: Thylacosternus Gemminger, 1869 (previously credited to "Bonvouloir, 1871"); EUCNEMIDAE: Arrhipis Gemminger, 1869 (previously credited to "Bonvouloir, 1871"), Mesogenus Gemminger, 1869 (previously credited to "Bonvouloir, 1871"); LUCANIDAE: Sinodendron Hellwig, 1791 (previously credited to "Hellwig, 1792"); PASSALIDAE: Neleides Harold, 1868 (previously credited to "Kaup, 1869"), Neleus Harold, 1868 (previously credited to "Kaup, 1869"), Pertinax Harold, 1868 (previously credited to "Kaup, 1869"), Petrejus Harold, 1868 (previously credited to "Kaup, 1869"), Undulifer Harold, 1868 (previously credited to "Kaup, 1869"), Vatinius Harold, 1868 (previously credited to "Kaup, 1869"); PTINIDAE: Mezium Leach, 1819 (previously credited to "Curtis, 1828"); PYROCHROIDAE: Agnathus Germar, 1818 (previously credited to "Germar, 1825"); SCARABAEIDAE: Eucranium Dejean, 1833 (previously "Brullé, 1838"). The following changes of type species were implemented following the discovery of older type species fixations (these changes do not pose a threat to nomenclatural stability): BOLBOCERATIDAE: Bolbocerusbocchus Erichson, 1841 for Bolbelasmus Boucomont, 1911 (previously Bolbocerasgallicum Mulsant, 1842); BUPRESTIDAE: Stigmoderaguerinii Hope, 1843 for Neocuris Saunders, 1868 (previously Anthaxiafortnumi Hope, 1846), Stigmoderaperoni Laporte & Gory, 1837 for Curis Laporte & Gory, 1837 (previously Buprestiscaloptera Boisduval, 1835); CARABIDAE: Carabuselatus Fabricius, 1801 for Molops Bonelli, 1810 (previously Carabusterricola Herbst, 1784 sensu Fabricius, 1792); CERAMBYCIDAE: Prionuspalmatus Fabricius, 1792 for Macrotoma Audinet-Serville, 1832 (previously Prionusserripes Fabricius, 1781); CHRYSOMELIDAE: Donaciaequiseti Fabricius, 1798 for Haemonia Dejean, 1821 (previously Donaciazosterae Fabricius, 1801), Eumolpusruber Latreille, 1807 for Euryope Dalman, 1824 (previously Cryptocephalusrubrifrons Fabricius, 1787), Galerucaaffinis Paykull, 1799 for Psylliodes Latreille, 1829 (previously Chrysomelachrysocephala Linnaeus, 1758); COCCINELLIDAE: Dermestesrufus Herbst, 1783 for Coccidula Kugelann, 1798 (previously Chrysomelascutellata Herbst, 1783); CRYPTOPHAGIDAE: Ipscaricis G.-A. Olivier, 1790 for Telmatophilus Heer, 1841 (previously Cryptophagustyphae Fallén, 1802), Silphaevanescens Marsham, 1802 for Atomaria Stephens, 1829 (previously Dermestesnigripennis Paykull, 1798); CURCULIONIDAE: Bostrichuscinereus Herbst, 1794 for Crypturgus Erichson, 1836 (previously Bostrichuspusillus Gyllenhal, 1813); DERMESTIDAE: Dermestestrifasciatus Fabricius, 1787 for Attagenus Latreille, 1802 (previously Dermestespellio Linnaeus, 1758); ELATERIDAE: Elatersulcatus Fabricius, 1777 for Chalcolepidius Eschscholtz, 1829 (previously Chalcolepidiuszonatus Eschscholtz, 1829); ENDOMYCHIDAE: Endomychusrufitarsis Chevrolat, 1835 for Epipocus Chevrolat, 1836 (previously Endomychustibialis Guérin-Méneville, 1834); EROTYLIDAE: Ipshumeralis Fabricius, 1787 for Dacne Latreille, 1797 (previously Dermestesbipustulatus Thunberg, 1781); EUCNEMIDAE: Fornaxaustrocaledonicus Perroud & Montrouzier, 1865 for Mesogenus Gemminger, 1869 (previously Mesogenusmellyi Bonvouloir, 1871); GLAPHYRIDAE: Melolonthaserratulae Fabricius, 1792 for Glaphyrus Latreille, 1802 (previously Scarabaeusmaurus Linnaeus, 1758); HISTERIDAE: Histerstriatus Forster, 1771 for Onthophilus Leach, 1817 (previously Histersulcatus Moll, 1784); LAMPYRIDAE: Ototretafornicata E. Olivier, 1900 for Ototreta E. Olivier, 1900 (previously Ototretaweyersi E. Olivier, 1900); LUCANIDAE: Lucanuscancroides Fabricius, 1787 for Lissotes Westwood, 1855 (previously Lissotesmenalcas Westwood, 1855); MELANDRYIDAE: Nothusclavipes G.-A. Olivier, 1812 for Nothus G.-A. Olivier, 1812 (previously Nothuspraeustus G.-A. Olivier, 1812); MELYRIDAE: Lagriaater Fabricius, 1787 for Enicopus Stephens, 1830 (previously Dermesteshirtus Linnaeus, 1767); NITIDULIDAE: Sphaeridiumluteum Fabricius, 1787 for Cychramus Kugelann, 1794 (previously Strongylusquadripunctatus Herbst, 1792); OEDEMERIDAE: Helopslaevis Fabricius, 1787 for Ditylus Fischer, 1817 (previously Ditylushelopioides Fischer, 1817 [sic]); PHALACRIDAE: Sphaeridiumaeneum Fabricius, 1792 for Olibrus Erichson, 1845 (previously Sphaeridiumbicolor Fabricius, 1792); RHIPICERIDAE: Sandalusniger Knoch, 1801 for Sandalus Knoch, 1801 (previously Sandaluspetrophya Knoch, 1801); SCARABAEIDAE: Cetoniaclathrata G.-A. Olivier, 1792 for Inca Lepeletier & Audinet-Serville, 1828 (previously Cetoniaynca Weber, 1801); Gnathoceravitticollis W. Kirby, 1825 for Gnathocera W. Kirby, 1825 (previously Gnathoceraimmaculata W. Kirby, 1825); Melolonthavillosula Illiger, 1803 for Chasmatopterus Dejean, 1821 (previously Melolonthahirtula Illiger, 1803); STAPHYLINIDAE: Staphylinuspolitus Linnaeus, 1758 for Philonthus Stephens, 1829 (previously Staphylinussplendens Fabricius, 1792); ZOPHERIDAE: Hispamutica Linnaeus, 1767 for Orthocerus Latreille, 1797 (previously Tenebriohirticornis DeGeer, 1775). The discovery of type species fixations that are older than those currently accepted pose a threat to nomenclatural stability (an application to the Commission is necessary to address each problem): CANTHARIDAE: Malthinus Latreille, 1805, Malthodes Kiesenwetter, 1852; CARABIDAE: Bradycellus Erichson, 1837, Chlaenius Bonelli, 1810, Harpalus Latreille, 1802, Lebia Latreille, 1802, Pheropsophus Solier, 1834, Trechus Clairville, 1806; CERAMBYCIDAE: Callichroma Latreille, 1816, Callidium Fabricius, 1775, Cerasphorus Audinet-Serville, 1834, Dorcadion Dalman, 1817, Leptura Linnaeus, 1758, Mesosa Latreille, 1829, Plectromerus Haldeman, 1847; CHRYSOMELIDAE: Amblycerus Thunberg, 1815, Chaetocnema Stephens, 1831, Chlamys Knoch, 1801, Monomacra Chevrolat, 1836, Phratora Chevrolat, 1836, Stylosomus Suffrian, 1847; COLONIDAE: Colon Herbst, 1797; CURCULIONIDAE: Cryphalus Erichson, 1836, Lepyrus Germar, 1817; ELATERIDAE: Adelocera Latreille, 1829, Beliophorus Eschscholtz, 1829; ENDOMYCHIDAE: Amphisternus Germar, 1843, Dapsa Latreille, 1829; GLAPHYRIDAE: Anthypna Eschscholtz, 1818; HISTERIDAE: Hololepta Paykull, 1811, Trypanaeus Eschscholtz, 1829; LEIODIDAE: Anisotoma Panzer, 1796, Camiarus Sharp, 1878, Choleva Latreille, 1797; LYCIDAE: Calopteron Laporte, 1838, Dictyoptera Latreille, 1829; MELOIDAE: Epicauta Dejean, 1834; NITIDULIDAE: Strongylus Herbst, 1792; SCARABAEIDAE: Anisoplia Schönherr, 1817, Anticheira Eschscholtz, 1818, Cyclocephala Dejean, 1821, Glycyphana Burmeister, 1842, Omaloplia Schönherr, 1817, Oniticellus Dejean, 1821, Parachilia Burmeister, 1842, Xylotrupes Hope, 1837; STAPHYLINIDAE: Batrisus Aubé, 1833, Phloeonomus Heer, 1840, Silpha Linnaeus, 1758; TENEBRIONIDAE: Bolitophagus Illiger, 1798, Mycetochara Guérin-Méneville, 1827. Type species are fixed for the following nominal genera: ANTHRIBIDAE: Decataphanesgracilis Labram & Imhoff, 1840 for Decataphanes Labram & Imhoff, 1840; CARABIDAE: Feroniaerratica Dejean, 1828 for Loxandrus J.L. LeConte, 1853; CERAMBYCIDAE: Tmesisternusoblongus Boisduval, 1835 for Icthyosoma Boisduval, 1835; CHRYSOMELIDAE: Brachydactylaannulipes Pic, 1913 for Pseudocrioceris Pic, 1916, Cassidaviridis Linnaeus, 1758 for Evaspistes Gistel, 1856, Ocnosceliscyanoptera Erichson, 1847 for Ocnoscelis Erichson, 1847, Promecothecapetelii Guérin-Méneville, 1840 for Promecotheca Guérin- Méneville, 1840; CLERIDAE: Attelabusmollis Linnaeus, 1758 for Dendroplanetes Gistel, 1856; CORYLOPHIDAE: Corylophusmarginicollis J.L. LeConte, 1852 for Corylophodes A. Matthews, 1885; CURCULIONIDAE: Hoplorhinusmelanocephalus Chevrolat, 1878 for Hoplorhinus Chevrolat, 1878; Sonnetiusbinarius Casey, 1922 for Sonnetius Casey, 1922; ELATERIDAE: Pyrophorusmelanoxanthus Candèze, 1865 for Alampes Champion, 1896; PHYCOSECIDAE: Phycosecislitoralis Pascoe, 1875 for Phycosecis Pascoe, 1875; PTILODACTYLIDAE: Aploglossasallei Guérin-Méneville, 1849 for Aploglossa Guérin-Méneville, 1849, Coloboderaovata Klug, 1837 for Colobodera Klug, 1837; PTINIDAE: Dryophilusanobioides Chevrolat, 1832 for Dryobia Gistel, 1856; SCARABAEIDAE: Achloahelvola Erichson, 1840 for Achloa Erichson, 1840, Camentaobesa Burmeister, 1855 for Camenta Erichson, 1847, Pinotustalaus Erichson, 1847 for Pinotus Erichson, 1847, Psilonychusecklonii Burmeister, 1855 for Psilonychus Burmeister, 1855. New replacement name: CERAMBYCIDAE: Basorus Bouchard & Bousquet, nom. nov. for Sobarus Harold, 1879. New status: CARABIDAE: KRYZHANOVSKIANINI Deuve, 2020, stat. nov. is given the rank of tribe instead of subfamily since our classification uses the rank of subfamily for PAUSSINAE rather than family rank; CERAMBYCIDAE: Amymoma Pascoe, 1866, stat. nov. is used as valid over Neoamymoma Marinoni, 1977, Holopterus Blanchard, 1851, stat. nov. is used as valid over Proholopterus Monné, 2012; CURCULIONIDAE: Phytophilus Schönherr, 1835, stat. nov. is used as valid over the unnecessary new replacement name Synophthalmus Lacordaire, 1863; EUCNEMIDAE: Nematodinus Lea, 1919, stat. nov. is used as valid instead of Arrhipis Gemminger, 1869, which is a junior homonym. Details regarding additional nomenclatural issues that still need to be resolved are included in the entry for each of these type genera: BOSTRICHIDAE: Lyctus Fabricius, 1792; BRENTIDAE: Trachelizus Dejean, 1834; BUPRESTIDAE: Pristiptera Dejean, 1833; CANTHARIDAE: Chauliognathus Hentz, 1830, Telephorus Schäffer, 1766; CARABIDAE: Calathus Bonelli, 1810, Cosnania Dejean, 1821, Dicrochile Guérin-Méneville, 1847, Epactius D.H. Schneider, 1791, Merismoderus Westwood, 1847, Polyhirma Chaudoir, 1850, Solenogenys Westwood, 1860, Zabrus Clairville, 1806; CERAMBYCIDAE: Ancita J. Thomson, 1864, Compsocerus Audinet-Serville, 1834, Dorcadodium Gistel, 1856, Glenea Newman, 1842; Hesperophanes Dejean, 1835, Neoclytus J. Thomson, 1860, Phymasterna Laporte, 1840, Tetrops Stephens, 1829, Zygocera Erichson, 1842; CHRYSOMELIDAE: Acanthoscelides Schilsky, 1905, Corynodes Hope, 1841, Edusella Chapuis, 1874; Hemisphaerota Chevrolat, 1836; Physonota Boheman, 1854, Porphyraspis Hope, 1841; CLERIDAE: Dermestoides Schäffer, 1777; COCCINELLIDAE: Hippodamia Chevrolat, 1836, Myzia Mulsant, 1846, Platynaspis L. Redtenbacher, 1843; CURCULIONIDAE: Coeliodes Schönherr, 1837, Cryptoderma Ritsema, 1885, Deporaus Leach, 1819, Epistrophus Kirsch, 1869, Geonemus Schönherr, 1833, Hylastes Erichson, 1836; DYTISCIDAE: Deronectes Sharp, 1882, Platynectes Régimbart, 1879; EUCNEMIDAE: Dirhagus Latreille, 1834; HYBOSORIDAE: Ceratocanthus A. White, 1842; HYDROPHILIDAE: Cyclonotum Erichson, 1837; LAMPYRIDAE: Luciola Laporte, 1833; LEIODIDAE: Ptomaphagus Hellwig, 1795; LUCANIDAE: Leptinopterus Hope, 1838; LYCIDAE: Cladophorus Guérin-Méneville, 1830, Mimolibnetis Kazantsev, 2000; MELOIDAE: Mylabris Fabricius, 1775; NITIDULIDAE: Meligethes Stephens, 1829; PTILODACTYLIDAE: Daemon Laporte, 1838; SCARABAEIDAE: Allidiostoma Arrow, 1940, Heterochelus Burmeister, 1844, Liatongus Reitter, 1892, Lomaptera Gory & Percheron, 1833, Megaceras Hope, 1837, Stenotarsia Burmeister, 1842; STAPHYLINIDAE: Actocharis Fauvel, 1871, Aleochara Gravenhorst, 1802; STENOTRACHELIDAE: Stenotrachelus Berthold, 1827; TENEBRIONIDAE: Cryptochile Latreille, 1828, Heliopates Dejean, 1834, Helops Fabricius, 1775. First Reviser actions deciding the correct original spelling: CARABIDAE: Aristochroodes Marcilhac, 1993 (not Aritochroodes); CERAMBYCIDAE: Dorcadodium Gistel, 1856 (not Dorcadodion), EVODININI Zamoroka, 2022 (not EVODINIINI); CHRYSOMELIDAE: Caryopemon Jekel, 1855 (not Carpopemon), Decarthrocera Laboissière, 1937 (not Decarthrocerina); CICINDELIDAE: Odontocheila Laporte, 1834 (not Odontacheila); CLERIDAE: CORMODINA Bartlett, 2021 (not CORMODIINA), Orthopleura Spinola, 1845 (not Orthoplevra, not Orthopleuva); CURCULIONIDAE: Arachnobas Boisduval, 1835 (not Arachnopus), Palaeocryptorhynchus Poinar, 2009 (not Palaeocryptorhynus); DYTISCIDAE: Ambarticus Yang et al., 2019 and AMBARTICINI Yang et al., 2019 (not Ambraticus, not AMBRATICINI); LAMPYRIDAE: Megalophthalmus G.R. Gray, 1831 (not Megolophthalmus, not Megalopthalmus); SCARABAEIDAE: Mentophilus Laporte, 1840 (not Mintophilus, not Minthophilus), Pseudadoretusdilutellus Semenov, 1889 (not P.ditutellus). While the correct identification of the type species is assumed, in some cases evidence suggests that species were misidentified when they were fixed as the type of a particular nominal genus. Following the requirements of Article 70.3.2 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature we hereby fix the following type species (which in each case is the taxonomic species actually involved in the misidentification): ATTELABIDAE: Rhynchitescavifrons Gyllenhal, 1833 for Lasiorhynchites Jekel, 1860; BOSTRICHIDAE: Ligniperdaterebrans Pallas, 1772 for Apate Fabricius, 1775; BRENTIDAE: Ceocephalusappendiculatus Boheman, 1833 for Uroptera Berthold, 1827; BUPRESTIDAE: Buprestisundecimmaculata Herbst, 1784 for Ptosima Dejean, 1833; CARABIDAE: Amaralunicollis Schiødte, 1837 for Amara Bonelli, 1810, Buprestisconnexus Geoffroy, 1785 for Polistichus Bonelli, 1810, Carabusatrorufus Strøm, 1768 for Patrobus Dejean, 1821, Carabusgigas Creutzer, 1799 for Procerus Dejean, 1821, Carabusteutonus Schrank, 1781 for Stenolophus Dejean, 1821, Carenumbonellii Westwood, 1842 for Carenum Bonelli, 1813, Scaritespicipes G.-A. Olivier, 1795 for Acinopus Dejean, 1821, Trigonotomaindica Brullé, 1834 for Trigonotoma Dejean, 1828; CERAMBYCIDAE: Cerambyxlusitanus Linnaeus, 1767 for Exocentrus Dejean, 1835, Clytussupernotatus Say, 1824 for Psenocerus J.L. LeConte, 1852; CICINDELIDAE: Ctenostomajekelii Chevrolat, 1858 for Ctenostoma Klug, 1821; CURCULIONIDAE: Cnemogonuslecontei Dietz, 1896 for Cnemogonus J.L. LeConte, 1876; Phloeophagusturbatus Schönherr, 1845 for Phloeophagus Schönherr, 1838; GEOTRUPIDAE: Lucanusapterus Laxmann, 1770 for Lethrus Scopoli, 1777; HISTERIDAE: Histerrugiceps Duftschmid, 1805 for Hypocaccus C.G. Thomson, 1867; HYBOSORIDAE: Hybosorusilligeri Reiche, 1853 for Hybosorus W.S. MacLeay, 1819; HYDROPHILIDAE: Hydrophilusmelanocephalus G.-A. Olivier, 1793 for Enochrus C.G. Thomson, 1859; MYCETAEIDAE: Dermestessubterraneus Fabricius, 1801 for Mycetaea Stephens, 1829; SCARABAEIDAE: Aulaciumcarinatum Reiche, 1841 for Mentophilus Laporte, 1840, Phanaeusvindex W.S. MacLeay, 1819 for Phanaeus W.S. MacLeay, 1819, Ptinusgermanus Linnaeus, 1767 for Rhyssemus Mulsant, 1842, Scarabaeuslatipes Guérin-Méneville, 1838 for Cheiroplatys Hope, 1837; STAPHYLINIDAE: Scydmaenustarsatus P.W.J. Müller & Kunze, 1822 for Scydmaenus Latreille, 1802. New synonyms: CERAMBYCIDAE: CARILIINI Zamoroka, 2022, syn. nov. of ACMAEOPINI Della Beffa, 1915, DOLOCERINI Özdikmen, 2016, syn. nov. of BRACHYPTEROMINI Sama, 2008, PELOSSINI Tavakilian, 2013, syn. nov. of LYGRINI Sama, 2008, PROHOLOPTERINI Monné, 2012, syn. nov. of HOLOPTERINI Lacordaire, 1868.

Phylogenomics illuminates the phylogeny of flower weevils (Curculioninae) and reveals ten independent origins of brood-site pollination mutualism in true weevils

Weevils are an unusually species-rich group of phytophagous insects for which there is increasing evidence of frequent involvement in brood-site pollination. This study examines phylogenetic patterns in the emergence of brood-site pollination mutualism among one of the most speciose beetle groups, the flower weevils (subfamily Curculioninae). We analysed a novel phylogenomic dataset consisting of 214 nuclear loci for 202 weevil species, with a sampling that mainly includes flower weevils as well as representatives of all major lineages of true weevils (Curculionidae). Our phylogenomic analyses establish a uniquely comprehensive phylogenetic framework for Curculioninae and provide new insights into the relationships among lineages of true weevils. Based on this phylogeny, statistical reconstruction of ancestral character states revealed at least 10 independent origins of brood-site pollination in higher weevils through transitions from ancestral associations with reproductive structures in the larval stage. Broadly, our results illuminate the unexpected frequency with which true weevils-typically specialized phytophages and hence antagonists of plants-have evolved mutualistic interactions of ecological significance that are key to both weevil and plant evolutionary fitness and thus a component of their deeply intertwined macroevolutionary success.

Museomics unveil systematics, diversity and evolution of Australian cycad-pollinating weevils

Weevils have been shown to play significant roles in the obligate pollination of Australian cycads. In this study, we apply museomics to produce a first molecular phylogeny estimate of the Australian cycad weevils, allowing an assessment of their monophyly, placement and relationships. Divergence dating suggests that the Australian cycad weevils originated from the Late Oligocene to the Middle Miocene and that the main radiation of the cycad-pollinating groups occurred from the Middle to the Late Miocene, which is congruent with the diversification of the Australian cycads, thus refuting any notion of an ancient ciophilous system in Australia. Taxonomic studies reveal the existence of 19 Australian cycad weevil species and that their associations with their hosts are mostly non-species-specific. Co-speciation analysis shows no extensive co-speciation events having occurred in the ciophilous system of Australian cycads. The distribution pattern suggests that geographical factors, rather than diversifying coevolution, constitute the overriding process shaping the Australian cycad weevil diversity. The synchronous radiation of cycads and weevil pollinators is suggested to be a result of the post-Oligocene diversification common in Australian organisms.

First Record of the Genus Cartorhynchites Voss, 1958 (Coleoptera: Rhynchitidae) from Eocene Baltic Amber with a List of Fossil Tooth-Nosed Snout Weevils

A new species of the genus Cartorhynchites (Rhynchitini, Rhynchitina) is described from Baltic amber. Cartorhynchites groehni Legalov, Bukejs et Alekseev sp. n. differs from C. struvei Zherikhin, 1992 from the Miocene of Germany in its smaller body size (2.6 mm), strongly convex eyes, narrower pronotum and wide elytra, and dark brown legs. A new species is studied and illustrated in detail using X-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT). It is the earliest fossil record of subtribe Rhynchitina. A list of fossil Rhynchitidae was compiled. A key to species of Rhynchitidae in Baltic amber was given. Fossil finds of the family Rhynchitidae were discussed. The assumption was made that the Recent distribution range of the genus Cartorhynchites is within the range of its host plant of the genus Symplocos. Probably, a new Eocene species developed on Symplocos kowalewskii, and the Oligocene C. struvei was associated with Symplocos myosotis (Unger).

Phylogenomics of weevils revisited: data curation and modelling compositional heterogeneity

Weevils represent one of the most prolific radiations of beetles and the most diverse group of herbivores on land. The phylogeny of weevils (Curculionoidea) has received extensive attention, and a largely satisfactory framework for their interfamilial relationships has been established. However, a recent phylogenomic study of Curculionoidea based on anchored hybrid enrichment (AHE) data yielded an abnormal placement for the family Belidae (strongly supported as sister to Nemonychidae + Anthribidae). Here we reanalyse the genome-scale AHE data for Curculionoidea using various models of molecular evolution and data filtering methods to mitigate anticipated systematic errors and reduce compositional heterogeneity. When analysed with the infinite mixture model CAT-GTR or using appropriately filtered datasets, Belidae are always recovered as sister to the clade (Attelabidae, (Caridae, (Brentidae, Curculionidae))), which is congruent with studies based on morphology and other sources of molecular data. Although the relationships of the 'higher Curculionidae' remain challenging to resolve, we provide a consistent and robust backbone phylogeny of weevils. Our extensive analyses emphasize the significance of data curation and modelling across-site compositional heterogeneity in phylogenomic studies.

The first full host plant dataset of Curculionidae Scolytinae of the world: tribe Xyleborini LeConte, 1876

Xyleborini is the largest tribe of Scolytinae accounting for about 1300 species worldwide; all species are primarily xylomycetophagous, developing on symbiotic fungi farmed in plant woody tissues. Xyleborini wood-boring action, associated with the inoculum of symbiotic fungi, can lead, sometimes, to the emergence of host plant dieback, wood damage and death; for this reason, multiple Xyleborini are major pests on both cultivated, forest and ornamental trees. Many Xyleborini are invasive worldwide and great effort is expended to manage their biological invasions or prevent new arrivals. Imports of host plants often have a primary role as a pathway for introduction and are frequently responsible for the establishment of species in non-native environments. In this context, data availability on Xyleborini host plants is a major limiting factor in the development of effective detection and monitoring strategies as well as a fundamental variable to consider in risk assessment of plant pests and invasive species. This contribution provides updated host records and the hosts economic categorization for the 1293 Xyleborini known worldwide to date.

Phylogenomics of darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) from the Atacama Desert

Background

Tenebrionidae (Insecta: Coleoptera) are a conspicuous component of desert fauna worldwide. In these ecosystems, they are significantly responsible for nutrient cycling and show remarkable morphological and physiological adaptations. Nevertheless, Tenebrionidae colonizing individual deserts have repeatedly emerged from different lineages. The goal of our study was to gain insights into the phylogenetic relationships of the tenebrionid genera from the Atacama Desert and how these taxa are related to the globally distributed Tenebrionidae.

Methods

We used newly generated transcriptome data (47 tribes, 7 of 11 subfamilies) that allowed for a comprehensive phylogenomic analysis of the tenebrionid fauna of this hyperarid desert and fills a gap in our knowledge of the highly diversified Tenebrionidae. We examined two independent data sets known to be suitable for phylogenomic reconstructions. One is based on 35 neuropeptide precursors, the other on 1,742 orthologous genes shared among Coleoptera.

Results

The majority of Atacama genera are placed into three groups, two of which belong to typical South American lineages within the Pimeliinae. While the data support the monophyly of the Physogasterini, Nycteliini and Scotobiini, this does not hold for the Atacama genera of Edrotini, Epitragini, Evaniosomini, Praociini, Stenosini, Thinobatini, and Trilobocarini. A suggested very close relationship of Psammetichus with the Mediterranean Leptoderis also could not be confirmed. We also provide hints regarding the phylogenetic relationships of the Caenocrypticini, which occur both in South America and southern Africa. Apart from the focus on the Tenebrionidae from the Atacama Desert, we found a striking synapomorphy grouping Alleculinae, Blaptinae, Diaperinae, Stenochinae, and several taxa of Tenebrioninae, but not Tenebrio and Tribolium. This character, an insertion in the myosuppressin gene, defines a higher-level monophyletic group within the Tenebrionidae.

Conclusion

Transcriptome data allow a comprehensive phylogenomic analysis of the tenebrionid fauna of the Atacama Desert, which represents one of the seven major endemic tribal areas in the world for Tenebrionidae. Most Atacama genera could be placed in three lineages typical of South America; monophyly is not supported for several tribes based on molecular data, suggesting that a detailed systematic revision of several groups is necessary.

Fossil History of Ambrosia Beetles (Coleoptera; Platypodidae) with Description of a New Genus from Dominican Amber

The fossil record of ambrosia beetles is summarized and a new genus and species in the subfamily Mecopelminae, Gongyloceria dominicana gen. et sp. nov. is described. The new genus differs from the extant genus Mecopelmus Blackman, 1944, possessing weakly elongated tarsi, finely faceted eyes, a scape not reaching the posterior margin of the eye, coarsely sculptured pronotum and elytra, and a larger body size. It is the first Miocene record of the Mecopelminae. The genus Xyleborites Wickham, 1913, placem. n. is transferred from the Scolytidae to the Platypodidae. A list of the fossil Platypodidae, including a key to the subfamilies and tribes of ambrosia beetles, is presented. Xyleborites longipennis Wickham, 1913 and Gongyloceria dominicana sp. nov. may have been related to Paullinieae recorded from the late Eocene and the early Miocene of North and Central America. Distribution maps with fossil records for ambrosia beetles are included.

Mitochondrial genomes of Sternochetus species (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and the phylogenetic implications

The three weevil species, Sternochetus gravis, S. mangiferae, and S. olivieri, have all been reported to be serious pests of mango fruits. Morphology, biology, and various management approaches of these economically important weevils have been well studied. However, no mitochondrial genomes have been reported from the genus Sternochetus. Herein, we assembled mitogenomes of all the three Sternochetus species to reveal their mitogenomic characteristics. A DNA library of 350 bp insert size was constructed and sequenced in Illumina's HiSeq 6000 platform with a pair-end 150 bp sequencing strategy by Novogene. The sequence reads were assembled using GetOrganelle v1.7.1 and the genes were annotated by Geneious Prime 2021.0.3 and MITOS Web Server. Coupled with 61 published mitogenomes from 13 subfamilies of Curculionidae, we reconstructed phylogenetic trees to resolve evolutionary relationships of these closely related species and also examined subfamily-level classification among Curculionidae. All three mitogenomes are double-stranded circular molecules with 22 transfer RNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and 1 noncoding control region as in other insects. Higher interspecific nucleotide divergence (about 10%) of 13 PCGs indicated these three Sternochetus species diverged a long time ago. Phylogenetic analyses using both maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods showed that Sternochetus falls into the basal clade of Cryptorhynchini, a tribe in the subfamily Molytinae. The relationship of S. olivieri as a sister species to S. gravis + S. mangiferae was strongly supported. The monophyly of Cryptorhynchini was also well supported whereas Molytinae was suggested to be a polyphyletic group.

Mitogenomics of the Olive Seed Weevil, Anchonocranus oleae Marshall and Implications for Its Phylogenetic Position in Curculionidae

Simple Summary

Anchonocranus oleae is a southern African weevil that feeds on the seeds of the African Wild Olive, a close relative of the European cultivated olive tree. The species is known to occur in the Western Cape of South Africa, the main region of olive production in Southern Africa. We generated reference DNA barcodes and the complete mitogenome of A. oleae as part of our ongoing genetic cataloguing of insects associated with wild and cultivated olives in South Africa. The phylogenetic position of A. oleae in the family Curculionidae was inferred to be in the Curculioninae, Conoderinae, Cossoninae, Molytinae, and Scolytinae (CCCMS) clade but could not be precisely determined due to the paucity of genetic data for adequate taxonomic context, highlighting the need for further coverage of related tribes and genera. Nevertheless, the data generated in this study contribute to the enrichment of baseline information on olive-associated insects, in general, and on the genus Anchonocranus, in particular.

Abstract

Anchonocranus oleae Marshall (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a seed-feeding weevil native to southern Africa; its larvae are known to develop in the fruits of the African Wild Olive and, more rarely, cultivated olives. The species has been mainly found in the Western Cape province of South Africa, but it has remained in relative obscurity because it does not seem to represent a current threat to commercial olive production. As part of an ongoing effort to produce baseline genetic data for olive-associated entomofauna in South Africa, we generated reference DNA barcodes for A. oleae collected from wild and cultivated olives and sequenced its mitogenome for assessment of the phylogenetic position of the species in the family Curculionidae. The mitochondrial phylogeny estimate indicated that A. oleae shares a common ancestor with Elaidobius (tribe Derelomini), but a definite and close relationship to this tribe and the precise tribal placement of A. oleae in the subfamily Curculioninae could not be inferred due to the lack of representative mitogenomes of other relevant curculionine tribes and genera. This study will assist future work on the DNA-based species identification, genetic diversity, and phylogenetic position of the genus Anchonocranus and related taxa.

From monocots to dicots: host shifts in Afrotropical derelomine weevils shed light on the evolution of non-obligatory brood pollination mutualism

Weevils from the tribe Derelomini (Curculionidae: Curculioninae) are specialized brood pollinators engaged in mutualistic relationships with several angiosperm lineages. In brood pollination systems, reproductive plant tissues are used for the development of insect larval stages, whereas adult insects pollinate their plant hosts as a reward. The evolutionary history of derelomines in relationship to their hosts is poorly understood and potentially contrasts with other brood pollination systems, wherein a pollinator lineage is usually associated with a single host plant family. In the case of Afrotropical Derelomini, host records indicate a diverse host repertoire consisting of several families of monocot and dicot plants. In this study, we investigate their phylogenetic relationships, timing of diversification and evolution of host use. Our results suggest that derelomine lineages started their diversification ~40 Mya. Reconstructions of host use evolution support an ancestral association with the monocotyledonous palm family (Arecaceae), followed by several shifts towards other plant families in Afrotropical lineages, especially to dicotyledonous plants from the family Ebenaceae (on the genus Euclea L.). Some level of phylogenetic conservatism of host use is recovered for the lineages associated with either palms or Euclea. Multiple instances of sympatric weevil assemblages on the same plant are also unravelled, corresponding to either single or independent colonization events. Overall, the diversity of hosts colonized and the frequency of sympatric assemblages highlighted in non-obligatory plant–derelomine brood pollination systems contrast with what is generally expected from plant–insect brood pollination systems.

Odorant receptor orthologues in conifer-feeding beetles display conserved responses to ecologically relevant odours

Insects are able to detect a plethora of olfactory cues using a divergent family of odorant receptors (ORs). Despite the divergent nature of this family, related species frequently express several evolutionarily conserved OR orthologues. In the largest order of insects, Coleoptera, it remains unknown whether OR orthologues have conserved or divergent functions in different species. Using HEK293 cells, we addressed this question through functional characterization of two groups of OR orthologues in three species of the Curculionidae (weevil) family, the conifer-feeding bark beetles Ips typographus L. ("Ityp") and Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins ("Dpon") (Scolytinae), and the pine weevil Hylobius abietis L. ("Habi"; Molytinae). The ORs of H. abietis were annotated from antennal transcriptomes. The results show highly conserved response specificities, with one group of orthologues (HabiOR3/DponOR8/ItypOR6) responding exclusively to 2-phenylethanol (2-PE), and the other group (HabiOR4/DponOR9/ItypOR5) responding to angiosperm green leaf volatiles (GLVs). Both groups of orthologues belong to the coleopteran OR subfamily 2B, and share a common ancestor with OR5 in the cerambycid Megacyllene caryae, also tuned to 2-PE, suggesting a shared evolutionary history of 2-PE receptors across two beetle superfamilies. The detected compounds are ecologically relevant for conifer-feeding curculionids, and are probably linked to fitness, with GLVs being used to avoid angiosperm nonhost plants, and 2-PE being important for intraspecific communication and/or playing a putative role in beetle-microbe symbioses. To our knowledge, this study is the first to reveal evolutionary conservation of OR functions across several beetle species and hence sheds new light on the functional evolution of insect ORs.

Taxonomic Revision of the Genus Miltotranes Zimmerman, 1994 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Molytinae), the Bowenia-Pollinating Cycad Weevils in Australia, with Description of a New Species and Implications for the Systematics of Bowenia

The Australian endemic weevils of the genus Miltotranes Zimmerman, 1994 (Curculionidae: Molytinae: Tranes group), comprising two species, M. prosternalis (Lea, 1929) and M. subopacus (Lea, 1929), are highly host-specific and the only known pollinators of Bowenia cycads, which comprise two CITES-protected species restricted to Tropical Queensland in Australia. In the present study, the taxonomy of Miltotranes is reviewed, a lectotype for the name Tranes prosternalis Lea, 1929 is designated and a new species associated with the Bowenia population in the McIlwraith Range is described as M. wilsoni sp. n. The descriptions and diagnoses of all species are supplemented with illustrations of their habitus and salient structures, and an identification key to all species and a distribution map are provided. Potential implications of the new species and of the taxonomy and biogeography of Miltotranes overall on the systematics and conservation of Bowenia are discussed.

Phylogenomics resolves timing and patterns in the evolution of Australasian Cerambycinae (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), and reveals new insights into the subfamily-level classification and historical biogeography of longhorn beetles

Cerambycinae is the second-largest subfamily of longhorn beetles in the Southern Hemisphere. The phylogeny of Cerambycinae is poorly known, resulting in a highly artificial tribal-level classification and a largely speculative evolutionary history. We reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships of Cerambycinae at the generic level using anchored hybrid enrichment data from hundreds of nuclear genes, with a primary focus on the extraordinarily diverse faunas of Australia and New Zealand. We also estimated divergence times by incorporating fossil calibrations in our analyses. We identified two main clades within Cerambycinae, which can also be separated morphologically by a distinct type of antennal foramen. We recovered a Late Jurassic origin of crown Cerambycinae. Dorcasominae, which was newly found to have representatives in Australia, was notably derived from within Cerambycinae. We recovered two independent origins of Australian Cerambycinae: one clade originated in the Early Cretaceous and is likely endemic to the Southern Hemisphere, while the other clade appears to have immigrated to Australia, perhaps from the Northern Hemisphere. Within the Australian lineages were multiple independent origins of New Zealand taxa, all of which are relative host-plant generalists. Tribal relationships and assignments are discussed, and based on our results, the following major nomenclatural acts were made: Dorcasominae Lacordaire, 1868 is downgraded to a tribe Dorcasomini of Cerambycinae Latreille, 1804; Neostenini Lacordaire, 1868syn. nov. is treated as a junior synonym of Uracanthini Blanchard, 1851.

The genome of the forest insect pest Pissodes strobi reveals genome expansion and evidence of a Wolbachia endosymbiont

The highly diverse insect family of true weevils, Curculionidae, includes many agricultural and forest pests. Pissodes strobi, commonly known as the spruce weevil or white pine weevil, is a major pest of spruce and pine forests in North America. Pissodes strobi larvae feed on the apical shoots of young trees, causing stunted growth and can destroy regenerating spruce or pine forests. Here, we describe the nuclear and mitochondrial Pissodes strobi genomes and their annotations, as well as the genome of an apparent Wolbachia endosymbiont. We report a substantial expansion of the weevil nuclear genome, relative to other Curculionidae species, possibly driven by an abundance of class II DNA transposons. The endosymbiont observed belongs to a group (supergroup A) of Wolbachia species that generally form parasitic relationships with their arthropod host.

The Angiosperm Terrestrial Revolution and the origins of modern biodiversity

Biodiversity today has the unusual property that 85% of plant and animal species live on land rather than in the sea, and half of these live in tropical rainforests. An explosive boost to terrestrial diversity occurred from c. 100-50 million years ago, the Late Cretaceous and early Palaeogene. During this interval, the Earth-life system on land was reset, and the biosphere expanded to a new level of productivity, enhancing the capacity and species diversity of terrestrial environments. This boost in terrestrial biodiversity coincided with innovations in flowering plant biology and evolutionary ecology, including their flowers and efficiencies in reproduction; coevolution with animals, especially pollinators and herbivores; photosynthetic capacities; adaptability; and ability to modify habitats. The rise of angiosperms triggered a macroecological revolution on land and drove modern biodiversity in a secular, prolonged shift to new, high levels, a series of processes we name here the Angiosperm Terrestrial Revolution.

Metagenomic clustering reveals microbial contamination as an essential consideration in ultraconserved element design for phylogenomics with insect museum specimens

Phylogenomics via ultraconserved elements (UCEs) has led to improved phylogenetic reconstructions across the tree of life. However, inadvertently incorporating non-targeted DNA into the UCE marker design will lead to misinformation being incorporated into subsequent analyses. To date, the effectiveness of basic metagenomic filtering strategies has not been assessed in arthropods. Designing markers from museum specimens requires careful consideration of methods due to the high levels of microbial contamination typically found in such specimens. We investigate if contaminant sequences are carried forward into a UCE marker set we developed from insect museum specimens using a standard bioinformatics pipeline. We find that the methods currently employed by most researchers do not exclude contamination from the final set of targets. Lastly, we highlight several paths forward for reducing contamination in UCE marker design.

Integrated phylogenomics and fossil data illuminate the evolution of beetles

Beetles constitute the most biodiverse animal order with over 380 000 described species and possibly several million more yet unnamed. Recent phylogenomic studies have arrived at considerably incongruent topologies and widely varying estimates of divergence dates for major beetle clades. Here, we use a dataset of 68 single-copy nuclear protein-coding (NPC) genes sampling 129 out of the 193 recognized extant families as well as the first comprehensive set of fully justified fossil calibrations to recover a refined timescale of beetle evolution. Using phylogenetic methods that counter the effects of compositional and rate heterogeneity, we recover a topology congruent with morphological studies, which we use, combined with other recent phylogenomic studies, to propose several formal changes in the classification of Coleoptera: Scirtiformia and Scirtoidea sensu nov., Clambiformia ser. nov. and Clamboidea sensu nov., Rhinorhipiformia ser. nov., Byrrhoidea sensu nov., Dryopoidea stat. res., Nosodendriformia ser. nov. and Staphyliniformia sensu nov., and Erotyloidea stat. nov., Nitiduloidea stat. nov. and Cucujoidea sensu nov., alongside changes below the superfamily level. Our divergence time analyses recovered a late Carboniferous origin of Coleoptera, a late Palaeozoic origin of all modern beetle suborders and a Triassic-Jurassic origin of most extant families, while fundamental divergences within beetle phylogeny did not coincide with the hypothesis of a Cretaceous Terrestrial Revolution.

New insights into the phylogeny and evolution of Podocarpaceae inferred from transcriptomic data

Phylogenies of an increasing number of taxa have been resolved with the development of phylogenomics. However, the intergeneric relationships of Podocarpaceae, the second largest family of conifers comprising 19 genera and approximately 187 species mainly distributed in the Southern Hemisphere, have not been well disentangled in previous studies, even when genome-scale data sets were used. Here we used 993 nuclear orthologous groups (OGs) and 54 chloroplast OGs (genes), which were generated from 47 transcriptomes of Podocarpaceae and its sister group Araucariaceae, to reconstruct the phylogeny of Podocarpaceae. Our study completely resolved the intergeneric relationships of Podocarpaceae represented by all extant genera and revealed that topological conflicts among phylogenetic trees could be attributed to synonymous substitutions. Moreover, we found that two morphological traits, fleshy seed cones and flattened leaves, might be important for Podocarpaceae to adapt to angiosperm-dominated forests and thus could have promoted its species diversification. In addition, our results indicate that Podocarpaceae originated in Gondwana in the late Triassic and both vicariance and dispersal have contributed to its current biogeographic patterns. Our study provides the first robust transcriptome-based phylogeny of Podocarpaceae, an evolutionary framework important for future studies of this family.

Origin and evolution of fungus farming in wood-boring Coleoptera - a palaeontological perspective

Insect-fungus mutualism is one of the better-studied symbiotic interactions in nature. Ambrosia fungi are an ecological assemblage of unrelated fungi that are cultivated by ambrosia beetles in their galleries as obligate food for larvae. Despite recently increased research interest, it remains unclear which ecological factors facilitated the origin of fungus farming, and how it transformed into a symbiotic relationship with obligate dependency. It is clear from phylogenetic analyses that this symbiosis evolved independently many times in several beetle and fungus lineages. However, there is a mismatch between palaeontological and phylogenetic data. Herein we review, for the first time, the ambrosia system from a palaeontological perspective. Although largely ignored, families such as Lymexylidae and Bostrichidae should be included in the list of ambrosia beetles because some of their species cultivate ambrosia fungi. The estimated origin for some groups of ambrosia fungi during the Cretaceous concurs with a known high diversity of Lymexylidae and Bostrichidae at that time. Although potentially older, the greatest radiation of various ambrosia beetle lineages occurred in the weevil subfamilies Scolytinae and Platypodinae during the Eocene. In this review we explore the evolutionary relationship between ambrosia beetles, fungi and their host trees, which is likely to have persisted for longer than previously supposed.

Fifty million years of beetle evolution along the Antarctic Polar Front

The Antarctic environment is famously inhospitable to most terrestrial biodiversity, traditionally viewed as a driver of species extinction. Combining population- and species-level molecular data, we show that beetles on islands along the Antarctic Polar Front diversified in response to major climatic events over the last 50 Ma in surprising synchrony with the region’s marine organisms. Unique algae- and moss-feeding habits enabled beetles to capitalize on cooling conditions, which resulted in a decline in flowering plants—the typical hosts for beetles elsewhere. Antarctica’s cooling paleoclimate thus fostered the diversification of both terrestrial and marine life. Climatically driven evolutionary processes since the Miocene may underpin much of the region’s diversity, are still ongoing, and should be further investigated among Antarctic biota.

Global cooling and glacial–interglacial cycles since Antarctica’s isolation have been responsible for the diversification of the region’s marine fauna. By contrast, these same Earth system processes are thought to have played little role terrestrially, other than driving widespread extinctions. Here, we show that on islands along the Antarctic Polar Front, paleoclimatic processes have been key to diversification of one of the world’s most geographically isolated and unique groups of herbivorous beetles—Ectemnorhinini weevils. Combining phylogenomic, phylogenetic, and phylogeographic approaches, we demonstrate that these weevils colonized the sub-Antarctic islands from Africa at least 50 Ma ago and repeatedly dispersed among them. As the climate cooled from the mid-Miocene, diversification of the beetles accelerated, resulting in two species-rich clades. One of these clades specialized to feed on cryptogams, typical of the polar habitats that came to prevail under Miocene conditions yet remarkable as a food source for any beetle. This clade’s most unusual representative is a marine weevil currently undergoing further speciation. The other clade retained the more common weevil habit of feeding on angiosperms, which likely survived glaciation in isolated refugia. Diversification of Ectemnorhinini weevils occurred in synchrony with many other Antarctic radiations, including penguins and notothenioid fishes, and coincided with major environmental changes. Our results thus indicate that geo-climatically driven diversification has progressed similarly for Antarctic marine and terrestrial organisms since the Miocene, potentially constituting a general biodiversity paradigm that should be sought broadly for the region’s taxa.

Constitutive and insect-induced transcriptomes of weevil-resistant and susceptible Sitka spruce

Spruce weevil (Pissodes strobi) is a significant pest of regenerating spruce (Picea) and pine (Pinus) forests in North America. Weevil larvae feed in the bark, phloem, cambium, and outer xylem of apical shoots, causing stunted growth or mortality of young trees. We identified and characterized constitutive and weevil-induced patterns of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) transcriptomes in weevil-resistant (R) and susceptible (S) trees using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and differential expression (DE) analyses. We developed a statistical model for the analysis of RNA-seq data from treatment experiments with a 2 × 3 factorial design to differentiate insect-induced responses from the effects of mechanical damage. Across the different comparisons, we identified two major transcriptome contrasts: A large set of genes that was constitutively DE between R and S trees, and another set of genes that was DE in weevil-induced S-trees. The constitutive transcriptome unique to R trees appeared to be attuned to defense, while the constitutive transcriptome unique to S trees was enriched for growth-related transcripts. Notably, a set of transcripts annotated as "fungal" was detected consistently in the transcriptomes. Fungal transcripts were identified as DE in the comparison of R and S trees and in the weevil-affected DE transcriptome of S trees, suggesting a potential microbiome role in this conifer-insect interaction.

Anchored Phylogenomics, Evolution and Systematics of Elateridae: Are All Bioluminescent Elateroidea Derived Click Beetles?

Simple Summary

In the era of phylogenomics, new molecular sequencing and computational techniques can aid in resolving phylogenetic relationships that were previously intractable by morphological or limited molecular data. In this study, we used anchored hybrid enrichment—designed to recover DNA sequences from hundreds of single-copy orthologous genes—to resolve the phylogeny of the Elateridae (click-beetles) and establish their placement within superfamily Elateroidea. The resulting data were compatible with published transcriptomes, allowing for integrating our dataset with previously published data. Using a wide range of analyses on these molecular data, we tested hypotheses long-debated in the morphological literature and also the robustness of our phylogenetic inferences. Our results placed the bioluminescent lampyroids (fireflies and relatives) within the click-beetles, challenging the current classification of Elateridae, Lampyridae, Phengodidae, and Rhagophthalmidae. However, despite the large amount of molecular data analyzed, a few nodes with conflicting phylogenetic signals could not be unambiguously resolved. Overall, we recovered well-resolved tree topologies that will serve as a framework for further systematic and evolutionary studies of click-beetles. This work further demonstrates that the click-beetle lineage contains not only pest wireworms, but also many species that benefit agriculture.

Abstract

Click-beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae) are an abundant, diverse, and economically important beetle family that includes bioluminescent species. To date, molecular phylogenies have sampled relatively few taxa and genes, incompletely resolving subfamily level relationships. We present a novel probe set for anchored hybrid enrichment of 2260 single-copy orthologous genes in Elateroidea. Using these probes, we undertook the largest phylogenomic study of Elateroidea to date (99 Elateroidea, including 86 Elateridae, plus 5 non-elateroid outgroups). We sequenced specimens from 88 taxa to test the monophyly of families, subfamilies and tribes. Maximum likelihood and coalescent phylogenetic analyses produced well-resolved topologies. Notably, the included non-elaterid bioluminescent families (Lampyridae + Phengodidae + Rhagophthalmidae) form a clade within the otherwise monophyletic Elateridae, and Sinopyrophoridae may not warrant recognition as a family. All analyses recovered the elaterid subfamilies Elaterinae, Agrypninae, Cardiophorinae, Negastriinae, Pityobiinae, and Tetralobinae as monophyletic. Our results were conflicting on whether the hypnoidines are sister to Dendrometrinae or Cardiophorinae + Negastriinae. Moreover, we show that fossils with the eucnemid-type frons and elongate cylindrical shape may belong to Eucnemidae, Elateridae: Thylacosterninae, ancestral hard-bodied cantharoids or related extinct groups. Proposed taxonomic changes include recognition of Plastocerini as a tribe in Dendrometrinae and Hypnoidinae stat. nov. as a subfamily within Elateridae.

Six-state Amino Acid Recoding is not an Effective Strategy to Offset Compositional Heterogeneity and Saturation in Phylogenetic Analyses

Six-state amino acid recoding strategies are commonly applied to combat the effects of compositional heterogeneity and substitution saturation in phylogenetic analyses. While these methods have been endorsed from a theoretical perspective, their performance has never been extensively tested. Here, we test the effectiveness of six-state recoding approaches by comparing the performance of analyses on recoded and non-recoded data sets that have been simulated under gradients of compositional heterogeneity or saturation. In our simulation analyses, non-recoding approaches consistently outperform six-state recoding approaches. Our results suggest that six-state recoding strategies are not effective in the face of high saturation. Furthermore, while recoding strategies do buffer the effects of compositional heterogeneity, the loss of information that accompanies six-state recoding outweighs its benefits. In addition, we evaluate recoding schemes with 9, 12, 15, and 18 states and show that these consistently outperform six-state recoding. Our analyses of other recoding schemes suggest that under conditions of very high compositional heterogeneity, it may be advantageous to apply recoding using more than six states, but we caution that applying any recoding should include sufficient justification. Our results have important implications for the more than 90 published papers that have incorporated six-state recoding, many of which have significant bearing on relationships across the tree of life. [Compositional heterogeneity; Dayhoff 6-state recoding; S&R 6-state recoding; six-state amino acid recoding; substitution saturation.]

First phylogenetic analysis of Dryophthorinae (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) based on structural alignment of ribosomal DNA reveals Cenozoic diversification

Dryophthorinae is an economically important, ecologically distinct, and ubiquitous monophyletic group of pantropical weevils with more than 1,200 species in 153 genera. This study provides the first comprehensive phylogeny of the group with the aim to provide insights into the process and timing of diversification of phytophagous insects, inform classification and facilitate predictions. The taxon sampling is the most extensive to date and includes representatives of all five dryophthorine tribes and all but one subtribe. The phylogeny is based on secondary structural alignment of 18S and 28S rRNA totaling 3,764 nucleotides analyzed under Bayesian and maximum likelihood inference. We used a fossil-calibrated relaxed clock model with two approaches, node-dating and fossilized birth-death models, to estimate divergence times for the subfamily. All tribes except the species-rich Rhynchophorini were found to be monophyletic, but higher support is required to ascertain the paraphyly of Rhynchophorini with more confidence. Nephius is closely related to Dryophthorini and Stromboscerini, and there is strong evidence for paraphyly of Sphenophorina. We find a large gap between the divergence of Dryophthorinae from their sister group Platypodinae in the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary and the diversification of extant species in the Cenozoic, highlighting the role of coevolution with angiosperms in this group.

A phylogenetic and taxonomic assessment of Afrotropical Micracidini (Coleoptera, Scolytinae) reveals a strong diversifying role for Madagascar

Afrotropical bark beetle genera in the tribe Micracidini are revised and an identification key provided. The new classification is based on phylogenetic analyses of five molecular markers (COI, EF-1α, 28S, PABP1, CAD) in combination with morphological characters. Five new genera are erected and one genus synonymized, resulting in a total of 11 valid genera: Lanurgus Eggers, 1920, Traglostus Schedl, 1938, Pseudomicracis Eggers, 1920 (=Saurotocis Wood, 1984 syn. nov.), Phloeocurus Wood, 1984, Afromicracis Schedl, 1959, Dendrochilus Schedl, 1959, Neomicracis Jordal gen. nov., Leiomicracis Jordal gen. nov., Diplotrichus Jordal gen. nov., Pseudolanurgus Jordal gen. nov., Microlanurgus Jordal gen. nov. The following new species are described to be included in the new genera: Leiomicracis aurea Jordal sp. nov., Neomicracis squamigera Jordal sp. nov., both from Tanzania, and Microlanurgus bicolor Jordal sp. nov. and Microlanurgus ater Jordal sp. nov., from Madagascar. The following new synonyms and new combinations are proposed: Afromicracis dubius (Schedl, 1950) (=Afromicracis angolensis Schedl, 1962 syn. nov.), Afromicacis elongatulus (Schedl, 1977) comb. nov.,Afromicracis jasminiae (Schedl 1957) comb. nov. (=Dendrochilus mikaniae Schedl 1957 syn. nov.), Afromicracis robustus (Schedl 1957) comb. nov. (=Dendrochilus arundinarius Schedl 1957 syn. nov., =Hypothenemus bambusae Browne, 1970 syn. nov., =Dendrochilus filum Schedl, 1977 syn. nov.) (all from Dendrochilus), Afromicracis setifer (Schedl 1957) comb. nov. (Mimiocurus), Lanurgus longipilis (Schedl, 1958) comb. nov., Lanurgus pubescens (Schedl, 1961) comb. nov. (both from Traglostus), Diplotrichus catenatus (Schedl, 1953) comb. nov.,Diplotrichus elongatus (Schedl, 1950) comb. nov.,Diplotrichus euphorbia (Schedl, 1961) comb. nov.,Diplotrichus gracilis (Schedl, 1958) comb. nov.,Diplotrichus minor (Schedl, 1950) comb. nov (=Lanurgus frontalis Schedl, 1953 syn. Nov.), Diplotrichus obesus (Schedl, 1953) comb. nov., Diplotrichus pygmaeus (Schedl, 1965) comb. nov., Diplotrichus rugosipes (Schedl, 1961) comb. nov., Diplotrichus subdepressus (Schedl, 1965) comb. nov., Diplotrichus widdringtoniae (Schedl, 1962) comb. nov. (all from Lanurgus), Diplotrichus ignotus (Schedl, 1965) comb. nov. (Pseudomicracis), Pseudolanurgus harunganae (Schedl, 1961) comb. nov. (=Lanurgus cribrellus Schedl, 1965 syn. nov.), Pseudolanurgus bugekeae (Schedl, 1957) comb. nov. (both from Pseudomicracis), Pseudolanurgus minutissimus (Schedl, 1961) comb. nov. (Lanurgus), Pseudomicracis dispar (Schedl, 1961) comb. nov., Pseudomicracis tomicoides (Schedl, 1961) comb. nov. (both from Saurotocis). The following taxa were transferred to genera in other tribes: Acanthotomicus intermedius (Schedl, 1977) comb. nov., Xylocleptes villiersi (Lepesme, 1942) comb. nov. (both from Dendrochilus); Eidophelus agnathus (Schedl, 1942) comb. nov., and Eidophelus ciliatipennis (Schedl, 1979) comb. nov. (all from Miocryphalus). The following five species were included in Karlseniusgen. nov. (Trypophloeini): Karlsenius klainedoxae (Schedl, 1957) comb. nov., Karlsenius nitidum (Schedl, 1965) comb. nov., Karlsenius nigrinum (Schedl, 1957) comb. nov., and Karlsenius attenuatus (Eggers, 1935) comb. nov. (from Miocryphalus), and Karlsenius ghanaensis (Schedl, 1977) comb. nov. (from Eidophelus). A time-tree and biogeographical analysis suggested that Madagascar was colonized only once in Micracidini, from East Africa soon after the origin of the tribe in late Cretaceous. Multiple re-colonisations from Madagascar to the mainland have contributed to further diversification of a tribe which is otherwise highly restricted in geographical distribution.

The Multispecies Coalescent Model Outperforms Concatenation Across Diverse Phylogenomic Data Sets

A statistical framework of model comparison and model validation is essential to resolving the debates over concatenation and coalescent models in phylogenomic data analysis. A set of statistical tests are here applied and developed to evaluate and compare the adequacy of substitution, concatenation, and multispecies coalescent (MSC) models across 47 phylogenomic data sets collected across tree of life. Tests for substitution models and the concatenation assumption of topologically congruent gene trees suggest that a poor fit of substitution models, rejected by 44% of loci, and concatenation models, rejected by 38% of loci, is widespread. Logistic regression shows that the proportions of GC content and informative sites are both negatively correlated with the fit of substitution models across loci. Moreover, a substantial violation of the concatenation assumption of congruent gene trees is consistently observed across six major groups (birds, mammals, fish, insects, reptiles, and others, including other invertebrates). In contrast, among those loci adequately described by a given substitution model, the proportion of loci rejecting the MSC model is 11%, significantly lower than those rejecting the substitution and concatenation models. Although conducted on reduced data sets due to computational constraints, Bayesian model validation and comparison both strongly favor the MSC over concatenation across all data sets; the concatenation assumption of congruent gene trees rarely holds for phylogenomic data sets with more than 10 loci. Thus, for large phylogenomic data sets, model comparisons are expected to consistently and more strongly favor the coalescent model over the concatenation model. We also found that loci rejecting the MSC have little effect on species tree estimation. Our study reveals the value of model validation and comparison in phylogenomic data analysis, as well as the need for further improvements of multilocus models and computational tools for phylogenetic inference. [Bayes factor; Bayesian model validation; coalescent prior; congruent gene trees; independent prior; Metazoa; posterior predictive simulation.]

The complete mitochondrial genome of oil palm pollinating weevil, Elaeidobius kamerunicus Faust. (Coleoptera : Curculionidae)

Elaeidobius kamerunicus is the most important insect pollinator in oil palm plantations. In this study, the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of E. kamerunicus (17.729 bp), a member of the Curculionidae family, will be reported. The mitogenome consisted of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), and a putative control region (CR). Phylogenetic analysis based on 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) using maximum Likelihood (ML) methods indicated that E. kamerunicus belongs to the Curculionidae family. This mitochondrial genome provides essential information for understanding genetic populations, phylogenetics, molecular evolution, and other biological applications in this species.

Molecular dating for phylogenies containing a mix of populations and species by using Bayesian and RelTime approaches

Simultaneous molecular dating of population and species divergences is essential in many biological investigations, including phylogeography, phylodynamics and species delimitation studies. In these investigations, multiple sequence alignments consist of both intra- and interspecies samples (mixed samples). As a result, the phylogenetic trees contain interspecies, interpopulation and within-population divergences. Bayesian relaxed clock methods are often employed in these analyses, but they assume the same tree prior for both inter- and intraspecies branching processes and require specification of a clock model for branch rates (independent vs. autocorrelated rates models). We evaluated the impact of a single tree prior on Bayesian divergence time estimates by analysing computer-simulated data sets. We also examined the effect of the assumption of independence of evolutionary rate variation among branches when the branch rates are autocorrelated. Bayesian approach with coalescent tree priors generally produced excellent molecular dates and highest posterior densities with high coverage probabilities. We also evaluated the performance of a non-Bayesian method, RelTime, which does not require the specification of a tree prior or a clock model. RelTime's performance was similar to that of the Bayesian approach, suggesting that it is also suitable to analyse data sets containing both populations and species variation when its computational efficiency is needed.

Fossil History of Curculionoidea (Coleoptera) from the Paleogene

Currently, some 564 species of Curculionoidea from nine families (Nemonychidae—4, Anthribidae—33, Ithyceridae—3, Belidae—9, Rhynchitidae—41, Attelabidae—3, Brentidae—47, Curculionidae—384, Platypodidae—2, Scolytidae—37) are known from the Paleogene. Twenty-seven species are found in the Paleocene, 442 in the Eocene and 94 in the Oligocene. The greatest diversity of Curculionoidea is described from the Eocene of Europe and North America. The richest faunas are known from Eocene localities, Florissant (177 species), Baltic amber (124 species) and Green River formation (75 species). The family Curculionidae dominates in all Paleogene localities. Weevil species associated with herbaceous vegetation are present in most localities since the middle Paleocene. A list of Curculionoidea species and their distribution by location is presented.

Performance of A Priori and A Posteriori Calibration Strategies in Divergence Time Estimation

Relaxed molecular clock methods allow the use of genomic data to estimate divergence times across the tree of life. This is most commonly achieved in Bayesian analyses where the molecular clock is calibrated a priori through the integration of fossil information. Alternatively, fossil calibrations can be used a posteriori, to transform previously estimated relative divergence times that were inferred without considering fossil information, into absolute divergence times. However, as branch length is the product of the rate of evolution and the duration in time of the considered branch, the extent to which a posteriori calibrated, relative divergence time methods can disambiguate time and rate, is unclear. Here, we use forward evolutionary simulations and compare a priori and a posteriori calibration strategies using different molecular clock methods and models. Specifically, we compare three Bayesian methods, the strict clock, uncorrelated clock and autocorrelated clock, and the non-Bayesian algorithm implemented in RelTime. We simulate phylogenies with multiple, independent substitution rate changes and show that correct timescales cannot be inferred without the use of calibrations. Under our simulation conditions, a posteriori calibration strategies almost invariably inferred incorrect rate changes and divergence times. The a priori integration of fossil calibrations is fundamental in these cases to improve the accuracy of the estimated divergence times. Relative divergence times and absolute timescales derived by calibrating relative timescales to geological time a posteriori appear to be less reliable than a priori calibrated, timescales.

An ancient push-pull pollination mechanism in cycads

Most cycads engage in brood-site pollination mutualisms, yet the mechanism by which the Cycadales entice pollination services from diverse insect mutualists remains unknown. Here, we characterize a push-pull pollination mechanism between a New World cycad and its weevil pollinators that mirrors the mechanism between a distantly related Old World cycad and its thrips pollinators. The behavioral convergence between weevils and thrips, combined with molecular phylogenetic dating and a meta-analysis of thermogenesis and coordinated patterns of volatile attraction and repulsion suggest that a push-pull pollination mutualism strategy is ancestral in this ancient, dioecious plant group. Hence, it may represent one of the earliest insect/plant pollination mechanisms, arising long before the evolution of visual floral signaling commonly used by flowering plants.

Hidden diversity in the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest: the discovery of Jurasaidae, a new beetle family (Coleoptera, Elateroidea) with neotenic females

Beetles are the most species-rich animal radiation and are among the historically most intensively studied insect groups. Consequently, the vast majority of their higher-level taxa had already been described about a century ago. In the 21st century, thus far, only three beetle families have been described de novo based on newly collected material. Here, we report the discovery of a completely new lineage of soft-bodied neotenic beetles from the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest, which is one of the most diverse and also most endangered biomes on the planet. We identified three species in two genera, which differ in morphology of all life stages and exhibit different degrees of neoteny in females. We provide a formal description of this lineage for which we propose the new family Jurasaidae. Molecular phylogeny recovered Jurasaidae within the basal grade in Elateroidea, sister to the well-sclerotized rare click beetles, Cerophytidae. This placement is supported by several larval characters including the modified mouthparts. The discovery of a new beetle family, which is due to the limited dispersal capability and cryptic lifestyle of its wingless females bound to long-term stable habitats, highlights the importance of the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest as a top priority area for nature conservation.

The mitochondrial genome of Apion squamigerum (Coleoptera, Curculionoidea, Brentidae) and the phylogenetic implications

In this article, we present the nearly complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the weevil beetle Apion squamigerum (Curculionoidea, Brentidae), assembled using data from Illumina next generation sequencing (NGS). This mitogenome was found to be very large, with the total length of 18,562 bp. Two trnM genes were identified. A large non-coding intergenic spacer spanning 1,949 bp occurred between trnI and trnM2. Combined with 111 existing weevil mitogenomes, we conducted phylogenetic reconstructions based on various datasets under maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference. Firstly, phylogenetic analyses robustly supported a sister group of A. squamigerum and Rhopalapion longirostre, namely, that two species of Apioninae (Brentidae) formed a clade. Within the entire Curculionoidea, the Nemonychidae diverged firstly, following the families Anthribidae and Attelabidae. In addition, a large clade comprising the sister families Brentidae and Curculionidae was strongly supported in all trees.

The complete mitochondrial genomes of two sibling species of camellia weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and patterns of Curculionini speciation

Complete mitochondrial genomes contain large and diverse datasets for species delineation. To better understand the divergence of the two morphologically indistinguishable weevil species in Curculionini, we first sequenced and compared their complete mitochondrial genomes. The complete mitochondrial genomes of Curculio chinensis and Curculio sp. were 19,713 bp with an A + T content of 76.61% and 19,216 bp with an A + T content of 76.85%, respectively. All 37 of the typical mitochondrial genes were determined in both species. The 13 protein sequences of the two species shared high homology (about 90%) except for ATP8 (73.08%). The differences in secondary structure of ATP8 were the number of possible proteins and nucleic acid binding sites. There were 22 and 15 mismatched base-pairs in the tRNA secondary structures from C. chinensis and Curculio sp., respectively. Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian analyses indicated that Curculio sp. is a novel species closely related to C. chinensis. The divergence time estimation suggests that Cryptorhynchinae and Curculionini lines diverged in the Cenozoic Period, while C. chinensis and Curculio sp. diverged at 6.7079 (95% CI 5-13) Mya. This study demonstrates the utility of using complete mitochondrial gene sets for phylogenetic analysis and enhances our understanding of the genetic basis for the evolution of the Curculionini.

Coleoptera of Canada

The beetle fauna of Canada was assessed, including estimates of yet unreported diversity using information from taxonomists and COI sequence clusters in a BOLD (Barcode of Life Datasystems) COI dataset comprising over 77,000 Canadian records. To date, 8302 species of Coleoptera have been recorded in Canada, a 23% increase from the first assessment in 1979. A total of 639 non-native beetle species have become established in Canada, with most species in the Staphylinidae (153 spp.), Curculionidae (107 spp.), Chrysomelidae (56 spp.) and Carabidae (55 spp.). Based on estimates from the taxonomic community and our BOLD dataset, we estimate that slightly more than 1000 beetle species remain to be reported from Canada, either as new records or undescribed species. Renewed enthusiasm toward and financial support for surveys, especially in the central and western provinces of Canada will be critical for detecting, documenting and describing these species. The Barcode of Life database is still far from comprehensive for Canadian Coleoptera but substantial progress has been made and the number of Barcode Index Numbers (BINs) (as candidate species) has reached nearly 70% of the number of species reported from Canada. Comparison of BINs to observed species in a group of Canadian Staphylinidae suggests that BINs may provide a good estimate of species diversity within the beetles. Histeridae is a diverse family in Canada that is notably underrepresented in BOLD. Families such as Mordellidae, Scraptiidae, Latridiidae, Ptiliidae and Scirtidae are poorly known taxonomically in Canada and are represented in our BOLD dataset by many more BINs than recorded species.

The Weevil Fauna Preserved in Burmese Amber—Snapshot of a Unique, Extinct Lineage (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea)

Only a few weevils have been described from Burmese amber, and although most have been misclassified, they show unusual and specialised characters unknown in extant weevils. In this paper, we present the results of a study of a much larger and more diverse selection of Burmese amber weevils. We prepared all amber blocks to maximise visibility of structures and examined these with high-magnification light microscopy as well as CT scanning (selected specimens). We redescribe most previously described taxa and describe 52 new species in 26 new genera, accompanied by photographs. We compare critical characters of these weevils with those of extant taxa and outline the effects of distortion on their preservation and interpretation. We conclude that only two weevil families are thus far represented in Burmese amber, Nemonychidae and a newly recognised family, Mesophyletidae, which appears closely related to Attelabidae but cannot be accommodated in this family. The geniculate antennae and long rostrum with exodont mandibles of most Mesophyletidae indicate that they were highly specialised phytophages of early angiosperms preserved in the amber, likely ovipositing in flowers or seeds. This weevil fauna appears to represent an extinct mid-Cretaceous ecosystem and fills a critical gap in the fossil record of weevils.

A Combined Molecular and Morphological Approach to Explore the Higher Phylogeny of Entimine Weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), with Special Reference to South American Taxa

The Entiminae are broad-nosed weevils constituting the most diverse subfamily of Curculionidae, with over 50 tribes. We performed Bayesian and Maximum Parsimony combined phylogenetic analyses with the main objective of testing higher-level relationships and the naturalness of the major Neotropical and Southern South American (Patagonia and Andes) tribes, including some members from other regions. We compiled a data matrix of 67 terminal units with 63 Entiminae species, as well as four outgroup taxa from Cyclominae, by 3522 molecular (from nuclear 18S rDNA and 28S rDNA, and mitochondrial 16S rDNA and COI gene sequences) and 70 morphological characters. The resulting trees recover a clade Entiminae with a monophyletic Cylydrorhinini and Premnotrypes branching off early. The tree resulting from parsimony analysis shows a clade of Leptopiini from the Australian region and another clade including taxa mainly distributed in the Palaearctic and Neotropical regions, but in the Bayesian tree the South American and Australian Leptopiini are grouped together. The mainly Palaearctic Entiminae (e.g., Brachyderini, Laparocerini, Otiorhynchini, Peritelini, Polydrusini, Phyllobiini and Sciaphylini) form a subclade separated from Southern Hemisphere taxa. Among the latter, the well-supported Naupactini are the sister group of the South American Tanymecini, excluding Platyaspistes, herein transferred to Leptopiini (new placement). Another well-justified clade is Eustylini–Geonemini, which also includes the enigmatic Galapagonotus, and the genus Artipus, thus corroborating its recent exclusion from Naupactini.

Anchored phylogenomics unravels the evolution of spider flies (Diptera, Acroceridae) and reveals discordance between nucleotides and amino acids

The onset of phylogenomics has contributed to the resolution of numerous challenging evolutionary questions while offering new perspectives regarding biodiversity. However, in some instances, analyses of large genomic datasets can also result in conflicting estimates of phylogeny. Here, we present the first phylogenomic scale study of a dipteran parasitoid family, built upon anchored hybrid enrichment and transcriptomic data of 240 loci of 43 ingroup acrocerid taxa. A new hypothesis for the timing of spider fly evolution is proposed, wielding recent advances in divergence time dating, including the fossilized birth-death process to show that the origin of Acroceridae is younger than previously proposed. To test the robustness of our phylogenetic inferences, we analyzed our datasets using different phylogenetic estimation criteria, including supermatrix and coalescent-based approaches, maximum-likelihood and Bayesian methods, combined with other approaches such as permutations of the data, homogeneous versus heterogeneous models, and alternative data and taxon sets. Resulting topologies based on amino acids and nucleotides are both strongly supported but critically discordant, primarily in terms of the monophyly of Panopinae. Conflict was not resolved by controlling for compositional heterogeneity and saturation in third codon positions, which highlights the need for a better understanding of how different biases affect different data sources. In our study, results based on nucleotides were both more robust to alterations of the data and different analytical methods and more compatible with our current understanding of acrocerid morphology and patterns of host usage.