DOI: 10.3897/asp.84.e162254

Authors: Alberto Sánchez-Vialas, Arnau Calatayud-Mascarell, José L. Ruiz, Ernesto Recuero, Mario García-París

Abstract: Abstract The evolutionary dynamics of morphological traits can often blur the boundaries between interspecific divergence and intraspecific variability, complicating species recognition. This study investigates the variation in secondary sexual traits and the existence of potential speciation processes within what is now considered Berberomeloe insignis (Coleoptera: Meloidae), an endangered blister beetle taxon endemic to southeastern Spain. Despite previous evidence of substantial genetic and phenotypic differentiation, key characters as the morphological variation in secondary sexual traits, such as antennomeres, remain unexplored. Using geometric morphometrics, we analyzed the shape variation of male and female antennomeres VII–XI across all previously recognized lineages of B. insignis. Our results reveal significant morphological differentiation, particularly in antennomeres VII, IX, and XI, which correlate broadly with genetic lineages. Based on the study of newly recorded populations, we confirm that cephalic coloration patterns correspond with mitochondrial lineages, further supporting the existence of geographic lineage differentiation within what was previously considered B. insignis. Climatic niche modeling indicates low climatic niche overlap between the isolated western lineage and the remaining lineages, which also show relatively low to moderate overlap, suggesting that ecological factors could have contributed to the divergence among them. These findings underscore the intricate interplay of genetics and ecology, highlighting the importance of integrating multiple data sources for accurate species delimitation. Based on our results, we describe B. nazari sp. nov. and B. insignis trisanguinatus ssp. nov. reflecting the evolutionary history of this group.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.84.e162008

Authors: Sumeyra Nur Sanal Demirci, Volkan Kılıç, Serap Mutun, A. Yavuz Kılıç

Abstract: Tabanus bifarius Loew, 1858 is a horsefly species distributed throughout the Mediterranean region and in the areas of central and southeastern Europe and partly in Asia. In this study, we conducted the first comprehensive phylogeographic and population genetic analysis of T. bifarius collected from 13 localities across Türkiye and Iran, through utilizing mitochondrial (COI) and nuclear DNA (ITS1–5.8S–ITS2) markers. A total of 81 haplotypes and 59 nuclear alleles were identified among 187 sequenced individuals. Both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA patterns and diversity observed in T. bifarius are indicative of complex historical and demographic processes. Among all the populations studied, Eskişehir and Hatay exhibited the highest genetic diversity, which may be due to the region’s topography and transitional zones. Phylogenetic analyses suggested that T. bifarius split from the outgroup species approximately 5.53 million years ago (MYA) during the Late Miocene–Early Pliocene, likely driven by tectonic and climatic events. Subsequent diversification events that occurred during times of climatic and environmental fluctuations in the Late Pliocene and Early Pleistocene also seemed to have significantly affected the species and gave rise to the formation of some important genetic lineages. Our analyses results indicate that T. bifarius exhibits a structured genetic landscape shaped by multiple refugial routes, geographic barriers, and Quaternary climatic oscillations. Further, our findings suggest that the species likely entered Anatolia through three distinct routes: (1) from the Levant region into southern Anatolia via Hatay; (2) from the Caucasus into northeastern Anatolia through Ardahan; and (3) from the Iranian Plateau into eastern Anatolia via Van.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.84.e157646

Authors: Lucas Quevedo, Renato S. Capellari, Carlos José E. Lamas

Abstract: Understanding the biogeographic patterns that explain species distribution in the Americas is a long and challenging endeavor. Insects represent a potentially promising group for these kinds of investigations, but deficits in basic taxonomic and systematic knowledge hinder the development of many studies. In this context, a cladistic analysis of the Pan-American genus Achradocera Becker (Diptera: Dolichopodidae: Diaphorinae) was conducted using a morphology-based matrix comprising 54 characters and 18 terminal taxa, including all 12 known species of the genus and six outgroup taxa. The analysis yielded two topologies under equal weighting and one under implied weighting of characters. Achradocera was recovered as monophyletic, and two species groups are proposed: the barbata group (Nearctic: A. barbata and A. arcuata) and the femoralis group (Neotropical: A. excavata, A. femoralis, A. meridionalis, and A. tuberculata). Biogeographic analyses were performed using the Geographically Explicit Event Model (GEM) method, which identified vicariance as the primary driver of speciation events in Achradocera, with founder events playing a secondary role. The results provide insights into the patterns that may explain the evolutionary history of the genus across the Americas, and potentially contributing to the understanding of patterns observed in other taxa with similar distributions, while also fostering discussions that can be integrated into broader frameworks, such as insect biogeography and studies of other taxa.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.83.e147402

Authors: Qing-Bo Huo, Xiao Yang, Abdur Rehman, Yu-Zhou Du

Abstract: The phylogenetic relationship of Perlodidae is presented in this paper based on mitochondrial genomes with different matrix (PCG, PCGR, PCG12, PCG12R). This study includes molecular data from seven genera and seven species, including three rare genera and five species from China. The results show that the monophyly of subfamilies and tribes of Perlodidae is well supported, as well as that Perlodinae and Isoperlinae diverged from a common ancestor at the same time, while the split between Arcynopterygini and Perlodini + Diploperlini occurred after the split between the two subfamiles. A discussion of the origin and migration of the Holarctic and Palearctic-Oriental perlodid genera is provided in this paper.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.83.e136516

Authors: Onur Uluar, Dragan P. Chobanov, Battal Çıplak

Abstract: A taxonomical practice without integration of systematics remains incomplete or produces incorrect definitions. To address this, we linked the taxonomy of the Poecilimon zonatus group to its systematics by examining its phylogeny and phylogeography. We used both mitochondrial and nuclear genes representing all species except P. varicornis. The mitochondrial matrix was subjected to phylogenetic analyses and species delimitation tests while phylogenetic signals in the nuclear data were assessed via haplotype network. Species delimitation tests suggested 12–16 species and the genetically divergent lineages were examined for phenotypic disparity. The results led to the following conclusions. (i) after the nomenclatural changes made here, P. zonatus group consists of 13 species, two of which are polytypic; P. salmani Sevgili syn. nov. is synonymized with P. ciplaki; the subspecies P. ciplaki denizliensis Kaya and P. zonatus datca Sevgili, Sirin, Heller & Lemonnier-Darcemont are elevated to species level as P. denizliensis Kaya stat. nov. and P. datca Sevgili, Sirin, Heller & Lemonnier-Darcemont stat. nov., respectively; P. boncukdagensis sp. nov., P. parazonatus sp. nov. and P. anisozonatus sp. nov., are described as new species, and P. datca montana subsp. nov. and P. denizliensis kizildagi subsp. nov. as new subspecies, (ii) the common ancestor of species corresponds to Mid Pleistocene Transition, suggesting the major climatic turnovers as the main evolutionary driver, (iii) the isolated relict ancestors on highlands evolved under similar selection pressures leading to a conserved phenotype, consequently, to limited morphological divergence despite their genetic differences; (iv) although morphological diagnosability is poor, each species meets the criteria of several species concepts.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.83.e116160

Authors: Dieter Weber, Martin Wendt, Thomas Schmitt

Abstract: The biogeography, taxonomy and systematics of ground water organisms is still poorly understood. This is partly due to the difficult accessibility of the habitats and the expert knowledge required for identification. Nevertheless, due to the large distribution range and limited dispersal possibilities of amphipods such as the genus Niphargus, important insights can be gained into biogeographical patterns and evolutionary processes in subterranean ecosystems. Niphargus is the most species-rich genus of freshwater amphipods worldwide and holds great potential for cryptic species whose identification is important for the reconstruction of biogeographic patterns and events. Therefore, we assessed the genetic patterns of Niphargus fontanus Spence Bate, 1859 (Amphipoda: Niphargidae). We sampled the species all over its current distribution and sequenced one mitochondrial and three nuclear gene fragments. We discovered that most records from France were probably misidentifications, and that the species does not occur in central and southern France. Nevertheless, the distribution area extends from Wales to Bavaria, which could make it one of the largest distribution areas within the genus. Compared with other Niphargus, the genetic diversity and differentiation of N. fontanus is low and most likely evolved since the mid-Pleistocene Transition, but reflects a clear phylogeographic pattern with about 13 genetic lineages. These apparently stand for a number of extra-Mediterranean glacial refugia from which postglacial expansion was low to moderate. However, few cases of disjunction within these genetic lineages exist, most likely resulting from rapid expansions along river Rhine which otherwise mostly acted as a dispersal barrier.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.82.e132546

Authors: Carmen Duque-Amado, Mario García-París, Alberto Sánchez-Vialas

Abstract: Phylogeography stands as a key tool to explore evolutionary patterns and processes, playing a crucial role in delimiting evolutionary units. Identifying these units is essential for providing robust taxonomic decisions. In this study, we present a comprehensive phylogeographical framework of Scaurus uncinus (Forster, 1771) and Scaurus gigas Waltl, 1835 across the Iberian Peninsula and North-western Africa, where they are widely co-distributed, coexisting in several localities on both sides of Strait of Gibraltar. Our results show that the Strait of Gibraltar did not act as a geographical barrier for these species, revealing shared mitochondrial haplotypes and nuclear alleles between populations on both sides. However, the Souss Valley in Morocco appears to have historically served as a significant geographical barrier within the S. gigas lineage, leading to the divergence of two morphologically distinct sublineages, one to the north (S. gigas) and the other to the south (S. ferreri stat. nov.). In addition, we point out a case of cytonuclear discordance between S. uncinus and S. gigas in the southwest corner of the Iberian Peninsula, suggesting the occurrence of an ancient event of genetic introgression between the two species.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.82.e116205

Authors: Valentine Mewis, Peter Neu, Thomas Schmitt

Abstract: The understanding of cryptic species complexes with their often highly interesting biogeographical patterns is still a crucial aspect in evolutionary biology and related disciplines. Trichoptera are a group of insects particularly rich in unresolved groups. One example is the Wormaldia occipitalis species complex in which morphological studies suggest remarkable patterns of differentiation. In order to determine genetic differentiation and phylogenetic structure, one mitochondrial (COI) and two nuclear markers (CAD, wingless) were analysed for the W. occipitalis species complex around the Alps and northwards to Germany. The morphology-defined differentiation pattern was also observed at the genetic level. The morphologically well distinguishable groups W. occipitalis and W. subterranea were identified as two genetically distant monophyletic groups with about 10 % genetic divergence of the mitochondrial marker. These two taxa likely split during the Mio-Pliocene transition. Genetic analyses revealed four subgroups within W. occipitalis and three within W. subterranea. Several possible postglacial dispersal and differentiation processes are proposed. Thereby, W. occipitalis from the western Alps and individuals of W. subterranea from the eastern Alps spread towards Central Europe after the Last Glacial Maximum. Today, both species groups are sympatric and partly syntopic in the recolonised area in western Germany but apparently allopatric in their centres of origin around the Alps. The high genetic differentiation, lack of detectable genetic evidence for hybridisation, their syntopic distribution and the morphological distinctness indicate that W. occipitalis and W. subterranea are two distinct species. The genetically determined subgroups might represent subspecies.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.82.e105740

Authors: Atefe Kalate, Alireza Keikhosravi, Reza Nasrabadi, Elahe Parvizi, Christoph D. Schubart, Reza Naderloo

Abstract: The current patterns of biodiversity have significantly been affected by glacial-interglacial cycles during the Pleistocene period. True freshwater crabs are considered as poor dispersers and terrestrial barriers restrict gene flow between their local populations. Recent studies, however, suggest that certain environmental conditions, such as periods of heavy rainfall and humidity, can facilitate their between-drainage dispersal and will result in the evolution of homogenous genetic patterns among different drainage systems. Here we tested this hypothesis by comparing populations of the endemic freshwater crab Potamon elbursi Pretzmann, 1962 distributed in two drainage systems, the Caspian Sea and Namak Lake, in northern Iran. Our results based on the genetic analysis of 70 new and 61 previously published sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene revealed a substantial haplotype diversity in some populations and high levels of local population structuring in others. Initially, we found mixed evidence of genetic differentiation and connectivity among drainages and populations. Genetic differentiation between the two drainages only became apparent after the Sepirdood population (which belongs to the Caspian Sea drainage) was excluded. Subsequently, the two drainages showed significant genetic distinctions, with a limited gene flow between them. Our demographic analyses supported recent population bottlenecks, followed by a rapid demographic and/or spatial expansion dating back to the Pleistocene climatic fluctuations. Species distribution modelling suggests that precipitation during warm weather conditions profoundly affects the distribution of P. elbursi. This study indicates that freshwater crabs can override short land barriers under favorable weather conditions and will have conservation implications in the face of contemporary climatic fluctuations.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.82.e104232

Authors: Zhengyang Liu

Abstract: The moth genus Sinobirma was reared successfully for the first time, based on specimens of Sinobirma bouyeri collected in the southeastern Himalayas of Tibet. Larvae were reared on the host plants Coriaria nepalensis and Prunus cerasoides in captivity in Yunnan. Morphology and biology of the ovum, larvae, and pupa of S. bouyeri are described in detail. The species exhibits strong gregarious behavior during all larval instars, with mature larvae of S. bouyeri primarily feeding at night. The larvae are black and decorated with green stripes, pupating individually in the soil. Numerous host plants known to be used by African and Asian Saturniidae were tested with larvae of this species. The first parasitoid for the genus Sinobirma is reported. The complete mitochondrial genome was sequenced and used to reconstruct a molecular phylogeny to test the tribal placement of Sinobirma. The paper provided further evidence that Sinobirma originated from the African mainland and reached the Himalayas through dispersal.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.82.e114299

Authors: Yiming Niu, Fengming Shi, Xinyu Li, Sainan Zhang, Yabei Xu, Jing Tao, Meng Li, Yuxuan Zhao, Shixiang Zong

Abstract: Longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) play a vital role in global ecosystems. Some of them contribute to nutrient cycling and pollination, while others, pose a threat to forestry production. Despite their ecological importance, there has been a lack of comprehensive analyses on the mitochondrial genomes of Cerambycidae beetles. In this study, we have conducted mitochondrial genome sequencing and annotation for four Cerambycidae beetles: Monochamus sutor, Monochamus guerryi, Monochamus galloprovincialis, and Monochamus latefasciatus. Our analysis revealed a high degree of conservation in these mitochondrial genomes, with rare gene rearrangements observed across the Cerambycidae family. Additionally, a notable bias towards AT content was identified, with most genes using ATN as the start codon and TAA as the stop codon. Except for trnS1, all tRNA genes showed typical cloverleaf secondary structures. Phylogenetic analysis using IQ-TREE and Phylobayes consistently produced congruent topologies. At the gene level analyses, our results highlighted the remarkable conservation of the COX1 gene. Furthermore, at the species level, we observed strong adaptability in the Spondylidinae and Lepturinae subfamilies. We also offer our insights into contentious aspects of the phylogeny. Overall, our research contributes to a deeper understanding of the phylogeny and evolution of Cerambycidae, laying the groundwork for future population genetic investigations.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.82.e112834

Authors: Zohreh Mirzaee, Roberto Battiston, Francesco Ballarin, Saber Sadeghi, Marianna Simões, Martin Wiemers, Thomas Schmitt

Abstract: The dwarf-mantid genus Holaptilon Beier, 1964 is composed of small-sized ground-runner species distributed in the Middle East. Due to their elusive lifestyle, little is known about their behaviour, distribution, and phylogeny. The genus Holaptilon was once established for a single species, H. pusillulum Beier, 1964, based on material collected in Jerusalem, Israel. Later, H. brevipugilis Kolnegari, 2018, and H. yagmur Yılmaz and Sevgili, 2023 were described from Iran and Turkey, respectively. In this study, integrated morphology, molecular analyses, and ecology were used to revise the genus Holaptilon and define the boundaries of its species. New data on this genus are presented, based on Holaptilon specimens collected from various provinces of Iran, Israel, Jordan, and Turkey. Extensive analyses, including examinations of male and female genitalia, morphometrical analysis, and morphological hypervolumes were conducted to distinguish its species morphologically. In addition, four molecular markers (mitochondrial and nuclear) were studied to gain a better understanding of species delimitation and phylogenetic relationships. As a result, impressive inter- and intraspecific variability was recovered. In addition to the three already known species, four new species with their distributions restricted to Iran (H. abdullahii sp. nov., H. khozestani sp. nov., H. iranicum sp. nov., and H. tadovaniensis sp. nov.) are here described, and H. yagmur Yılmaz and Sevgili, 2023 is synonymized with H. brevipugilis Kolnegari, 2018. The integrative approach was essential for an adequate classification in Holaptilon taxonomy and also helpful in the clarification of problematic and cryptic Mantodea species. Additional information concerning the life cycle, ecological aspects, spermatophore feeding, as well as geographic range and historical biogeography of Holaptilon species is also provided.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.81.e101438

Authors: Thomas J. Simonsen, Marie Djernæs, Ole Fogh Nielsen, Kent Olsen

Abstract: We explore haplotype diversity, phylogeography and phylogenetic relationships of the damselfly Platycnemis pennipes in Europe based on 618 bp DNA from the mitochondrial gene COI. A haplotype network analysis shows that the species is divided into two haplotype groups. One is restricted to the Italian Peninsula, while the other is found from the Black Sea region across eastern and central Europe to Scandinavia, England, and southwestern France. This pattern is recovered in a Bayesian phylogenetic analysis. Genetic distance (K2P) between the two groups is approximately 1.5%, while within-group variation is an order of magnitude lower. An analysis of the molecular variance (AMOVA) shows that variation between the two groups account for more than 96% of the total variation within the dataset, adding to the evidence that they have been isolated for a considerable amount of time. The pattern we find is similar to the so-called Grasshopper Paradigm in European phylogeography, where a species has recolonized Europe after the last glaciation from a glacial refugium in the southeast, while other refugial populations in the Iberian and Italian peninsulas have remained isolated to this day. In P. pennipes there is only an isolated refugial population in Italy as the species does not have current populations in the Iberian Peninsula. By comparing the genetic distance between the two groups to a previously published divergence time analysis of European Odonata we estimate that they have likely been isolated since the onset of the Saale Glaciation ca 400 ky ago.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.81.e109833

Authors: Pavel Sroka, Jakub Prokop

Abstract: The stonefly suborders Arctoperlaria and Antarctoperlaria reflect the current division of the diversity of this insect order between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. However, there are several exceptions to this pattern, the most notable being the family Notonemouridae, which is phylogenetically deeply subordinate within the northern Arctoperlaria, but distributed in South Africa, South America, and Australia. Various hypotheses have been proposed regarding the circumstances of their dispersal to the south. Some estimated their origin as relatively recent, with long-distance dispersal to the southern continents in the Late Cretaceous or early Paleogene. On the other hand, fossils of Notonemouridae have been dated to the Middle Jurassic, proving the lineage is very ancient. However, all known notonemourid fossils originate from Asia and the timing of their dispersal to the south cannot be precisely estimated. Here we report new fossil stoneflies from the Late Jurassic Talbragar Fish Beds, Australia, described as Talbragaria australis gen. et sp. nov. and attributed to Notonemouridae. This finding represents the first fossil evidence of the northern suborder Arctoperlaria in the Southern Hemisphere, and confirms the north-to-south dispersal of Notonemouridae across Pangea prior to the continental break-up.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.81.e106948

Authors: Marco Isaia, Giuseppe Nicolosi, Alessandro Infuso, Carles Ribera

Abstract: The spider genus Typhlonesticus Kulczyński, 1914 (Araneae: Nesticidae) includes seven species, most of which exhibiting strict preference for caves, abandoned mines and other subterranean habitats. In Italy the genus is represented by two species: T. morisii (Brignoli, 1975), an extremely narrow endemic species from SW-Alps with a very high level of subterranean adaptation and T. idriacus (Roewer, 1931), showing a much wider distribution in NE-Italy and poor adaptations to subterranean life. Our recent biospeleological surveys in the Alps lead to the discovery of new populations of highly troglomorphic Typhlonesticus that proved to belong to two new species based on morphological and molecular data. Considering the rarity of these new species, we provide general information on their ecology and distribution, including a comparative analysis of troglomorphic traits in Typhlonesticus in relation to biogeographic factors. Information on the conservation status, useful for assessing their extinction risk based on International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidelines, is also provided.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.81.e100385

Authors: Martin Fikáček, Jan Simon Pražák, Andrew E. Z. Short, François Rion

Abstract: We describe the first definite fossil of the water scavenger beetle subfamily Enochrinae (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae): Cymbiodyta samueli sp. n. from the Eocene Baltic amber from the Lithuanian coast. The new species is extremely similar and likely closely related to the only European species, C. marginella and confirms the European occurrence of the genus since the Eocene. A reanalysis of the historical biogeography of the genus, including the fossil taxon, revealed a wide Euro-American distribution of the ancestor of all modern species of the genus, corresponding to the position of landmasses and existing land connections between North America and Europe in the Late Cretaceous. The biogeographic reconstructions and the fossil both suggest that European Cymbiodyta is an ancient relict lineage which used to be more diverse in the past but survived until today in a single species C. marginella.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.80.e86666

Authors: Diego N. Barbosa, Marcel Gustavo Hermes, Anderson Lepeco

Abstract: We present the first phylogenetic hypothesis for Mesitiinae based on 112 morpho-structural characters and 61 species. The results did not support Argaman’s tribal classification for Mesitiinae, since no tribes were found to be monophyletic. Anaylax was found to be paraphyletic, and Gerbekas, Heterocoelia, Parvoculus, Pycnomesitius, Sulcomesitius, Zimankos were found to be polyphyletic. Two new genera are proposed and described: Hadesmesitius gen. nov. and Brachymesitius gen. nov.; Botoryan is considered as a junior synonym for Zimankos. Three species status are revalidated; and 11 species combinations were proposed, so that all genera are now monophyletic. The results indicate the thickness of integument in Mesitiinae could be related to their protection against their hosts.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.80.e86810

Authors: Antonio Parra-Gómez, Leonardo D. Fernández

Abstract: Research on the diversity and biogeography of Chilean millipedes represents a significant gap in knowledge. To reduce this gap we conducted a study: (1) to investigate the current state of knowledge of millipede diversity, and (2) to assess the pattern and causes underlying the latitudinal diversity gradient in Chilean millipedes. In Chile, 95 native millipede species have been recorded. However, rarefaction and extrapolation curves showed that increased sampling effort will reveal more species. An asymptotic estimate of diversity predicted that millipede diversity fluctuates between 125 and 197 species. The estimate, though, was based on a limited data set. Therefore, millipede diversity is probably higher than predicted. Chilean millipedes were categorized as micro-range endemics because they all have latitudinal ranges of less than 1,000 km (with 78% of species exhibiting latitudinal ranges of only ~222 km). Millipede species richness also exhibited a bell-shaped latitudinal diversity gradient, i.e. diversity peaks in the temperate climate of central Chile and decreases towards the arid and polar climates of northern and southern Chile. A multiple regression analysis revealed that this biogeographic pattern is shaped by environmental variables related to water availability, ambient energy inputs and climatic stability. These environmental variables are proxies for two of the five biogeographic hypotheses we tested in this study, i.e. the water-energy balance hypothesis and climatic stability hypothesis. Both hypotheses suggest that millipedes need stable, humid and warm climates to grow, survive and reproduce (niche conservatism). These climatic conditions are only found in central Chile, which is consistent with the diversity peak observed in that region.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.80.e83035

Authors: Daubian Santos, Rodrigo dos Reis Santos, Guilherme Cunha Ribeiro

Abstract: The subgenus Amphineurus (Ramphoneurus Alexander) (Diptera: Limoniidae), a group of craneflies endemic to southern South America, is revised. The previously described species are redescribed and illustrated, along with fifteen new species: A. (R.) alexanderi sp. nov., A. (R.) amorimi sp. nov., A. (R.) anchoralis sp. nov., A. (R.) anfractus sp. nov., A. (R.) billinghami sp. nov., A. (R.) caleuchus sp. nov., A. (R.) deceptus sp. nov., A. (R.) falcatus sp. nov., A. (R.) immaculatus sp. nov., A. (R.) morphyi sp. nov., A. (R.) oosterbroeki sp. nov., A. (R.) podenasi sp. nov., A. (R.) theischingeri sp. nov., A. (R.) triangularis sp. nov., and A. (R.) stigmaticus sp. nov. In addition, A. (R.) fuscifusus Alexander is considered a nomen dubium. A phylogenetic analysis with a broad taxonomic sampling with all valid species of the subgenus A. (Rhamphoneurus Alexander) and species from all the subgenera of Amphineurus Skuse is performed. The broad outgroup sampling used in the study (including taxa from the entire range of distribution of Amphineurus) suggests that the subgenus A. (Rhamphoneurus) is a monophyletic taxon, that its closest relatives are taxa currently distributed in New Zealand, and that Australasian taxa are paraphyletic with respect to the Neotropical Clade.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.80.e82644

Authors: Zi-Wei Yin, Erik Tihelka, Jesus Lozano-Fernandez, Chen-Yang Cai

Abstract: The extant tropical tribe Hybocephalini is a morphologically highly derived group of the subfamily Pselaphinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), which is characterized most notably by the modified squamous setae that cover various parts of the body. Ten genera and 69 extant species have been found in the Afrotropical and Oriental regions, with one species found in northern Australia. Prior to this study the evolutionary history of the tribe has been remained elusive due to the dearth of known fossils. Here, we describe the first fossil representative of Hybocephalini, Europharinodes schaufussi Yin & Cai gen. et sp. nov., based on an adult male preserved in Baltic amber (ca 45.0–38.0 Ma). Using X-ray microtomography, the anatomy including the endoskeletal structures of the head, the full pattern of foveation, and the aedeagus of the beetle were reconstructed. Europharinodes shares most derived traits that are congruent with extant members of Hybocephalini, but it also possesses plesiomorphic and autapomorphic characters unknown in living relatives. In order to constrain the phylogenetic placement of Europharinodes, we created an updated morphological character matrix to explore relationships among this genus and related groups. A monophyletic Hybocephalini was recovered by maximum likelihood and parsimony analyses, with Europharinodes being well-resolved as sister to all modern relatives in the likelihood tree. The fossil thus sheds new light on the morphological evolution of Hybocephalini and suggests a broader palaeodistribution of the tribe during the middle Eocene. The disjunct distribution of an Eocene Baltic amber species and an extant Afrotropical-Oriental distribution of the tribe is probably relictual, and was shaped by global cooling during the Eocene–Oligocene transition.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.80.e78315

Authors: Christoforos Pavlou, Emmanouil Dokianakis, Nikolaos Tsirigotakis, Vasiliki Christodoulou, Yusuf Özbel, Maria Antoniou, Nikos Poulakakis

Abstract: The genus Phlebotomus (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) comprises a group of small winged insect species of medical importance. To date, ten species of Phlebotomus are known to be present in Greece; yet their evolutionary history is poorly studied due to the lack of comprehensive phylogenetic and phylogeographic studies. Herein, we aim to clarify the phylogenetic relationships amongst the local species collected from 12 Aegean Islands, Cyprus and Turkey; and to identify which of the palaeogeographic events may have influenced their biogeographic history. Our analyses revealed for the first time the presence of P. cf. major and P. sergenti in the Aegean Islands. All studied local species were retrieved as monophyletic and the mtDNA and nDNA phylogenetic trees indicated a plausible mitochondrial introgression between the closely related species of the P. major complex. From a palaeogeographic viewpoint, the major driving force that shaped the biogeographic history of the studied Phlebotomus species seems to be the dispersal that started in the Oligocene epoch, followed by several speciation events that occurred at the end of Miocene and the Plio-Pleistocene, including multiple dispersal events of Asiatic origin. The Messinian Salinity Crisis, the bimodal Mediterranean climate, and the glacial and interglacial periods were identified as key drivers for the diversification of the local species of Phlebotomus.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.79.e66319

Authors: Simeon Borislavov Borissov, Georgi Hristov Hristov, Dragan Petrov Chobanov

Abstract: Abstract Parthenogenetic lineages are known to rapidly colonize large areas that become available after glacial periods as parthenogenetic reproduction is beneficial over mating when the favorable season is very short. The only obligatory parthenogenetic species of the largest bush-cricket subfamily Phaneropterinae is Poecilimon intermedius. It belongs to the Anatolio-Balkan lineage Poecilimon ampliatus species group and in contrast has a remarkably broad distribution from Central Europe to China, following the pattern of geographical parthenogenesis. In this study we provide a systematic revision of the P. ampliatus group based on mitochondrial (ND2) and nuclear (ITS) phylogeny. We estimate divergence times by applying secondary calibration on the ND2 tree to test for congruence between recent splits in the group and the Pleistocene climatic oscillations. We use ecological niche modelling to analyze the ecological requirements of the parthenogenetic P. intermedius and its sexually reproducing sister species P. ampliatus. By projecting on the conditions during the Last Glacial Maximum we outline the suitable areas for both species during the glacial cycles and discuss range shifts in response to climate change. Based on all results we hypothesize that the drought-tolerant P. intermedius originated during the recent glaciations in the southwestern part of its current range and rapidly radiated in a northeastern direction. Its sister species P. ampliatus, which is adapted to higher levels of precipitation, remained in the western Balkans, where populations retreated to higher altitudes during warming.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.79.e64325

Authors: Massimo Meregalli, Manfred Kahlen, Riccardo Monguzzi, Valentina Marzia Rossi, Alfredo Santovito

Abstract: Dichotrachelus orobicus, a new species from the Bergamasque Prealps, is described. It is closely related to D. grignensis from the Grigna Massif, from which it differs mainly in the COI and ITS2 sequences, and minute morphological characters. Remarks on the possible epoch of speciation between the two taxa, with an analysis of the biogeographic scenario that may have led to the disjunction, are discussed.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.79.e62247

Authors: Diego N. Barbosa

Abstract: Abstract A cladistic analysis based on 120 morphological characters and 72 OTUs was conducted for the flat wasp genus Anisepyris Kieffer. The genus is mainly Neotropical region with few Nearctic species. The analysis retrieved well-supported relationships among the Anisepyris species and exposed the distribution of synapomorphies among the lineages, particularly concerning the mandible shape, dorsal pronotal area sulcus, and mesopleural foveae. The main diagnostic characters, described by Barbosa and Azevedo (2018) for the 13 species-groups of Anisepyris, were scrutinized. Transformation series and evolutionary hypotheses were also discussed. This discussion elucidates the importance of each character in the evolution and diversification along the different lineages. A discussion on the species-groups distribution is proposed, in relation to their diagnostic features. A hypothesis about the original distribution and the subsequent diversifications was also discussed. In conclusion, due to a possible recent origin for Anisepyris species, the dispersion could be related primarily to dense forest areas; and the retrieved synapomorphies could be related to posterior distributions of the species in disparate areas from their original environment.

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DOI: 10.3897/asp.79.e61499

Authors: Lech Karpiński, Patrick Gorring, Lech Kruszelnicki, Denis G. Kasatkin, Wojciech T. Szczepański

Abstract: This paper discusses ecological adaptation based on a case study of Anoplistes halodendri and Anoplistes kozlovi (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) that occur in the arid zone of Mongolia. By applying an integrative taxonomy approach, we revealed one of the first documented cases of sympatrically occurring ecotypes in Polyphaga and the second case of ecotypes in the family Cerambycidae. The results of the analysis of the ecological data, molecular analysis of mitochondrial (COI) and nuclear (ArgK and CAD) genes, as well as a detailed morphological examination, which consisted of a study on the male genitalia including the endophallic structures, supported the hypothesis that these two entities, which are commonly considered separate species, represent only ecologically adapted forms that are associated with rocky hills and sandy/gravelly plains, respectively. Therefore, a synonym is restored: Anoplistes halodendri minutus Hammarström, 1892 = Asias kozlovi Semenov and Znojko, 1934, syn. res. The differences in the elytral pattern and shade appear to be adapted to the different substrates in these distinct habitats. A probable scenario assumes that these two forms arose in parapatry, independently in multiple populations, under parallel speciation during the intensification of the aridification across the region in the period during which the Gobi Desert was formed (~ 24 to 2.6 Ma) and they may evolve into separate species in the future. The phylogenetic relationships of some taxa representing the most closely related genera of the tribe Trachyderini were analysed and the questioned species status of Anoplistes jacobsoni was confirmed. Low interspecific differences in the endophallic structures in the genus Anoplistes and between some species of the genus Amarysius indicate that they are evolutionarily relatively young groups. The practical differences between ecotype and subspecies are also discussed.

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