An integrated taxonomic revision of Ctonoxylon (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae) reveals new Malagasy species originating from multiple recent colonisations of the island.

Ctonoxylon is a strictly Afrotropical genus of bark beetles breeding under bark of rainforest trees and lianas. A taxonomic revision of the genus included a molecular phylogenetic analysis of ten species based on three gene fragments and was compared to a morphology-based tree topology for all 24 currently recognised species. Four species are described as new to science: Ctonoxylontorquatum, sp. nov., Ctonoxylontuberculatum, sp. nov., Ctonoxylonquadrispinum, sp. nov., all from Madagascar, and Ctonoxylonpilosum, sp. nov. from Cameroon. Ctonoxylonhirsutum Hagedorn, 1910, stat. rev. is resurrected from synonymy with C.flavescens Hagedorn, 1910, and C.atrum Browne, 1965 stat. rev. from its synonymy with C.methneri Eggers, 1922 (as C.hamatum Schedl, 1941). The following species have new synonymies suggested: Ctonoxylonfestivum Schedl, 1941 (= C.dentigerum Schedl, 1941, syn. nov.), C.methneri Eggers, 1922 (= C.hamatum Schedl, 1941, syn. nov., = C.griseum Schedl, 1941, syn. nov.), C.montanum Eggers, 1922 (= C.longipilum Eggers, 1935, syn. nov., = C.nodosum Eggers, 1940, syn. nov.), C.camerunum Hagedorn, 1910 (= C.conradti Schedl, 1939, syn. nov.), and C.spinifer Eggers, 1920 (= C.setifer Eggers, 1920, syn. nov.). New country records are noted for C.festivum (Tanzania), C.flavescens (Uganda), C.camerunum (Liberia), C.crenatum Hagedorn, 1910 (Democratic Republic of the Congo), C.spathifer Schedl, 1941 (Ghana), C.atrum (Cameroon), and C.spinifer (Madagascar), with patterns in distribution and colonisation of Madagascar discussed. An identification key with pictures of all species is provided.

Morphological Ontogeny, Ecology, and Biogeography of Fuscozetes fuscipes (Acari, Oribatida, Ceratozetidae).

The systematic status of Fuscozetes Sellnick, 1928, is not clear in the literature. Therefore, the morphological ontogeny of F. fuscipes (C.L. Koch, 1844), the type species of this genus, was investigated and compared with its congeners in this study, and a new diagnosis of Fuscozetes is given. The juveniles of F. fuscipes are light brown, with a brown prodorsum, sclerites, epimeres, and legs. In all juveniles, a humeral organ and a humeral macrosclerite are present. The gastronotum of the larva has 12 pairs of setae (h3 is present), whereas the nymphs have 15 pairs. In the larva, the gastronotal shield is weakly developed, and most gastronotal setae are short except for a slightly longer h2. Most of the gastronotal setae are inserted on the microsclerites except for h3, and several other macrosclerites and many microsclerites are present on the hysterosoma. In the nymphs, the gastronotal shield is well developed, with 10 pairs of setae (d-, l-, and h-series, and p1), and setae p2 and p3 are located on a large posteroventral macrosclerite. In all the instars, femora I and II are oval in cross-section, without a large ventral carina. Mitochondrial COI sequence data revealed a deep split between the Nearctic and Palearctic populations of F. fuscipes, and a less, but significant, divergence within each continent. These strong geographical barriers were contrasted with multiple cases of shared haplotypes over long distances in the Palearctic, indicating high migration rates in modern times.

Two sympatric lineages of Australian Cnestus solidus share Ambrosiella symbionts but not Wolbachia.

Sympatric lineages of inbreeding species provide an excellent opportunity to investigate species divergence patterns and processes. Many ambrosia beetle lineages (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) reproduce by predominant inbreeding through sib mating in nests excavated in woody plant parts wherein they cultivate symbiotic ambrosia fungi as their sole source of nutrition. The Xyleborini ambrosia beetle species Cnestus solidus and Cnestus pseudosolidus are sympatrically distributed across eastern Australia and have overlapping morphological variation. Using multilocus sequencing analysis of individuals collected from 19 sites spanning their sympatric distribution, we assessed their phylogenetic relationships, taxonomic status and microbial symbionts. We found no genetic differentiation between individuals morphologically identified as C. solidus and C. pseudosolidus confirming previous suggestions that C. pseudosolidus is synonymous to C. solidus. However, within C. solidus we unexpectedly discovered the sympatric coexistence of two morphologically indistinguishable but genetically distinct lineages with small nuclear yet large mitochondrial divergence. At all sites except one, individuals of both lineages carried the same primary fungal symbiont, a new Ambrosiella species, indicating that fungal symbiont differentiation may not be involved in lineage divergence. One strain of the maternally inherited bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia was found at high prevalence in individuals of the more common lineage but not in the other, suggesting that it may influence host fitness. Our data suggest that the two Australian Cnestus lineages diverged allopatrically, and one lineage then acquired Wolbachia. Predominant inbreeding and Wolbachia infection may have reinforced reproductive barriers between these two lineages after their secondary contact contributing to their current sympatric distribution.

The strongly dimorphic bark beetle genus Pseudomicracis (Coleoptera, Scolytinae) in Madagascaran integrated taxonomic revision.

The largely Malagasy bark beetle genus Pseudomicracis Eggers, 1920 is revised based on molecular data and morphological studies. Because the type species P. elsae Eggers, 1920 from Tanzania has no intact type material, the diagnosis is fixed using an auxiliary species, P. madagascariensis (Schedl, 1961), which is typical for the genus and supports the original description of P. elsae. Six new species are described from Madagascar: P. atra Jordal, sp. nov., P. coronata Jordal, sp. nov., P. lauricola Jordal, sp. nov., P. pilosa Jordal, sp. nov., P. verrucosa Jordal, sp. nov., and P. vitrioculata Jordal, sp. nov. Mimiocurus camerunus (Hagedorn, 1909) has no existing type material and is transferred from Pseudomicracis based on Hagedorns illustrations of the antenna and protibia. New distributional and host records are given for P. dispar (Schedl, 1961), P. difficilis (Schedl, 1965) and P. madagascariensis (Schedl, 1961). A molecular phylogenetic analysis included 8 of 12 known species, documenting a strongly supported clade of Pseudomicracis species, but with highly uncertain internal relationships. A key and photographs to all Malagasy species are provided.

An integrated taxonomic revision of Diplotrichus (Coleoptera, Scolytinae) supports a Malagasy origin and single colonisation of South Africa.

The Afrotropical genus Diplotrichus Jordal, 2021 is revised. Altogether 21 species are included in the genus, with 10 species described as new to science: Diplotrichus pilifrons Jordal, sp. nov., Diplotrichus medius Jordal, sp. nov., and Diplotrichus calvifrons Jordal, sp. nov. from South Africa, and Diplotrichus acutior Jordal, sp. nov., Diplotrichus falcatus Jordal, sp. nov., Diplotrichus pulchellus Jordal, sp. nov., Diplotrichus granulatus Jordal, sp. nov., Diplotrichus tuberculatus Jordal, sp. nov., Diplotrichus robustus Jordal, sp. nov., and Diplotrichus plenus Jordal, sp. nov., all from Madagascar. A molecular phylogenetic analysis based on five gene fragments (COI, EF-1a, CAD, PABP1, 28S) resulted in four major clades, with South African species nested within a grade of Malagasy species, supporting a more recent colonisation of the African mainland around the early Miocene.

The mainly South African genus Lanurgus revised (Coleoptera, Scolytinae).

The Afrotropical and mainly southern African genus Lanurgus Eggers, 1920 is revised. Five new species are described from the Cape provinces in South Africa: Lanurgus beaveri, sp. nov., Lanurgus carinatus, sp. nov., Lanurgus jubatus, sp. nov., Lanurgus mattheei, sp. nov., and Lanurgus tsitsikammae, sp. nov. A molecular phylogenetic analysis of nine species revealed deep divergence between fairly morphologically similar species, with few clues on nested relationships within the genus. Photos and a key to all known species is presented.

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.

Laximicracis-a new genus of Afrotropical Micracidini beetles (Coleoptera, Scolytinae).

During the revision of the micracidine genus Afromicracis Schedl, 1959, several species with unusual features required designation of a new genus. Features separating Laximicracis Jordal gen. nov. from Afromicracis includes a broadly rounded pronotum with small granules, an elongated and suture-free antennal club, a long tuft of setae on the female antennal scapus, a bispinate procurved apicolateral margin of the meso- and metatibiae, and long spatulate setae on tibiae and femurs. The new genus includes Laximicracis latipes Jordal, sp. nov. (Kenya), and the transfer from Afromicracis of Laximicracis dubia (Schedl, 1950) (Angola, Zambia, Tanzania) and Laximicracis convexus (Schedl, 1962) (South Africa). Collection localities are characterised by small dry forest patches and thickets, collected by UV- and white-light traps.

Revision of Dendrochilus (Coleoptera, Scolytinae)-with description of two new species from Tanzania.

The genus Dendrochilus Schedl, 1963 is revised. Two new species are described from the Udzungwa Mountains in Tanzania. Dendrochilus tener sp. nov., and D. udzungwae sp. nov. are closely related with few morphological differences but are clearly separated by molecular data from four gene fragments. Together with the type species D. strombosiopsis Schedl, 1957 from Congo, the genus now includes three species. An identification key to species is provided.

Small, uniform, and rarely collected-an integrated taxonomic revision of Afromicracis bark beetles (Coleoptera, Scolytinae).

Afromicracis is typically found in small twigs and lianas, on the African mainland from Ghana to Ethiopia and south to the Cape region. Due to their small and uniform shape, previous classifications were largely misleading. The genus is revised with a total of 16 valid species in the genus. Seven species are described as new to science: Afromicracis brevipilosa sp. nov. and Afromicracis crinita sp. nov., both from South Africa, Afromicracis concava sp. nov. from Cameroon, Afromicracis crassa sp. nov. and Afromicracis densisetosa sp. nov. from Tanzania, Afromicracis depilata sp. nov. from Uganda, and Afromicracis ghanaensis sp. nov. from Ghana. Molecular data document deep divergence and limited morphological evolution for this genus. A key and photographs are provided to enable identification of Afromicracis species.

Patterns of host tree use within a lineage of saproxlic snout-less weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae: Scolytini).

The influence of plants in the diversification of herbivorous insects, specifically those that utilize moribund and dead hosts, is little explored. Host shifts are expected because the effectiveness of toxic secondary chemicals is lessened by decay of dead plants. Feeding on dead plants also releases herbivorous insect lineages from diversifying within a particular plant lineage. Thus, phylogenetic constraints on the herbivorous insect lineage imposed by the host plants are diminished and repeated patterns of species diversification in an association with unrelated host trees is hypothesized (i.e., taxon cycle). Scolytini, a diverse weevil tribe, specialize on many different dead and moribund plant taxa as a source of food. These species and their hosts offer an opportunity to examine the association between dead host plants and the extent of phylogenetic constraints. A phylogeny of the Scolytini was reconstructed with likelihood and Bayesian analyses of DNA sequence data from nuclear (28S, CAD, ArgK) and mitochondrial (COI) genes. Ancestral host usage and geography was reconstructed using likelihood criteria and conservation of host use was tested. Results supported a monophyletic Scolytini, Ceratolepis, Loganius, and a paraphyletic Scolytus, Camptocerus and Cnemonyx. Diversification of the Scolytini generally occurred well after their host taxa diversified and suggests a sequential evolution of host use. In this scenario the beetle imposes little selection pressure on the tree but the tree provides a platform for beetle evolution. Major changes in host tree use occurred during periods of global cooling associated with changes in beetle biogeography. Diversification of beetles occurred on common and widespread hosts and there was likely a single origination of conifer-feeding from angiosperm-feeding species during the early Pliocene and a radiation of beetle species from the Palearctic to the Nearctic. Overall, the observed patterns of Scolytini host use are conserved and are similar to those expected in a taxon pulse diversification. That is, after a host switch to an unrelated tree, the beetles diversify within the host plant lineage. The need to locate an ephemeral food resource, i.e., a dying tree, likely maintains host specificity once a host shift occurs. These findings suggest that characteristics of dead and moribund host plants (e.g. secondary chemicals) influence the diversification of these saproxlic weevils despite the reduction of selection pressures.

New species and records of Pseudolanurgus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) from Tanzania and Madagascar.

The recently established genus Pseudolanurgus Jordal, 2021 included one species from Democratic Republic of the Congo and two from Madagascar. Two more species are here described as new to science: Pseudolanurgus mystax sp. nov. from the United Republic of Tanzania and Pseudolanurgus asperatus sp. nov. from Madagascar. A key to all five species is provided along with photos of all species.

Scolytodes Ferrari (Coleoptera, Scolytinae) from Ecuador: 40 new species, and a molecular phylogenetic guide to infer species differences.

The genus Scolytodes Ferrari is a highly diverse group of Neotropical bark beetles. Recent collecting by hand and canopy fogging in Ecuador produced many new records. Overlap in species composition between samples from the canopy and the ground was very low, and canopy fogging revealed the highest proportion of undescribed species. Altogether we report records for 55 species of Scolytodes from Ecuador, including 40 species new to science: Scolytodes pseudoatratus Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes latipes Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes sloanae Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes samamae Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes otongae Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes chaplini Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes projectus Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes lubricus Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes inordinatus Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes cancellatus Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes jubatus Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes abbreviatus Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes stramineus Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes teres Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes animus Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes pseudoanimus Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes bombycinus Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes bisetosus Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes horridus Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes virgatus Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes criniger Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes pseudocrassus Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes semicrassus Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes pseudolepidus Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes semilepidus Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes fortis Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes peniculus Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes tristis Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes chrysifrons Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes amictus Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes cnesinoides Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes maestus Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes vietus Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes echinus Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes rufifrons Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes arcuatus Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes validus Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes sparsus Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes lapillus Jordal and Smith, sp. nov., Scolytodes coronatus Jordal and Smith, sp. nov. We also provide the first description of the female and a new country record for Scolytodes grandis (Schedl, 1962) (=Scolytodes glaberrimus Wood, 1972 syn. nov.) and a redescription and new country record for Scolytodes pilifrons (Schedl, 1962). The total number of valid species is now 287. Additional new country records were established for Scolytodes acuminatus Wood, 1969, Scolytodes comosus Jordal and Kirkendall, 2019, Scolytodes costabilis Wood, 1974, Scolytodes glabrescens Wood, 1972, Scolytodes impressus Wood, 1969, Scolytodes nitidus (Eggers, 1928), Scolytodes striatus (Eggers, 1934), Scolytodes tucumani Wood, 2007, and from another Hexacolini genus, Pycnarthrum fulgidum Wood, 1977. The first molecular phylogeny for Scolytodes is provided and used primarily to guide the inference of species validity. Molecular data from COI, 28S and EF-1α revealed substantial genetic divergence between morphologically very similar but diagnosable species.

DNA from resin-embedded organisms: Past, present and future.

Past claims have been made for fossil DNA recovery from various organisms (bacteria, plants, insects and mammals, including humans) dating back in time from thousands to several million years BP. However, many of these recoveries, especially those described from million-year-old amber (fossil resin), have faced criticism as being the result of modern environmental contamination and for lack of reproducibility. Using modern genomic techniques, DNA can be obtained with confidence from a variety of substrates (e.g. bones, teeth, gum, museum specimens and fossil insects) of different ages, albeit always less than one million years BP, and results can also be obtained from much older materials using palaeoproteomics. Nevertheless, new attempts to determine if ancient DNA (aDNA) is present in insects preserved in 40 000-year old sub-fossilised resin, the precursor of amber, have been unsuccessful or not well documented. Resin-embedded specimens are therefore regarded as unsuitable for genetic studies. However, we demonstrate here, for the first time, that although a labile molecule, DNA is still present in platypodine beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) embedded in six-year-old and two-year-old resin pieces from Hymenaea verrucosa (Angiospermae: Fabaceae) collected in Madagascar. We describe an optimised method which meets all the requirements and precautions for aDNA experiments for our purpose: to explore the DNA preservation limits in resin. Our objective is far from starting an uncontrolled search for aDNA in amber as it was in the past, but to start resolving basic aspects from the DNA preservation in resin and search from the most modern samples to the ancient ones, step by step. We conclude that it is therefore possible to study genomics from resin-embedded organisms, although the time limits remain to be determined.

Rainforest and cloud forest Scolytodes (Curculionidae, Scolytinae, Hexacolini) from the Arthropods of La Selva inventory in Costa Rica: new species, new synonymy, new records.

Quantitative collecting efforts over the last several decades in Costa Rica have resulted in many new species of insects. The Arthropods of La Selva projects included collecting from a typical lowland Neotropical forest and up an altitudinal transect, and has provided many valuable samples of insects, spiders and mites potentially new to science. We describe 18 new species in the bark beetle genus Scolytodes Ferrari, 1867, 14 of which were collected during this project: S.angulus Jordal & Kirkendall, sp. nov., S.sufflatus Jordal & Kirkendall, sp. nov., S.squamatifrons Jordal & Kirkendall, sp. nov., S.comosus Jordal & Kirkendall, sp. nov., S.spatulatus Jordal & Kirkendall, sp. nov., S.seriatus Jordal & Kirkendall, sp. nov., S.profundus Jordal & Kirkendall, sp. nov., S.catinus Jordal & Kirkendall, sp. nov., S.fimbriatus Jordal & Kirkendall, sp. nov., S.sulcifrons Jordal & Kirkendall, sp. nov., S.planifrons Jordal & Kirkendall, sp. nov., S.porosus Jordal & Kirkendall, sp. nov., S.mundus Jordal & Kirkendall, sp. nov., S.callosus Jordal & Kirkendall, sp. nov., S.parvipilus Jordal & Kirkendall, sp. nov., S.plenus Jordal & Kirkendall, sp. nov., S.niger Jordal & Kirkendall, sp. nov., and S.simplex Jordal & Kirkendall, sp. nov. One species, Scolytodesminutissimus Schedl, 1952, is redescribed to match the holotype. We give new Costa Rica records for S.costabilis Wood, 1974, which is the correct name for S.obesus Wood, 1975 (syn. nov.). We report Costa Rica as a new country record for six species: Scolytodesclusiacolens Wood, 1967, S.crinalis Wood, 1978, S.culcitatus (Blandford, 1897), S.libidus Wood, 1978, S.reticulatus (Wood, 1961), and S.spadix (Blackman, 1943). From a closely related genus, we provide the first record for Central America (and only the second collection) of Pycnarthrumfulgidum Wood, 1977.

Hidden gems in museum cabinets: new species and new distributional records of Scolytodes (Coleoptera: Scolytinae).

Twenty-one new species of Scolytodes Ferrari are described from Central and South America: Scolytodes cavus Jordal, sp. nov., Scolytodes excavatus Jordal, sp. nov., Scolytodes speculofrons Jordal, sp. nov., Scolytodes potens Jordal, sp. nov., Scolytodes minimus Jordal, sp. nov., Scolytodes setosicauda Jordal, sp. nov., Scolytodes monticola Jordal, sp. nov., Scolytodes aureifrons Jordal, sp. nov., Scolytodes piliscapus Jordal, sp. nov., Scolytodes curvicostatus Jordal, sp. nov., Scolytodes vellus Jordal, sp. nov., Scolytodes granulatus Jordal, sp. nov., Scolytodes bipilosus Jordal, sp. nov., Scolytodes asperatus Jordal, sp. nov., Scolytodes flavifrons Jordal, sp. nov., Scolytodes capillus Jordal, sp. nov., Scolytodes rufus Jordal, sp. nov., Scolytodes johnsoni Jordal, sp. nov., Scolytodes longipilus Jordal, sp. nov., Scolytodes prolatus Jordal, sp. nov., and Scolytodes bicarinatus Jordal, sp. nov. Females of two species were associated with males and described for the first time: Scolytodes pelicipennis (Schedl, 1952) from Mexico, and Scolytodes venustulus Wood, 1967 from Costa Rica. New synonymies were inferred in four species: Scolytodes bolivianus Eggers, 1928 (=Scolytodes aequipunctatus Eggers, 1943 syn. nov.); Scolytodes major Eggers, 1928 (=Scolytodes argentinensis Eggers, 1943 syn. nov.; =Scolytodes boliviensis Eggers, 1928; =Scolytodes similis Eggers, 1928 syn. nov.); Scolytodes ingae (Blackman, 1943), stat. nov. (=Scolytodes trigonus Jordal, 2013 syn. nov.); Scolytodes canalis Wood, 1974 (=Scolytodes amabilis Wood, 1975 syn. nov.). New country records are reported for 13 species: S. alni Wood, 1969 (Panama), S. bolivianus (Brazil), S. canalis Wood, 1974 (Guatemala), S. chapuisi Wood, 1977 (Peru, Brazil), S. costabilis Wood (Costa Rica), S. elongatus Schedl, 1935 (Panama), S. immanis Wood, 1969 (Panama), S. ingae (Blackman, 1943) (Panama), S. irazuensis Wood, 1969 (Panama), S. major (Honduras, Brazil), S. pelicipennis (Schedl, 1952) (Mexico), S. triangulus Jordal, 1998 (Panama), S. unipunctatus (Blandford, 1897) (Panama, Venezuela), S. venustulus Wood, 1967 (Costa Rica).

Phylogenomics clarifies repeated evolutionary origins of inbreeding and fungus farming in bark beetles (Curculionidae, Scolytinae).

Bark and ambrosia beetles (Curculionidae, Scolytinae) display a conspicuous diversity of unusual genetic and ecological attributes and behaviors. Reconstructing the evolution of Scolytinae, particularly the large and ecologically significant tribe Cryphalini (pygmy borers), has long been problematic. These challenges have not adequately been addressed using morphological characters, and previous research has used only DNA sequence data from small numbers of genes. Through a combination of anchored hybrid enrichment, low-coverage draft genomes, and transcriptomes, we addressed these challenges by amassing a large molecular phylogenetic dataset for bark and ambrosia beetles. The resulting DNA sequence data from 251 protein coding genes (114,276 bp of nucleotide sequence data) support inference of the first robust phylogeny of Scolytinae, with a special focus on the species rich tribe Cryphalini and its close relatives. Key strategies, including inbreeding mating systems and fungus farming, evolved repeatedly across Scolytinae. We confirm 12 of 16 hypothesized origins of fungus farming, 6 of 8 origins of inbreeding polygyny and at least 11 independent origins of a super-generalist host range. These three innovations are statistically correlated, but their appearance within lineages was not necessarily simultaneous. Additionally, the evolution of extreme host plant generalism often preceded, rather than succeeded, fungus farming. Of the high-diversity tribes of Scolytinae, only Xyleborini is monophyletic, Corthylini is paraphyletic and Cryphalini is highly polyphyletic. Cryphalini sensu stricto is part of a clade containing the genera Hypothenemus, Cryphalus and Trypophloeus, and the tribe Xyloterini. Stegomerus and Cryptocarenus (Cryphalini) are part of a clade otherwise containing all Corthylini. Several other genera, including Ernoporus and Scolytogenes (Cryphalini), make up a distantly related clade. Several of the genera of Cryphalini are also intermixed. For example, Cryphalus and Hypocryphalus are intermingled, as well as Ernoporicus, Ptilopodius and Scolytogenes. Our data are consistent with widespread polyphyly and paraphyly across Scolytinae and within Cryphalini, and provides new insights into the evolution of inbreeding mating systems and fungus farming in the species rich and ecologically significant weevil subfamily Scolytinae.

The smallest known species of Afrotropical Scolytoplatypus Schaufuss (Curculionidae, Scolytinae) - with unique features and an isolated phylogenetic position.

Recent flight intercept trapping in Gabon provided four female specimens of a new species of Scolytoplatypus Schaufuss with several unusual features. It is the smallest known Afrotropical species found to date (1.6 mm long), it has unusually long antennal clubs, and some characters show resemblance to small Asian species or to the Malagasy genus Remansus Jordal. Genetic data from four genes nevertheless place this species as the sister lineage to all other Afrotropical species where it forms an isolated position corresponding to deviant morphological features.

Ancient diversity of Afrotropical Microborus: three endemic species - not one widespread.

The primarily Neotropical genus Microborus Blandford is represented with three species in Africa and Madagascar. The previously recorded species from this region, M. boops Blandford, is a Neotropical species restricted to Central America and is likely not found in the Afrotropics. The previously recognised species in western parts of Africa is M. camerunus (Eggers) and is resurrected from synonymy under M. boops. Molecular and morphological data revealed a second species of this complex in Madagascar, M. brevisetosus Jordal. Another new species, M. angustus Jordal, co-occurs with M. camerunus in Cameroon. Substantial genetic divergence indicate that Microborus was established in the Afrotropical region long before human transport across oceans. A key to Afrotropical species is provided.

Biological factors contributing to bark and ambrosia beetle species diversification.

The study of species diversification can identify the processes that shape patterns of species richness across the tree of life. Here, we perform comparative analyses of species diversification using a large dataset of bark beetles. Three examined covariates-permanent inbreeding (sibling mating), fungus farming, and major host type-represent a range of factors that may be important for speciation. We studied the association of these covariates with species diversification while controlling for evolutionary lag on adaptation. All three covariates were significantly associated with diversification, but fungus farming showed conflicting patterns between different analyses. Genera that exhibited interspecific variation in host type had higher rates of species diversification, which may suggest that host switching is a driver of species diversification or that certain host types or forest compositions facilitate colonization and thus allopatric speciation. Because permanent inbreeding is thought to facilitate dispersal, the positive association between permanent inbreeding and diversification rates suggests that dispersal ability may contribute to species richness. Bark beetles are ecologically unique; however, our results indicate that their impressive species diversity is largely driven by mechanisms shown to be important for many organism groups.