ABSTRACT
Tetraopes longhorn beetles are known for their resistance to milkweed plant toxins and their coevolutionary dynamics with milkweed plants (Asclepias). This association is considered a textbook example of coevolution, in which each species of Tetraopes is specialized to feed on one or a few species of Asclepias. A major challenge to investigating coevolutionary hypotheses and conducting molecular ecology studies lies in the limited understanding of the evolutionary history and biogeographical patterns of Tetraopes. By integrating genomic, morphological, paleontological, and geographical data, we present a robust phylogeny of Tetraopes and their relatives, using three inference methods with varying subsets of data, encompassing 2-12 thousand UCE loci. We elucidate the diversification patterns of Tetraopes species across major biogeographical regions and their colonization of the American continent. Our findings suggest that the genus originated in Central America approximately 21 million years ago during the Miocene and diversified from the Mid-Miocene to the Pleistocene. These events coincided with intense geological activity in Central America. Additionally, independent colonization events in North America occurred from the Late Miocene to the early Pleistocene, potentially contributing to the early diversification of the group. Our data suggest that a common ancestor of Tetraopini migrated into North America, likely facilitated by North Atlantic land bridges, while closely related tribes diverged in Asia and Europe during the Paleocene. Establishing a robust and densely sampled phylogeny of Tetraopes beetles provides a foundation for investigating micro- and macroevolutionary phenomena, including clinal variation, coevolution, and detoxification mechanisms in this ecologically important group.
Subject(s)
Coleoptera , Animals , Phylogeny , Coleoptera/genetics , Biological Evolution , Geography , North America , PhylogeographyABSTRACT
Two new species of Acanthocinini (Lamiinae) from Mexico are described: Hyperplatys mexicanus sp. nov. from the state of Morelos; and Urgleptes martini sp. nov. from the states of Jalisco and Morelos.
Subject(s)
Coleoptera , Animals , MexicoABSTRACT
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1000.56757.].
ABSTRACT
Since the description of its eight species, the Mesoamerican genus Phrynidius Lacordaire (Cerambycidae, Lamiinae, Apomecynini) has not been comprehensively studied, with only a few distributional records published in recent years. In this work, four new species of Phrynidius are described from Chiapas, Mexico: P. cristinae sp. nov. from the municipality of Escuintla, P. diminutus sp. nov. from San Cristobal, Phrynidius jonesi sp. nov. from Trinitaria, and P. tuberculatus sp. nov. from Jaltenango. An updated taxonomic key and illustrations of the new species are also provided.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Cerambycidae is one the most diverse families in the order Coleoptera with more than 37,000 species described in all continents. Cerambicyd beetles have a worldwide distribution from sea level to montane sites. In Mexico, more than 1,600 species have been recorded. Nevertheless, the diversity and distribution of this family in the Mexican deserts is poorly known. NEW INFORMATION: A first checklist of Cerambycidae from seven localities of Cuatro Ciénegas Basin is presented. This study is the result of sampling carried out between 2009 to 2013. Some material from other collections is also included. The species list includes four subfamilies, 13 tribes, 32 genera and 37 species, from which 13 are new records for the state of Coahuila and three species represent new records for Mexico. These results highlight the paucity of knowledge of insects in the deserts of Mexico.
ABSTRACT
Eburia (Eburia) angeldiazi sp. nov. is described from Michoacán, Mexico. Distinguishing characters from closely related species are given and discussed. According to the results of our research, E. (E.) angeldiazi sp. nov. is distributed in the state of Michoacán, Mexico whereas E. (E.) macrotaenia Bates, 1880 occurs in the state of Chiapas, Mexico as well as Guatemala and El Salvador.
Subject(s)
Coleoptera , Animals , El Salvador , Guatemala , MexicoABSTRACT
Saproxylic insects depend on deadwood for larval development, and a certain degree of specialization may be involved in their choice of host plants and/or wood in a particular stage of degradation. The plant species chosen for oviposition in turn act as an environmental pressure on the head morphology of larvae and it is expected that head shape plasticity varies directly with the number of woody plant species used for larval development in each insect species. We analyzed head shape variation in saproxylic beetles with respect to host plant species, maximum time of larval emergence and season of the year when insects colonized branches. Generalist species in the use of host plants showed significant variation in head shape and size. Time of emergence and season did not appear to affect head shape, although season was a determinant factor of abundance and possibly head size variation.
Subject(s)
Coleoptera/anatomy & histology , Food Chain , Animals , Coleoptera/growth & development , Head/anatomy & histology , Larva/growth & development , Mexico , SeasonsABSTRACT
Five new species of Cymatodera from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica and Panama are described here based on adult male and female specimens: Cymatodera humeralis sp. n; Cymatodera lorenae sp. n.; Cymatodera crassa sp. n.; Cymatodera depressa sp. n; and Cymatodera nigrofasciata sp. n. Male genitalia and other characters of taxonomic value are used for diagnostic purposes.
