Taxon Bryocorinae (Insecta: Heteroptera: Miridae) is a subfamily comprising approximately 1100 species, predominantly inhabiting tropical and subtropical regions. Context The monophyly of the subfamily and its tribes remains doubtful, and previous studies have yielded contradictory results. Aim In this study, a molecular phylogenetic analysis of Bryocorinae was performed to test the monophyly of the subfamily and its subgrouping and to estimate their divergence times. Methods The analysis was based on mitochondrial (COI, 12S rRNA, and 16S rRNA) and nuclear (18S rRNA and 28S rRNA) markers. Maximum-likelihood analysis was performed using RAxML, and Bayesian inference analyses were conducted using MrBayes and BEAST2. The phylogeny was calibrated using BEAST2. Key results The analysis did not confirm the monophyly of Bryocorinae. Bryocorini and Monaloniini are recovered as monophyletic and are therefore both raised to subfamily rank. Dicyphus forms a clade with Felisacini; consequently, Dicyphini are restricted to a single genus. These two tribes are placed in the subfamily Dicyphinae. The other genera previously included in Dicyphini are placed in the subfamily Macrolophinae. Eccritotarsini are restricted to a clade comprising the greatest number of genera, and this group is raised to subfamily rank. Dating analyses showed that three subfamilies, distributed predominantly in tropical and subtropical regions across the different zoogeographical regions including the New World, originated and diversified around the Mesozoic–Cenozoic boundary (Dicyphinae, Eccritotarsinae, and Monaloniinae). Macrolophinae, which successfully colonized the temperate regions of different continents, most probably, originated during the Cenozoic. The morphologically conserved groups, i.e. Bryocorinae and Felisacini, originated and diversified during the Cenozoic. Conclusions The present study shows that some groups previously placed within Bryocorinae are monophyletic, but their relationships with other mirid taxa could not be resolved with high support. To clarify their phylogenetic position within Miridae, phylogenomic analysis encompassing the entire family will be necessary.
Context The subfamily Scaritinae (Coleoptera: Carabidae) is a speciose, cosmopolitan group of ground beetles characterised by a pedunculate body form and modified fossorial forelegs, adaptations associated with a burrowing lifestyle in soil or sandy substrates. The fossil record of Scaritinae is scarce and only one Mesozoic species has been described up to the present. Aims A new genus and species of scaritine ground beetles is described from Late Cretaceous amber in northern Myanmar. Its phylogenetic relationship with extant lineages of Scaritinae was investigated and divergence times among lineages of Scaritinae were estimated. Its palaeoecology is also discussed from the perspective of morphological adaptation. Taxon A Late Cretaceous pedunculate ground beetle (Insecta: Coleoptera: Carabidae: Scaritinae), Cretoscarites burmanicus gen. et sp. nov., aligns well with extant Scaritinae, yet it lacks the fossorial legs typically seen in modern scaritines. Methods Its relationship with extant Scaritinae was investigated based on two datasets using maximum parsimony, Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood: (i) 55 morphological characters belonging to 16 taxa (representing 6 of the 7 tribes and 13 of the 20 subtribes of modern Scaritinae); and (ii) a combined morphological and molecular dataset for 16 taxa, comprising a partitioned alignment of 2772 bp from COI and 18S sequences of seven taxa, representing 5 tribes and 6 subtribes. Divergence times within Scaritinae were estimated in a Bayesian tip-dating framework based on both datasets under a relaxed clock. Key results Phylogenetic analyses using various approaches and datasets consistently placed Cretoscarites burmanicus within Scaritini. Among Scaritini, the nominal subtribe was recovered as the most likely closest relative of Cretoscarites burmanicus. Results indicate that Scaritinae originated in the Middle Jurassic (ca. 167–168 Mya) and the major lineages started to differentiate during the Cretaceous. The overall body form and small eye size suggest that it was likely a nocturnal, olfactory-tactile hunter inhabiting restricted or confined environments, whereas its simple, unmodified forelegs indicate a non-fossorial lifestyle. Conclusions The newly described scaritine ground beetle from Kachin amber can be confidently assigned to Scaritini based on our integrative phylogenetic approach. This finding represents the oldest documented occurrence (ca. 99 Mya) of this tribe to date and its unique forelegs suggest that the lifestyles of Scaritinae may have been more diverse in their early evolution than they are today. ZooBank LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7E489EEA-A5A2-422B-B3EA-45B9FF3600D9
The Mediterranean, despite a long tradition of naturalist observation dating back to Aristotle, is still home to undisclosed cryptic species complexes. The gastropod subfamily Lamellariinae d’Orbigny, 1841 (Velutinidae Gray, 1840) is composed of benthic sea slug-like species with a vestigial internal shell covered by the mantle. The high morphological plasticity of this group hampers species delimitation and identification. In the Mediterranean Sea, two – considered well-known – species are present: Lamellaria latens (O. F. Müller, 1776) and Marsenia perspicua (Linnaeus, 1758). This study assesses the real diversity of this group using an integrative taxonomy approach that combines molecular (COI, 16S rRNA, ITS2, 28S rRNA), morphological (body size, shell, radula, internal anatomy) and ecological data (geographic distribution, depth). The genus Marsenia Oken, 1823 is recognised as a synonym of Lamellaria Montagu, 1816 and the new genus Marseniotta n. gen. is established for Marsenia sensu authors. Two cryptic species complexes are recognised, in the European Atlantic and Mediterranean, with a total of six species, three here described as new: Lamellaria alba n. sp., Lamellaria violacea n. sp., and Marseniotta corsicana n. sp. Additionally, Eirenika n. gen. is proposed as a replacement name for the lamellariine genus Pacifica Fassio, Bouchet & Oliverio, 2022, which is a junior homonym. Our results suggest that characters traditionally used for species identification in this group, such as body size, shell shape and mantle colouration, are unreliable when examined across a broader dataset. Some recurrent chromatic patterns, protoconch and radula shape, can be used, in combination with geographic distribution, to attempt a first genus-level identification. However, given the high degree of plasticity and overlap in morphological characters, genetic data emerge as essential for a correct species-level identification in this group.
Context Panama Marsh (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a Neotropical doryctine wasp genus erected to contain a single species, P. canalia Marsh, primarily based on its distinctly extended pronotum forming a pronotal collar. Although several morphologically similar genera also possess this feature, it has historically been used only to diagnose Panama. The genus was subsequently synonymised with the widespread genus Leluthia Cameron based on shared morphological features, although recent molecular evidence supported its resurrection. Despite these studies, the taxonomic limits of Panama and the relationships among its morphologically similar genera remained unresolved. Aims Here, we present a systematic revision of Panama and its morphologically similar genera using an integrative framework that combines morphological evidence, phylogenomic analyses of nuclear ultraconserved elements (UCEs), and DNA barcoding (COI) data. Taxon The Callihormius genus group (Hymenoptera: Braconidae; Doryctinae), including Panama and its morphologically similar genera. Methods We integrated morphological evidence, phylogenomic analyses of nuclear ultraconserved elements (UCEs), and DNA barcoding (COI) data to reassess generic limits and phylogenetic relationships. Key results Phylogenetic analyses including 92 terminal taxa recovered the species originally assigned to Panama as non-monophyletic, clustering them instead into three distinct lineages. Based on combined molecular and morphological evidence, we propose several taxonomic updates and define the Callihormius genus-group as comprising 16 genera, most characterised by an extended pronotal collar. We redescribe and redefine Panama and describe three new species (P. breviterga Sonora-Aguirre & Zaldívar-Riverón, sp. nov., P. paulmarshi Sonora-Aguirre & Zaldívar-Riverón, sp. nov., and P. peninsularis Sonora-Aguirre & Zaldívar-Riverón, sp. nov.). Our results also support the erection of a new Neotropical genus, Isthmiana Sonora-Aguirre & Zaldívar-Riverón, gen. nov., comprising five new species: I. acarinata Sonora-Aguirre & Zaldívar-Riverón, sp. nov., I. flavocapitata Sonora-Aguirre & Zaldívar-Riverón, sp. nov., I. rupicola Sonora-Aguirre & Zaldívar-Riverón, sp. nov., I. siccusylvatica Sonora-Aguirre & Zaldívar-Riverón, sp. nov., and I. tica Sonora-Aguirre & Zaldívar-Riverón, sp. nov. Moreover, we redescribe the formerly monotypic genera Macrometasoma Gadelha & Zaldívar-Riverón and Shawius Marsh, with one and three new species for them, respectively (M. nuuokoa Sonora-Aguirre & Zaldívar-Riverón, sp. nov., S. kawensis Sonora-Aguirre & Zaldívar-Riverón, sp. nov., S. perspicillatus Sonora-Aguirre & Zaldívar-Riverón, sp. nov., and S. favicaudatus Sonora-Aguirre & Zaldívar-Riverón, sp. nov.), and synonymise Caputlenis Gadelha & Zaldívar-Riverón with Aphelopsia Marsh. Conclusions Our results establish a revised generic classification and provide new insights into the morphological evolution and phylogenetic relationships of this morphologically challenging group of doryctine genera. Zoobank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F922110D-E10A-476C-BC88-058EF777CA21
Although Alysiinae and Opiinae are relatively large groups within the family Braconidae, comprehensive phylogenetic studies have been lacking and there are outstanding questions regarding their relationships and classification. We performed molecular phylogenetic analyses based on five genetic markers (COI, COII, Cyt b, ND1, 28SD2; total 2,089 bp) from 175 taxa using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses. Our results demonstrate that Opiinae formed a well-supported clade nested within Alysiinae, rendering Alysiinae paraphyletic. The traditional tribe Alysiini was not recovered as monophyletic, whereas Dacnusini was monophyletic but showed some internal topological instability between analyses. Based on our findings, we propose a revised subtribal classification that recognises Aspilotina and establishes the new subtribe Asobarina subtrib. nov. within Alysiini. Based on molecular dating analysis, the origin of the combined clade was estimated to the Early Cretaceous (111 Ma), with major diversification during the Paleocene-Eocene transition. Our findings also support a revised subtribal classification within Alysiinae and provide new insights into the evolutionary history of these economically important parasitoids of dipteran larvae.
