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1. First insights into the phylogeny of tok-tokkie beetles (Tenebrionidae: Molurina, Phanerotomeina) and examination of the status of the Psammodes vialis species-group

   https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa052  

   Kamiński, Marcin J ; Gearner, Olivia M ; Kanda, Kojun ; Swichtenberg, Kali ; Purchart, Luboš ; Smith, Aaron D ( June 2020 , Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society)

   null (Ed.)

   Abstract The first molecular phylogeny of the tribe Sepidiini is inferred from analyses of DNA sequence data from the following five loci (CAD, wg, COI, COII, 28S rRNA). Bayesian and maximum likelihood analyses were performed on a dataset containing 41 taxa, of which a majority represent Molurina (27) and Phanerotomeina (6). The resulting topologies were used to discuss phylogenetic placement and diagnostic characters of all of the genera representing Molurina. Within the subtribe, the results revealed paraphyly of the genus Psammodes. The P. vialis species-group, currently classified within Psammodes, was recovered as sister to all other Molurina genera. Based on this topology and morphological investigations, a new genus named Toktokkus gen. nov. is established. Within Phanerotomeina, Ocnodes is paraphyletic with regard to Tarsocnodes. In order to restore the monophyly of Ocnodes, the subgenus Chiliarchum stat. nov. is elevated to generic level. Finally, as the homology of female terminalia structures has never been fully assessed for Sepidiini, a comparative study of ovipositor morphology was conducted. As a result, this paper presents the first fully annotated ovipositors for tok-tokkie beetles. 

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2. A molecular phylogeny of the parasitoid wasp subfamily Rogadinae (Ichneumonoidea: Braconidae) with descriptions of three new genera

   https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12507  

   Quicke, Donald L. J. ; Fagan‐Jeffries, Erinn P. ; Jasso‐Martínez, Jovana M. ; Zaldívar‐Riverón, Alejandro ; Shaw, Mark R. ; Janzen, Daniel H. ; Hallwachs, Winnie ; Smith, M. Alex ; Hebert, Paul D. N. ; Hrcek, Jan ; et al ( July 2021 , Systematic Entomology)

   A molecular phylogeny of the subfamily Rogadinae is presented for 469 species in 52 genera representing all tribes and subtribes. The data comprise cytochromecoxidase I sequences (DNA barcodes), together with a broad representation of 28S rDNA D2‐D3 expansion region, EF1‐αgene and 16S rDNA fragments. To test monophyly, most genera were represented by multiple species. The analysis of the complete dataset recovered a monophyletic Rogadinae with low support. All six tribes were recovered as monophyletic with the following relationships: (Rogadini, (Stiropiini, (Clinocentrini, (Betylobraconini, [Yeliconini, Aleiodini])))). Three new genera are recognized:AfrorogasQuickegen.n.(type speciesAfrorogas copelandiQuickesp.n.) for a mainland Afrotropical species;AmanirogasQuickegen.n.(type speciesAmanirogas isolatusQuickesp.n.), previously treated as aRogasspecies from Tanzania; andPapuarogasQuickegen.n.(type speciesP.dameniQuickesp.n.), for species from Papua New Guinea.IporhogasGranger is synonymized withTroporhogasCameron. The African generaMyoporhogasBrues,Scoporogasvan Achterberg and the endemic New Zealand genusRhinoprotomavan Achterberg are synonymized withAleiodes. A formal diagnosis of the Aleiodini Muesebeck is provided for the first time.

   This published work has been registered on ZooBank,http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F24DC64C‐54B7‐45DA‐AB8E‐52DC3E34545C

    

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3. Reevaluation of Blapimorpha and Opatrinae : addressing a major phylogeny‐classification gap in darkling beetles ( Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Blaptinae )

   https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12453  

   Kamiński, Marcin J. ; Lumen, Ryan ; Kanda, Kojun ; Iwan, Dariusz ; Johnston, M. Andrew ; Kergoat, Gael J. ; Bouchard, Patrice ; Bai, Xing Long ; Li, Xiu Min ; Ren, Guo Dong ; et al ( September 2020 , Systematic Entomology)

   The taxonomic concepts of Blapimorpha and Opatrinae (informal and traditional, morphology‐based groupings among darkling beetles) are tested using molecular phylogenetics and a reassessment of larval and adult morphology to address a major phylogeny‐classification gap in Tenebrionidae. Instead of a holistic approach (family‐level phylogeny), this study uses a bottom‐up strategy (tribal grouping) in order to define larger, monophyletic lineages within Tenebrioninae. Sampling included representatives of 27 tenebrionid tribes: Alleculini, Amarygmini, Amphidorini, Blaptini, Bolitophagini, Branchini, Cerenopini, Coniontini, Caenocrypticini, Dendarini, Eulabini, Helopini, Lagriini, Melanimini, Opatrini, Pedinini, Phaleriini, Physogasterini, Platynotini, Platyscelidini, Praociini, Scaurini, Scotobiini, Tenebrionini, Trachyscelini, Triboliini and Ulomini. Molecular analyses were based on DNA sequence data from four non‐overlapping gene regions: carbamoyl‐phosphate synthetase domain ofrudimentary(CAD) (723 bp),wingless(wg) (438 bp) and nuclear ribosomal 28S (1101 bp) and mitochondrial ribosomal 12S (363 bp). Additionally, 15 larval and imaginal characters were scored and subjected to an ancestral state reconstruction analysis. Results revealed that Amphidorini, Blaptini, Dendarini, Pedinini, Platynotini, Platyscelidini and Opatrini form a clade which can be defined by the following morphological features: adults—antennae lacking compound/stellate sensoria; procoxal cavities externally and internally closed, intersternal membrane of abdominal ventrites 3–5 visible; paired abdominal defensive glands present, elongate, not annulated; larvae—prolegs enlarged (adapted for digging); ninth tergite lacking urogomphi. To accommodate this monophyletic grouping (281 genera and ∼4000 species), the subfamily Blaptinaesens. nov.is resurrected. Prior to these results, all of the tribes within Blaptinae were classified within the polyphyletic subfamily Tenebrioninae. The non‐monophyletic nature of Terebrioninae has already been postulated by previous authors, yet no taxonomic decisions were made to fix its status. The reinstatement of Blaptinae, which groups ∼50% of the former Tenebrioninae, helps to clarify phylogenetic relations among the whole family and is the first step towards a complete higher‐level revision of Tenebrionidae. The Central Asian tribe Dissonomini (two genera, ∼30 species) was not included in Blaptinae due to a lack of representatives in the performed phylogenetic analyses; however, based on morphological features, the tribe is listed as a potential addition to the subfamily.

    

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4. Out of Africa? A dated molecular phylogeny of the cicada tribe Platypleurini Schmidt (Hemiptera: Cicadidae), with a focus on African genera and the genus Platypleura Amyot & Audinet‐Serville

   https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12360  

   Price, Benjamin W. ; Marshall, David C. ; Barker, Nigel P. ; Simon, Chris ; Villet, Martin H. ( March 2019 , Systematic Entomology)

   The Platypleurini is a large group of charismatic cicadas distributed from Cape Agulhas in South Africa, through tropical Africa, Madagascar, India and eastern Asia to Japan, with generic diversity concentrated in equatorial and southern Africa. This distribution suggests the possibility of a Gondwanan origin and dispersal to eastern Asia from Africa or India. We used a four‐gene (three mitochondrial) molecular dataset, fossil calibrations and molecular clock information to explore the phylogenetic relationships of the platypleurine cicadas and the timing and geography of their diversification. The earliest splits in the tribe were found to separate forest genera in Madagascar and equatorial Africa from the main radiation, and all of the Asian/Indian species sampled formed a younger clade nested well within the African taxa. The tribe appears to have diversified during the Cenozoic, beginningc. 50–32 Ma, with most extant African lineages originating in the Miocene or later, well after the breakup of the Gondwanan landmass. Biogeographical analysis suggests an African origin for the tribe and a single dispersal event founding the Asian platypleurines, although additional taxon sampling and genetic data will be needed to confirm this pattern because key nodes in the tree are still weakly supported. Two Platypleurini genera from Madagascar (PycnaAmyot & Audinet‐Serville,YangaDistant) are found to have originated by late Miocene dispersal of a single lineage from Africa. The genusPlatypleurais recovered as polyphyletic, withPlatypleura signiferaWalker from South Africa and many Asian/Indian species apparently requiring assignment to different genera, and a newPlatypleuraconcept is proposed with the synonymization ofAzanicadaVilletsyn.n.The generaOrapaDistant andHamzaDistant, currently listed within separate tribes but suspected of platypleurine affinity, are nested deeply within the Platypleurini radiation. The tribe Orapinisyn.n. is here synonymized while the tribe Hamzini is pending a decision of the ICZN to preserve nomenclatorial stability.

    

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5. The spider tree of life: phylogeny of Araneae based on target‐gene analyses from an extensive taxon sampling

   https://doi.org/10.1111/cla.12182  

   Wheeler, Ward C. ; Coddington, Jonathan A. ; Crowley, Louise M. ; Dimitrov, Dimitar ; Goloboff, Pablo A. ; Griswold, Charles E. ; Hormiga, Gustavo ; Prendini, Lorenzo ; Ramírez, Martín J. ; Sierwald, Petra ; et al ( December 2016 , Cladistics)

   We present a phylogenetic analysis of spiders using a dataset of 932 spider species, representing 115 families (only the family Synaphridae is unrepresented), 700 known genera, and additional representatives of 26 unidentified or undescribed genera. Eleven genera of the orders Amblypygi, Palpigradi, Schizomida and Uropygi are included as outgroups. The dataset includes six markers from the mitochondrial (12S, 16S,COI) and nuclear (histone H3, 18S, 28S) genomes, and was analysed by multiple methods, including constrained analyses using a highly supported backbone tree from transcriptomic data. We recover most of the higher‐level structure of the spider tree with good support, including Mesothelae, Opisthothelae, Mygalomorphae and Araneomorphae. Several of our analyses recover Hypochilidae and Filistatidae as sister groups, as suggested by previous transcriptomic analyses. The Synspermiata are robustly supported, and the families Trogloraptoridae and Caponiidae are found as sister to the Dysderoidea. Our results support the Lost Tracheae clade, including Pholcidae, Tetrablemmidae, Diguetidae, Plectreuridae and the family Pacullidae (restored status) separate from Tetrablemmidae. The Scytodoidea include Ochyroceratidae along with Sicariidae, Scytodidae, Drymusidae and Periegopidae; our results are inconclusive about the separation of these last two families. We did not recover monophyletic Austrochiloidea and Leptonetidae, but our data suggest that both groups are more closely related to the Cylindrical Gland Spigot clade rather than to Synspermiata. Palpimanoidea is not recovered by our analyses, but also not strongly contradicted. We find support for Entelegynae and Oecobioidea (Oecobiidae plus Hersiliidae), and ambiguous placement of cribellate orb‐weavers, compatible with their non‐monophyly. Nicodamoidea (Nicodamidae plus Megadictynidae) and Araneoidea composition and relationships are consistent with recent analyses. We did not obtain resolution for the titanoecoids (Titanoecidae and Phyxelididae), but the Retrolateral Tibial Apophysis clade is well supported. Penestomidae, and probably Homalonychidae, are part of Zodarioidea, although the latter family was set apart by recent transcriptomic analyses. Our data support a large group that we call the marronoid clade (including the families Amaurobiidae, Desidae, Dictynidae, Hahniidae, Stiphidiidae, Agelenidae and Toxopidae). The circumscription of most marronoid families is redefined here. Amaurobiidae include the Amaurobiinae and provisionally Macrobuninae. We transfer Malenellinae (Malenella, from Anyphaenidae), Chummidae (Chumma) (new syn.) and Tasmarubriinae (Tasmarubrius,TasmabrochusandTeeatta, from Amphinectidae) to Macrobuninae. Cybaeidae are redefined to includeCalymmaria,Cryphoeca,EthobuellaandWillisius(transferred from Hahniidae), andBlabommaandYorima(transferred from Dictynidae). Cycloctenidae are redefined to includeOrepukia(transferred from Agelenidae) andPakehaandParavoca(transferred from Amaurobiidae). Desidae are redefined to include five subfamilies: Amphinectinae, withAmphinecta,Mamoea,Maniho,ParamamoeaandRangitata(transferred from Amphinectidae); Ischaleinae, withBakalaandManjala(transferred from Amaurobiidae) andIschalea(transferred from Stiphidiidae); Metaltellinae, withAustmusia,Buyina,Calacadia,Cunnawarra,Jalkaraburra,Keera,Magua,Metaltella,PenaoolaandQuemusia; Porteriinae (new rank), withBaiami,Cambridgea,CorasoidesandNanocambridgea(transferred from Stiphidiidae); and Desinae, withDesis, and provisionallyPoaka(transferred from Amaurobiidae) andBarahna(transferred from Stiphidiidae).Argyronetais transferred from Cybaeidae to Dictynidae.Cicurinais transferred from Dictynidae to Hahniidae. The generaNeoramia(from Agelenidae) andAorangia,MarplesiaandNeolana(from Amphinectidae) are transferred to Stiphidiidae. The family Toxopidae (restored status) includes two subfamilies: Myroinae, withGasparia,Gohia,Hulua,Neomyro,Myro,OmmatauxesisandOtagoa(transferred from Desidae); and Toxopinae, withMidgeeandJamara, formerly Midgeeinae,new syn.(transferred from Amaurobiidae) andHapona,Laestrygones,Lamina,ToxopsandToxopsoides(transferred from Desidae). We obtain a monophyletic Oval Calamistrum clade and Dionycha; Sparassidae, however, are not dionychans, but probably the sister group of those two clades. The composition of the Oval Calamistrum clade is confirmed (including Zoropsidae, Udubidae, Ctenidae, Oxyopidae, Senoculidae, Pisauridae, Trechaleidae, Lycosidae, Psechridae and Thomisidae), affirming previous findings on the uncertain relationships of the “ctenids”AncylometesandCupiennius, although a core group of Ctenidae are well supported. Our data were ambiguous as to the monophyly of Oxyopidae. In Dionycha, we found a first split of core Prodidomidae, excluding the Australian Molycriinae, which fall distantly from core prodidomids, among gnaphosoids. The rest of the dionychans form two main groups, Dionycha part A and part B. The former includes much of the Oblique Median Tapetum clade (Trochanteriidae, Gnaphosidae, Gallieniellidae, Phrurolithidae, Trachelidae, Gnaphosidae, Ammoxenidae, Lamponidae and the Molycriinae), and also Anyphaenidae and Clubionidae.Orthobulais transferred from Phrurolithidae to Trachelidae. Our data did not allow for complete resolution for the gnaphosoid families. Dionycha part B includes the families Salticidae, Eutichuridae, Miturgidae, Philodromidae, Viridasiidae, Selenopidae, Corinnidae and Xenoctenidae(new fam., includingXenoctenus,ParavulsorandOdo, transferred from Miturgidae, as well asIncasoctenusfrom Ctenidae). We confirm the inclusion ofZora(formerly Zoridae) within Miturgidae.

    

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