Molecular phylogeny and revision of species groups of Nearctic bombardier beetles (Carabidae, Brachininae, Brachinus ( Neobrachinus))

By

Ikagawa, Raine
Moore, Wendy

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2022

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

1131

Pages

155--171

Subjects

molecular phylogenetics , systematics

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1131.85218

 

Abstract

Bombardier beetles of the genusBrachinusWeber are notorious for their explosive defensive chemistry. Despite ongoing research on their defense mechanism, life history, and ecology, the group lacks a robust molecular-based phylogeny. In this study, three loci from mitochondrial and nuclear genomes (COI, CAD, 28S) are used to reconstruct the phylogeny of the large subgenus Neobrachinus, and test species group boundaries hypothesized by Erwin (1970) based on morphological characters. Erwin’sfumansspecies group is found to be polyphyletic, and is herein re-defined with eight new species groups erected to reflect clades based on molecular evidence: thecinctipennis,cyanipennis,galactoderus,gebhardis,mexicanus,phaeocerus,quadripennis, andtenuicollisspecies groups. Erwin’scordicollisgroup is also expanded to include Brachinus (Neobrachinus) medius and theamericanusgroup.