Disentangling phylogenetic relations and biogeographic history within the Cucujus haematodes species group (Coleoptera: Cucujidae).

Recent progress in the taxonomy of flat bark beetles (Cucujidae), specifically, in the genus Cucujus, has revealed great diversity in subtropical Asia, but the seemingly well-known temperate and boreal taxa need further attention because of their conservation status. Here, we used an integrative approach using morphology, DNA, and species distribution modelling to disentangle phylogenetic relations, verify the number of species, and understand the historical biogeography of Palearctic and Nearctic Cucujus beetles, particularly the C. haematodes species group. Species distinctiveness was supported for C. cinnaberinus, but present-day C. haematodes turned out to be a species complex made up of separate lineages in the western, middle and eastern parts of its Palearctic range. Cucujus muelleri was a member of that complex, being sister to Asian C. haematodes. Moreover, C. haematodes caucasicus was found to be phylogenetically closely related to Italian C. tulliae, and both to be sister to European C. haematodes. North American C. clavipes clavipes and C. c. puniceus resulted to be enough divergent to be considered different species. Interestingly, western American C. puniceus turned out to be closely related to the C. haematodes complex, whereas eastern American C. clavipes constituted a separate lineage, being distantly related to both C. puniceus and C. cinnaberinus. These patterns suggest former trans-continental connections among the ancestors of extant flat bark beetle species. Moreover, a divergent lineage of C. cinnaberinus was found in Calabria, which should be regarded at the very least as a subspecies. The ancestor of C. hameatodes group originated in mid-Miocene, and next, ca. 6.2 Mya, a line leading to C. cinnaberinus had split. Speciation of the American lineages occurred during Pliocene (4.4 Mya for C. clavipes and 3.3 Mya for C. puniceus). Species classified as C. haematodes, C. tulliae and C. muelleri, as well as distinct lineages within C. cinnaberinus split during mid Pleistocene (ca. 1.5 Mya). A comparison of species climatic requirements and their present distribution allowed to identify glacial refugia in south-eastern areas of North America (C. clavipes), south-western areas of North America (C. puniceus), and the Mediterranean and Caspian Sea Basins (European Cucujus species), or south-eastern areas of Asia and the foothills of the central Asian mountains (eastern C. haematodes). Subsequent climatic changes in the Holocene forced these beetles to move their ranges northwards along the coasts of the Pacific (C. puniceus) or Atlantic (C. clavipes), north-eastwards to central, northern, and eastern Europe (C. cinnaberinus and European C. haematodes) or Siberia (Asian C. haematodes). The combined use of molecular, morphological and climatic data allows a comprehensive understanding of the phylogenetic relations and past distributions of Cucujus beetles, highlighting the complexity of C. haematodes species group evolution.

The Effect of Trap Color on Catches of Monochamus galloprovincialis and Three Most Numerous Non-Target Insect Species.

Black pheromone-baited traps are commonly used for monitoring Monochamus galloprovincialis, a vector of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, although few studies have been conducted on its response to color (black, white, and clear). The objective of our studies was to evaluate the attractiveness of different colors to M. galloprovincialis and non-target species: Spondylis buprestoides and predatory Thanasimus formicarius and T. femoralis. Laboratory tests of fifteen colors against immature and mature M. galloprovincialis revealed some differences in their color preference. In two field tests, eight colors of coroplast vanes in cross-vane traps were compared with unpainted white (a reference (RF)). The first test confirmed the laboratory results, i.e., RF was slightly more attractive to M. galloprovincialis than pastel yellow, reseda green, and cyan blue, but trap color had no significant effect on any of the insect species studied. In the second test, the attractiveness of RF was highest and significantly different from pure white (for all four species), light blue, and pine green (except S. buprestoides). Overall, the unpainted white traps appeared to be most effective in catching M. galloprovincialis. Thanasimus spp. responded to the colors similarly to M. galloprovincialis; therefore, either trap design or lure composition should be modified to reduce their catches.

A new species of Dienerella Reitter, 1911 from Kazakhstan, with an updated checklist of Dienerella species and summary of their distribution (Coleoptera: Latridiidae: Latridiinae).

Dienerella (Dienerella) katarzynae sp. nov. from Kazakhstan is described. The generic characteristics and diagnostics, including the aedeagus, are illustrated. A key to the subgenus Dienerella, a group of similar species including D. beloni, D. pilifera and D. elegans, is given, and an updated global checklist of Dienerella species is provided. To date, 41 taxa in the genus Dienerella (19 species in the subgenus Cartoderema and 22 species in the subgenus Dienerella) have been described globally. In this paper, we summarize the distribution and endemism of Dienerella species worldwide: currently, 15 endemic species from the genus Dienerella (5 species in the subgenus Cartoderema and 10 species in the subgenus Dienerella) are known.

Establishment and Maintenance of Power Lines are Important for Insect Diversity in Central Europe.

Open habitats are disappearing from European forests. This is mainly due to various management-related practices, such as afforestation and the maintenance of closed canopy plantation forests. Open forests are also declining as a result of the abandonment of traditional forest use practices and natural succession. The effects of the establishment and maintenance of power lines as highly artificial but open habitats in forests on native insect biodiversity remain relatively poorly investigated. We investigated differences in biodiversity between forests and open habitats under power lines in Poland. Namely, we focused on nine insect taxa using the most suitable methods for data collection, i.e., observation and trapping. The studied habitats were forests used for timber production dominated by Scots pine, which is the most commercially important tree species in Poland. In total, we recorded the presence of more than 400 insect species. We found that butterflies as well as ground beetles were significantly more biodiverse under the power lines compared with the forest interior. Furthermore, jewel beetles, long-horned beetles, weevils and bark beetles, rove beetles and darkling beetles appeared to be more species rich under the power lines, click beetles were indifferent, and only lady-bird beetles appeared to be more abundant in forests. Additionally, ground beetles with a strict affinity for forests were surprisingly not negatively affected by power lines. We highlighted the importance of forest-free areas under power lines for the improvement of native forest biodiversity. Artificial and relatively intensive management activities related to the distribution of electric energy play important roles in creating novel or alternative habitats for many insects. Our paper contributes much to the knowledge about the importance of artificial open areas for the diversity of insects.

Climatic oscillations in Quaternary have shaped the co-evolutionary patterns between the Norway spruce and its host-associated herbivore.

During the Last Glacial Maximum in the Northern Hemisphere, expanding ice sheets forced a large number of plants, including trees, to retreat from their primary distribution areas. Many host-associated herbivores migrated along with their host plants. Long-lasting geographic isolation between glacial refugia could have been led to the allopatric speciation in separated populations. Here, we have studied whether the migration history of the Norway spruce Picea abies in Quaternary has affected its host-associated herbivorous beetle-Monochamus sartor. By using microsatellite markers accompanied by the geometric morphometrics analysis of wing venation, we have revealed the clear geographic structure of M. sartor in Eurasia, encompassing two main clusters: southern (Alpine-Carpathian) and eastern (including northeastern Europe and Asia), which reflects the northern and southern ecotypes of its host. The two beetles' lineages probably diverged during the Pleniglacial (57,000-15,000 BC) when their host tree species was undergoing significant range fragmentation and experienced secondary contact during post-glacial recolonization of spruce in the Holocene. A secondary contact of divergent lineages of M. sartor has resulted in the formation of the hybrid zone in northeastern Europe. Our findings suggest that the climatic oscillations during the Pleistocene have driven an insect-plant co-evolutionary process, and have contributed to the formation of the unique biodiversity of Europe.