Female terminalia morphology and cladistic relations among Tok-Tok beetles (Tenebrionidae: Sepidiini)
Date
2022Author
Kaminski, Marcin J
Gearner, Olivia M
Ras, Marcin
Hunsinger, Elliot T
Smith, Amelia L
Mas-Peinadoc, Paloma
Giron, Jennifer C (TTU)
Bilska, Aleksandra G
Strumpher, Werner P
Wirth, Christopher C
Kanda, Kojun
Swichtenberg, Kali
Iwan, Dariusz
Smith, Aaron D
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Tok-tokkies are one of the most iconic lineages within Tenebrionidae. In addition to containing some of the largest darkling
beetles, this tribe is recognized for its remarkable form of sexual communication known as substrate tapping. Nevertheless, the
phylogenetic relationships within the group remain poorly understood. This study investigates the usefulness of female terminalia
morphology for delimiting Sepidiini and reconstructing relationships among it. Data on the structure of the ovipositors, genital
tubes and spicula ventrali have been generated for >200 species representing 28 Pimeliinae tribes. This dataset was used in a
comparative analysis at the subfamilial level, which resulted in recognition of several unique features of tok-tokkie terminalia.
Additionally, new features linking phenotypically challenging tribes also were recovered (Cryptochilini + Idisiini + Pimeliini).
Secondly, 23 characters linked to the structure of female terminalia were defined for tok-tok beetles. Cladistic analysis demonstrates the nonmonophyletic nature of most of the recognized subtribes. The morphological dataset was analysed separately and
in combination with available molecular data (CAD, Wg, cox1, cox2, 28S). All obtained topologies were largely congruent, supporting the following changes: Palpomodina Kaminski & Gearner subtr.n. is erected to accommodate the genera Namibomodes
and Palpomodes; Argenticrinis and Bombocnodulus are transferred from Hypomelina to Molurina; 153 species and subspecies
previously classified within Psammodes are distributed over three separate genera (Mariazofia Kaminski nom.n., Piesomera
stat.r., Psammodes sens.n.). Psammodes sklodowskae Kaminski & Gearner sp.n. is described. Preliminary investigation of the
ovipositor of Mariazofia basuto (Koch) comb.n. was carried out with the application of microcomputed tomography, illuminating the muscular system as a reliable reference point for recognizing homologous elements in highly modified ovipositors.
© 2022 The Authors. Cladistics published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Willi Hennig Society.