Exploring myrmecophily based on the phylogenetic interrelationships of FalagoniaSharp, 1883 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae) and allied genera

Abstract

The taxonomy of Lomechusini Fleming has a complex history. Recent studies have shown that this group is polyphyletic; however, little is known about the evolutionary interrelationships among its constituent genera. The goals of the present study are to infer the phylogenetic relationships of Falagonia Sharp and closely related genera; to define the boundaries of those genera based on synapomorphic characters; and to explore the evolution of myrmecophily within the lineage. The phylogenetic analyses are based exclusively on morphological characters of adults. A total of 36 operational taxonomic units were used for the analysis. The best trees were selected based on maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference. During the parsimony reconstruction, different weighting strategies were used to recover the most robust phylogenetic hypothesis. Although minor differences were observed in the results of the different analyses, the topologies were consistent throughout. Several groups of genera proposed by Seevers (1965), such as the ‘Tetradonia’ and ‘Ecitopora’ groups, were not recovered. Thus, these may represent nonmonophyletic groups that were based on nonsynapomorphic diagnostic characters. Our analyses consistently recovered the genera Asheidium Santiago‐Jiménez, Delgadoidium Santiago‐Jiménez, Falagonia, Newtonidium Santiago‐Jiménez, Pseudofalagonia Santiago‐Jiménez, Sharpidium Santiago‐Jiménez, Tetradonia Wasmann and Thayeridium Santiago‐Jiménez, forming a monophyletic group that we have called the ‘Asheidium complex’. Falagonia mexicana Sharp shows seven autapomorphies, none of which were used to establish the genus. Based on the phylogenetic results, myrmecophily has evolved independently at least three times within the lineage. This study, based on morphological characters, is one of the first approaches towards gaining an understanding of the phylogenetic relationships within the polyphyletic tribe Lomechusini.

Eciton Army Ants—Umbrella Species for Conservation in Neotropical Forests

“…Staphylinidae beetles are common in Eciton emigration columns, most frequently located at the edges of the column. Beetles found in emigration columns do not attack the ants, except for some predators such as Tetradonia terminalis which predates on adult workers of E. burchellii, E. hamatum and E. lucanoides [37,98]. Integrative taxonomic studies, including DNA barcoding approaches, on Eciton colonies in La Selva Biological Station (Costa Rica), identified five Tetradonia species, including two novel species.…”

Phylogeography of Falagonia mexicana Sharp, 1883 (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae)

“…So far, the adults of this species have been only observed and collected in association or near by the nests of Atta mexicana. Santiago-Jiménez (2010) reports that the adults are active predator of these ants. However, alternative hypotheses exist to explain the association between F. mexicana with A. mexicana.…”

“…From Mexico to El Salvador, F. mexicana has been recorded in a wide altitude range (from 50 to 2,000 m a.s.l.). This species has been recorded in diverse types of vegetation (Santiago-Jiménez 2010). According to Challenger and Soberón (2008) those habitats correspond to tropical evergreen forests, tropical deciduous forests, temperate coniferous and broadleaf forests, cloud forests, and scrub xerophytes.…”

“…The genus Falagonia Sharp, 1883 included two species: F. mexicana and F. crassiventris Sharp, 1883. Currently, F. crassiventris is located in the genus Pseudofalagonia Santiago-Jiménez, 2010; therefore, Falagonia is now a monotypic genus ( Santiago-Jiménez 2010 ; Santiago-Jiménez and Espinosa de los Monteros 2016 ). At a phylogenetic analysis, Falagonia was supported by seven autapomorphies: 1) epipharynx with a spinose process on the apico-medial margin; 2) with a pair of setae on the sensory area of ligula; 3) with simple punctures on elytral disc; 4) without tuberculate punctures on elytral disc; 5) tergite IV of male with a protuberance on each side of midline; 6) tergite VIII of male without lobes on posterior margin; and 7) tergite VIII of female without lobes on posterior margin.…”

Phylogenetic review of the tribal system of Aleocharinae, a mega‐lineage of terrestrial arthropods in need of reclassification

“…In the description, Bernhauer speculated about the possible myrmeco‐ or termitophilic association of Cordobanus based on its thread‐like non‐pubescent antennae. Since then, no other species has been assigned to this tribe, and its phylogenetic relationships remain obscure (Santiago‐Jiménez et al, 2016). Originally, Cordobanus was placed in the subfamily Tachyporinae because Bernhauer (1910) noticed that it might be closely related to the genus Trichopsenius Horn, 1877, which at that time was assigned to Tachyporinae.…”