Phylogeny of Epilachna, Henosepilachna, and Some Minor Genera of Phytophagous Ladybird Beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Coccinellinae: Epilachnini), with an Analysis of Ancestral Biogeography and Host-Plant Utilization

Abstract

Ladybird beetles in the tribe Epilachnini include notorious crop pests and model species studied intensively in various fields of evolutionary biology. From a combined dataset of mitochondrial (ND2) and nuclear (28S) DNA sequences, we reconstructed the phylogeny of 46 species of Epilachnini from Asia, Africa, America, and the Australian region: 16 species in Epilachna, 24 species in Henosepilachna, and one species each in Adira, Afidenta, Afidentula, Afissula, Chnootriba, and Epiverta. In our phylogenetic trees, both Epilachna and Henosepilachna were reciprocally polyphyletic. Asian Epilachna species were monophyletic, except for the inclusion of Afissula sp. Asian and Australian Henosepilachna species likewise formed a monophyletic group, excluding H. boisduvali. African Epilachna and Henosepilachna species did not group with their respective Asian and American congeners, but were paraphyletic to other clades (Epilachna species) or formed a separate monophyletic group (Henosepilachna species) together with Chnootriba similis. The American Epilachna species were monophyletic and formed a clade with American Adira clarkii and Asian Afidentula manderstjernae bielawskii; this clade was the sister group to Asian and Australian Henosepilachna, but was distant from Asian Epilachna. Chnootriba was embedded in the African Henosepilachna clade, and Afissula in the Asian Epilachna clade. Epiverta, which is morphologically unique, was the sister group to Asian Epilachna, although with weak support. From reconstructions of biogeographical distribution and host-plant utilization at ancestral nodes, we inferred an African origin for the common ancestor of the species studied, and found the frequency of host shifts to differ greatly between the two major lineages of Epilachnini examined.

A solanum beetle on a fabaceous weed: Host plant generalization and specialization are two sides of the same coin

“…) resembles closely the situation in the congeneric Solanaceae‐feeder H. diffinis (Eydoux et Souleyet) (Kikuta et al ), our recent survey revealed that adults of several other congeneric Solanaceae‐feeders distributed in southeastern Asia also slightly accept centro for feeding (Fujiyama et al ., unpublished data in 2011–2013). This implies the slight ability to use centro had been acquired in the ancestor of the Solanaceae‐feeding clade (Katoh et al ; see also discussion in Kikuta et al ). Moreover, possible sharing of the same gene(s) with other taxonomically and phylogenetically remote legume‐specialists that sporadically occur among epilachnines, such as H. signatipennis (Boisduval), the Mexican bean beetle Epilachna varivestis Mulsant, and Afidenta misella Weise (Katoh et al ), should also be considered to elucidate the origin of the ability of H. vigintioctopunctata to use centro.…”

“…This implies the slight ability to use centro had been acquired in the ancestor of the Solanaceae‐feeding clade (Katoh et al ; see also discussion in Kikuta et al ). Moreover, possible sharing of the same gene(s) with other taxonomically and phylogenetically remote legume‐specialists that sporadically occur among epilachnines, such as H. signatipennis (Boisduval), the Mexican bean beetle Epilachna varivestis Mulsant, and Afidenta misella Weise (Katoh et al ), should also be considered to elucidate the origin of the ability of H. vigintioctopunctata to use centro.…”

Characterization and transcriptional analysis of a subtelomeric satellite DNA family in the ladybird beetle Henosepilachna argus (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

“…The distinctiveness of the two genera is one of the most controversial subjects in Epilachnini (Pang et al, 2012;Tomaszewska & Szawaryn, 2016). Recent phylogenetic studies including a wide representation of Epilachnini species have shown that both Epilachna and Henosepilachna are polyphyletic (Katoh et al, 2014;Szawaryn et al, 2015). Katoh et al (2014) have reported that three groups of species of Epilachnini cluster together in well-supported clades: Asian Epilachna, American Epilachna and Asian-Australian Henosepilachna.…”

Molecular cytogenetic studies in the ladybird beetle Henosepilachna argus Geoffroy, 1762 (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae, Epilachninae)

“…The results obtained by Katoh et al (2014) suggest that Henosepilachna and Epilachna are polyphyletic but also the existence of some well-supported clades, such as Asian Epilachna , American Epilachna and Asian and Australian Henosepilachna . Despite this, Katoh et al (2014) recommended that a new phylogenetic analysis has to be done, with special careful attention to both morphological and molecular analyses with a broad taxonomic representation. Thereby the taxonomy of the species belonging to the genus Henosepilachna remains unclear with misidentification for some species.…”

“…Recently Katoh et al (2014) by using a combined dataset of NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) and the 28S rDNA reconstructed the phylogeny of 46 species of Epilachnini , including 16 species of Epilachna and 24 species of Henosepilachna . The results obtained by Katoh et al (2014) suggest that Henosepilachna and Epilachna are polyphyletic but also the existence of some well-supported clades, such as Asian Epilachna , American Epilachna and Asian and Australian Henosepilachna . Despite this, Katoh et al (2014) recommended that a new phylogenetic analysis has to be done, with special careful attention to both morphological and molecular analyses with a broad taxonomic representation.…”