A phylogenetic and taxonomic assessment of Afrotropical Micracidini (Coleoptera, Scolytinae) reveals a strong diversifying role for Madagascar

Abstract

Afrotropical bark beetle genera in the tribe Micracidini are revised and an identification key provided. The new classification is based on phylogenetic analyses of five molecular markers (COI, EF-1α, 28S, PABP1, CAD) in combination with morphological characters. Five new genera are erected and one genus synonymized, resulting in a total of 11 valid genera: Lanurgus Eggers, 1920, Traglostus Schedl, 1938, Pseudomicracis Eggers, 1920 (=Saurotocis Wood, 1984 syn. nov.), Phloeocurus Wood, 1984, Afromicracis Schedl, 1959, Dendrochilus Schedl, 1959, Neomicracis Jordal gen. nov., Leiomicracis Jordal gen. nov., Diplotrichus Jordal gen. nov., Pseudolanurgus Jordal gen. nov., Microlanurgus Jordal gen. nov. The following new species are described to be included in the new genera: Leiomicracis aurea Jordal sp. nov., Neomicracis squamigera Jordal sp. nov., both from Tanzania, and Microlanurgus bicolor Jordal sp. nov. and Microlanurgus ater Jordal sp. nov., from Madagascar. The following new synonyms and new combinations are proposed: Afromicracis dubius (Schedl, 1950) (=Afromicracis angolensis Schedl, 1962 syn. nov.), Afromicacis elongatulus (Schedl, 1977) comb. nov., Afromicracis jasminiae (Schedl 1957) comb. nov. (=Dendrochilus mikaniae Schedl 1957 syn. nov.), Afromicracis robustus (Schedl 1957) comb. nov. (=Dendrochilus arundinarius Schedl 1957 syn. nov., =Hypothenemus bambusae Browne, 1970 syn. nov., =Dendrochilus filum Schedl, 1977 syn. nov.) (all from Dendrochilus), Afromicracis setifer (Schedl 1957) comb. nov. (Mimiocurus), Lanurgus longipilis (Schedl, 1958) comb. nov., Lanurgus pubescens (Schedl, 1961) comb. nov. (both from Traglostus), Diplotrichus catenatus (Schedl, 1953) comb. nov., Diplotrichus elongatus (Schedl, 1950) comb. nov., Diplotrichus euphorbia (Schedl, 1961) comb. nov., Diplotrichus gracilis (Schedl, 1958) comb. nov., Diplotrichus minor (Schedl, 1950) comb. nov (=Lanurgus frontalis Schedl, 1953 syn. Nov.), Diplotrichus obesus (Schedl, 1953) comb. nov., Diplotrichus pygmaeus (Schedl, 1965) comb. nov., Diplotrichus rugosipes (Schedl, 1961) comb. nov., Diplotrichus subdepressus (Schedl, 1965) comb. nov., Diplotrichus widdringtoniae (Schedl, 1962) comb. nov. (all from Lanurgus), Diplotrichus ignotus (Schedl, 1965) comb. nov. (Pseudomicracis), Pseudolanurgus harunganae (Schedl, 1961) comb. nov. (=Lanurgus cribrellus Schedl, 1965 syn. nov.), Pseudolanurgus bugekeae (Schedl, 1957) comb. nov. (both from Pseudomicracis), Pseudolanurgus minutissimus (Schedl, 1961) comb. nov. (Lanurgus), Pseudomicracis dispar (Schedl, 1961) comb. nov., Pseudomicracis tomicoides (Schedl, 1961) comb. nov. (both from Saurotocis). The following taxa were transferred to genera in other tribes: Acanthotomicus intermedius (Schedl, 1977) comb. nov., Xylocleptes villiersi (Lepesme, 1942) comb. nov. (both from Dendrochilus); Eidophelus agnathus (Schedl, 1942) comb. nov., and Eidophelus ciliatipennis (Schedl, 1979) comb. nov. (all from Miocryphalus). The following five species were included in Karlsenius gen. nov. (Trypophloeini): Karlsenius klainedoxae (Schedl, 1957) comb. nov., Karlsenius nitidum (Schedl, 1965) comb. nov., Karlsenius nigrinum (Schedl, 1957) comb. nov., and Karlsenius attenuatus (Eggers, 1935) comb. nov. (from Miocryphalus), and Karlsenius ghanaensis (Schedl, 1977) comb. nov. (from Eidophelus). A time-tree and biogeographical analysis suggested that Madagascar was colonized only once in Micracidini, from East Africa soon after the origin of the tribe in late Cretaceous. Multiple re-colonisations from Madagascar to the mainland have contributed to further diversification of a tribe which is otherwise highly restricted in geographical distribution.