Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shinshu University, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan.
Division of Mountain and Environmental Science, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan.
Zoolog Sci. 2021 Apr;38(2):122-139. doi: 10.2108/zs200088.
We focused on beetles that have lost all flight ability, and conducted molecular phylogeographic analyses based on their mitochondrial DNA and nuclear DNA regions. beetles infiltrate bumblebee nests by attaching to bumblebees as they pollinate flowers and thereafter have a unique and specific life history as they complete their life-cycle within the host nest; flight-based dispersal is achieved by piggybacking on bumblebees. In fact, beetles, which cannot fly, even inhabit remote islands (i.e., "Oceanic Islands"). Regarding four species, i.e., , , and , the conventional morphological classification system based on morphological characteristics was strongly supported by the molecular markers. On the other hand, for two species, and , it was found that may be evaluated as having a paraphyletic relationship with . Furthermore, two other cryptic, undescribed species were also discovered in this study. One was collected in the Nikko Highland, and inhabited the area sympatrically with . The other was collected from Hachijo-jima Island. These cryptic species were highly differentiated, independent lineages in terms of mitochondrial and nuclear gene regions. That is to say, a new level of species diversity was revealed among the beetle species, known for their unique and strange ecological and ethological characteristics.
我们专注于那些已经完全失去飞行能力的甲虫，并基于它们的线粒体 DNA 和核 DNA 区域进行了分子系统地理学分析。甲虫通过附着在正在授粉的大黄蜂身上潜入大黄蜂巢穴，然后在宿主巢穴内完成其生命周期，拥有独特而特定的生活史；通过搭便车大黄蜂实现基于飞行的扩散。事实上，即使是不会飞的甲虫也栖息在偏远的岛屿上（即“海洋岛屿”）。对于四个物种，即、、和，基于形态特征的传统形态分类系统得到了分子标记的强烈支持。另一方面，对于两个物种和，发现可能被评估为与具有并系关系。此外，在这项研究中还发现了另外两个隐密的、未被描述的物种。一个是在日光高地采集的，与同域栖息。另一个是从八丈岛采集的。这些隐密物种在线粒体和核基因区域具有高度分化的、独立的谱系。也就是说，在以独特而奇怪的生态和行为特征而闻名的甲虫物种中，揭示了一个新的物种多样性层次。
