Molecular data supports the inclusion of Ildobates neboti Español in Zuphiini (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Harpalinae)

Abstract

The phylogenetic relationships of Ildobates neboti Español (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Harpalinae) were investigated based on three nuclear genes (full 18S rRNA, and a fragment of each 28S rRNA and wingless). We compiled a data set using published sequences of 32 members of Harpalinae including one example each of Dryptini (genus Desera), Galeritini (Galerita) and Zuphiini (Thalpius), plus three Brachininae as outgroups. These three tribes form the "Dryptitae", within which various relationships of Ildobates had been proposed. The analyses of the data matrix using parsimony (with equally weighted and reweighted characters) and Bayesian posterior probabilities all support the monophyly of the three tribes in "Dryptitae", as well as a closest relationship of Ildobates with Thalpius to the exclusion of Desera plus Galerita. This confirms the previous inclusion of Ildobates among the Zuphiini, and corroborates current taxonomic classifications based on morphological criteria. © Entomologica Fennica.