Molecular phylogeny of the aleocharine tribe Athetini Casey, 1910
(Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae)
This project emerged as a natural development of my taxonomic revisions of the tribe Athetini Casey, 1910. Hallvard Elven, a PhD student at the Natural History Museum, is the main driving force of this project.
The project includes the following goals:
- testing monophyly of the tribe Athetini
- identifying phylogenetic relations between Athetini and other tribes of so called "higher" Aleocharines (Aleocharini, Falagriini, Homalotini, Hoplandriini, Lomechusini, Myllaenini, Oxypodini and Placusini)
- testing monophyly of the subtribes currently recognized within Athetini
- identifiying phylogenetic relations between the main lineages within Athetini
- testing monophyly of the large genus Atheta Thomson, 1858 and its subgenera
The first series of analyses included 81 species and addressed many of the questions listed in the above goals. A manuscript describing the main results is in preparation.
As the next steps, we will study in detail relations between Athetini and Lomechusini, as well as some subgenera within the genus Atheta.
To increase taxon sampling in further analyses, we need to obtain additional specimens preserved in 96% ethanol. We will be very grateful for any help. If you are willing to help, please see instructions on how to handle specimens to ensure that their DNA is not degraded.
Below, we provide a list of taxa already available and an additional list of species particularly important for our project.
A list of available species of Athetini and Lomechisini
| genus | subgenus | species | author, year |
| Acrotona | aterrima | (Gravenhorst, 1802) | |
| Acrotona | convergens | (A. Strand, 1958) | |
| Acrotona | parvula | (Mannerheim, 1830) | |
| Acrotona | pygmaea | (Gravenhorst, 1802) | |
| Acrotona | sp. prope assecla | (Casey, 1910) | |
| Acrotona | sp. prope austiniana | (Casey, 1910) | |
| Actocharina | leptotyphloides | (Bernhauer, 1907) | |
| Adota | gnypetoides | (Casey, 1910) | |
| Alevonota | egregia | (Rye, 1876) | |
| Alevonota | rufotestacea | (Kraatz, 1856) | |
| Alianta | incana | (Erichson, 1839) | |
| Aloconota | cambrica | (Wollaston, 1855) | |
| Aloconota | currax | (Kraatz, 1856) | |
| Aloconota | gregaria | (Erichson, 1839) | |
| Alpinia | sp. prope alpicola | (Miller, 1859) | |
| Amidobia | talpa | (Heer, 1841) | |
| Amischa | analis | (Gravenhorst, 1802) | |
| Amischa | decipiens | (Sharp, 1869) | |
| Amischa | nigrofusca | (Stephens, 1832) | |
| Atheta | Alaobia | gagatina | (Baudi di Selve, 1848) |
| Atheta | Alaobia | klagesi | Bernhauer, 1909 |
| Atheta | Alaobia | membranata | G. Benick, 1974 |
| Atheta | Alaobia | pallidicornis | (Thomson, 1856) |
| Atheta | Alaobia | scapularis | (C.R. Sahlberg, 1831) |
| Atheta | Alaobia | sodalis | (Erichson, 1837) |
| Atheta | Alaobia | trinotata | (Kraatz, 1856) |
| Atheta | Anopleta | kochi | Roubal, 1937 |
| Atheta | Badura | cauta | (Erichson, 1837) |
| Atheta | Badura | ischnocera | Thomson, 1870 |
| Atheta | Badura | macrocera | (Thomson, 1856) |
| Atheta | Ceritaxa | pervagata | G. Benick, 1974 |
| Atheta | Chaetida | longicormis | (Gravenhorts, 1802) |
| Atheta | crassicornis-group | brittaniae | Bernhauer & Scheerpeltz, 1926 |
| Atheta | crassicornis-group | crassicornis | (Fabricius, 1793) |
| Atheta | crassicornis-group | modesta | (Melsheimer, 1844) |
| Atheta | Datomicra | celata | (Erichson, 1837) |
| Atheta | Datomicra | dadopora | Thomson, 1867 |
| Atheta | Datomicra | sordidula | (Erichson, 1837) |
| Atheta | Dilacra | luteipes | (Erichson, 1837) |
| Atheta | Dimetrota | aeneipennis | (Thomson, 1856) |
| Atheta | Dimetrota | atramentaria | (Gyllenhal, 1810) |
| Atheta | Dimetrota | cinnamoptera | (Thomson, 1856) |
| Atheta | Dimetrota | hampshirensis | Bernhauer, 1909 |
| Atheta | Dimetrota | nigripes | (Thomson, 1856) |
| Atheta | Dimetrota | setigera | (Sharp, 1869) |
| Atheta | Dralica | vilis | (Erichson, 1837) |
| Atheta | lippa-group | sp. | |
| Atheta | basicornis-group | basicornis | (Mulsant & Rey, 1852) |
| Atheta | Microdota | ganglbaueri | Brundin, 1948 |
| Atheta | Microdota | subtilis | (W. Scriba, 1866) |
| Atheta | Mycetota | laticollis | (Stephens, 1832) |
| Atheta | Mycetota | pasadenae | Bernhauer, 1906 |
| Atheta | Oreostiba | bosnica | Ganglbauer, 1895 |
| Atheta | Oxypodera | kenyamontis | Pace, 1986 |
| Atheta | Parameotica | laticeps | (Thomson, 1856) |
| Atheta | ravilla-group | ravilla | (Erichson, 1839) |
| Atheta | s. str. | aeneicollis | (Sharp, 1869) |
| Atheta | s. str. | aquatica | (Thomson, 1852) |
| Atheta | s. str. | contristata | (Kraatz, 1856) |
| Atheta | s. str. | ebenina | Mulsant & Rey, 1873 |
| Atheta | s. str. | euryptera | (Stephens, 1832) |
| Atheta | s. str. | graminicola | (Gravenhorst, 1806) |
| Atheta | Tetropla | liturata | (Stephens, 1832) |
| Atheta | Tetropla | nigritula | (Gravenhorst, 1802) |
| Atheta | Thinobaena | vestita | (Gravenhorst, 1806) |
| Atheta | vaga-group | vaga | (Heer, 1839) |
| Atheta | Xenota | myrmecobia | (Kraatz, 1856) |
| Boreophilia | hyperborea | (Brundin, 1940) | |
| Boreophilia | islandica / eremita | (Kraatz, 1857) / (Rye, 1866) | |
| Boreostiba | sp. | ||
| Brundinia | meridionalis | (Mulsant & Rey, 1853) | |
| Callicerus | obscurus | Gravenhorst, 1802 | |
| Dadobia | immersa | (Erichson, 1837) | |
| Dalotia | coriaria | (Kraatz, 1856) | |
| Dinaraea | aequata | (Erichson, 1837) | |
| Discerota | torrentum | (Kiesenwetter, 1850) | |
| Dochmonota | clancula | (Erichson, 1837) | |
| Drusilla | canaliculata | (Fabricius, 1787) | |
| Earota | dentata | (Bernhauer, 1906) | |
| Earota | reyi | (Kiesenwetter, 1850) | |
| Ecitophya | gracillima | Mann, 1925 | |
| Geostiba | s. str. | circellaris | (Gravenhorst, 1806) |
| Geostiba | Sibiota | nubigena | Lohse & Smetana, 1988 |
| Geostiba | Sibiota | bicarinata | Lohse & Smetana, 1988 |
| Hydrosmecta | eximia | (Sharp, 1869) | |
| Hydrosmecta | gracilicornis | (Erichson, 1839) | |
| Hydrosmecta | valdieriana | (Scheerpeltz, 1944) | |
| Liogluta | granigera | (Kiesenwetter, 1850) | |
| Liogluta | microptera | Thomson, 1867 | |
| Liogluta | nigropolita | (Bernhauer, 1907) | |
| Lypoglossa | lateralis | (Mannerheim, 1830) | |
| Lyprocorrhe | anceps | (Erichson, 1837) | |
| Meronera | venustula | (Erichson, 1839) | |
| Micratheta | caudex | (Casey, 1910) | |
| Mocyta | fungi | (Gravenhorst, 1806) | |
| Mocyta | scopula | (Casey, 1893) | |
| Myrmedonota | sp. | ||
| Nehemitropia | lividipennis | (Mannerheim, 1830) | |
| Pachnida | nigella | (Erichson, 1874) | |
| Pella | caliginosa | (Casey, 1893) | |
| Pella | humeralis | (Gravenhorst, 1806) | |
| Philhygra | debilis | (Erichson, 1837) | |
| Philhygra | elongatula | (Gravenhorst, 1802) | |
| Philhygra | fallaciosa | (Sharp, 1869) | |
| Philhygra | gyllenhalii | (Thomson, 1856) | |
| Philhygra | hygrotopora | (Kraatz, 1856) | |
| Philhygra | iterans | (Casey, 1910) | |
| Philhygra | malleus | (Joy, 1913) | |
| Philhygra | palustris | (Kiesenwetter, 1844) | |
| Philhygra | rugulosa | (Heer, 1839) | |
| Philhygra | tmolosensis | (Bernhauer, 1940) | |
| Plataraea | brunnea | (Fabricius, 1798) | |
| Pontomalota | opaca | (LeConte, 1863) | |
| Psammostiba | kenaii | Gusarov, 2003 | |
| Sableta | infulata | Casey, 1910 | |
| Schistoglossa | gemina | (Erichson, 1837) | |
| Schistoglossa | viduata | (Erichson, 1837) | |
| Stethusa | dichroa | (Gravenhorst, 1802) | |
| Stethusa | spuriella | (Casey, 1910) | |
| Strigota | ambigua | (Erichson, 1839) | |
| Tarphiota | fucicola | (Mäklin in Mannerhiem, 1852) | |
| Tarphiota | geniculata | (Mäklin in Mannerhiem, 1852) | |
| Taxicera | deplanata | (Gravenhorst, 1802) | |
| Taxicera | truncata | (Eppelsheim, 1875) | |
| Thamiaraea | americana | Bernhauer, 1907 | |
| Thamiaraea | brittoni | (Casey, 1911) | |
| Thamiaraea | cinnamomea | (Gravenhorst, 1802) | |
| Tomoglossa | ornatella | (Casey, 1910) | |
| Trichiusa | immigrata | Lohse, 1984 | |
| Trichiusa | ursina | Notman, 1920 |
Some additional species not yet on the above list were obtained recently during our own field work and provided by our colleagues. The above list will be periodically updated. The list below includes taxa we are particularly desperate to get. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
A list of genera and species of Athetini particularly needed for future studies
| genus | subgenus | species | author, year | Why do we need it? |
| Atheta | Anopleta | corvina | (Thomson, 1856) | The type species of the subgenus Anopleta Mulsant & Rey, 1874 |
| Atheta | Atheta s. str. sensu Smetana 2004 | any species we are missing | To test monophily of Atheta s. str. | |
| Atheta | Bessobia | monticola | (Thomson, 1852) | The type species of the subgenus Bessobia Thomson, 1858 |
| Atheta | Ceritaxa | dilaticornis | (Kraatz, 1856) | The type species of the subgenus Ceritaxa Mulsant & Rey, 1873 |
| Atheta | Dimetrota | cadaverina | (Brisout de Barneville, 1860) | The type species of the type genus of the family-group name Dimetrotina Seevers, 1978 |
| Atheta | Dimetrota | any species we are missing | To test monophily of Dimetrota | |
| Atheta | Microdota | amicula | (Stephens, 1832) | The type species of the subgenus Microdota Mulsant & Rey, 1873 |
| Atheta | Microdota | any species we are missing | To test monophily of Microdota | |
| Atheta | Pachyateta | cribrata | (Kraatz, 1856) | To test monophily of Pachyatheta |
| Atheta | Pachyateta | mortuorum | Thomson, 1867 | To test monophily of Pachyatheta |
| Atheta | Rhagocneme | dwinensis | Poppius, 1908 | To clarify phylogenetic position of Rhagocneme |
| Atheta | Traumoecia | picipes | (Thomson, 1856) | To clarify phylogenetic position of Traumoecia |
| Atheta | Trochanterella | cribripennis | J.Sahlberg, 1890 | To clarify phylogenetic position of Trochanterella |
| Boreostiba | sibirica | (Maeklin, 1880) | The type species of Boreostiba Lohse, 1990 | |
| Coprothassa | melanaria | (Mannerheim, 1830) | The type species of the genus Coprothassa Thomson, 1859 (Coprothassa series of Yosii & Sawada, 1976) | |
| Dinaraea | arcana | (Erichson, 1839) | We need additional species of this genus | |
| Dinaraea | linearis | (Gravenhorst, 1802) | We need additional species of this genus | |
| Dochmonota | rudiventris | (Eppelsheim, 1886) | We need additional species of this genus | |
| Emmelostiba | any species | We lack this genus | ||
| Enalodroma | hepatica | (Erichson, 1839) | We lack this genus | |
| Geostiba | any species we are missing | We need additional species of this genus | ||
| Hydrosmecta | longula | (Heer, 1839) | The type species of the type genus of the family-group name Hydrosmectina Muona, 1979 (unavailable name) | |
| Lundbergia | trybomi | (J.Sahlberg, 1880) | We lack this genus | |
| Neohilara | subterranea | (Mulsant & Rey, 1853) | We lack this genus | |
| Ousipalia | caesula | (Erichson, 1839) | We lack this genus | |
| Paranopleta | any species | We lack this genus | ||
| Pelioptera | micans | (Kraatz, 1857) | We lack this genus | |
| Pelioptera | any species | We lack this genus | ||
| Platyola | any species | We lack this genus | ||
| Pseudosemiris | any species | We lack this genus | ||
| Pycnota | paradoxa | (Mulsant & Rey, 1861) | We lack this genus | |
| Schistogenia | crenicollis | Kraatz, 1857 | The type species of the type genus of the family-group name Schistogeniina Fenyes, 1918 | |
| Schistogenia | any species | The type genus of the family-group name Schistogeniina Fenyes, 1918 | ||
| Taxicera | perfoliata | Mulsant & Rey, 1873 | The type species of the type genus of the family-group name Taxicerina Lohse, 1989 | |
| Thecturota | any species | We lack this genus | ||
| Trichomicra | sahlbergiana | (Bernhauer, 1910) | The type species of the type genus of the family-group name Trichomicrina Muona, 1979 | |
| Tropimenelytron | any species | We lack this genus |
Last updated: August 20, 2011