Research Article |
Corresponding author: Zhonghua Wei ( wzh1164@126.com ) Academic editor: Warren Steiner
© 2023 Zhonghua Wei, Guodong Ren.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Wei Z, Ren G (2023) Two new species of the genus Laena (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Lagriinae) from northern Sichuan in China based on morphological and molecular data. ZooKeys 1173: 71-83. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1173.103125
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In this study, the Laena species from northern Sichuan Province were reviewed using a combination of molecular and morphological datasets. Three molecular methods for species delimitation were firstly used in the genus Laena to explore species boundaries. The results show that the number of morphospecies and putative species using Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD) is consistent. Based on the results, two new species are described and illustrated: Laena mounigouica sp. nov. and Laena dentithoraxa sp. nov. New materials and distribution of 10 Laena species are also provided in this study. This work also provides valuable molecular data for species identification and phylogenetic analyses of the genus Laena and subfamily Lagriinae.
Darkling beetles, Laena, Laenini, molecular species delimitation, new taxa, taxonomy
The tribe Laenini Seidlitz, 1896 includes 13 genera distributed in Palaearctic, Oriental, Afrotropical, and Neotropical regions (
In China, the Hengduan Mountains region has the highest Laena species richness based on the previous reports (
In this study, all the specimens were collected from northern Sichuan Province of China in July and August 2022. They are preserved in 95% alcohol at −24 °C for further use and deposited in the specimen collection of
China West Normal University, Nanchong, China (CWNU).
These specimens were examined using an Olympus SZX10 microscope. The figures were taken with a Canon EOS 9D Mark III camera connected to a Laowa FF 25 mm F2.8 Ultra Macro 2.5–5× lens and edited in Photoshop CC 2019. Although a key to separate Laena species from Sichuan Province was provided by
All the specimens were collected by sifting the litter of forests in summer. Whole genomic DNA of 25 Laena and three Hypolaenopsis individuals was extracted from leg and thorax muscle tissues using the Ezup Column Animal Genomic DNA Purification Kit (Shanghai, China) following the manufacturer’s instructions. All polymerase chain reactions (PCR) were conducted using Trident 960 thermal cycler (Heal Force, Shanghai, China) under the following conditions: initial denaturation for 4 min at 94 °C, 35 cycles of 1 min at 94 °C, 1 min at 72 °C, and a final extension at 72 °C for 8 min. The bidirectional sequencing was conducted by Sangon Biotech Co. Ltd (Shanghai, China). The detailed information of all samples is provided in Suppl. material
The newly generated sequences were checked and corrected using SeqMan v. 7.1.0 and were edited using BioEdit v. 7.1.11 (
To explore the boundaries of Laena species, three methods were used to determine the molecular species delineation. The online tools Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD) and Assemble Species by Automatic Partitioning (ASAP) (
In this study, 28 new sequences of 13 Laena species and three Hypolaenopsis species from northern Sichuan were generated. The best-fit model is GTR+F+I+G4 chosen according to Bayesian Information Criterion. The ML tree suggested that all morphological species are monophyletic, with different bootstrap values varied from 97 to 100 (Fig.
Tribe Laenini Seidlitz, 1895
Genus Laena Dejean, 1821
China, Sichuan Province, Songpan County, Mounigou.
Holotype : ♂, China, Sichuan, Songpan County, Mounigou, Tuguanzhai, elev. 2978 m, 2022.VII.21, Zhonghua Wei leg., CWNU. Paratype: 2♂2♀, the same data of holotype, CWNU.
1♂1♀ (in ethanol), China, Sichuan, Songpan County, Mounigou, Tuguanzhai, elev. 2978 m, 2022.VII.21, Zhonghua Wei leg., CWNU.
This is the second species from Mounigou in Songpan County. Laena langmusica Schawaller, 2001 was recorded from Zhaga Waterfall in Mounigou by
Male. Body length 4.0–4.3 mm, width 1.4–1.6 mm. Body (Fig.
Head trapezoidal, cranial punctate contradicts smooth, with dense, large punctation bearing dense, short setae. Genae distinctly raised, surface without punctures in apical part. Eyes ovate, not reduced, prominent. Epistome nearly trapezoidal, anterior margin weakly emarginated; surface slightly convex, with shallow, large punctures, each lateral part with three longer setae. Fronto-clypeal suture distinct, not depressed, straight at middle. Frons even. Vertex weakly convex at middle, posterior-lateral part of surface each with one longer seta. Antennae moderate, reaching basal margin of pronotum when directed backwards, antennomeres I distinct thicker than II–VIII, antennomere III approximately 1.5 times as long as antennomere II, relative ratio of the length of antennomeres II–XI as follows: 0.65:0.98:0.73:0.64:0.72:0.72:0.78:0.90:1.03:1.68.
Pronotum
(Fig.
Elytra elongate-oval, widest at middle, approximately 1.6 times as long as wide; lateral sides nearly paralleled in middle; humeral angles rounded. Elytral surface shiny, with rows of punctures without striate; punctures in rows as large as those of pronotum; intervals weakly smooth and glabrous, with very small punctures nearly invisible, interval IX with three setigerous pores bearing longer setae. Elytral apices prolonged in dorsal view, apex obtuse.
Abdomen long ovoid, widest in middle, 1.8 times as long as wide. Surface convex, glabrous, with smaller punctures than those of dorsal surface; posterior part of sternite IV distinctly convex transversely before posterior margin.
Legs
slender, surface shining, with smaller punctures bearing short setae. All femora (Fig.
Aedeagus
(Fig.
All tibiae of female not hooked at inner apex.
China: Sichuan.
The name of this species is based on type locality.
The Laena mounigouica sp. nov. was collected in leaf litter of coniferous forests and mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests from Mounigou, which is the second species found at elevation between 2900–3120 m in this scenic spot.
China, Sichuan Province, Yajiang County, Yizhan.
Holotype : ♂, China, Sichuan, Yajiang Yizhan, elev. 2800 m, 2022.VIII.6, Zhonghua Wei leg., CWNU. Paratype: 2♂2♀, China, Sichuan, Yajiang Yizhan, elev. 2800 m, 2022.VIII.6, Zhonghua Wei leg., CWNU.
1♀, in ethanol, China, Sichuan, Yajiang Yizhan, elev. 2800 m, 2022.VIII.6, Zhonghua Wei leg., CWNU.
This new species should belong to the L. yajiangica species-group: L. yajiangica Schawaller, 2001, L. yulongica Schawaller, 2001, L. bowaica Schawaller, 2001, and L. schuelkei Schawaller, 2001. This new species is similar to L. yajiangica Schawaller, 2001 (Fig.
Male. Body length 8.9–9.1 mm, width 3.0–3.2 mm. Body (Fig.
Head
trapezoidal, cranial surface coarse, with dense, large punctation bearing very sparse, short setae. Genae strongly raised, surface with dense and large punctures including apical part. Eyes ovate, not reduced and prominent. Epistome nearly trapezoidal, anterior margin slightly emarginated, surface with dense, large punctures. Fronto-clypeal suture distinctly depressed. Frons convex at middle, surface with deep longitudinal groove at lateral side. Antennae (Fig.
Pronotum
(Fig.
Elytra
(Fig.
Abdomen long ovoid, 1.8 times as long as wide, widest in middle. Surface convex, with dense and large punctures; posterior part of sternite IV strongly convex along with posterior margin; punctures on sternite IV and V smaller than those of sternite I–III.
Legs
slender, surface coarse, with smaller punctures bearing moderate setae. All femora (Fig.
Aedeagus
(Fig.
These female specimens without significant differences.
China: Sichuan.
The name of this species is based on the pronotum with well-developed teeth on lateral margins.
2♂2♀, in ethanol, China, Sichuan, Heishui, Yangyong, Hade, elev. 2600 m, 2022.VII.26, Zhonghua Wei leg., CWNU.
China: Sichuan.
3♀, China, Sichuan, Litang, Junba, elev. 3050 m, 2022.VIII.7, Zhonghua Wei leg., CWNU.
China: Sichuan.
2♂2♀ (1♂1♀, in ethanol), China, Sichuan, Danba, Bianerxiang, Erwacao Village, elev. 2470 m, 2022.VIII.1, Zhonghua Wei leg., CWNU; 1♀, in ethanol, China, Sichuan, Danba, Dongguzhen, elev. 2360 m, 2022.VIII.2, Zhonghua Wei leg., CWNU; 1♂, in ethanol, China, Sichuan, Danba, Yongxi Village, elev. 2200m, 2022.VIII.2, Zhonghua Wei leg., CWNU.
China: Sichuan.
3♂2♀, China, Sichuan, Songpan, Mounigou, Shangzhai Village, elev. 3070 m, 2022.VII.22, Zhonghua Wei leg., CWNU; 4♂, China, Sichuan, Songpan, Chuanzhusi, Mayi Village, 2022.VII.25, Zhonghua Wei leg., CWNU; 2♂, in ethanol, China, Sichuan, Songpan, Huanglongxiang, Dawan Village, elev. 2920 m, 2022.VII.23, Zhonghua Wei leg., CWNU.
China: Shaanxi, Gansu, Sichuan.
1♂, in ethanol, China, Sichuan, Songpan, Huanglongxiang, Dawancun, elev. 2920 m, 23.VII.2022, Zhonghua Wei leg., CWNU.
China: Sichuan.
2♀ (1♀, in ethanol), China, Sichuan, Yajiang, Waduozhen, elev. 2600 m, 2022.VIII.5, Zhonghua Wei leg., CWNU.
China: Sichuan.
4♂1♀ (2♂, in ethanol), China, Sichuan, 6 KM Eastern Mao County, elev. 1896 m, 2022.VII.20, Zhonghua Wei leg., CWNU.
China: Sichuan.
4♂2♀ (2♂, in ethanol), China, Sichuan, Barkman, Shaerzong, Dazatou Village, elev. 2690 m, 2022.VII.29, Zhonghua Wei leg., CWNU; 1♂, 1♀ (in ethanol), China, Sichuan, Barkman, Suomoxiang, Kanzhulin Village, 2022.VII.27, Zhonghua Wei leg., CWNU; 1♂, China, Sichuan, Yajiang, Waduozhen, elev. 2600 m, 2022.VIII.5, Zhonghua Wei leg., CWNU; 1♀ (in ethanol), China, Sichuan, Jinchuan, Dusongxiang, Dusonggou, elev. 2264 m, 2022.VII.31, Zhonghua Wei leg., CWNU.
China: Sichuan.
2♂1♀, in ethanol, China, Sichuan, Yajiang, Waduozhen, Ridui Village, elev. 3100 m, 2022.VIII.5, Zhonghua Wei leg., CWNU; 3 exs, China, Sichuan, Yajiang, Waduozhen, Ridui Village, elev. 3100 m, 2022.VIII.5, Zhonghua Wei leg., CWNU.
China: Sichuan.
1♂2♀, China, Sichuan, Daofu, Xiatuoxiang, Yiwu Village, 2780 m, 2022.VIII.4, Zhonghua Wei leg., CWNU.
China: Sichuan.
I am sincerely grateful to Dr Xiumin Li and Dr Xinglong Bai (Hebei university, Baoding, China) for their guidance in using the software and collecting specimens.
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
No ethical statement was reported.
This work was funded by the Doctoral Scientific Research Foundation of China West Normal University (20E054).
Conceptualization: GR, ZW. Data curation: ZW. Formal analysis: GR, ZW. Funding acquisition: ZW.
Zhonghua Wei https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7349-9939
Guodong Ren https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5808-9122
All of the data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text or Supplementary Information.
Supplementary information
Data type: multimedia (ZIP file)