Allopatric speciation in the flightless Phoberus capensis (Coleoptera: Trogidae) group, with description of two new species
- Authors: Strümpher, Werner P , Sole, Catherine L , Villet, Martin H , Scholtz, Clarke H
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442730 , vital:74028 , ISBN , https://brill.com/view/journals/ise/47/2/article-p149_4.xml
- Description: The name Phoberus capensis (Scholtz) is applied to a small flightless, keratinophagous beetle endemic to the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa. Its gross distribution stretches from roughly 1000 km from the Cederberg (32°24’22” S, 19°04’50” E) to Grahamstown (33°20’07” S, 26°32’50” E). The populations are spatially discrete, restricted to relict forests of the southern Cape and disjunct high montane refugia of the Cape Fold Mountains. We test the hypothesis that there is more than one distinct species nested within the name P . capensis . Phylogenetic relationships among populations were inferred using molecular sequence data. The results support three distinct evolutionary lineages, which were also supported by morphological characters. Divergence time estimates suggest Pliocene-Pleistocene diversification. Based on these results, it is suggested that the P. capensis lineage experienced climatically-driven allopatric speciation with sheltered Afrotemperate forests and high mountain peaks serving as important refugia in response to climatic ameliorations. The P. capensis complex thus represents a speciation process in which flight-restricted populations evolved in close allopatry, possibly as recently as the Pleistocene. Two divergent and geographically distinct lineages are described as novel species: The new species, P . disjunctus sp. n. and P . herminae sp. n., are illustrated by photographs of habitus and male aedeagi.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Overview and revision of the extant genera and subgenera of Trogidae (Coleoptera Scarabaeoidea).
- Authors: Strümpher, Werner P , Villet, Martin H , Sole, Catherine L , Scholtz, Clarke H
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442743 , vital:74029 , ISBN , https://brill.com/view/journals/ise/47/1/article-p53_4.xml
- Description: Extant genera and subgenera of the Trogidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) are reviewed. Contemporary classifications of this family have been based exclusively on morphological characters. The first molecular phylogeny for the family recently provided strong support for the relationships between morphologically defined genera and subgenera. On the basis of morphological, molecular and biogeographical evidence, certain taxonomic changes to the genus-level classification of the family are now proposed. The family is confirmed as consisting of two subfamilies, Omorginae Nikolajev and Troginae MacLeay, the former with two genera, Omorgus Erichson and Polynoncus Burmeister, and the latter with two genera, Trox Fabricius and Phoberus MacLeay stat. rev. Phoberus is restored to generic rank to include all Afrotropical (including Madagascan endemic) species; Afromorgus is confirmed at subgeneric rank within the genus Omorgus ; and the monotypic Madagascan genus Madagatrox syn. n. is synonymised with Phoberus. The current synonymies of Pseudotrox Robinson (with Trox ), Chesas Burmeister, Lagopelus Burmeister and Megalotrox Preudhomme de Borre (all with Omorgus ) are all accepted to avoid creating speculative synonyms before definitive phylogenetic evidence is available.
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- Date Issued: 2016
The role of entomopathogenic fungi in the control of citrus pests in South Africa: cause for optimism
- Authors: Coombes, Candice A , Chartier-Fizgerald, Veronique C , Wiblin, Danielle , Dames, Joanna F , Hill, Martin P , Moore, Sean D
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/453480 , vital:75257 , ISBN 978-1-83768-091-7 , https://iobc-wprs.org/product/the-role-of-entomopathogenic-fungi-in-the-control-of-citrus-pests-in-south-africa-cause-for-optimism/
- Description: Citrus is a highly productive crop in South Africa, but it is damaged by a number of pests that result in yield loss and have the potential to limit market access. Maximum residue limits (MRLs) imposed by importing countries have driven the need for alternative control technologies, including the use of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF). Bioprospecting in citrus orchards and seven years of bioassay trials identified Beauveria bassiana G Ar 17 B3 and Metarhizium anisopliae G 11 3 L6 and FCM Ar 23 B3 as the most virulent fungal isolates. Preliminary trials with these three fungi against the arboreal pests, California red scale, Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell), citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri (Risso) and citrus thrips, Scirtothrips aurantii Faure, have been promising. False codling moth (FCM), Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) is the most important citrus pest in South Africa and while considerable research has been conducted on controlling the insect on the tree, the soil borne stages of this insect have largely been ignored. After laboratory bioassays, the three fungal isolates were taken to field trials. All three isolates persisted for at least six months after application to the soil. A large scale field trial, showed that although all three isolates reduced FCM infestation, isolate B. bassiana G Ar 17 B3 performed best, recording a consistent 80% reduction in FCM infestation throughout the trial period. The results of nearly 10 years of research on the potential of EPFs in the control of citrus pests in South Africa are certainly cause for optimism.
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- Date Issued: 2016