Michael S. Caterino, mcaterino@sbnature2.org, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 2559 Puesta del Sol Rd, Santa Barbara, CA and Alexey K. Tishechkin, atishe1@lsu.edu, Louisiana State University, Department of Entomology, 404 Life Science Building, Baton Rouge, LA.
Using DNA sequences of nuclear ribosomal (18S) and mitochondrial (cytochrome oxidase I) genes, we identify, for the first time, larvae representing several lineages of hetaeriine Histeridae. Species in this subfamily occur as obligate associates of social insect colonies, particularly those of neotropical army ants. Collections from the vicinity of Eciton burchelli bivouacs produced specimens, of which we identify one confidently as Paratropinus, one less confidently as Euxenister, and a third only as close to a small group of genera. In addition to identifying the larvae, phylogenetic trees for 18S and COI, for over 20 hetaeriine taxa, are compared with each other and with a previous hypothesis of relationships in the subfamily.
Species 1: Coleoptera Histeridae
Paratropinus scalptusSpecies 2: Coleoptera Histeridae
Euxenister Keywords: DNA barcoding, larvae
