Phylogenomics reveals convergence of breeding and feeding habits among the pygmy borers (Scolytinae: Cryphalini)

Bark and ambrosia beetles are dominant components in all forested environments. Curiously, some of the most diverse, speciose and successful groups are not specialists, but feed on an extraordinary range of hosts. There is also a wide diversity breeding habits among the bark beetles. The most extensive phylogenetic analysis of Scolytines to date shows that groups once thought to share their reproductive and dietary habits by descent are independently evolved from distant lineages; Cryptocarenus evolved from within Pityophthorini/Corthylini clade, and Hypothenemus from within Cryphalini. While the effective breeding systems are identical, the mechanisms to achieve it differ, with some genera using haplodiploidy, and others with pseudo-arrhenotoky. The phylogeny also highlights the discordance between the phylogeny and current taxonomy, fueled by convergence of morphological and ecological characters. New phylogenetic information will form the basis of a future reclassification of the Pygmy borers.