Preliminary phylogeny of the South American xyleborine genera Coptoborus and Theoborus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

Bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are often overlooked because of their minute size and cryptic life histories. However, their association with dead and dying host trees make them important decomposers in forest ecosystems worldwide. Ambrosia beetles are bark beetles that live in association with fungi and thus provide additional recycling services. Occasionally, these fungi are highly pathogenic to live trees, making a handful of ambrosia beetles destructive pests and potentially devastating invaders to novel regions. The xyleborine fauna of South America is relative unknown and could harbor potential threatens to the health of American agricultural, nursery and forest trees. Indeed, Coptoborus ochromactonus Smith and Cognato was recently discovered as a pest to Balsa tees in Ecuador. To address this risk and identify undescribed species, we conducted a survey of the species diversity of the Coptoborus and closely related Theoborus. We identified potentially new species and reconstructed a phylogeny of 10 to18 species using DNA from mitochondrial and nuclear loci.