A phylogenetic and taxonomic assessment of Afrotropical Micracidini (Coleoptera, Scolytinae) reveals a strong diversifying role for Madagascar
Authors: Jordal Bjarte H. 
Published: February 2021

Afrotropical bark beetle genera in the tribe Micracidini are revised and an identification key provided. The new classification is based on phylogenetic analyses of five molecular markers (COI, EF-1α, 28S, PABP1, CAD) in combination with morphological characters. Five new genera are erected and one genus synonymized, resulting in a total of 11 valid genera:LanurgusEggers, 1920,TraglostusSchedl, 1938,PseudomicracisEggers, 1920 (=SaurotocisWood, 1984syn. nov.),PhloeocurusWood, 1984,AfromicracisSchedl, 1959,DendrochilusSchedl, 1959,NeomicracisJordalgen. nov.,LeiomicracisJordalgen. nov.,DiplotrichusJordalgen. nov.,PseudolanurgusJordalgen. nov.,MicrolanurgusJordalgen. nov.The following new species are described to be included in the new genera:Leiomicracis aureaJordalsp. nov.,Neomicracis squamigeraJordalsp. nov., both from Tanzania, andMicrolanurgus bicolorJordalsp. nov.andMicrolanurgus aterJordalsp. nov., from Madagascar. The following new synonyms and new combinations are proposed:Afromicracis dubius(Schedl, 1950) (=Afromicracis angolensisSchedl, 1962syn. nov.),Afromicacis elongatulus(Schedl, 1977)comb. nov.,Afromicracis jasminiae(Schedl 1957)comb. nov.(=Dendrochilus mikaniaeSchedl 1957syn. nov.),Afromicracis robustus(Schedl 1957)comb. nov.(=Dendrochilus arundinariusSchedl 1957syn. nov., =Hypothenemus bambusaeBrowne, 1970syn. nov., =Dendrochilus filumSchedl, 1977syn. nov.) (all fromDendrochilus),Afromicracis setifer(Schedl 1957)comb. nov.(Mimiocurus),Lanurgus longipilis(Schedl, 1958)comb. nov.,Lanurgus pubescens(Schedl, 1961)comb. nov.(both fromTraglostus),Diplotrichus catenatus(Schedl, 1953)comb. nov.,Diplotrichus elongatus(Schedl, 1950)comb. nov.,Diplotrichus euphorbia(Schedl, 1961)comb. nov.,Diplotrichus gracilis(Schedl, 1958)comb. nov.,Diplotrichus minor(Schedl, 1950)comb. nov(=Lanurgus frontalisSchedl, 1953syn. Nov.),Diplotrichus obesus(Schedl, 1953)comb. nov.,Diplotrichus pygmaeus(Schedl, 1965)comb. nov.,Diplotrichus rugosipes(Schedl, 1961)comb. nov.,Diplotrichus subdepressus(Schedl, 1965)comb. nov.,Diplotrichus widdringtoniae(Schedl, 1962)comb. nov.(all fromLanurgus),Diplotrichus ignotus(Schedl, 1965)comb. nov.(Pseudomicracis),Pseudolanurgus harunganae(Schedl, 1961)comb. nov.(=Lanurgus cribrellusSchedl, 1965syn. nov.),Pseudolanurgus bugekeae(Schedl, 1957)comb. nov.(both fromPseudomicracis),Pseudolanurgus minutissimus(Schedl, 1961)comb. nov.(Lanurgus),Pseudomicracis dispar(Schedl, 1961)comb. nov.,Pseudomicracis tomicoides(Schedl, 1961)comb. nov.(both fromSaurotocis). The following taxa were transferred to genera in other tribes:Acanthotomicus intermedius(Schedl, 1977)comb. nov.,Xylocleptes villiersi(Lepesme, 1942)comb. nov.(both fromDendrochilus);Eidophelus agnathus(Schedl, 1942)comb. nov., andEidophelus ciliatipennis(Schedl, 1979)comb. nov.(all fromMiocryphalus). The following five species were included inKarlseniusgen. nov.(Trypophloeini):Karlsenius klainedoxae(Schedl, 1957)comb. nov.,Karlsenius nitidum(Schedl, 1965)comb. nov.,Karlsenius nigrinum(Schedl, 1957)comb. nov., andKarlsenius attenuatus(Eggers, 1935)comb. nov.(fromMiocryphalus), andKarlsenius ghanaensis(Schedl, 1977)comb. nov.(fromEidophelus). A time-tree and biogeographical analysis suggested that Madagascar was colonized only once in Micracidini, from East Africa soon after the origin of the tribe in late Cretaceous. Multiple re-colonisations from Madagascar to the mainland have contributed to further diversification of a tribe which is otherwise highly restricted in geographical distribution.