DOI: 10.5061/dryad.hdr7sqvst
title: Data from: Complex population genetic structure of the bark beetle predator Thanasimus formicarius L. (Coleoptera: Cleridae) across its European range

description: Thanasimus formicarius L. (Coleoptera: Cleridae) is an important bark
 beetle predator and can reduce bark beetle population densities of some of
 the most severe forest pests in Europe. We analysed the population
 genetics and phylogeography of the ant beetle T. formicarius across its
 European range, using mitochondrial COI data from 187 individuals sampled
 from 23 locations. Our extensive sampling from the Fennoscandian to the
 Mediterranean region and from Iberia to the Middle East provides insights
 into the genetic structure of the species. A ~ 650 bp fragment of the
 mitochondrial COI gene was PCR-amplified and the PCR products with the
 highest DNA concentrations were Sanger-sequenced. We performed
 haplotype analysis, calculated haplotype and nucleotide diversities,
 constructed a minimum spanning network of haplotypes, and performed an
 AMOVA. Moreover, the relationship among haplotypes was reconstructed using
 the Neighbour Joining and the Maximum Likelihood method, using a COI
 sequence of the closely related species Thanasimus femoralis as an
 outgroup. We found a high genetic diversity, revealing 119 haplotypes
 across the sampling area. Two major clades, an Atlantic and a
 Contintental, were identified, suggesting the presence of at least two
 glacial refugia during the last ice ages. An isolated population was
 discovered on the island of Corsica, suggesting that a limited number of
 individuals, probably from mainland France, may have colonised Corsica and
 a founder effect occurred. These findings improve our understanding of the
 recent evolutionary history of T. formicarius, which has been shaped by
 Pleistocene events and certain species-specific life-history
 traits. 
description: # Complex population genetic structure of the bark beetle predator
 *Thanasimus formicarius* across its European range
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.hdr7sqvst](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.hdr7sqvst) ## Description of the data and file structure We analysed the population genetics and phylogeography of the ant beetle *Thanasimus formicarius* L. (Coleoptera: Cleridae) across its European range, using mitochondrial COI data (PCR amplified with the primers LCO and HCO) from 187 individuals sampled from 23 locations. *Thanasimus formicarius* is an important bark beetle predator and can reduce bark beetle population densities of some of the most severe forest pests in Europe. We found a high genetic diversity, revealing 119 haplotypes across the sampling range. We performed haplotype analysis, calculated haplotype and nucleotide diversity, constructed a minimum spanning network of haplotypes, and performed an AMOVA. Moreover, the relationship among haplotypes was reconstructed using the Neighbour Joining and the Maximum Likelihood method, using a COI sequence of the closely related species *Thanasimus femoralis* as an outgroup.  The dataset includes: 1. Haplotype sequences are provided as a text file (HaplotypeSequences_AFE(2024)5012.txt) 2. The R script used for sequence alignment, haplotype designation and map plotting is also provided as a text file (RScript_AFE(2024)5012.txt) 3. A DnaSP haplotype file in Nexus format is included. (HaplotypeFIle_AFE(2024)5012.nex) ### Files and variables ##### File: HaplotypeSequences\_AFE(2024)5012.txt **Description:** This file contains all *T. formicarius* haplotype sequences (119) discovered in this study. ##### File: HaplotypeFile\_AFE(2024)5012.nex **Description:** Haplotype data file created in DnaSP v6, in Nexus format, further analysis in POPART 3 possible. ##### File: RScript\_AFE(2014)5012.txt **Description:** R code for estimation of haplotypes and haplotype distribution of *T. formicarius* across its European range. **Code/software** Haplotypes and haplotype distibution of *T. formicarius* across its European range were estimated in R Studio 2023.09.1 using the packages 'haplotypes'. Maps were plotted in R Studio 2023.09.1, using the packages 'rnaturalearth' and 'ggplot2'.