Abstract

GARCIA-PARIS, Mario; PINANGO, Celeigher; MANZANILLA, Jesús  and  ZALDIVAR-RIVERON, Alejandro. On the presence of Cissites maculata (Coleoptera: Meloidae) in Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2013, vol.84, n.3, pp.855-864. ISSN 2007-8706.  https://doi.org/10.7550/rmb.33905.

The presumed sympatry and validity of morphological diagnostic characters used to separate the only 2 described species of Cissites (Coleoptera: Meloidae), C. maculata (Swederus) and C. auriculata Champion, are assessed. Morphological diagnostic features between both species (head shape, antennae length, thorax shape, first metatarsal segment length, and elytral coloration) are constant over their entire geographic distribution, without the existence of intermediate morphs. Regional sympatry between these species was found in central Mexico, confirming the presence of C. maculata in Central America and Mexico, whereas C. auriculata, widely distributed in Central America, has not colonized South America. Sequences of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase were obtained from single Mexican specimens of each species. Divergence between the sequences is considerably high (14.5%), suggesting separation of both species as a result of an ancient cladogenetic event.

Keywords : Nemognathinae; Mexico; South America; sympatry; COI.

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