When Morphology Meets Molecules: Barcoding Confirms an Ancient Separation of Phytoecia tigrina subspecies (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae)

The molecular analysis of Phytoecia tigrina revealed substantial genetic differentiation (5.8–7.0 %) between populations on opposite sides of the Carpathian Arc. Two distinct haplogroups were identified: PhtZk (western, haplotype PhtZk-1) and PhtPo (eastern, haplotypes PhtPo-1 and PhtPo-2),...

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Bibliographic Details
Date:2025
Main Author: Zamoroka, A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Publishing House "Akademperiodyka" of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine 2025
Online Access:https://ojs.akademperiodyka.org.ua/index.php/Zoodiversity/article/view/786
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Journal Title:Zoodiversity

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Zoodiversity
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Summary:The molecular analysis of Phytoecia tigrina revealed substantial genetic differentiation (5.8–7.0 %) between populations on opposite sides of the Carpathian Arc. Two distinct haplogroups were identified: PhtZk (western, haplotype PhtZk-1) and PhtPo (eastern, haplotypes PhtPo-1 and PhtPo-2), including the type locality of Phytoecia tigrina podillica Zamoroka, Ruicănescu& Manci, 2024. These findings support the division of Ph. tigrina into two subspecies. The pronounced genetic divergence suggests that the separation between Ph. tigrina tigrina and Ph. tigrina podillica, occurred much earlier than previously assumed. Moreover, the coexistence of two highly distinct haplotypes within Ph. tigrina podillica populations suggests episodes of rapid range expansions and contractions during the Late Pleistocene and Holocene. Overall, our results provide valuable insights into the evolutionary processes driving intraspecific diversification in Ph. tigrina in response to cyclical climate fluctuations.