Ontogenetic modifications produce similar phenotypes in distantly related click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae)

Abstract

The study analyzes the relationships of click beetles (Elateridae) Paulusiella Lobl, 2007, and Analestesa Leach, 1824 (=Cebriognathus Chobaut, 1899), both incapable of jumping, with soft-bodied habitus, and unknown females. Due to divergent morphology, their positions have been an uncertain issue. We use mitochondrial genomes to test their current placement in Cebrionini (=Cebriognathini) and Elaterinae incertae sedis, respectively. We recover Paulusiella as a sister to Hemiops Laporte, 1838 (Hemiopinae) and Analestesa as one of the serially splitting branches in Cardiophorinae, both with robust support. Paulusiellinae subfam. nov. is proposed for Paulusiella. Analestesa is transferred to Cardiophorinae, and Cebriognathini Paulus, 1981, an earlier synonym of Elaterinae: Cebrionini, is a synonym of Cardiophorinae Candeze, 1859. The click beetles affected by ontogenetic modifications converge to similar forms lacking derived states. As a result, their phylogenetic position cannot be reliably inferred by morphological analyses and needs to be validated by molecular data. Paulusiellinae and Analestesa represent two additional cases of the shift to incomplete sclerotization in elaterids raising the total number to six. The present transfers of extant taxa between subfamilies call for a cautious interpretation of morphology in other soft-bodied groups, including the taxa described from amber deposits.