Lawrence Kirkendall | University of Bergen (original) (raw)

Papers by Lawrence Kirkendall

BioOne sees sustainable scholarly publishing as an inherently collaborative enterprise connecting... more BioOne sees sustainable scholarly publishing as an inherently collaborative enterprise connecting authors, nonprofit publishers, academic institutions, research libraries, and research funders in the common goal of maximizing access to critical research.

BioOne sees sustainable scholarly publishing as an inherently collaborative enterprise connecting... more BioOne sees sustainable scholarly publishing as an inherently collaborative enterprise connecting authors, nonprofit publishers, academic institutions, research libraries, and research funders in the common goal of maximizing access to critical research.

Background: Invasive species can have devastating effects on native ecosystems and therefore impo... more Background: Invasive species can have devastating effects on native ecosystems and therefore impose a significant threat to human welfare. The introduction rate of invasive species has accelerated dramatically in recent times due to human activity (anthropogenic effects), with a steadily growing pool of widespread tramp species. We present an in-depth analysis of four pantropical species of Xyleborus ambrosia beetles (Xyleborus volvulus, Xyleborus perforans, Xyleborus ferrugineus, and Xyleborus affinis) with similar ecology (fungus cultivation in dead wood), reproductive biology (permanent inbreeding) and genetic system (haplodiploidy). The unique combination of reproductive traits and broad host plant usage pre-adapts these beetles for colonizing of new areas. Results: We found that all four species were broadly distributed long before human-assisted dispersal became common, and that the impact of anthropogenic effects varied among the species. For X. volvulus, X. perforans, and X. affinis there was evidence of ancient establishment in numerous regions, but also of abundant recent introductions into previously colonized areas. For X. ferrugineus, we found clear biogeographical structuring of old clades, but little evidence for recent successful introductions.

Hypothenemus eruditus is regarded as the world's most common bark beetle, collected from numerous... more Hypothenemus eruditus is regarded as the world's most common bark beetle, collected from numerous host plants on all forested continents. Previous taxonomic treatments remark that the species is morphologically variable and difficult to identify, but to date, no study has analyzed molecular data to investigate possible cryptic or seemingly cryptic (pseudo-cryptic) diversity in this species. We se-quenced 216 specimens matching or closely resembling the currently accepted description of H. eruditus for a mitochon-drial (COI) and a nuclear marker (28S), and scored six morphological characters. We also compared the morphology of H. eruditus syntypes and type material of 26 synonymized species with the sequenced material. The sequenced material grouped in 21 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) supported by both molecular and morphological data, 17 of which were part of an apparent H. eruditus species complex. Another nine cryptic OTUs, distinguishable only by molecular data, were also included in the complex. Only one of the OTUs revealed a morphological match with the H. eruditus syntypes. The 26 synonymized species were split into 14 tentative morphs, 11 of which did not match the H. eruditus syntypes. We argue that many of our sequenced OTUs deserve species status, and that many species synonymized under H. eruditus should be resurrected.

Annals of the Entomological …, 1983

... MARK DEYRUP AND LAWRENCE R. KIRKENDALL2 Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Laf... more ... MARK DEYRUP AND LAWRENCE R. KIRKENDALL2 Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907 ... the allied genus Conophthorus females initiate galleries in pine cones and often work unaccompanied (Lyons 1956, Ruckes 1958, Kinzer et al. ...

corresponding author Kolařík M., Hulcr J., Kirkendall L.R. (2015): New species of Geosmithia and ... more corresponding author Kolařík M., Hulcr J., Kirkendall L.R. (2015): New species of Geosmithia and Graphium associated with ambrosia beetles in Costa Rica. -Czech Mycol. 67(1): 29-35.

Background: Invasive species can have devastating effects on native ecosystems and therefore impo... more Background: Invasive species can have devastating effects on native ecosystems and therefore impose a significant threat to human welfare. The introduction rate of invasive species has accelerated dramatically in recent times due to human activity (anthropogenic effects), with a steadily growing pool of widespread tramp species. We present an in-depth analysis of four pantropical species of Xyleborus ambrosia beetles (Xyleborus volvulus, Xyleborus perforans, Xyleborus ferrugineus, and Xyleborus affinis) with similar ecology (fungus cultivation in dead wood), reproductive biology (permanent inbreeding) and genetic system (haplodiploidy). The unique combination of reproductive traits and broad host plant usage pre-adapts these beetles for colonizing of new areas. Results: We found that all four species were broadly distributed long before human-assisted dispersal became common, and that the impact of anthropogenic effects varied among the species. For X. volvulus, X. perforans, and X. affinis there was evidence of ancient establishment in numerous regions, but also of abundant recent introductions into previously colonized areas. For X. ferrugineus, we found clear biogeographical structuring of old clades, but little evidence for recent successful introductions.

Comptes Rendus Biologies, 2015

The leopard (Panthera pardus) is heavily persecuted in areas where it predates livestock and thre... more The leopard (Panthera pardus) is heavily persecuted in areas where it predates livestock and threatens human well-being. Attempts to resolve human-leopard conflict typically involve translocating problem animals; however, these interventions are rarely informed by genetic studies and can unintentionally compromise the natural spatial genetic structure and diversity, and possibly the long-term persistence, of the species. No significant genetic discontinuities were definable within the southern African leopard population. Analysis of fine-scale genetic data derived from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA revealed that the primary natural process shaping the spatial genetic structure of the species is isolation-by-distance (IBD). The effective gene dispersal (σ) index can inform leopard translocations and is estimated to be 82km for some South African leopards. The importance of adopting an evidence-based strategy is discussed for supporting the integration of genetic data, spatial planning and social learning institutions so as to promote collaboration between land managers, government agency staff and researchers.

Symbiosis

The most evolutionarily advanced form of symbiosis between wood-decaying fungi and wood-boring be... more The most evolutionarily advanced form of symbiosis between wood-decaying fungi and wood-boring beetles (Coleoptera, Curculionidae: Scolytinae and Platypodinae) is the ambrosial habit, or fungus farming. Here we present a discovery of a new origin of the ambrosia symbiosis in Scolytodes unipunctatus. Feeding on symbiotic fungi and the spatial organization of the gallery system of S. unipunctatus is typical for ambrosia beetles, but not for phylogenetically related phloeophagous species. S. unipunctatus is associated with the fungal genera Raffaelea, Graphium, and Gondwanamyces; the association of the latter with scolytines is documented here for the first time. The fungi were identified using morphological characters and 18S, 28S and ITS regions of rDNA. We report four undescribed fungus species.

Fungal Genet Biol, Aug 1, 2010

Eupagiocerus dentipes Geosmithia eupagioceri Geosmithia microcorthyli Geosmithia rufescens Microc... more Eupagiocerus dentipes Geosmithia eupagioceri Geosmithia microcorthyli Geosmithia rufescens Microcorthylus Mycophagy RPB2 Symbiosis a b s t r a c t

Our knowledge of the biogeography of Scolytinae of eastern temperate North America is very patchy... more Our knowledge of the biogeography of Scolytinae of eastern temperate North America is very patchy. We used data from hand collecting, trapped material (from 65 of 83 counties), and museum collections, supplemented by literature records, to compile a list comprising 107 bark beetle species in 45 genera for Michigan, a state with an especially rich diversity of woody plants. We provide detailed collection data documenting 32 species not previously catalogued for Michigan, 23 of which are new state records; the genera Trypophloeus and Trischidias are reported from Michigan for the first time. Fifteen Michigan scolytines are not native to North America; Ambrosiodmus rubricollis (Eichhoff), Crypturgus pusillus (Gyllenhal), Euwallacea validus (Eichhoff), Xyleborus californicus Wood, Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky) have not previously been found in the state. We report Michigan hosts for 67 species, including 49 new host associations for the 93 native species. Despite identifying over 4000 specimens for this study, we fully expect to find many more species: over 30 additional species occur in the Great Lakes region.

Annals of the Entomological Society of America

The bark beetle Dendroctonus mesoamericanus sp. nov. is described from a population in Parque Nac... more The bark beetle Dendroctonus mesoamericanus sp. nov. is described from a population in Parque Nacional Lagunas de Montebello, La Trinitaria, Chiapas, Mexico. This species belongs to the D. frontalis complex, which includes D. adjunctus Blandford 1897, D. approximatus Dietz 1890, D. brevicomis LeConte 1876, D. frontalis Zimmermann 1868, D. mexicanus Hopkins 1905, and D. vitei Wood 1975. The new species can be distinguished from closely related species D. frontalis, D. mexicanus, and D. vitei by four diagnostic morphological characters: the presence of striations on the preepisternal area of the prothorax (anterolateral pronotum) in both sexes, seminal rod with an approximately linear posterior margin of the dorsal process (in lateral view), irregularly sized ornamentations on the distal edge of squamiform plates present on the eighth abdominal tergite in females, and an inconspicuous pronotal callus in females. Furthermore, the karyotype of D. mesoamericanus sp. nov. (5AAþXyp / XX) d...

Notes on the breeding biology of some bigynous and monogynous Mexican bark beetles (Scolytidae: S... more Notes on the breeding biology of some bigynous and monogynous Mexican bark beetles (Scolytidae: Scofytus, Thysanoes, Phloeotribus) and records for associated Scolytidae (Hyfocurus, Hypothenemus, Araptus) and Platypodidae (Platypus)

Molecular Ecology Notes, 2003

Journal of Pest Science, 2008

During research conducted in northern Italy for the State Forestry Service LIFE Nature project, a... more During research conducted in northern Italy for the State Forestry Service LIFE Nature project, a single male specimen of the scolytine ambrosia beetle Monarthrum mali (Fitch) was collected in an ethanol-baited window Xight trap. Trapping started in 2005, but the species was Wrst collected in August 2007, suggesting that the establishment of M. mali in northern Italy is very recent.

Insect Molecular Biology, 1998

The coffee berry borer beetle Hypofhenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is the ma... more The coffee berry borer beetle Hypofhenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is the major insect pest of coffee and has spread to most of the coffee-growing countries of the world. This beetle also displays an unusual life cycle, with regular sibling mating. This regular inbreeding and the population bottlenecks occurring on colonization of new regions should lead to low levels of genetic diversity. We were therefore interested in determining the level of nucleotide variation in nuclear and mitochondrial genomes of this beetle worldwide. Here we show that two nuclear loci (Resisfance to dieldrin and ITS2) are completely invariant, whereas some variability is maintained at a mitochondrial locus (COI), probably corresponding to a higher mutation rate in the mitochondrial genome. Phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial data shows only two clades of beetle haplotypes outside of Kenya, the proposed origin of the species. These data confirm that inbreeding greatly reduces nucleotide variation and suggest the recent global spread of only two inbreeding lines of this bark beetle.

Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 2012

Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is a major economic pes... more Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is a major economic pest of pines in the United States, Mexico, and Central America. We report biochemical investigations relevant to the taxonomic status and semiochemistry of two distinct morphotypes of D. frontalis recently detected in the Central American region. Morphotype A beetles (pre-episternal area of prothorax of both sexes smooth, bulging callus on anterolateral margin of prothorax of females) and morphotype B beetles (pre-episternal area of prothorax of both sexes with Þne ridges, reduced female callus) collected in infestations in Chiapas, Mexico differed signiÞcantly in their production of 10 behaviorally-active compounds occurring in the genus Dendroctonus, including the major pheromone components for D. frontalis. Notably, host-attacking morphotype B females produced hundreds of nanograms of both endo-brevicomin and frontalin, whereas morphotype A females produced similar amounts of frontalin but subnanogram quantities of endo-brevicomin. Reanalysis of a published D. frontalis trapping study in Chiapas indicated that both morphotypes responded in greatest numbers when frontalin and endo-brevicomin baits were both present. In addition, we quantiÞed 18 different cuticular hydrocarbons (the methyl-branched alkane components) from both morphotypes collected in Belize and Chiapas as well as morphotype A beetles from the southeastern United States, and principal component analysis revealed nonoverlapping clusters associated with either morphotype. This evidence of two distinct, complex phenotypes coexisting in the same sites and host trees supports the hypothesis that the D. frontalis morphotypes represent separate species and consequently indicates that the taxonomy of D. frontalis should be re-evaluated in the Central American region.

BioOne sees sustainable scholarly publishing as an inherently collaborative enterprise connecting... more BioOne sees sustainable scholarly publishing as an inherently collaborative enterprise connecting authors, nonprofit publishers, academic institutions, research libraries, and research funders in the common goal of maximizing access to critical research.

BioOne sees sustainable scholarly publishing as an inherently collaborative enterprise connecting... more BioOne sees sustainable scholarly publishing as an inherently collaborative enterprise connecting authors, nonprofit publishers, academic institutions, research libraries, and research funders in the common goal of maximizing access to critical research.

Background: Invasive species can have devastating effects on native ecosystems and therefore impo... more Background: Invasive species can have devastating effects on native ecosystems and therefore impose a significant threat to human welfare. The introduction rate of invasive species has accelerated dramatically in recent times due to human activity (anthropogenic effects), with a steadily growing pool of widespread tramp species. We present an in-depth analysis of four pantropical species of Xyleborus ambrosia beetles (Xyleborus volvulus, Xyleborus perforans, Xyleborus ferrugineus, and Xyleborus affinis) with similar ecology (fungus cultivation in dead wood), reproductive biology (permanent inbreeding) and genetic system (haplodiploidy). The unique combination of reproductive traits and broad host plant usage pre-adapts these beetles for colonizing of new areas. Results: We found that all four species were broadly distributed long before human-assisted dispersal became common, and that the impact of anthropogenic effects varied among the species. For X. volvulus, X. perforans, and X. affinis there was evidence of ancient establishment in numerous regions, but also of abundant recent introductions into previously colonized areas. For X. ferrugineus, we found clear biogeographical structuring of old clades, but little evidence for recent successful introductions.

Hypothenemus eruditus is regarded as the world's most common bark beetle, collected from numerous... more Hypothenemus eruditus is regarded as the world's most common bark beetle, collected from numerous host plants on all forested continents. Previous taxonomic treatments remark that the species is morphologically variable and difficult to identify, but to date, no study has analyzed molecular data to investigate possible cryptic or seemingly cryptic (pseudo-cryptic) diversity in this species. We se-quenced 216 specimens matching or closely resembling the currently accepted description of H. eruditus for a mitochon-drial (COI) and a nuclear marker (28S), and scored six morphological characters. We also compared the morphology of H. eruditus syntypes and type material of 26 synonymized species with the sequenced material. The sequenced material grouped in 21 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) supported by both molecular and morphological data, 17 of which were part of an apparent H. eruditus species complex. Another nine cryptic OTUs, distinguishable only by molecular data, were also included in the complex. Only one of the OTUs revealed a morphological match with the H. eruditus syntypes. The 26 synonymized species were split into 14 tentative morphs, 11 of which did not match the H. eruditus syntypes. We argue that many of our sequenced OTUs deserve species status, and that many species synonymized under H. eruditus should be resurrected.

Annals of the Entomological …, 1983

... MARK DEYRUP AND LAWRENCE R. KIRKENDALL2 Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Laf... more ... MARK DEYRUP AND LAWRENCE R. KIRKENDALL2 Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907 ... the allied genus Conophthorus females initiate galleries in pine cones and often work unaccompanied (Lyons 1956, Ruckes 1958, Kinzer et al. ...

corresponding author Kolařík M., Hulcr J., Kirkendall L.R. (2015): New species of Geosmithia and ... more corresponding author Kolařík M., Hulcr J., Kirkendall L.R. (2015): New species of Geosmithia and Graphium associated with ambrosia beetles in Costa Rica. -Czech Mycol. 67(1): 29-35.

Background: Invasive species can have devastating effects on native ecosystems and therefore impo... more Background: Invasive species can have devastating effects on native ecosystems and therefore impose a significant threat to human welfare. The introduction rate of invasive species has accelerated dramatically in recent times due to human activity (anthropogenic effects), with a steadily growing pool of widespread tramp species. We present an in-depth analysis of four pantropical species of Xyleborus ambrosia beetles (Xyleborus volvulus, Xyleborus perforans, Xyleborus ferrugineus, and Xyleborus affinis) with similar ecology (fungus cultivation in dead wood), reproductive biology (permanent inbreeding) and genetic system (haplodiploidy). The unique combination of reproductive traits and broad host plant usage pre-adapts these beetles for colonizing of new areas. Results: We found that all four species were broadly distributed long before human-assisted dispersal became common, and that the impact of anthropogenic effects varied among the species. For X. volvulus, X. perforans, and X. affinis there was evidence of ancient establishment in numerous regions, but also of abundant recent introductions into previously colonized areas. For X. ferrugineus, we found clear biogeographical structuring of old clades, but little evidence for recent successful introductions.

Comptes Rendus Biologies, 2015

The leopard (Panthera pardus) is heavily persecuted in areas where it predates livestock and thre... more The leopard (Panthera pardus) is heavily persecuted in areas where it predates livestock and threatens human well-being. Attempts to resolve human-leopard conflict typically involve translocating problem animals; however, these interventions are rarely informed by genetic studies and can unintentionally compromise the natural spatial genetic structure and diversity, and possibly the long-term persistence, of the species. No significant genetic discontinuities were definable within the southern African leopard population. Analysis of fine-scale genetic data derived from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA revealed that the primary natural process shaping the spatial genetic structure of the species is isolation-by-distance (IBD). The effective gene dispersal (σ) index can inform leopard translocations and is estimated to be 82km for some South African leopards. The importance of adopting an evidence-based strategy is discussed for supporting the integration of genetic data, spatial planning and social learning institutions so as to promote collaboration between land managers, government agency staff and researchers.

Symbiosis

The most evolutionarily advanced form of symbiosis between wood-decaying fungi and wood-boring be... more The most evolutionarily advanced form of symbiosis between wood-decaying fungi and wood-boring beetles (Coleoptera, Curculionidae: Scolytinae and Platypodinae) is the ambrosial habit, or fungus farming. Here we present a discovery of a new origin of the ambrosia symbiosis in Scolytodes unipunctatus. Feeding on symbiotic fungi and the spatial organization of the gallery system of S. unipunctatus is typical for ambrosia beetles, but not for phylogenetically related phloeophagous species. S. unipunctatus is associated with the fungal genera Raffaelea, Graphium, and Gondwanamyces; the association of the latter with scolytines is documented here for the first time. The fungi were identified using morphological characters and 18S, 28S and ITS regions of rDNA. We report four undescribed fungus species.

Fungal Genet Biol, Aug 1, 2010

Eupagiocerus dentipes Geosmithia eupagioceri Geosmithia microcorthyli Geosmithia rufescens Microc... more Eupagiocerus dentipes Geosmithia eupagioceri Geosmithia microcorthyli Geosmithia rufescens Microcorthylus Mycophagy RPB2 Symbiosis a b s t r a c t

Our knowledge of the biogeography of Scolytinae of eastern temperate North America is very patchy... more Our knowledge of the biogeography of Scolytinae of eastern temperate North America is very patchy. We used data from hand collecting, trapped material (from 65 of 83 counties), and museum collections, supplemented by literature records, to compile a list comprising 107 bark beetle species in 45 genera for Michigan, a state with an especially rich diversity of woody plants. We provide detailed collection data documenting 32 species not previously catalogued for Michigan, 23 of which are new state records; the genera Trypophloeus and Trischidias are reported from Michigan for the first time. Fifteen Michigan scolytines are not native to North America; Ambrosiodmus rubricollis (Eichhoff), Crypturgus pusillus (Gyllenhal), Euwallacea validus (Eichhoff), Xyleborus californicus Wood, Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky) have not previously been found in the state. We report Michigan hosts for 67 species, including 49 new host associations for the 93 native species. Despite identifying over 4000 specimens for this study, we fully expect to find many more species: over 30 additional species occur in the Great Lakes region.

Annals of the Entomological Society of America

The bark beetle Dendroctonus mesoamericanus sp. nov. is described from a population in Parque Nac... more The bark beetle Dendroctonus mesoamericanus sp. nov. is described from a population in Parque Nacional Lagunas de Montebello, La Trinitaria, Chiapas, Mexico. This species belongs to the D. frontalis complex, which includes D. adjunctus Blandford 1897, D. approximatus Dietz 1890, D. brevicomis LeConte 1876, D. frontalis Zimmermann 1868, D. mexicanus Hopkins 1905, and D. vitei Wood 1975. The new species can be distinguished from closely related species D. frontalis, D. mexicanus, and D. vitei by four diagnostic morphological characters: the presence of striations on the preepisternal area of the prothorax (anterolateral pronotum) in both sexes, seminal rod with an approximately linear posterior margin of the dorsal process (in lateral view), irregularly sized ornamentations on the distal edge of squamiform plates present on the eighth abdominal tergite in females, and an inconspicuous pronotal callus in females. Furthermore, the karyotype of D. mesoamericanus sp. nov. (5AAþXyp / XX) d...

Notes on the breeding biology of some bigynous and monogynous Mexican bark beetles (Scolytidae: S... more Notes on the breeding biology of some bigynous and monogynous Mexican bark beetles (Scolytidae: Scofytus, Thysanoes, Phloeotribus) and records for associated Scolytidae (Hyfocurus, Hypothenemus, Araptus) and Platypodidae (Platypus)

Molecular Ecology Notes, 2003

Journal of Pest Science, 2008

During research conducted in northern Italy for the State Forestry Service LIFE Nature project, a... more During research conducted in northern Italy for the State Forestry Service LIFE Nature project, a single male specimen of the scolytine ambrosia beetle Monarthrum mali (Fitch) was collected in an ethanol-baited window Xight trap. Trapping started in 2005, but the species was Wrst collected in August 2007, suggesting that the establishment of M. mali in northern Italy is very recent.

Insect Molecular Biology, 1998

The coffee berry borer beetle Hypofhenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is the ma... more The coffee berry borer beetle Hypofhenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is the major insect pest of coffee and has spread to most of the coffee-growing countries of the world. This beetle also displays an unusual life cycle, with regular sibling mating. This regular inbreeding and the population bottlenecks occurring on colonization of new regions should lead to low levels of genetic diversity. We were therefore interested in determining the level of nucleotide variation in nuclear and mitochondrial genomes of this beetle worldwide. Here we show that two nuclear loci (Resisfance to dieldrin and ITS2) are completely invariant, whereas some variability is maintained at a mitochondrial locus (COI), probably corresponding to a higher mutation rate in the mitochondrial genome. Phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial data shows only two clades of beetle haplotypes outside of Kenya, the proposed origin of the species. These data confirm that inbreeding greatly reduces nucleotide variation and suggest the recent global spread of only two inbreeding lines of this bark beetle.

Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 2012

Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is a major economic pes... more Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is a major economic pest of pines in the United States, Mexico, and Central America. We report biochemical investigations relevant to the taxonomic status and semiochemistry of two distinct morphotypes of D. frontalis recently detected in the Central American region. Morphotype A beetles (pre-episternal area of prothorax of both sexes smooth, bulging callus on anterolateral margin of prothorax of females) and morphotype B beetles (pre-episternal area of prothorax of both sexes with Þne ridges, reduced female callus) collected in infestations in Chiapas, Mexico differed signiÞcantly in their production of 10 behaviorally-active compounds occurring in the genus Dendroctonus, including the major pheromone components for D. frontalis. Notably, host-attacking morphotype B females produced hundreds of nanograms of both endo-brevicomin and frontalin, whereas morphotype A females produced similar amounts of frontalin but subnanogram quantities of endo-brevicomin. Reanalysis of a published D. frontalis trapping study in Chiapas indicated that both morphotypes responded in greatest numbers when frontalin and endo-brevicomin baits were both present. In addition, we quantiÞed 18 different cuticular hydrocarbons (the methyl-branched alkane components) from both morphotypes collected in Belize and Chiapas as well as morphotype A beetles from the southeastern United States, and principal component analysis revealed nonoverlapping clusters associated with either morphotype. This evidence of two distinct, complex phenotypes coexisting in the same sites and host trees supports the hypothesis that the D. frontalis morphotypes represent separate species and consequently indicates that the taxonomy of D. frontalis should be re-evaluated in the Central American region.

We review the morphology, larval feeding habits, reproductive behavior, and social behavior of Sc... more We review the morphology, larval feeding habits, reproductive behavior, and social behavior of Scolytinae and Platypodinae. Their morphology and behavior are adaptations to a lifestyle centered on tunneling in wood. Tunnels are easily defended, and dead wood is a relatively long-lasting resource that can support large populations but that is unpredictable in space and time; these features favor the evolution of parental care and more advanced forms of social behavior. Bark and ambrosia beetles are unique among beetles in the extraordinary variety of feeding biologies and mating systems; in particular, regular bigyny has evolved in many lineages, an otherwise unknown animal mating system. Sex role reversal is rare in insects but has evolved repeatedly in bark and ambrosia beetles. Finally, we summarize for the first time diversity patterns of mating systems and feeding biology for the entire Scolytinae world fauna, ca. 6000 species in 247 genera.