Mitochondrial DNA, ecology and morphology: interpreting the phylogeographyof the Nesotes (Coleoptera : Tenebrionidae) of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands)

The genus Nesotes (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) is represented in the Canary Islands by 19 endemic species, the majority of which are single island ende mics. Nesotes conformis and N. fusculus are described on four and three isl ands, respectively, but each forms a paraphyletic assemblage between Gran C anaria and the other islands. The other described species for Gran Canaria are N. quadratus, N. lindbergi and N. piliger. Thirty-six individuals repre senting the five species on Gran Canaria have been sequenced for 675 bp of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome oxidase II gene. Neighbour-joining analysis of maximum likelihood distances resulted in five distinct mtDNA l ineages for N. quadratus, two of which also include mitotypes of N. conform is. Each of the other three species is found on only one mtDNA lineage. We propose from the molecular data that differentiation in a widespread N. qua dratus-type ancestor was followed by morphological adaptation to coastal, p ine and laurel forest habitats.