Description of a new species of the genus Anthaxia (Haplanthaxia Reitter, 1911) from India with molecular barcoding and phylogenetic analysis

Abstract

This paper deals with the description of a new Anthaxia (subgenus Haplanthaxia Reitter, 1911) species from southern India, which belongs to the Anthaxia (H.) winkleri Obenberger, 1914 species-group: Anthaxia (H.) keralensis sp. nov. In addition to a morphological description, we also generated mt. COI DNA sequences and discuss the results of a phylogenetic analysis of the new species with previously deposited COI DNA sequences of Anthaxia spp. In a maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analysis, the new species shared the same hypothetical ancestor node with A. melancholica Gory, 1841 and similar molecular characteristics (~48% similarity) with A. tenella Kiesenwetter, 1858 and A. corinthia Reiche & Saulcy, 1856. More systematic studies are required to understand the species diversity, distribution, biology, and evolutionary significance of the Anthaxia (H.) species groups.