Intraspecific diversity of Myrmecophilus acervorum (Orthoptera: Myrmecophilidae) indicating an ongoing cryptic speciation

Abstract

Myrmecophilus acervorum, previously considered a parthenogenetic species widely-distributed in Europe, has been observed to have both sexes in populations inhabiting the central part of the distribution range. Specimens from those heterosexual populations have been found being infected with Wolbachia. New mitochondrial data (COI and 16S markers) revealed the well-supported differentiation of M. acervorum populations inhabiting western Polesie (Poland) and southern Europe. In turn, analyses of EF1α marker support the hypothesis on the unfinished lineage sorting at the nuclear DNA level. Interestingly, we found that parthenogenetic populations inhabiting western Polesie are infected with Wolbachia belonging to supergroup A, while endosymbionts occurring in sexual populations of M. acervorum observed in Romania belong to supergroup B. Furthermore, new and potentially diagnostic characteristics in the external structures of the eyes of M. acervorum were identified. The surface of ommatidia in specimens occurring in southern Europe was smooth. In contrast, the ommatidia surface of individuals collected in Poland was visibly sculptured. To sum up, the significant genetic variability found in the present case, and the differentiating morphological character, are almost certainly effects of cryptic species being present within M. acervorum. This is indicative of ongoing speciation within the populations of this insect, and of simultaneous unfinished lineage sorting at the nuclear DNA level.