Ochthebius (Enicocerus) aguilerai sp.n. from central Spain, with a molecular phylogeny of the Western Palaearctic species of Enicocerus (Coleoptera, Hydraenidae)

Abstract

We describe Ochthebius (Enicocerus) aguilerai sp.n. from central Iberia. The species belongs to the O. exsculptus group, including O. legionensis Hebauer & Valladares, O. halbherri Reitter, O. colveranus Ferro and O. exsculptus Germar. There are few consistent differences in external morphology among species of the group, but characters of the aedeagus allow the unequivocal recognition of the new species. A molecular phylogeny of the European species of subgenus Enicocerus based on fragments of four mitochondrial and two nuclear genes recognised O. aguilerai sp.n. as sister to the remaining species of the O. exsculptus group, which according to molecular clock estimations seems to have an Iberian origin in the Late Miocene (Tortonian). There are two genetically distinct lineages within O. exsculptus, one in South Spain and a second from the Pyrenees to Ireland, but the lack of consistent morphological differences between them, and the incomplete sampling of other Iberian populations of the species, prevents the recognition of distinct taxa.