Eocene aposematic patterns persist in modern European Lycidae beetles despite the absence of co-mimics

Michal Motyka; Sergey V Kazantsev; Dominik Kusy; Evgeny E Perkovsky; Shûhei Yamamoto; Ladislav Bocak

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2023.106217

Eocene aposematic patterns persist in modern European Lycidae beetles despite the absence of co-mimics

iScience. 2023 Feb 20;26(3):106217. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106217. eCollection 2023 Mar 17.

Authors

Michal Motyka¹, Sergey V Kazantsev^{2

3}, Dominik Kusy¹, Evgeny E Perkovsky^{4

5}, Shûhei Yamamoto⁶, Ladislav Bocak¹

Affiliations

¹ Biodiversity and Molecular Evolution, Czech Advanced Technology Research Institute, Slechtitelu 27, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic.
² Insect Centre, Donetskaya 13-326, 109651 Moscow, Russia.
³ A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS, 33 Leninsky Pr., 119071 Moscow, Russia.
⁴ I.I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, Bogdan Khmelnitski Street15, 01030 Kiev, Ukraine.
⁵ A.A. Borissiak Paleontological Institute RAS, 123 Profsoyuznaya Street, 117647 Moscow, Russia.
⁶ Hokkaido University Museum, Hokkaido University, Kita 10, Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan.

Abstract

Ancient aposematic signals might have evolved under different ecological circumstances. Using European Cenozoic amber and phylogenetic reconstruction, we evaluated the evolution of net-winged beetle aposematism. We describe Priabonian Hiekeolycus winkleri sp. nov. from Baltic amber, review known fossil species, and suggest earlier high diversity and morphological conservativeness of European Lycidae since the Eocene. We hypothesize the presence of red and black/red aposematic patterns in Eocene Europe. The analyses suggest the Oligocene to Miocene dispersal of additional species from East Asia and their advergence to autochthonous patterns. Recently dispersed lycids have retained similarities with their East Asian relatives. Net-winged beetles are rare in Europe after the Quaternary climatic oscillations, and we hypothesize a currently relaxed selection for shared aposematic signals. Neophobia, and eventually inborn rejection of brightly colored prey, putatively preserved ancient aposematism under changing conditions. Evidence from paleontology and phylogenetics can provide insight into the long-term persistence of old adaptations under changing conditions.

Keywords: Evolutionary biology; Paleobiology; Zoology.