Biogeography and Social Family Structure Contribute to Cryptic Genomic Divergence in the Only Obligate Eusocial Beetle Species, Austroplatypus incompertus (Curculionidae: Platypodinae).

ABSTRACT: Eusociality in insects has arisen multiple times independently in Hymenoptera (bees, wasps and ants), Blattodea (termites) and Coleoptera (beetles). In Hymenoptera and Blattodea, the evolution of eusociality led to species proliferation. In the hyperdiverse Coleoptera, obligate eusociality evolved only once, in the ancient Australian ambrosia beetle Austroplatypus incompertus (Curculionidae: Platypodinae). This species occurs patchily in mesic eucalypt forests of eastern Australia, from Victoria to northern New South Wales, and has a low dispersal capacity. Based on individuals collected from the southern and northern edges of its distribution, it was initially described as two distinct species. However, the names were later synonymised as no morphological differences were found throughout

SUBMITTER: Bickerstaff JRM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12617334 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature