The Cave Beetle Neaphaenops tellkampfi Erichson: Relationships Within and Among Related Genera Using Molecular Data

Studies of North American cave beetle systematics have been based primarily on morphology. This project analyzes the relationships and validity of the four subspecies of the monotypic Neaphaenops based on monophyly, as well as relationships with the remaining four eastern N.A. cave beetle genera (Pseudanophthalmus, Nelsonites, Darlingtonea, and Ameroduvalius) using molecular methods. This study utilized 39 beetle samples collected from 27 Kentucky caves and one outgroup accessed from GenBank. Evidence for phylogenetic hypotheses is based on sequences of one nuclear protein-coding gene (arginine kinase) and one mitochondrial gene (CO1). Analyses support Neaphaenops as sister to all other taxa. One subspecies of Neaphaenops is valid, a second possibly so, and the other two are not. All tested genera are monophyletic except for Pseudanophthalmus; Nelsonites appears to be a derived clade of Pseudanophthalmus.