Complex population genetic structure of the bark beetle predator Thanasimus formicarius L. (Coleoptera: Cleridae) across its European range

Thanasimus formicarius L. (Coleoptera: Cleridae) is an important bark beetle predator and can reduce bark beetle population densities of some of the most severe forest pests in Europe. We analysed the population genetics and phylogeography of the ant beetle T. formicarius across its European range, using mitochondrial COI data from 187 individuals sampled from 23 locations. Our extensive sampling from the Fennoscandian to the Mediterranean region and from Iberia to the Middle East provides insights into the genetic structure of the species. A ~ 650 bp fragment of the mitochondrial COI gene was PCR-amplified and the PCR products with the highest DNA concentrations were Sanger-sequenced. We performed haplotype analysis, calculated haplotype and nucleotide diversities, constructed a minimum spanning network of haplotypes, and performed an AMOVA. Moreover, the relationship among haplotypes was reconstructed using the Neighbour Joining and the Maximum Likelihood method, using a COI sequence ..., , , # Complex population genetic structure of the bark beetle predator *Thanasimus formicarius* across its European range

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.hdr7sqvst](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.hdr7sqvst)

## Description of the data and file structure

We analysed the population genetics and phylogeography of the ant beetle *Thanasimus formicarius* L. (Coleoptera: Cleridae) across its European range, using mitochondrial COI data (PCR amplified with the primers LCO and HCO) from 187 individuals sampled from 23 locations. *Thanasimus formicarius* is an important bark beetle predator and can reduce bark beetle population densities of some of the most severe forest pests in Europe. We found a high genetic diversity, revealing 119 haplotypes across the sampling range. We performed haplotype analysis, calculated haplotype and nucleotide diversity, constructed a minimum spanning network of haplotypes, and performed an AMOVA. Moreover, the relationship among haplotypes was reconstructed using the ...