Data from: A transcriptome-based phylogeny of Scarabaeoidea confirms the sister group relationship of dung beetles and phytophagous pleurostict scarabs (Coleoptera)

Scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae) are a diverse and ecologically important
group of angiosperm-associated insects. As conventionally understood,
scarab beetles comprise two major lineages: dung beetles and the
phytophagous Pleurosticti. However, previous phylogenetic analyses have
not been able to convincingly answer the question whether or not the two
lineages form a monophyletic group. Here we report our results from
phylogenetic analyses of more than 4,000 genes mined from transcriptomes
of more than 50 species of Scarabaeidae and non-scarabaeid Scarabaeoidea.
Our results provide convincing support for the monophyly of Scarabaeidae,
confirming the debated sister group relationship of dung beetles and
phytophagous pleurostict scarabs. Supermatrix-based maximum likelihood and
multispecies coalescent phylogenetic analyses strongly imply the subfamily
Melolonthinae as currently understood being paraphyletic. We consequently
suggest various changes in the systematics of Melolonthinae: Sericinae
Kirby, 1837 stat. rest. and sensu n. to include the tribes Sericini,
Ablaberini and Diphucephalini, and Sericoidinae Erichson, 1847 stat. rest.
and sensu n. to include the
tribes Automoliini, Heteronychini, Liparetrini,
Maechidiini, Scitalini, Sericoidini, and Phyllotocini. Both subfamilies
appear to consistently form a monophyletic sister group to all remaining
subfamilies so far included within pleurostict scarabs except Orphninae.
Our results represent a major step towards understanding the
diversification history of one of the largest angiosperm-associated
radiations of beetles.