Data from: macroevolutionary patterns behind a classic case of coevolution: uncovering the evolution of milkweed longhorn beetles Tetraopes, Cerambycidae

Tetraopes beetles are known for their resistance to milkweed plant toxins and their coevolutionary dynamics with milkweed plants (Asclepias). This association is considered a textbook example of coevolution, in which each species of Tetraopes is specialized to feed on one species of Asclepias. A major challenge to investigating coevolution and molecular ecology studies lies in the limited understanding of the evolutionary history of Tetraopes. By integrating genomic, morphological, paleontological, and geographical data, we present a robust phylogeny of Tetraopes and their relatives, using three inference methods with varying subsets of data, encompassing 2 to 12 thousand UCE loci. We elucidate the diversification patterns of Tetraopes species across major biogeographical regions and their colonization of the Americas. Our findings suggest that the genus originated in Central America approximately 21 million years ago during the Miocene and diversified from the Mid-Miocene to the Pleistocene, coinciding with intense geological activity in Central America. Our data suggest that a common ancestor of Tetraopini migrated into North America, likely facilitated by North Atlantic land bridges during the Paleocene. Establishing a densely sampled phylogeny of Tetraopes beetles provides a foundation for investigating micro- and macroevolutionary phenomena, including coevolution and detoxification mechanisms in this ecologically important group.