Population Structure ofAegialitesBeetles (Coleoptera, Salpingidae) on the Coasts of Hokkaido, Northern Japan

A molecular phylogeographic analysis of flightless Aegialites beetles from Hokkaido's coasts revealed two distinct genetic lineages with divergent population structures and histories. Lineage A, found on the Sea of Japan and Okhotsk coasts, showed rapid population expansion, while lineage B, predominantly on the Pacific coast and Shiretoko Peninsula, exhibited higher genetic divergence among populations. Despite their unidimensional habitat, no correlation was observed between genetic differentiation and geographic distance in either group. The study suggests allopatric divergence of these lineages during the Pliocene, providing insights into their evolutionary trajectories.

Hojito, S., Kobayashi, N., & Katakura, H. (2010). Population Structure ofAegialitesBeetles (Coleoptera, Salpingidae) on the Coasts of Hokkaido, Northern Japan. Zoological Science, 27(9), 723–728. https://doi.org/10.2108/zsj.27.723