Speciation patterns in the Forficula auricularia species complex: cryptic and not so cryptic taxa across the western Palaearctic region

Abstract

Abstract Forficula auricularia (the European earwig) is possibly a complex of cryptic species. To test this hypothesis, we performed: (1) a phylogeographic study based on fragments of the mitochondrial COI and the nuclear ITS2 markers on a wide geographic sampling, (2) morphometric analyses of lineages present in Spain and (3) niche overlap analyses. We recovered five reciprocally monophyletic ancient phylogroups with unique historical patterns of distribution, climatic niches and diversification. External morphology was conserved and not correlated with speciation events, except in one case. Phylogenetic placement of the morphologically distinct taxon renders F. auricularia paraphyletic. Based on the congruence of the phylogenetic units defined by mtDNA and nuclear sequence data, we conclude that phylogroups have their own historical and future evolutionary trajectory and represent independent taxonomic units. Forficula auricularia is a complex of at least four species: the morphologically diagnosable Forficula aeolica González-Miguéns & García-París sp. nov., and the cryptic taxa: Forficula mediterranea González-Miguéns & García-París sp. nov., Forficula dentataFabricius, 1775stat. nov. and Forficula auriculariaLinnaeus, 1758s.s. We also provide new synonymy for F. dentata.