Phylogeographic structure of two sympatric species of <i>Mediimorda</i> Méquignon, 1946 (Mordellidae, Coleoptera)

Sympatric distribution and syntopy are not common in closely related species since sporadic crosses may lead to the formation of hybrid zones disrupting differentiation sympatric incipient species. In Central Spain two morphologically similar Mediimorda Méquignon, 1946, M. batteni Plaza-Infante, 1985 bipunctata (Germar, 1827) strictly sympatric. is endemic Iberian Peninsula while widely distributed Western Palaearctic Region. Intriguingly, among taxa that exhibits little morphological variation common. This makes us wonder if we really facing independent evolutionary units as previously proposed or just phenotypic morphs a single taxon. To test for this hypothesis, performed Bayesian phylogeographic analyses based on mitochondrial (cox1) nuclear (ITS2) data estimated divergence time clades. Additionally, revision construction potential models were included determine possible niche differences. Our results corroborate existence lineages well differentiated, probably diverged during Pliocene. According morphology, each clade corresponds recognized bipunctata. The absence hybridization ecological segregation suggests syntopic was accomplished long after speciation event separated took place. We propose between clades originated by allopatric Late Pliocene subsequently followed range shifts Pleistocene climatic oscillations, which resulted current taxa.