Hind wing variation in Leptura annularis complex among European and Asiatic populations (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae)

The ability to quantify morphological variation is essential for understanding the processes of species diversification. The geometric morphometrics approach allows reliable description of variation in animals, including insects. Here, this method was used to quantify the morphological variation among European and Asiatic populations of Leptura annularis Fabricius, 1801 and its closely related species L. mimica Bates, 1884, endemic for Japan and Sakhalin islands. Since the taxonomic status of these two taxa is differently interpreted by taxonomists, they are collectively called "Leptura annularis complex" in this paper. The analysis was based on the measurements of hind wings of 269 specimens from six populations from Europe and Asia. The level of morphological divergence between most of continental European and Asiatic populations was relatively small and proportional to the geographic distance between them. However, distinct morphotype was detected in Sakhalin Is. and Japan. These data confirm the morphological divergence of the endemic L. mimica species. Obtained results highlight the potential of the geometric morphometric method in studying morphological variation in beetles.