Genetics of oil beetles (Meloe, Coleoptera) in silico: A tribute to Schrank von Paula [1747–1835]

Oil beetles (genus Meloe, order Coleoptera) comprise over 150 species with 55 entries in GenBank to date. One of the first Meloe species was described by Linné, K. [1707–1771] M. proscarabaeus (black oil beetle) applying the early theory of Bauhin, C. [1560–1624] who suggested first the use of binomial nomenclature to describe plant and animal species. After Linné, further Meloe species were described, e.g., M. hungarus identified by Paula Schrank [1747–1835] 1776, working in city Selmecbánya, Hungarian Kingdom, Europe. Here we analyze sequences of DNA of mitogenomes (mtDNA), genes and proteins of Meloe species based on in silico data mining, sequence and cladogram analyses to reveal new phylogenetic and molecular relationships among and within Meloe species.