In contrast to traditional models of purifying selection and a single aposematic signal in Müllerian complexes, some communities of unprofitable prey contain members with multiple aposematic patterns. Processes responsible for diversity in aposematic signaling are poorly understood and large multi-species communities are seldom considered. We analyzed the phylogeny and aposematic patterns of closely related Eniclases net-winged beetles in New Guinea using mtDNA and nextRAD data. We suggest three clades of closely related and incompletely reproductively isolated lineages, detail the extent of polymorphism among Eniclases, and categorize their low-contrast aposematic patterns. The warning signal of Eniclases consists of body shape and color, with ambiguous color perception under some circumstances, i.e., when resting on the undersides of leaves. Field observations suggest that perception of the aposematic signal is affected by beetle behavior and environmental conditions. Local communities containing Eniclases consisted of 7–85 metriorrhynchine species assigned to 3–10 colour patterns. As a result, we suggest that under certain light conditions the aposematic colour signal is less apparent than the body shape in net-winged beetle communities. We document variable environmental factors in our study area and highly diverse multi-species communities of other net-winged beetles. Which implies dynamically changing community structure in space and time. Variable environmental conditions and diverse community composition are suggested to be favorable for the persistence of multiple aposematic patterns, imperfect mimics, and intraspecific polymorphism. Further research should identify the relative effect of these factors on purifying selection and the alleles which are responsible for phenotypic differences.

中文翻译：

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网翅甲虫多物种苗勒氏群落中多种模式和种内多态性的持续存在

与传统的净化选择模型和缪勒复合体中的单一警戒信号相反，一些无利可图的猎物群落包含具有多种警戒模式的成员。人们对负责警戒信号多样性的过程知之甚少，并且很少考虑大型多物种群落。我们使用 mtDNA 和 nextRAD 数据分析了新几内亚密切相关的 Eniclases 网翅甲虫的系统发育和警戒模式。我们提出了三个密切相关且不完全生殖隔离谱系的进化枝，详细说明了Eniclases之间的多态性程度，并对它们的低对比度警戒模式进行了分类。晶石的警告信号由身体形状和颜色组成，在某些情况下（即当停在叶子的背面时）具有模糊的颜色感知。现场观察表明，对警戒信号的感知受到甲虫行为和环境条件的影响。含有 Eniclases 的当地群落由 7-85 种异喙鱼物种组成，分配有 3-10 种颜色模式。因此，我们认为在某些光照条件下，网翅甲虫群落中的警示颜色信号不如体形明显。我们记录了研究区域的可变环境因素和其他网翅甲虫的高度多样化的多物种群落。这意味着在空间和时间上动态变化的社区结构。可变的环境条件和多样化的群落组成有利于多种防御模式、不完美的模仿和种内多态性的持续存在。进一步的研究应该确定这些因素对纯化选择的相对影响以及导致表型差异的等位基因。