Macroevolutionary dynamics of beetles reveal long-term coupling with vascular plant diversification

Preprint

Beetles (Coleoptera) represent the most species-rich group of organisms, yet the macroevolutionary processes underlying their exceptional diversification remain unresolved. Here, we estimated their origination and extinction dynamics as well as the potential drivers shaping these patterns, using Bayesian birth-death models applied to a comprehensive fossil occurrence dataset. We find that beetles have experienced low extinction rates and exhibited high resilience through major extinction events. Vascular plant diversities emerge as a key driver of beetle diversification, with origination rates positively correlated with angiosperms, and extinction rates negatively correlated, especially for Polyphaga, the most diverse beetle clade. Together, our results provide quantitative evidence that the angiosperm radiation not only promoted beetle origination, but also buffered them against extinction, illustrating how ecological interactions can shape macroevolution.

Authors: Ferreira, J; Peris, D; Jouault, C; Condamine, FL

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Not peer reviewed
• Preprint server: bioRxiv
• Publication date: 2026-05-18
• DOI: 10.64898/2026.05.18.725901
• EISSN: 2692-8205
• Language: English