Kaminski Lab: Systematic Entomology

Background:

My research interests include the systematics, biogeography, and morphological evolution of darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) – a diverse insect family, estimated to include over 30,000 species worldwide. I’m the author of over 60 publications concerning this group. This mainly includes phylogenetic and taxonomic contributions; however, I was also involved in projects concerning developmental biology (post-embryonic development of the tracheal system) and recovery of ancient DNA. I’m currently investigating the phylogenetic relationships and historical biogeography of the tribe Platynotini by using targeted enrichment methods and museomics. This study is supported by a grant from the National Science Centre, Poland (OPUS 19 #2020/37/B/NZ8/02496) entitled: “High-throughput DNA sequencing on historical collections of beetles: phylogenetic studies among Platynotini (Tenebrionidae)”. 

Selected publications:

11. Kamiński M.J., Gearner O.M, Raś M., Hunsinger E.T., Smith A.L., Mas-Peinado P., Girón J.C., Bilska A.G., Strümpher W.P., Wirth C.C., Kanda K., Swichtenberg K., Iwan D., Smith A.D. 2022. Female terminalia morphology and cladistic relations among Tok-Tok beetles (Tenebrionidae: Sepidiini). Cladistics, https://doi.org/10.1111/cla.12510 

10. Smith A.D., Kamiński M.J., Kanda K., Sweet, A.D., Betancourt J.L., Holmgren C.A., Hempel E., Alberti F., Hofreiter, M. 2021. Recovery and analysis of ancient beetle DNA from subfossil packrat middens using high-throughput sequencing. Scientific Reports, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-91896-8

9. Gearner, O.M, Kamiński M.J., Kanda K., Swichtenberg K., Smith A.D. 2021. Discovery of New Genera Challenges the Subtribal Classification of Tok-Tok Beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Sepidiini). Insect Systematics and Diversity, 5(2): 4; 1–10 doi: 10.1093/isd/ixab006

8. Kamiński, M.J., Gearner, O.M, Kanda, K., Swichtenberg, K., Purchart, L. & Smith, A.D. 2021. First insights into the phylogeny of tok-tokkie beetles (Tenebrionidae: Molurina, Phanerotomeina), and examination of the status of the Psammodes vialis species-group. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 191: 883–901 https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa052 

7. Kamiński, M.J., Lumen, R., Kanda, K., Iwan, D., Johnston, M.A., Kergoat, G., Bouchard, P., Bai, X-L., Li, X.-M., Ren, G.-D., Smith A.D. 2021. Reevaluation of Blapimorpha and Opatrinae: addressing a major phylogeny-classification gap in darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Blaptinae). Systematic Entomology, 46(1): 140-156 https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12453

6. Iwan, D., Löbl, I., Bouchard P., Bousquet, Y., Kamiński, M., Merkl O, Ando, K., Schawaller, W. 2020. Family TENEBRIONIDAE Latreille, 1802 in Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera Volume 5, Tenebrionoidea Revised and Updated Second Edition by Iwan, D., Löbl., I. Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands, 969pp [ISBN: 978-90-04-43498-1] https://brill.com/view/title/59110

5. Johnston, M.A., Smith, A.D., Matsumoto, K., Kamiński, M.J. 2020. On the taxonomic placement of Penichrus Champion, 1885 and a synopsis of North American Opatrini (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Blaptinae). Annales Zoologici, 70: 765-774. doi: 10.3161/00034541ANZ2020.70.4.017

4. Lumen R, Kanda K, Iwan D, Smith AD, Kamiński MJ. 2019. Molecular insights into the phylogeny of Blapstinina (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini). Systematic Entomology, https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12398

3. Kamiński MJ, Lumen R, Kubicz M, Steiner W, Kanda K, Iwan D. 2019. Immature stages of beetles representing the ‘Opatrinoid’ clade (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae): an overview of current knowledge of the larval morphology and some resulting taxonomic notes on Blapstinina. Zoomorphology, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-019-00443-7 

2. Kamiński MJ, Kanda K, Lumen R, Smith AD, Iwan D. 2018. Molecular phylogeny of Pedinini (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) and its implications for higher-level classification. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, [IF=2.711; MN=40] https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zly033 

1. Kaminski MJ, Kanda K, Raś M, Smith AD. 2017. Pythiopina, an enigmatic subtribe of darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pedinini): taxonomic revision, microtomography, ecological niche models and phylogenetic position. Systematic Entomology, 43: 147-165.