Cydistinae are a rare monogeneric beetle lineage from Asia with a convoluted history of classification, historically placed in various groups within the series Elateriformia. However, their position has never been rigorously tested. To resolve this long-standing puzzle, we are the first to present sequences of two nuclear and two mitochondrial markers for four species of Cydistinae to determine their phylogenetic position. We included these sequences in two rounds of analyses: one including a broad Elateriformia dataset to test placement at the superfamily/family level, and a second, including a richer, targeted sampling of presumed close relatives. Our results strongly support Cydistinae as sister to Phengodidae in a clade with Rhagophthalmidae. Based on our molecular phylogenetic results and examination of morphological characters, we hereby transfer the formerly unplaced Cydistinae into Phengodidae and provide diagnoses for the newly circumscribed Phengodidae, Cydistinae and Cydistus. Since both Phengodidae and Rhagophthalmidae have bioluminescent larvae and strongly neotenic females, similar features can be hypothesized for Cydistinae. Additionally, Cydistus minor is transferred to the new genus Microcydistus.

Senodoniini is a small lineage of click beetles currently comprising 21 species in two genera, distributed in the Himalayas and East and Southeast Asia. The definition and limits of this group have changed considerably during its history. Recent authors treat Senodoniini as a tribe within Dendrometrinae, usually close to Dimini, but this placement has never been rigorously tested. Here, we shed new light on the systematic position and limits of Senodoniini by performing a combined phylogenetic analysis of two nuclear and two mitochondrial molecular markers. Our results recovered Senodoniini not monophyletic, and placed them into the Lissominae complex, where they formed a clade with Austrelater Calder & Lawrence (Protelaterini). Molecular phylogeny is in agreement with the adult morphology. Additionally, we examined the morphology of a monotypic genus Rostricephalus Fleutiaux from Southeast Asia, which was previously classified in various Elateridae groups including Senodoniini, and its position was always uncertain. This genus shares morphological characters with Protelaterini. We provide morphological redescriptions as well as the figures of main diagnostic characters for Senodonia Laporte, Sossor Candèze, and Rostricephalus. Based on our results, we place these genera to Lissominae: Protelaterini, and hence synonymize Senodoniini Schenkling with Protelaterini Schwarz.

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Platiana Schimmel, 1993 is a moderately large genus in Dimini endemic to South East Asia. Hitherto only four species of this genus were known from Peninsular Malaysia. Here, we describe and figure Platiana cechovskyi sp. nov. from the Cameron Highlands. This species is characteristic by its relatively small body, dark coloration, and strongly serrate antennae which are rarely encountered in Dimini. An identification key to the Platiana species from Peninsular Malaysia as well as a distribution map for all known species are provided.