Classification of basal Cucujoidea (Coleoptera:Polyphaga): cladistic analysis, keys and review of new families

Abstract

Phylogenetic relationships among the basal Cucujoidea were reconstructed by a cladistic analysis of a data matrix consisting of 37 exemplar taxa and 99 adult and larval characters. Eight most parsimonious cladograms provided evidence for the polyphyly of Phloeostichidae, the paraphyly of Cucujoidea (with respect to the placement of Trogossitidae), and the monophyly of Protocucujidae + Sphindidae, Biphyllidae + Erotylidae, Cryptophagidae, Cucujidae + Silvanidae, Propalticidae + Laemophloeidae, and the Nitidulidae groups (Nitidulidae, Smicripidae, and Brachypteridae). The following families are elevated from subfamily to family status: Agapythidae (one genus), Phloeostichidae (four genera; the subfamilies Phloeostichinae and Hymaeinae are supressed), Priasilphidae (three genera), Tasmosalpingidae (one genus), and Myraboliidae (one genus). These families are described in detail and adult and larval keys to all families of Cucujoidea are provided. The genus Bunyastichus, gen. nov. (type species: B. monteithi, sp. nov.) is described in the family Phloeostichidae and the family Priasilphidae is revised with the following new taxa: Chileosilpha, gen. nov. (type species: C. elguetai, sp. nov.), Priasilpha (P. angulata, sp. nov., P. aucklandica, sp. nov., P. bufonia, sp. nov., P. carinata, sp. nov., P. earlyi, sp. nov., and P. embersoni, sp. nov.), Priastichus (P. crowsoni, sp. nov. and P. megathorax, sp. nov.).

Biogeography and Evolution of New Zealand Priasilphidae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea)

“…Fig. 5b shows the area cladogram derived from the phylogeny of the genera of Priasilphidae, a 3-taxon statement that is (Chileosilpha (Priastichus + Priasilpha)) according to Leschen et al (2005) and adds two further nodes to the base of the Priasilpha tree (Fig. 2).…”

“…The numbers of specimens measured and mean ratios are provided in Fig. 4 while additional information about characters is presented in Leschen et al (2005). …”

“…Characters are derived from the descriptions in Leschen et al (2005) and some of the external characters are shown in Fig. 1.…”

“…), and New Zealand (Priasilpha Broun: 7 spp.) secretions on their bodies (see the review of the species by Leschen et al 2005). Now that species names are available and a phylogeny exists for the genera (and its relatives in Cucujoidea), we take this opportunity to reconstruct the relationships of the New Zealand endemic genus Priasilpha and determine its history in New Zealand.…”

Beetles (Coleoptera) of Peru: A Survey of the Families. Monotomidae Laporte, 1840

“…The sister group of the family is, as yet, unknown, but may be the Nitidulid-series (Nitidulida e+Kateretidae+Smicripidae) or various families allied to Erotylidae (Helotidae, Erotylidae, others) (Leschen et al 2005, Hunt et. al 2007, Lawrence et al 2011, Bocak et al 2014).…”