Relationships and higher classification of some Tenebrionidae and Zopheridae (Coleoptera)

Abstract

Changes in the higher classification of Zopheridae and Tenebrionidae are specified, mostly within the context of Watt's (1974b) revised subfamily classification of Tenebrionidae. New or revised diagnoses are provided for adults and/or larvae of several higher taxa, and larval descriptions of several tribes are provided for the first time.The family Zopheridae is classified as three subfamilies, Ulodinae, Usechinae and Zopherinae. Usechini is transferred from Tenebrionidae into Zopheridae.

Comparative study of larvae of Tenebrionoidea (Coleoptera: Cucujiformia)

“…However, the monophyly is not well founded and the interrelationships of the families are largely unresolved despite of a considerable number of phylogenetic investigations (e.g. Crowson, 1966;Abdullah, 1973Abdullah, , 1974Doyen & Lawrence, 1979;Pollock, 1995;Pollock & Lawrence, 1995). A large number of studies on tenebrionoid larvae have been published.…”

Re-evaluation of the generaPhloeodes,NoserusandNosoderma(Coleoptera: Zopheridae) with description of a new species ofNosodermafrom northern México

“…Most of the descriptions provided by Casey correspond mainly to descriptions of individual variations and not to species or geographic races as pointed out by Triplehorn (1972) in his review of the genus Zopherus. Doyen & Lawrence (1979) listed only three species of Noserus and Phloeodes from California and ignore the species described by Casey (1907a;1907b). García-París et al (2001) also questioned the taxonomic validity of four species described by Casey (1907a;1907b), but none of these authors made a formal taxonomic change.…”

“…Based on the study of larval characters, these authors considered the family Zopheridae as having its own identity, and separated from the Tenebrionidae. The taxonomic discussion (Crowson 1955;Kamiya 1963;Watt 1967a Watt , b, 1974aDoyen & Lawrence 1979;Lawrence 1994;Lawrence & Newton 1995) The genus Phloeodes (sensu Slipinsky & Lawrence 1999, including all species of Noserus) is characterized by having the two terminal segments of the antennae fused with each other; the internal face of the male's femora with a large, callous looking, elliptic tubercle; the tarsal segments apparently grooved ventrally; and especially by the presence of a relatively deep and conspicuous hypomeral groove which can contain the antennae while in repose (Doyen & Lawrence 1979;Slipinsky & Lawrence 1999;García-París et al 2001). Nosoderma also has the two apical segments of the antennae fused and present evident femoral callosities, while the short and shallow hypomeral groove, and tarsal segments apparently grooved ventrally are only present in a few species (García-París et al 2001).…”

“…Based on the study of larval characters, these authors considered the family Zopheridae as having its own identity, and separated from the Tenebrionidae. The taxonomic discussion (Crowson 1955;Kamiya 1963;Watt 1967aWatt , b, 1974aDoyen & Lawrence 1979;Lawrence 1994;Lawrence & Newton 1995) ended in its final exclusion from Tenebrionidae and its placement near Colydiidae. If a classification was to be performed using the most recent phylogenetic hypothesis based on morphological characters (Slipinsky & Lawrence 1999), the family Zopheridae would include Zopheridae (sensu Doyen & Lawrence 1979;Lawrence 1994;Lawrence & Newton 1995), Colydiidae and Monommatidae.…”

“…The taxonomic discussion (Crowson 1955;Kamiya 1963;Watt 1967aWatt , b, 1974aDoyen & Lawrence 1979;Lawrence 1994;Lawrence & Newton 1995) ended in its final exclusion from Tenebrionidae and its placement near Colydiidae. If a classification was to be performed using the most recent phylogenetic hypothesis based on morphological characters (Slipinsky & Lawrence 1999), the family Zopheridae would include Zopheridae (sensu Doyen & Lawrence 1979;Lawrence 1994;Lawrence & Newton 1995), Colydiidae and Monommatidae. Slipinsky & Lawrence (1999) recognized two large subfamilies within the group, Zopherinae and Colydiinae, and within Zopherinae the tribes Latometini, Usechini, Monommatini, Phellopsini, Pycnomerini and Zopherini.…”