Phylogeny and generic limits in New World Exosternini (Coleoptera: Histeridae: Histerinae)

摘要

Exosternini are a very species-rich group of Histeridae, occurring nearly worldwide, with particular concentrations in the Neotropical and Afrotropical regions. In the New World, the group comprises over 400 described species, in 12 genera, with approximately 250 additional species awaiting description. Generic limits in this group are poorly defined. A phylogenetic analysis of all known New World species, described and undescribed, with over 50 outgroup taxa from other genera and tribes of Histerinae was undertaken, based on 259 morphological characters, adding 18S, 28S and cytochrome oxidase I sequences for a subset of 150 taxa. The genera HypobletusSchmidt, YarmisterWenzel, KaszabisterMazur, MecistostethusMarseul and MegalocraerusLewis were each supported as monophyletic. BaconiaLewis was rendered paraphyletic by the inclusion of StrigisterCaterino et al. The bulk of OperclipygusMarseul was monophyletic, although the O. plicicollis group was not always included. The genus PhelisterMarseul was paraphyletic many times over, with members of Operclipygus, Mecistostethus, Kaszabister, PseudisterBickhardt, Conchita Mazur and NunbergiaMazur nested within, indicating that Phelister is in need of significant revision.