Phylogeny and generic limits in N ew W orld E xosternini ( C oleoptera: H isteridae: H isterinae)

Exosternini are a very species‐rich group of H isteridae, occurring nearly worldwide, with particular concentrations in the N eotropical and A frotropical regions. In the N ew W orld, 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 N ew W orld species, described and undescribed, with over 50 outgroup taxa from other genera and tribes of H isterinae was undertaken, based on 259 morphological characters, adding 18S , 28S and cytochrome oxidase I sequences for a subset of 150 taxa. The genera Hypobletus S chmidt, Yarmister W enzel, Kaszabister M azur, Mecistostethus M arseul and Megalocraerus L ewis were each supported as monophyletic. Baconia L ewis was rendered paraphyletic by the inclusion of Strigister C aterino et al . The bulk of Operclipygus M arseul was monophyletic, although the O. plicicollis group was not always included. The genus Phelister M arseul was paraphyletic many times over, with members of Operclipygus, Mecistostethus, Kaszabister, Pseudister B ickhardt, Conchita Mazur and Nunbergia M azur nested within, indicating that Phelister is in need of significant revision.