Classification, relationships and distribution of the genera of Heleini (Coleoptera : Tenebrionidae)

Abstract

The tribe Heleini is redefined to exclude the genera Lepispilus Westwood, 1841, and Leaus Matthews & Lawrence, 1992, which become incertae sedis within the subfamily Tenebrioninae . Four generic names are synonymised as follows: Barytipha Pascoe, 1869, and Pezohelaeus Gebien, 1920, with Pterohelaeus Brême, 1842; Euhelaeus Gebien, 1920, with Emcephalus Kirby, 1828; and Saragella Carter, 1937, with Dysarchus Pascoe, 1866. The genus Saragus Erichson, 1842, is resurrected as separate from Celibe Boisduval, 1835, with which it had been confused, and two new genera (Boreosaragus and Cillibus) are proposed for other species formerly in Celibe, bringing the total to 14 genera in the tribe, which is distributed in Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea and Seram.

A tentative phylogeny is proposed for the genera, the constituent species are either mentioned or reference is made to a former checklist, and the Australian distribution of all but two genera is plotted. Hypotheses are put forward on evolutionary trends and the past history of the tribe.

The 27 new combinations proposed are listed in Appendices I and II at the end of the paper.