| A systematic revision of the aleocharine tribe Phytosini sensu Seevers is presented. In chapter 2, the tribe Liparocephalini is hypothesized to be a monophyletic group among the Phytosini. A cladistic analysis of the species of the Liparocephalini is presented. Based on cladograms, the species of the Liparocephalini are classified. A key is provided for separation of the species of the Liparocephalini, and illustrations of diagnostic features are presented. Biophytosus is synonymized under Salinamexus. Boreorhardinus is synonymized under Amblopusa. Boreorhardinus pacificus is synonymized under A. brevipes. New genus Paramblopusa is erected. Genoplectes is synonymized under Diaulota. Three new species are described (A. alaskana, A. hokkaidona and D. alaskana). Late instar larvae of A. alaskana, L. brevipennis, L. cordicollis, L. tokunagai, D. aokii, D. densissima, D. fulviventris, D. harteri, D. uenoi are described. In chapter 3, Tarphiota, Thinusa, and Pontomalota are defined as the subtribe Pontomalotina among the Athetini. A cladistic analysis of the species of the Pontomalotina is presented. A key is provided for separation of the species of the Pontomalotina and illustrations of diagnostic features are presented. Tarphiota pallidipes is synonymized under Tarphiota fucicola. One new species is described (P. terminalia). P. californica Casey, P. nigriceps Casey, P. luctuosa Casey, and P. bakeri Bernhauer are shown to be color variants of one species and are synonymized under the name P. opaca (LeConte). The geographical body color variation of P. opaca from British Columbia to Baja California is described. In chapter 4, a systematic revision of the aleocharine genus Bryobiota is presented. Two species are recognized, one of which is transferred from Salinamexus (B. giulianii (Moore)). Myrmecopora californica Scheerpeltz is synonymized under B. bicolor (Casey). A key is provided for separation of the species of Bryobiota, and illustrations of diagnostic features are presented. Bryobiota is hypothesized to be a member of the tribe Falagriini rather than the tribe Phytosini. A revised cladistic analysis of the genera of Falagriini of America north of Mexico is presented. |
