Content area
Abstract
The purpose of this dissertation is to disseminate the results of a thorough taxonomic revision of the genus Platycoelia Dejean (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Anoplognathini: Platycoeliina). Phylogenetic analyses of all species in the genus were conducted and the biogeography of the genus is discussed. The phylogenetic analysis supports the monophyly of Platycoelia and divides the genus into four major clades. Based on the cladistic analysis, the generic names Callichloris Burmeister, Leucopelaea Bates, and Epicallichloris Gutiérrez are considered synonyms of Platycoelia. Character states supporting monophyletic clades are discussed. Descriptions and keys to all taxa are included.
The genus Platycoelia was revised and now includes 62 species, 19 of which are described as new. The new species include: P. aenigma, P. altiplana, P. butleri, P. caucana, P. convexa, P. flavohumeralis, P. furva, P. grandicula, P. hiporum, P. ignota, P. Inca, P. insolita, P. interstincta, P. meridensis, P. paucarae, P. peruviana, P. pusilla, P. sandia, P. traceyae . The following species group names are placed in synonymy: P. boliviensis Blanchard (=P. pomacea Erichson), P. brasiliensis Ohaus (=P. pomacea Erichson), P. limbata Ohaus (=P. prasina Erichson), P. nigricauda Bates (=P. parva Kirsch), P. proseni Martínez (=P. burmeisteri Arrow), P. pulchrior Ohaus (=P. chrysotina Ohaus), P. tucumana Ohaus (=P. inflata Ohaus). Lectotypes were selected for 47 species group names that now fall within the genus Platycoelia by the following authors: Arrow, Bates, Blanchard, Burmeister, Erichson, Guérin-Méneville, Kirsch, Latreille, Ohaus. A neotype was designated for Callichloris laelaps Gutiérrez.
