A Preliminary Suprageneric Classification for Clerinae (Coleoptera: Cleridae) based on Molecular and Morphological Evidence, Including a Review of Tegminal Terminology

Abstract

The first suprageneric classification for the clerid subfamily Clerinae is proposed based primarily on the correlation of morphological synapomorphies to the nodes of major clerine clades recovered by recent multi-gene phylogeny estimates dealing with Cleridae. Hydnocerinae Spinola, 1844 new synonym is synonymised with Clerinae. Resurrected suprageneric terms include: Anthicoclerinae Opitz 2010 at the rank of subtribe (Anthicoclerina Opitz new status within Hydnocerini); Cleropiestinae Winkler, 1980 at the rank of subtribe (Cleropiestina Winkler new status within Opilonini); Dieropsinae Winkler, 1964 at the rank of tribe (Dieropsini Winkler new status within Opilonitae); Opilonidae Gistel, 1848 at the rank of supertribe (Opilonitae Gistel new status within Clerinae), tribe (Opilonini Gistel new status within Opilonitae) and subtribe (Opilonina Gistel new status within Opilonini); and Prioceridae Laporte, 1836 at the rank of tribe (Priocerini Laporte new status within Clerinae). Changes in rank for suprageneric terms currently in use include: Callimerini Kolibáč, 1998, lowered to subtribe (Callimerina Kolibáč new status within Hydnocerini); Hydnocerinae Spinola, 1844, lowered to tribe (Hydnocerini Spinola new status within Cleritae); Hydnocerini sensu Kolibáč, 1998, lowered to subtribe (Hydnocerina Spinola new status within Hydnocerini); Lemidiini Kolibáč, 1998, lowered to subtribe (Lemidiina Kolibáč new status within Hydnocerini). In addition to subfamily rank, Clerii Latreille, 1802 is employed as a supertribe (Cleritae Latreille new status), tribe (Clerini Latreille new status) and subtribe (Clerina Latreille new status). Newly proposed higher taxa include: Nataliini Bartlett new tribe; Nataliina Bartlett new subtribe (within Nataliini), and Cormodina Bartlett new subtribe (within Nataliini). Four informal groups are recognised: Dozocolletus group (Clerinae insertae sedis); Menieroclerus group (Clerinae insertae sedis); Odontophlogistus group (within Opilonitae); and Perilypus group (within Clerini). At the genus level: Allelidea Waterhouse, 1839 is transferred from Lemidiini to Hydnocerina; Brachyptevenus Pic, 1939 ‘sensu stricto’ is transferred from Callimerini to Hydnocerina; Pseudachlamys Duvivier, 1892 is transferred from Tillinae to Clerinae; and Sonaevenus Kolibáč, 1998 new status (formerly a subgenus of Brachyptevenus) is raised to full genus ranking. At the species level: Orthrius whitei (Gorham, 1876) new combination is transferred from Opilo; Oxystigmatium aterrimus (Hintz, 1902) new combination is transferred from Thanasimus; Pseudachlamys albopunctata (Hintz, 1905) new combination is transferred from Plathanocera Schenkling. A key to clerine suprageneric groups is presented. All suprageneric groups are morphologically defined, their molecular and morphological support discussed, historical context given, and constituent genera listed. Six clerine genera remain unplaced to any group.