Phylogenetic relationships and distribution of the Rhizotrogini (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Melolonthinae) in the West Mediterranean

Abstract

In this paper, the West Mediterranean genera of Rhizotrogini are reviewed. Two kinds of character sets are discussed: those relative to the external morphology of the adult and those of the male and female genitalia. Genera Amadotrogus Reitter, 1902; Amphimallina Reitter, 1905; Amphimallon Berthold, 1827; Geotrogus Guérin-Méneville, 1842; Monotropus Erichson, 1847; Pseudoapeterogyna Escalera, 1914 and Rhizotrogus Berthold, 1827 are analysed: to demonstrate the monophyly of this group of genera; to asses the realtionships of these taxa; to test species transferred from Rhizotrogus to Geotrogus and Monotropus, and to describe external morphological and male and female genitalic characters which distinguish each genus. Phylogenetic analysis leads to the conclusion that this group of genera is monophyletic. However, nothing can be said about internal relationships of the genera, which remain in a basal polytomy. Some of the species tranferred from Rhizotrogus are considered to be a new genus Firminus. The genera Amphimallina and Pseudoapterogyna are synonymized with Amphimallon and Geotrogus respectively.