Revision of the Neotropical genus Leptochromus Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Scydmaenidae)

Abstract

The Neotropical genus Leptochromus Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Scydmaenidae) is revised, and a phylogenetic analysis of Clidicini is presented. Leptochromus includes five species distributed from Veracruz, Mexico to Manaus, Brazil. Leptochromus fulvescens Motschulsky, L. mexicanus (Sharp) and L. agilis (Sharp) are considered valid species. Leptochromus bicolor O'Keefe, sp.n. from Veracruz, Mexico and L. palaeomexicanus O'Keefe, sp.n. from Miocene amber from Chiapas are described. Male genitalia and antennae are illustrated for each of the extant species. Female genitalia, mouthparts and other morphological features are illustrated for the type species L. fulvescens. For the phylogenetic analysis of Clidicini, Palaeoleptochromus O'Keefe was placed as the sister taxon to Leptochromus, and Papusus Casey was placed as the sister taxon to Leptochromus + Palaeoleptochromus. Papusus is elevated from synonomy with Leptochromus and the biogeography of Clidicini is discussed.