Análisis filogenético del subgénero Phyllophaga (Triodonyx) (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae: Melolonthinae)

Abstract

A phylogenetic study of the subgenus Phyllophaga (Triodonyx) based on external morphology and male and female genitalia characters of adult specimens is presented. The cladistic analysis included 48 taxa of Melolonthinae and 140 morphological characters. Three equally parsimonious trees were obtained. The results allowed to conclude that the 5 species traditionally included in the subgenus Triodonyx do not belong to the genus Phyllophaga. The restitution of the genus Triodonyx and the formation of the subtribe Triodonina are proposed. The relationships of the new group with other tribes of Melolonthinae are preliminarily commented.