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ThePhelisterhaemorrhousspecies group is established here, revising the seventeen included species, four of which are described as new. This group is named for and contains the type species ofPhelister, so represents a core around which a modern concept of the dumping-ground genusPhelistermay be developed. The group includes several common and well-known species in the Americas, including some of the onlyPhelisterto exhibit distinctive coloration. Several of these are typically found in cattle dung, and have likely expanded beyond their native ranges as cattle spread throughout the Americas. The group contains the following species:PhelisterhaemorrhousMarseul, 1854,PhelisteraffinisJ.E. LeConte, 1859,PhelisterparallelisternusSchmidt, 1893,PhelistermobilensisCasey, 1916,PhelisterbrevistriatusCasey, 1916,Phelistersonoraesp. nov.,Phelisterwarnerisp. nov.,PhelisterpuncticollisHinton, 1935,Phelistersubrotundus(Say, 1825),Phelisterrouzeti(Fairmaire, 1850),PhelisterrufinotusMarseul, 1861,PhelisterthiemeiSchmidt, 1889,Phelisterparecissp. nov.,Phelisterbryantisp. nov.,Phelistervernus(Say, 1825),PhelisterchilicolaMarseul, 1870, andPhelisterbruchiBickhardt, 1920. We also designate the following new synonymies:PhelisterhaemorrhousMarseul (=PhelisterrubicundusMarseul, 1889,syn. nov.);Phelistersubrotundus(=PhelistercontractusCasey, 1916,syn nov.);Phelisterrouzeti(Fairmaire) (=PhelisterfairmaireiMarseul, 1861;syn. nov., =PhelisterwickhamiCasey, 1916,syn. nov.);PhelisterrufinotusMarseul, 1861 (=EpierusmarseuliiKirsch, 1873,syn. nov.); andPhelisterthiemeiSchmidt, 1889 (=PhelisterstercoricolaBickhardt, 1909,syn. nov.).

The formely monotypic Neotropical genus Megalocraerus Lewis is revised to include five species, known from southeastern Brazil to Costa Rica: Megalocraerus rubricatus Lewis, Megalocraerus mandibularis sp. n., Megalocraerus chico sp. n., Megalocraerus madrededios sp. n., and Megalocraerus tiputini sp. n. We describe the species, map their distributions, and provide a key for their identification. Their subcylindrical body form and emarginate mesosternum have previously hindered placement to tribe, although their curent assignment to Exosternini now appears well supported by morphological evidence. Nothing is known of the natural history of the species.

Exosternini are a very species-rich group of Histeridae, occurring nearly worldwide, with particular concentrations in the Neotropical and Afrotropical regions. In the New World, the group comprises over 400 described species, in 12 genera, with approximately 250 additional species awaiting description. Generic limits in this group are poorly defined. A phylogenetic analysis of all known New World species, described and undescribed, with over 50 outgroup taxa from other genera and tribes of Histerinae was undertaken, based on 259 morphological characters, adding 18S, 28S and cytochrome oxidase I sequences for a subset of 150 taxa. The genera Hypobletus Schmidt, Yarmister Wenzel, Kaszabister Mazur, Mecistostethus Marseul and Megalocraerus Lewis were each supported as monophyletic. Baconia Lewis was rendered paraphyletic by the inclusion of Strigister Caterino et al. The bulk of Operclipygus Marseul was monophyletic, although the O. plicicollis group was not always included. The genus Phelister Marseul was paraphyletic many times over, with members of Operclipygus, Mecistostethus, Kaszabister, Pseudister Bickhardt, Conchita Mazur and Nunbergia Mazur nested within, indicating that Phelister is in need of significant revision.

We describe Strigister Caterino, Tishechkin, and Proudfoot new genus (Coleoptera: Histeridae: Histerinae: Exosternini) for Strigister tecolotito Caterino, Tishechkin, and Proudfoot new species and for Strigister simoni (Lewis, 1889) new combination. These species are excluded from Phelister Marseul based on several unique characters, especially transverse slits on the prosternal keel and a single v-shaped annulus on the antennal club, and the genus is suggested to be more closely related to Baconia Lewis. Strigister tecolotito has been found exclusively in association with nests of the ferruginous pygmy-owl (Glaucidium brasilianum (Gmelin)) and the Eastern screech-owl (Megascops asio (L.)) in extreme southern Texas, USA. Strigister simoni is known only from the type specimen, lacking ecological data, from Venezuela.

Here we present a complete revision of the species of Baconia. Up until now there have been 27 species assigned to the genus (Mazur, 2011), in two subgenera (Binhister Cooman and Baconia s. str.), with species in the Neotropical, Nearctic, Palaearctic, and Oriental regions. We recognize all these species as valid and correctly assigned to the genus, and redescribe all of them. We synonymize Binhister, previously used for a polyphyletic assemblage of species with varied relationships in the genus. We move four species into Baconia from other genera, and describe 85 species as new, bringing the total for the genus to 116 species. We divide these into 12 informal species groups, leaving 13 species unplaced to group. We present keys and diagnoses for all species, as well as habitus photos and illustrations of male genitalia for nearly all. The genus now contains the following species and species groups: Baconia loricata group [B. loricata Lewis, 1885, B. patula Lewis, 1885, B. gounellei (Marseul, 1887a), B. jubaris (Lewis, 1901), B. festiva (Lewis, 1891), B. foliosoma sp. n., B. sapphirina sp. n., B. furtiva sp. n., B. pernix sp. n., B. applanatis sp. n., B. disciformis sp. n., B. nebulosa sp. n., B. brunnea sp. n.], B. godmani group [B. godmani (Lewis, 1888), B. venusta (J. E. LeConte, 1845), B. riehli (Marseul, 1862), comb. n., B. scintillans sp. n., B. isthmia sp. n., B. rossi sp. n., B. navarretei sp. n., B. maculata sp. n., B. deliberata sp. n., B. excelsa sp. n., B. violacea (Marseul, 1853), B. varicolor (Marseul, 1887b), B. dives (Marseul, 1862), B. eximia (Lewis, 1888), B. splendida sp. n., B. jacinta sp. n., B. prasina sp. n., B. opulenta sp. n., B. illustris (Lewis, 1900), B. choaspites (Lewis, 1901), B. lewisi Mazur, 1984], B. salobrus group [B. salobrus (Marseul, 1887b), B. turgifrons sp. n., B. crassa sp. n., B. anthracina sp. n., B. emarginata sp. n., B. obsoleta sp. n.], B. ruficauda group [B. ruficauda sp. n., B. repens sp. n.], B. angusta group [B. angusta Schmidt, 1893a, B. incognita sp. n., B. guartela sp. n., B. bullifrons sp. n., B. cavei sp. n., B. subtilis sp. n., B. dentipes sp. n., B. rubripennis sp. n., B. lunatifrons sp. n.], B. aeneomicans group [B. aeneomicans (Horn, 1873), B. pulchella sp. n., B. quercea sp. n., B. stephani sp. n., B. irinae sp. n., B. fornix sp. n., B. slipinskii Mazur, 1981, B. submetallica sp. n., B. diminua sp. n., B. rufescens sp. n., B. punctiventer sp. n., B. aulaea sp. n., B. mustax sp. n., B. plebeia sp. n., B. castanea sp. n., B. lescheni sp. n., B. oblonga sp. n., B. animata sp. n., B. teredina sp. n., B. chujoi (Cooman, 1941), B. barbarus (Cooman, 1934), B. reposita sp. n., B. kubani sp. n., B. wallacea sp. n., B. bigemina sp. n., B. adebratti sp. n., B. silvestris sp. n.], B. cylindrica group [B. cylindrica sp. n., B. chatzimanolisi sp. n.], B. gibbifer group [B. gibbifer sp. n., B. piluliformis sp. n., B. maquipucunae sp. n., B. tenuipes sp. n., B. tuberculifer sp. n., B. globosa sp. n.], B. insolita group [B. insolita (Schmidt, 1893a), comb. n., B. burmeisteri (Marseul, 1870), B. tricolor sp. n., B. pilicauda sp. n.], B. riouka group [B. riouka (Marseul, 1861), B. azuripennis sp. n.], B. famelica group [B. famelica sp. n., B. grossii sp. n., B. redemptor sp. n., B. fortis sp. n., B. longipes sp. n., B. katieae sp. n., B. cavifrons (Lewis, 1893), comb. n., B. haeterioides sp. n.], B. micans group [B. micans (Schmidt, 1889a), B. carinifrons sp. n., B. fulgida (Schmidt, 1889c)], Baconia incertae sedis [B. chilense (Redtenbacher, 1867), B. glauca (Marseul, 1884), B. coerulea (Bickhardt, 1917), B. angulifrons sp. n., B. sanguinea sp. n., B. viridimicans (Schmidt, 1893b), B. nayarita sp. n., B. viridis sp. n., B. purpurata sp. n., B. aenea sp. n., B. clemens sp. n., B. leivasi sp. n., B. atricolor sp. n.]. We designate lectotypes for the following species: Baconia loricata Lewis, 1885, Phelister gounellei Marseul, 1887, Baconia jubaris Lewis, 1901, Baconia festiva Lewis, 1891, Platysoma venustum J.E. Leconte, 1845, Phelister riehli Marseul, 1862, Phelister violaceus Marseul, 1853, Phelister varicolor Marseul, 1887b, Phelister illustris Lewis, 1900, Baconia choaspites Lewis, 1901, Epierus festivus Lewis, 1898, Phelister salobrus Marseul, 1887, Baconia angusta Schmidt, 1893a, Phelister insolitus Schmidt, 1893a, Pachycraerus burmeisteri Marseul, 1870, Phelister riouka Marseul, 1861, Homalopygus cavifrons Lewis, 1893, Phelister micans Schmidt, 1889a, Phelister coeruleus Bickhardt, 1917, and Phelister viridimicans Schmidt, 1893b. We designate neotypes for Baconia patula Lewis, 1885 and Hister aeneomicans Horn, 1873, whose type specimens are lost.

We revise the large Neotropical genus Operclipygus Marseul, in the histerid tribe Exosternini (Histeridae: Histerinae). We synonymize 3 species, move 14 species from other genera, sink the genus Tribalister Horn into Operclipygus, and describe 138 species as new, bringing the total to 177 species of Operclipygus. Keys are provided for the identification of all species, and the majority of the species are illustrated by habitus and male genitalia illustrations. The species are diverse throughout tropical South and Central America, with only a few species extending into the temperate parts of North America. The majority of species can be recognized by the presence of a distinct stria or sulcus along the apical margin of the pygidium, though it is not exclusive to the genus. Natural history details for species of Operclipygus are scant, as most specimens have been collected through the use of passive flight interception traps. Many are probably generally associated with decaying vegetation and leaf litter, where they prey on small arthropods. But a small proportion are known inquilines, with social insects such as ants and termites, and also with some burrowing mammals, such as Ctenomys Blainville. The genus now includes the following species groups and species: Operclipygus sulcistrius group [O. lucanoides sp. n., O. schmidti sp. n., O. simplistrius sp. n., O. sulcistrius Marseul, 1870], O. mirabilis group [O. mirabilis (Wenzel & Dybas, 1941) comb. n., O. pustulifer sp. n., O. plaumanni sp. n., O. sinuatus sp. n., O. mutuca sp. n., O. carinistrius (Lewis, 1908) comb. n., O. parensis sp. n., O. schlingeri sp. n.], O. kerga group [O. kerga (Marseul, 1870), O. planifrons sp. n., O. punctistrius sp. n.], O. conquisitus group [O. bicolor sp. n., O. conquisitus (Lewis, 1902), O. friburgius (Marseul, 1864)], O. impuncticollis group [O. bickhardti sp. n., O. britannicus sp. n., O. impuncticollis (Hinton, 1935)], O. panamensis group [O. crenatus (Lewis, 1888), O. panamensis (Wenzel & Dybas, 1941)], O. sejunctus group [O. depressus (Hinton, 1935), O. itoupe sp. n., O. juninensis sp. n., O. pecki sp. n., O. punctiventer sp. n., O. sejunctus (Schmidt, 1896) comb. n., O. setiventris sp. n.], O. mortavis group [O. ecitonis sp. n., O. mortavis sp. n., O. paraguensis sp. n.], O. dytiscoides group [O. carinisternus sp. n., O. crenulatus sp. n., O. dytiscoides sp. n., O. quadratus sp. n.], O. dubitabilis group [O. dubitabilis (Marseul, 1889), O. yasuni sp. n.], O. angulifer group [O. angulifer sp. n., O. impressifrons sp. n.], O. dubius group [O. andinus sp. n., O. dubius (Lewis, 1888), O. extraneus sp. n., O. intermissus sp. n., O. lunulus sp. n., O. occultus sp. n., O. perplexus sp. n., O. remotus sp. n., O. validus sp. n., O. variabilis sp. n.], O. hospes group [O. assimilis sp. n., O. belemensis sp. n., O. bulbistoma sp. n., O. callifrons sp. n., O. colombicus sp. n., O. communis sp. n., O. confertus sp. n., O. confluens sp. n., O. curtistrius sp. n., O. diffluens sp. n., O. fusistrius sp. n., O. gratus sp. n., O. hospes (Lewis, 1902), O. ibiscus sp. n., O. ignifer sp. n., O. impositus sp. n., O. incisus sp. n., O. innocuus sp. n., O. inquilinus sp. n., O. minutus sp. n., O. novateutoniae sp. n., O. praecinctus sp. n., O. prominens sp. n., O. rileyi sp. n., O. subterraneus sp. n., O. tenuis sp. n., O. tiputinus sp. n.], O. farctus group [O. atlanticus sp. n., O. bidessois (Marseul, 1889), O. distinctus (Hinton, 1935), O. distractus (Schmidt, 1896) comb. n., O. farctissimus sp. n., O. farctus (Marseul, 1864), O. gilli sp. n., O. impressistrius sp. n., O. inflatus sp. n., O. latemarginatus (Bickhardt, 1920) comb. n., O. petrovi sp. n., O. plicatus (Hinton, 1935) comb. n., O. prolixus sp. n., O. punctifrons sp. n., O. proximus sp. n., O. subrufus sp. n.], O. hirsutipes group [O. guianensis sp. n., O. hirsutipes sp. n.], O. hamistrius group [O. arquus sp. n., O. campbelli sp. n., O. chiapensis sp. n., O. dybasi sp. n., O. geometricus (Casey, 1893) comb. n., O. hamistrius (Schmidt, 1893) comb. n., O. impressicollis sp. n., O. intersectus sp. n., O. montanus sp. n., O. nubosus sp. n., O. pichinchensis sp. n., O. propinquus sp. n., O. quinquestriatus sp. n., O. rubidus (Hinton, 1935) comb. n., O. rufescens sp. n., O. troglodytes sp. n.], O. plicicollis group [O. cephalicus sp. n., O. longidens sp. n., O. plicicollis (Schmidt, 1893)], O. fossipygus group [O. disconnectus sp. n., O. fossipygus (Wenzel, 1944), O. foveipygus (Bickhardt, 1918), O. fungicolus (Wenzel & Dybas, 1941), O. gibbulus (Schmidt, 1889) comb. n., O. olivensis sp. n., O. simplicipygus sp. n., O. subdepressus (Schmidt, 1889), O. therondi (Wenzel, 1976)], O. impunctipennis group [O. chamelensis sp. n., O. foveiventris sp. n., O. granulipectus sp. n., O. impunctipennis (Hinton, 1935) comb. n., O. latifoveatus sp. n., O. lissipygus sp. n., O. maesi sp. n., O. mangiferus sp. n., O. marginipennis sp. n., O. nicodemus sp. n., O. nitidus sp. n., O. pacificus sp. n., O. pauperculus sp. n., O. punctissipygus sp. n., O. subviridis sp. n., O. tripartitus sp. n., O. vorax sp. n.], O. marginellus group [O. ashei sp. n., O. baylessae sp. n., O. dentatus sp. n., O. formicatus sp. n., O. hintoni sp. n., O. marginellus (J.E. LeConte, 1860) comb. n., O. orchidophilus sp. n., O. selvorum sp. n., O. striatellus (Fall, 1917) comb. n.], incertae sedis: O. teapensis (Marseul, 1853) comb. n., O. punctulatus sp. n., O. lama Mazur, 1988, O. florifaunensis sp. n., O. bosquesecus sp. n., O. arnaudi Dégallier, 1982, O. subsphaericus sp. n., O. latipygus sp. n., O. elongatus sp. n., O. rupicolus sp. n., O. punctipleurus sp. n., O. falini sp. n., O. peregrinus sp. n., O. brooksi sp. n., O. profundipygus sp. n., O. punctatissimus sp. n., O. cavisternus sp. n., O. siluriformis sp. n., O. parallelus sp. n., O. abbreviatus sp. n., O. pygidialis (Lewis, 1908), O. faltistrius sp. n., O. limonensis sp. n., O. wenzeli sp. n., O. iheringi (Bickhardt, 1917), O. angustisternus (Wenzel, 1944), O. shorti sp. n. We establish the following synonymies: Phelisteroides miladae Wenzel & Dybas, 1941 and Pseudister propygidialis Hinton, 1935e = O. crenatus (Lewis, 1888); Phelister subplicatus Schmidt, 1893b = O. bidessois (Marseul, 1889). We designate lectotypes for Operclipygus sulcistrius Marseul, 1870, Phelister carinistrius Lewis, 1908, Phelister kerga Marseul, 1870, Phelister friburgius Marseul, 1864, Phelister impuncticollis Hinton, 1935, Phelister crenatus Lewis, 1888, Phelister sejunctus Schmidt, 1896, Pseudister depressus Hinton, 1935, Epierus dubius Lewis, 1888, Phelister hospes Lewis, 1902, Phelister farctus Marseul, 1864, Phelister bidessois Marseul, 1889, Phelister subplicatus Schmidt, 1893, Phelister plicatus Hinton, 1935, Phelister distinctus Hinton, 1935, Phelister distractus Schmidt, 1896, Pseudister latemarginatus Bickhardt, 1920, Phelister hamistrius Schmidt, 1893, Phelister plicicollis Schmidt, 1893, Phelister gibbulus Schmidt, 1889, Phelister subdepressus Schmidt, 1889, Phelister teapensis Marseul, 1853, Phelister pygidialis Lewis, 1908, Phelister iheringi Bickhardt, 1917, and Phelister marginellus J.E. LeConte 1860. We designate a neotype for O. conquisitus Lewis, replacing its lost type specimen.

Renclasea n. gen., a genus of the Hetaeriinae (Histeridae), with six species, R. skelleyi n. sp. (United States: Florida and Georgia), R. falli n. sp. (United States: California), R. helavai n. sp. (United States: Arizona), R. mexicana n. sp. (Mexico: Hidalgo), R. occidentalis n. sp. (United States: Arizona and New Mexico) and R. cazieri n. sp. (United States: Arizona), are described, illustrated and diagnosed. The status of two female specimens of Renclasea from western Texas, apparently closely related to R. occidentalis, remains uncertain. The only host record available for the genus is an association of R. mexicana with undetermined species of Neivamyrmex army ants.

The first two species of the obligate inquilinous subfamily Chlamydopsinae (Coleoptera: Histeridae) from the Philippines, Eucurtiopsis ashei (Luzon Island) and E. avis (Negros Island), are described and illustrated. Positions of the new species within the genus and potential biogeographic connection of the Philippine chlamydopsine fauna are discussed.

Using DNA sequences of nuclear ribosomal (18S) and mitochondrial (cytochrome oxidase I) genes (a modified DNA barcoding approach), we positively identify, for the first time, larvae of hetaeriine Histeridae. Species in this subfamily occur as obligate associates of social insect colonies, particularly those of neotropical army ants. Of several larval specimens collected from bivouacs of Eciton burchelli, we identify the two larval instars of Paratropinus scalptus, and discuss a quite different first instar larva near Euxenister. The larvae are described and illustrated, with attempts to homologize all chaetotaxy to other known histerid larvae. Phylogenetic trees for 18S and cytochrome oxidase I, for over twenty hetaeriine taxa, are compared with each other and with a previous hypothesis of relationships in the subfamily.

The purpose of this application, under Article 70.2 of the Code, is to conserve the current usage of the generic name Phelister Marseul, 1853 for a well-established genus of histerid beetles. Modern authors cite either Phelister haemorrhous Marseul, 1853 (designated by Kryzhanovskij & Reichardt, 1976) or Paromalus rouzeti Fairmaire 1850 (designated by Mazur, 1984) as the type species of Phelister. However, the correct, long-overlooked type species is Platysoma venustum LeConte, 1844, which is currently recognized as a valid species of Baconia Lewis, 1885. Acceptance of Platysoma venustum as the type species of Phelister would change the current concept of that genus to that of Baconia, and the species currently included in Phelister would require a new genus-group name as there are no junior synonyms from which to choose the next available name. To avoid the nomenclatural instability that would result from following the Principle of Priority, it is proposed that all type fixations for Phelister Marseul, 1853 preceding that of Phelister haemorrhous Marseul, 1853 by Kryzhanovskij & Reichardt (1976) be set aside.

A great diversity of arthropods is symbiotically associated with army ant colonies. Despite the efforts of several generations of researchers to survey army ant symbiont diversity, many species still await scientific discovery. Moreover, the taxonomy of many army ant-associated groups remains unsettled. Here we re-assess the species status of two army ant-associated beetles of the family Histeridae (subfamily Haeteriinae): Ecclisister bickhardti Reichensperger, 1923 and Ecclisister bickhardti costaericae Reichensperger, 1935. We examined specimens fromCosta Rica, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Guyana, and Brazil. Based on the analysis of external and genital morphological characters, we elevated the subspecies to species level. In addition to morphological characters, we provide 11 DNA barcodes for E. costaericae, new status, to facilitate future identifications. A survey of symbiont diversity of the six local army ant species of Eciton Latreille at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica, revealed a spe...

A new species of the genus Eremosaprinus Ross, 1939, E. warneri, is described from southeastern Arizona, USA, and incorporated into the identification key for the genus. Description of the new species is supplemented with SEM micrographs and drawings of sensory structures of the antenna and male genitalia. New distribution data on four species, E. distinctus Lundgren, 1992, E. hubbardi (Wenzel, 1939), E.minimus Tishechkin & Lackner, 2012, and E. unguiculatus (Ross, 1939), are also provided.

We revise the four species of Kaszabister Mazur, 1972, one of which, Kaszabister barrigai sp. n., is described as new. The other species in the genus are K. rubellus (Erichson, 1834), K. ferrugineus (Kirsch, 1873) and K. carinatus (Lewis, 1888). The species are principally known from the subtropics of South America, with one in Central America. Lectotypes are designated for K. rubellus and K. ferrugineus, and a key is provided for all the species. Ants of the genus Solenopsis Westwood, mainly S. invicta Buren and S. saevissima (Smith), are documented as hosts of three of the four species.

We revise the genus Mecistostethus Marseul, sinking the monotypic genus Tarsilister Bruch as a junior synonym. Mecistostethus contains six valid species: M. pilifer Marseul, M. loretoensis (Bruch), comb. n., M. seagorum sp. n., M. carltoni sp. n., M. marseuli sp. n., and M. flechtmanni sp. n. The few existing records show the genus to be widespread in tropical and subtropical South America, from northern Argentina to western Amazonian Ecuador and French Guiana. Only a single host record associates one species with the ant Pachycondyla striata Smith (Formicidae: Ponerinae), but it is possible that related ants host all the species.

Tishechkin, Alexey K. (2009): Discovery of Chlamydopsinae (Insecta, Coleoptera, Histeridae) in Vanuatu with the description of eight new species from Espiritu Santo Island. Zoosystema 31 (3): 661-690, DOI: 10.5252/z2009n3a13, URL: http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.5252/z2009n3a13

Three new species belonging to the tribe Nymphistrini of the obligate myrmeco- and termitophilous subfamily Haeteriinae (Coleoptera: Histeridae) are described from Central America: Nymphister rettenmeyeri sp. n. (Costa Rica and Panama), Trichoreninus carltoni sp. n. (Belize and Honduras) and T. neo sp. n. (Costa Rica and Panama). Identification keys for the Central American species of both genera are prepared. Available host records for N. rettenmeyeri confirm the symbiosis of the genus with Eciton army ants: the species has been found in colonies of E. burchelli (Westwood), E. hamatum (Fabricius) and E. mexicanum Roger. Host records are not available for the new species of Trichoreninus as all known specimens were collected by flight intercept traps.