A revision of the Phelister haemorrhous species group (Coleoptera, Histeridae, Exosternini)

Abstract

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.).