On the Phylogeny and Biogeography of the Family Cupedidae (Coleoptera)

Abstract

The phylogenetic position of the family Cupedidae (Cupesidae or Cupidae of some authors) has been the subject of much controversy. As studies have been made for the most part on the eastern genus Cupes, I was pleased to have an opportunity to study the western species Priacma serrata (Lec.) (Atkins, 1957). Several hundred males were collected near Lumky, B.C. during spring in 1956 and 1957. Many of these were dissected in order to study those features of the internal and external morphology on which much of the following discussion is based.