A revision of the neotropical click beetle genera Semiotinus Pjatakowa and Semiotus Eschscholtz (Coleoptera: Elateridae)

Abstract

The Neotropical click beetle genera Semiotinus and Semiotus are monophyletic groups within the subfamily Campsosteminae. Semiotinus is defined by the connate meso- and metastema. presence of three membranous tarsal pads, and straight or recurved pronotal margins meeting the hypomera at an acute angle, without sulci. Semiotus is defined by the connate meso- and metastema, presence of three membranous tarsal pads, and either sulcate, undulate, tuberculate, rounded or incrassale pronotal margins. A cladistic analysis of the genus was carried out using 40 characters from external morphology and male and female genitalia. Apomorphic states were identified using the genus Oistus Candèze as an outgroup. The 17 known species of Semiotinus Pjalakowa and 82 species of Semiotus are described and keyed. Fifteen species, formerly placed in Semiotus Eschscholtz are transferred to the genus Semiotinus, which formerly included only S. banghaasi Pjatakowa. Semiotinus maculatus is newly described. Semiotus straminious Candeze is designated as a synonym of Semioiinus brevicollis Candèze. n. comb.: S. dyptichus Candèze and S. subvirescens Schwarz are designated as synonyms of S. quadricollis Kirsch. n. comb.; S. juvenilis Candèze and S. borrei Candèze are designated as synonyms of S. fusiformis Kirsch. n. comb.: S. elegantulus Candèze is designated as a synonym of S. trilineatus Candèe, n. comb.; S. pulchellus Candèze is designated as a synonym of S. quadrivittis Steinheil, n. comb.; S. staudingeri Pjatakowa is designated as a synonym of S. aeneovittatus Kirsch, n. comb.; Semiotus aliciae, S. angustus, S. catei, S. chassaini. S. clarki, S. colombianus, S. cyrtomaris, S. gibbosus. S. kathleenae, S. kondratieffi, S. lacrimiformis, S. melleus, S. pallicornus. S. perangustus. S. pilosus, S. rileyi, S. rubricollis, S. spinosus. S. trinitensis, S. triplehorni, and S. woodi are newly described. Semiotus superbus reductus Chassain is designated as a synonym of S. acutus Candèze; S. candezei Kirsch is designated as a synonym of S. affinis Guerin; S. multifidus Candèze is designated a synonym of S. fascicularis Candèze; S. bifasciatus Schwarz is designated a synonym of S. fulvicollis Blanchard; S. melanocephalus Schwarz is designated as a synonym of S. antennalis Candèze; S. dohrni Candèze is designated as a synonym of S. badeni Steinheil; S. illigerii bifidus Schwarz is designated a synonym of S. illigeri Candèze; S. imperialis subtilis Szombathy and S. i. schenklingi Szombathy are designated synonyms of S. imperialis Guerin; S. horvathi Szombathy is designated a synonym of S. limatus Candèze; S. nigrolineatus Schwarz is designated a synonym of S. nigriceps Candèze; S. distinctus Herbst is designated a synonym of S. serraticornis Drury; S. superbus championi Chassain is designated as a synonym of S. exsolutus Candèze; S. punctatus Candèze is designated as a synonym of S. germari Guerin; S. nigrolineatus Schwarz is designated a synonym of S. nigriceps Candèze; S. hispidus lamotei Chassain is designated as a synonym of S. hispidus Candèze; S. langei Schwarz is designated as a synonym of S. schaumi Guerin; S. jansoni Candèze and S. jansoni hipunctatus Schwarz are designated as synonyms of .S. taeniatus Erichson; S. splendidus Candèze is designated a subspecies of S. cuspidatus Chevrolat; and S. sanguinolentus Candèze is designated as a synonym of S. virgatus Erichson. Semiotus superbus kirschi Chassain is designated a valid species and S. exsolutus panamensis Chassain is recognized as a valid subspecies. The five genera of the subfamily Campsosteminae are also keyed.