Abstract:
Phylogenetic analysis using six outgroup and 26 ingroup taxa and 18 external adult morphological
characters resulted in a paraphyletic Pegylina as composed by Lacroix (1989). To
maintain the Pegylina as a monophyletic subtribe, the genus Stenopegylis Arrow, 1943 is
removed from the Pegylina and placed in the Melolonthini sensu lato, pending further
cladistic analyses of the Afrotropical melolonthines. Following the analyses presented here,
eight character areas (antennomere number, labrum form, protarsal claw shape, protibial
spur, pronotum, mesosternum and mesosternal process, body shape and sexual dimorphism)
are discussed with reference to differentiating Hypopholis Erichson, 1847 syn. nov.
from Pegylis Erichson, 1847. Consequently, the former is synonymized with the latter,
resulting in the following new combinations: Pegylis sommeri (Burmeister, 1855) comb. nov.;
P. uelensis (Burgeon, 1946) comb. nov. and P. vittata (Fåhraeus in Boheman, 1857) comb. nov.
An appended checklist for the subtribe Pegylina as presently composed includes 37 species
in two genera, Eupegylis Duvivier, 1892 (1 sp.) and Pegylis Erichson, 1847 (36 spp.). During
outgroup selection for this analysis it became aparent that the monotypicWernerophylla nigra
Lacroix, 2001 syn. nov. is conspecific with Stenopegylis cylindrica Arrow, 1943 and consequently
this synonymy is implemented here.
