Phylogenetic relationships among the erotylid fungus beetles are poorly known and the placement of this family relative to other cucujoid families is controversial. DNA sequence data (18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, 16S, and COII) were obtained for a broad taxonomic sampling within the Erotylidae, Languriidae, and cucujoid outgroups. Separate and combined analyses were performed using a variety of parameter sets including standard parsimony, likelihood, and optimization alignment techniques. These analyses suggest that (1) Languriidae is a paraphyletic assemblage nested within Erotylidae; (2) color pattern classes have arisen independently multiple times during erotylid evolution, and (3) parental care is not linked with larval gregariousness. Other
taxonomic and biological implications are discussed in light of this phylogeny.
Species 1: Coleoptera Erotylidae (pleasing fungus beetles)
Keywords: molecular phylogeny, color patterning
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