Revision of the North American Asidini (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

The Asidini (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) are a tribe of flightless tenebrionids found in many arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Currently the tribe contains 46 genera divided into four geographically isolated clades. The North American component of the tribe contains over 300 species and subspecies in 27 genera and makes up approximately 20% of the total North American tenebrionid fauna. A lack of clear generic boundaries, the large number of suspect species names, and the accumulation of many undescribed species has hindered our understanding of the tribe. Changes to the generic classification and the placement, or status, of many species are suggested based on a morphological phylogeny of the group and an examination of type material. Anticipated generic changes include the erection of three new genera, resurrection of the genus Pactostoma LeConte, renaming of the genus Parasida (a junior homonym), and the synonymization of Notiasida Casey and Sicharbas Champion.