Revision and phylogenetic analysis of Conotelus Erichson (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae)

The new world genus Conotelus Erichson (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) is remarkable among the “sap beetles” due to its striking resemblance to tachyporine rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) and it’s associations with flowers, especially those of Convolvulaceae and Solanaceae. A revision and phylogenetic analysis of Conotelus is being conducted using comparative anatomical morphological characters of adults. Currently, a total of 35 species are (re) described, including 14 new species, and four species historically placed within Conotelus are removed. A key to species, illustrations/photographs, species profiles, as well as distribution and natural history information are summarized.