Systematics of New World Mordellini

The family Mordellidae Latreille (Coleoptera) may be important pollinators because of the pollen-feeding behavior of adults. Despite their potential as pollinators, family-group systematic remains in disarray, primarily owing to a complete lack of understanding regarding species diversity, especially in the tropics. Jackman and Lu (2002) reported 1,500 species of Mordellidae globally (205 in the U.S.); however, the exact, or even projected, number of species is questionable. The tribe Mordellini has had the most phylogenic attention and therefore is the only tribe with any amount of resolution, even so relationships amongst the genera are still poorly understood, mostly due to the lack of defining characteristic at the generic level and the historical use of Mordella as a “collect-all” genus. Monophyly of North American Mordella will be tested with respect to tropical Mordella and using modern phylogenic methods.