Not so ironclad (beetles): The first large-scale phylogeny of the family Zopheridae (Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea)

The beetle family Zopheridae is currently composed of members from three previously-recognized families (Zopheridae, Colydiidae, and Monommatidae), resulting in a tortured taxonomic history. The impressive morphological heterogeneity of the group and insufficient prior analyses have led to repeated questioning of the family’s constitution and higher-level classification. Therefore, the first robust phylogenetic reconstruction was undertaken utilizing both molecular and morphological data. Preliminary results from our investigation and insights into the future of this unstable family are given.