Revision and phylogeny of Protocucujidae [Coleoptera: Cucujoidea]

The family Protocucujidae is characterized on the basis of adult and larva, and its phylogenetic position within the basal families of Cucujoidea is discussed. The species of the temperate genus Ericmodes Reitter (=Protocucujus Crowson) are revised. Seven species, 4 from southern South America and 3 from Australia, are recognized. Four new species are described: Ericmodes costatus (Australia: NSW), E. lawrencei (Australia: QLD), E. tarsalis (Chile) and E. nigris (Chile). Descriptions of all species, figures and a key to the species of Ericmodes are provided. E. synchitoides Reitter, 1878 is designated as the type species of Ericmodes Reitter, 1878. A neotype is designated for Ericmodes fuscitarsis Reitter, 1878. Lectotypes are designated for: Coxelus sylvaticus R. Philippi, 1864; Ericmodes australis Grouvelle, 1893 and E. synchitoides Reitter, 1878. Ericmodes chilensis (Crowson, 1954) is synonymized with E. fuscitarsis Reitter, 1878 syn. nov. The proposed phylogeny of the species of Ericmodes postulates that the Australian and South American species form separate clades, probably originating before the break up of Gondwanian bridge between these land masses through Antarctica. Ericmodes shows the closest relationship to the temperate sphindid genus Protosphindus Sen Gupta et Crowson, and the sister group relationship between Sphindidae (=Aspidiphoridae) and Protocucujidae seem to be well supported by the presented data.