Preliminary phylogeny of Bolitophagini (Tenebrionidae: Tenebrioninae)

The darkling beetle tribe Bolitophagini Kirby, 1837 (Tenebrionidae: Tenebrioninae) is a globally distributed tribe currently comprised of 22 genera (21 extant) and over 170 species. Bolitophagini is one of three tribes in the family of Tenebrionidae known to be obligatory mycetophiles. Bolitophagines complete their development within the fruiting bodies of large fungi (often called boletes, conks, polypores, bracket fungi, or shelf fungi), often forming large groups or complexes within the fungi. Modern taxonomic work within the tribe is limited, lacking a comprehensive revision of the tribe or generic boundaries. Additionally, systematics work to reconstruct the evolutionary history of Bolitophagini is almost completely absent. A preliminary phylogeny for Bolitophagini is presented, along with taxonomic and biogeographic implications for ongoing revisionary work within the tribe.