Hidden diversity and phylogenetic relationships in the family Mycetaeidae (Coleoptera: Coccinelloidea) revealed by analysis of morphological and molecular data

Abstract Based on morphological and molecular data analyses, the world species of the Coccinelloidea family Mycetaeidae are revised and placed in three genera: Agaricophilus Motschulsky (one species), Mycetaea Stephens (two species), and the new genus described here, Afromycetaea gen. nov. (with seven species). The following new species are described: Mycetaea tenerifensis sp. nov. (from Tenerife, Canary Islands), Afromycetaea brevis sp. nov., A. fikaceki sp. nov., A. mpondo sp. nov. (from Republic of South Africa), A. angulata sp. nov., A. borealis sp. nov., and A. ranomafana sp. nov (from Madagascar). Mycetaea ciliata Arrow, 1948 is transferred to Afromycetaea (comb. nov.). Nomenclatural history, diagnoses, and distribution are provided for the family, its genera, and its species. Morphological characteristics of known Mycetaeidae larvae are also discussed. Keys to the genera and species of the family are included. Due to unavailability of the material for study, including type specimens which probably are lost, Agaricophilus dieneri Reitter, 1911 and Mycetaea ovulum Wollaston, 1861, are treated as incertae sedis. Phylogenetic analyses of molecular (eight genetic markers), morphological, and combined matrices confirm the monophyly of the family Mycetaeidae and its sister-relationship to Cerasommatidiidae, recover the internal relationships and support proposed classification within the family.