Phylogenetic analysis of the Pantomorus-Naupactus complex (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae) from North and Central America

We undertook the first cladistic analysis of the Pantomorus-Naupactus complex (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) from North and Central America, based on 35 species and 61 morphological characters, plus 1151 bp of the mtDNA COI and Cyt b genes. The morphological and the combined matrices analyzed with TNT yielded a single most parsimonious cladogram that allows recognition of two main lineages within the Pantomorus-Naupactus complex in North and Central America. One is represented by the species formerly placed in Phacepholis and the Pantomorus species group II sensu Sharp, ranging along the Pacific coast of Central America and Mexico and reaching the Great Plains of North America in the United States, yet not occurring in South America. The other lineage is represented by the species of Naupactus and Pantomorus species group I, with closer relationships to the South American species of these genera. The Pantomorus group I includes the type species of the genus (P. albosignatus Boheman) whereas the Pantomorus group II includes the type species of Athetetes Pascoe, 1886 (A. globicollis Pascoe). Based on the results of our phylogenetic analysis, we recommend retaining the name Pantomorus Schoenherr for most species of the Pantomorus group I, except P. stupidus (Boheman) and P. femoratus Sharp which should be transferred to Naupactus Dejean. Moreover, we enlarge the previous concept of Phacepholis to include most species of the Pantomorus group II, and we establish the synonymy of Athetetes Pascoe, 1886 with Phacepholis Horn, 1876, being the latter the valid name, by priority.