Resumo: O gênero Omalodes Erichson, 1834 inclui três subgêneros, Omalodes (Omalodes) Erichson, 1834; Omalodes (Cornillus) Lewis, 1907 e Omalodes (Diplogrammicus) Lewis, 1907 os quais apresentam distribuição quase que exclusivamente Neotropical. Omalodes (Omalodes) possui 51 espécies, sendo 25 com distribuição para o Brasil. Este trabalho tem como principal objetivo revisar as espécies brasileiras do subgênero Omalodes, tendo em vista a falta de conhecimento do gênero, além da importância de algumas espécies como agentes de controle biológico e na entomologia forense. O material foi obtido de instituições nacionais e internacionais, assim como de coleções particulares. Vinte e oito espécies brasileiras de Omalodes (Omalodes) foram estudadas e diferem entre si principalmente por estruturas da fronte, fóveas e pontuações do pronoto, variações no processo, quilha e lobo prosternal, estrias e pontuações do mesosterno, estrias subhumerais interna e externa, estrias dorsais e apicais dos élitros, pontuação do primeiro esterno abdominal visível, fóveas e pontuações do propigídio, pontuações e fóveas do pigídio e padrão da genitália do macho. Uma nova espécie foi descrita, Omalodes (Omalodes) sp. nov. A, proveniente do Brasil e da Bolívia. Foi estudado o material tipo de 16 espécies, 14 delas tiveram seus lectótipos aqui designados: Omalodes (O.) amazonius Marseul, 1861, Omalodes (O.) anthracinus Marseul, 1853, Omalodes (O.) bifoveolatus Marseul, 1853, Omalodes (O.) faustus Erichson, 1834, Omalodes (O.) foveipennis Lewis, 1902, Omalodes (O.) gagatinus Erichson, 1847, Omalodes (O.) laevicollis Bickhardt, 1911, Omalodes (O.) planifrons Marseul, 1853, Omalodes (O.) punctistrius Marseul, 1853, Omalodes (O.) serenus Erichson, 1834, Omalodes (O.) seriatus Schmidt, 1889, Omalodes (O.) sinuaticollis Marseul, 1853, Omalodes (O.) sobrinus Erichson, 1834 e Omalodes (O.) wagneri Desbordes, 1919. Foi proposta nova sinonímia para Omalodes (O.) foveola (= Omalodes (O.) foveola brasilianus Mazur, 1997 syn. nov.) e Omalodes (O.) lucidus (= Omalodes (O.) lucidus var. Le Moulti Desbordes, 1919 syn. nov.). Omalodes (O.) foveipennis teve seu status revalidado e para Omalodes (O.) sobrinus foi indicado um novo registro para o Brasil. Foi confeccionada uma chave de identificação para as espécies e apresentados mapas de distribuição.

Orientador: Angelo Pires do Prado / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-20T00:07:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Gianizella_SergioLuis_M.pdf: 2000462 bytes, checksum: de05de51468420f129425e6e104b09e9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 1995 / Resumo: Este trabalho teve por objetivo determinar as relações existentes entre Musca domestica e coleópteros histerídeos na Granja de Aves Poedeiras Capuavinha no Município de Monte Mor, SP. Foram realizadas 26 coletas quinzenais através de três métodos: 1. armadilha-de-solo (para a coleta de histerídeos adultos); 2. armadilha para mosca ou "jug-trap" (para a coleta de dípteros adultos) e 3. Funil de Berlese (para a coleta de histerídeos adultos e larvas de dípteros). Foram utilizadas 40 armadilhas-de-solo e 20 armadilhas para mosca em 40 m 2 de área amostrada por coleta. Para a extração do material através de Funil de Berlese foram coletados aproximadamente 10 kg de esterco por local de coleta. O material foi coletado, separado, contado e identificado no Laboratório de Entomologia do Departamento de Parasitologia da UNICAMP. Foram coletados 19.699 histerídeos adultos, 97.740 dípteros adultos e 11.741 larvas de dípteros sinantrópicos. Euspilotus modestus e Carcinops troglodytes foram os histerídeos mais abundantes correspondendo a 86% de todos os histerídeos coletados. Essas duas espécies também foram as mais dominantes (100%) no período de coleta. Também foram encontradas mais 5 espécies de histerídeos previamente identificados como: Hololepta quadridentata, Hister dubius, Euspilotus sp, Acritus sp e Phelister sp. . Além disso, foram coletadas 7 famílias de larvas de dípteros sinantrópicos: STRATYOMYIDAE (30%), CALLIPHORIDAE (28%), MUSCIDAE (26%), SPHAEROCERIDAE (9%), SEPSIDAE (5%), SYRPHIDAE (2%) e FANNIIDAE (0,420/0). Euspilotus modestus mostrou correlação positiva com adultos de M. domestica entre janeiro e junho de 1993, e correlação positiva com larvas de MUSCIDAE e SPHAEROCERIDAE (em agosto de 1993) e STRA TYOMYIDAE (emjaneiro de 1993). Carcinops troglodytes mostrou correlação positiva com MUSCIDAE (nos meses de outubro de 1992 e junho e julho de 1993) e com SPHAEROCERIDAE e STRATYOMYIDAE (nos meses de outubro de 1992 e fevereiro de 1993). O índice de dominância das duas espécies juntas ficou em 100%. O índice de diversidade foi relativamente baixo (entre O e 37%) o que confirma a grande abundância dessas espécies. A Análise de Regressão mostrou as relações significativas entre adultos de mosca doméstica com temperatura por mês (F=42,5; P<O,OI) e também entre adultos de histerídeos e temperatura por mês (t=26,6; P< 0,01). Baseado nestes dados concluímos que as populações de coleópteros histerídeos podem estar produzindo um grande impacto sobre as populações de larvas de dípteros sinantrópicos e poderão ser de grande valia para um futuro Manejo Integrado de Pragas em acúmulo de esterco de aves poedeiras no Brasil / Abstract: This work was carried out in a poultry facility (Granja Capuavianha) located in the Monte Mor county, São Paulo state, and aimed to study the relationships between Musca domestica and histerid beetles. Three different methods were employed on each to sample beetles and flies over 40 m2 of sampling area: 1. Forty pitfall-traps to capture adult histerids; 2. Twenty jug-traps to capture adult flies; 3. Berlese's funnel to extract adult histerids and immature flies from 10 kg of manure coIlected each time. The material brought from the poultry facility was handled at the Entomology Laboratm)' from the Department ofParasitology at UNICAMP. We sorted and identified 19,699 adult histerids, 97,740 synanthropic flies and 1l,7411arvae ofthese flies. Euspilotus modestus and Carcinops troglodytes were the most abundant histerids, making up 86% of the total histerids captured. These two species were also the most dominant (100%) throughout the duration of the study. Five more species of histerid beetle were also found Hololepta quadridentata, Hister dubius, Euspilotus sp., Acritus sp. and Phelister sp. Among the larvae of synanthropic flies, we identified 7 families: STRATIOMYIDAE (30%), CALLIPHORIDAE (28%), MUSCIDAE (26%), SPHAEROCERIDAE (90/0), SEPSIDAE (5%), SYRPHIDAE (2%) and FANNIIDAE (0,42%). There was a positive correlation between adults of M. domestica and E. modestus from January to June, 1993. There also was a positive correlation between E. modestus and larvae of Muscidae and Sphaeroceridae in August, 1993 and between E. modestus and larvae of Stratyomyidae in January of 1993. There was a positive correlation between C troglodytes and MUSCIDAE from October, 1992 and June to July, 1993. There also was a positive correlation with STRATIOMYIDAE from January, 1993. The dominance index for E. modestus and C troglodytes together was 100%. The relatively low diversity index (between O and 37%) confirms the great abundance of these species. Regression analysis showed a significative relationship between M. domestica and the monthly temperature (F=42.5; P< 0,01) and also between adult histerids and monthly temperature (t=26.6; P<O.OI). From the data coIlected, we concluded that the populations of histerid beetles might be of a strong influence on the populations of larvae of synanthropic flies and this association can be of important value when a Integrated Pest Management program wiIl be employed in manure of caged layer hens in Brazil / Mestrado / Parasitologia / Mestre em Ciências Biológicas

Resumo: Histerinae está dividida em cinco tribos: Exosternini Bickhardt, 1914; Hololeptini Hope, 1840; Platysomatini Bickhardt, 1914; Omalodini Kryzhanovskij, 1972 e Histerini Gyllenhal, 1808. Estudos de abordagem filogenética para Histeroidea e Histeridae têm questionado a monofilia da subfamília e da maioria de suas tribos. Segundo a classificação corrente de Histeridae, Omalodini é composta por 94 espécies descritas em 12 gêneros distribuídos pelas regiões Neotropical, Afrotropical, Afrotemperada e Oriental: Notolister Lewis, 1894; Sphyracus Marseul, 1853; Ebonius Lewis, 1885; Scapomegas Lacordaire, 1854; Lewisister Bickhardt, 1824; Asolenus Lewis, 1906; Blypotehus Vienna, 2000; Perfidolenus Vienna, 2000; Atribalus Bickhardt, 1921, Rhypochares Marseul, 1854; Theropatina Mazur, 1984; e Omalodes Erichson, 1844, este último dividido em Omalodes (Omalodes), O. (Diplogrammicus) Lewis, 1907 e O. (Cornillus) Lewis, 1907. Os objetivos da presente pesquisa foram testar a monofilia de Omalodini, com base na análise cladística, e propor uma hipótese de relacionamento filogenético para os grupos que compõem a tribo. A matriz foi formada por 50 táxons terminais (35 do grupo interno e 15 do grupo externo) e por 135 caracteres da morfologia dos adultos. Foram realizadas análises com pesos iguais e implícitos aos caracteres. Em ambas as análises, Omalodini apresentou-se um grupo polifilético e as árvores resultantes da análise com pesos iguais (quatro árvores igualmente parcimoniosas) foram escolhidas para restabelecer a monofilia da tribo. Omalodini foi aqui reconhecida com linhagens de Ebonius, Omalodini sp. (novo gênero a ser descrito) e Omalodes, sendo apoiada por seis transformações (Ebonius + (Omalodini sp. + Omalodes)). O grupo irmão de Omalodini foi definido como um clado composto pelas linhagens de Histerini, Platysomatini e Hololeptini. Hipóteses conflitantes foram geradas sobre o posicionamento dos subgêneros de Omalodes perante a análise com pesos implícitos. Salienta-se que Omalodes (Omalodes) compõe o maior grupo de Omalodini sendo necessária uma análise com maior amostragem para considerações mais precisas acerca das relações internas do gênero. Os grupos excluídos a posteriori de Omalodini, Theropatina, Asolenus, Atribalus, Blypotehus, Lewisister, Notolister, Perfidolenus, Rhypochares, Sphyracus, e Scapomegas não puderam ser alocados em nenhuma das tribos existentes de Histerinae.

Orientador: Angelo Pires do Prado / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-04T01:37:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Maia_IvanildaCerqueira_M.pdf: 170154 bytes, checksum: 003448dc78ec303062274bbf02b63778 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2004 / Resumo: Os sistemas de produção animal em confinamento são ambientes artificiais que favorecem o aparecimento da comunidade de artrópodes, devido à oferta de recursos que beneficiam o desenvolvimento desses organismos em acúmulo de esterco. Muitos ácaros encontram condições adequadas de sobrevivência nesses ambientes. Neste trabalho estudamos a dinâmica da associação forética entre ácaros e coleópteros predadores, analisando a ocorrência, abundância das famílias de ácaros associadas a histerídeos, bem como a diversidade acarofauna, a ocorrência de forésia entre os mesmos, através do estudo das infrapopulações e infracomunidades e dos índices de prevalência, dominância e uniformidade em granja de aves poedeiras em São João da Boa Vista - SP. Foram usadas duas metodologias de coletas para este estudo: amostras coletadas manualmente do esterco e armadilhas de solo. Foram realizadas oito coletas nas estações do ano 2002 e 9 coletas no ano de 2001. Foram encontradas 4 espécies de ácaros associadas aos histerídeos. A família Ascidae foi registrada como sendo nova associação com histerídeos no esterco de granjas. A prevalência de ácaros foréticos predominou em Hololepta quadridentata / Abstract: Animal production systems under confinement are artificial agroecosystems which favor the development of an exuberant arthropod fauna, due to their high manure offer. These environments may provide adequate survival conditions for a number of mites. The purpose of this work was to study the phoretic association dynamics between mites and predaceous coleopterans, also focusing on the occurrence and abundance of histerids-associated mite families, as well as their infrapopulations and infracommunities, related indexes of constancy, dominance and prevalence. The sampling methodology included hand-collected manure samples and pitfalltraps. Eight gathering activities occurred in different seasons in 2002, and 9 gathering activities during the period of 2001. Associated to histerids 4 mites species were found. A new association has been found between histerids and the Ascidae family in poultry farms manure. Phoretic mites prevalence was prevailing in Hololepta quadridentata / Mestrado / Parasitologia / Mestre em Parasitologia

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In surveys carried out on poultry farms in the Western Cape Province, South Africa, the larvae of the flies Musca domestica L., Fannia canicularis (L.) and Leptocera sp. were found to be numerous. The majority of M domestica larvae and the mite Proctolaelaps sp. were recovered from manure with temperatures between 20 and 26°C while the larvae of F. canicularis and Leptocera sp. were mostly found between 14 and 22°C. Predominant predatory arthropods in the manure were the histerid Carcinops pumilio (Erichson), the staphylinid Philonthus sordidus (Gravenhorst) and the mite Macrocheles muscaedomesticae (Scopoli). These had a manure temperature tolerance of between 12 and 31°C. Macrocheles muscaedomesticae and P. sordidus preferred fresh manure, whilst C pumilio preferred aged manure. Therefore these two predators could complement one another in integrated pest management programmes. From a study of the vertical cross-sectional profile of the manure cone it was clear that the larvae of the prey species M domestica and F. canicularis and predator P. sordidus distinctly occupy the crest of the manure cone. The succession of arthropods in accumulating poultry manure and the effect of manure height on their numbers was studied. The prey species M domestica and F. canicularis were the first colonizers followed by the predators P. sordidus and M muscaedomesticae. Carcinops pumilio was a late colonizer. The numbers of M domestica and F. canicularis larvae were negatively correlated with the increase in manure height whilst the numbers of the predators C pumilio and M muscaedomesticae were positively correlated with this. The total developmental time of C pumilio from egg to adult emergence at 30°C was 20.5 days. Two larval instars were recorded. The immature stages sustained about 50% mortality before adult emergence. Carcinops pumilio adults can live up to 130 days at 30°C and had a Type I survivorship curve. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm) was 0.064943 and net reproduction rate (Rs) was 20.191.The rate of oviposition was directly proportional to body size and weight. Increase in density had a dampening effect on fecundity and led to an increase in developmental time. Thus density will be a critical factor in any mass rearing programme for this predator of fly larvae. In addition, an increase in density stimulated the dispersal of C. pumilio. A crowding level of 50 C. pumilio adults per 200ml container resulted in the least dispersal which did not exceed 2.5% per day, compared with up to 24.0% at a crowding level of 400. The predation rate of flies by C. pumilio in the laboratory decreased with an increase in predator density, but increased with an increase in starvation. Starvation had no effect on predation rate of M muscaedomesticae. A technique exploiting Drosophila melanogaster Meig. as a source of prey was successfully developed for rearing C. pumilio, which could be of commercial value. Drosophila melanogaster appeared to be an ideal candidate as a source of prey for mass rearing C. pumilio due to its short developmental time of about ten days. It is also inexpensive and easy to breed, and has a very high biotic potential. Carcinops pumilio that were fed on artificial diet had a prolonged developmental time and increase in weight, and laid fewer eggs than those fed on natural diet. C. pumilio completed its development on the artificial diet and both the F, and F2 generations fed on an artificial diet were able to lay eggs. This could be the first step towards finding an artificial diet that would allow continuous rearing of C. pumilio and their availability at all times for utilization in the biological control of houseflies. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In opnames wat op pluimveeplase in die Westelike Kaapprovinsie, Suid-Afrika uitgevoer is, is gevind dat die vliegsoorte Musca damestica L., Fannia canicularis (L.) en Leptacera sp. volop is. Die meeste van die M. damestica larwes en die myt Practalaelaps sp. is versamel in hoendermis met temperature tussen 20 en 26°C en die larwes van Ficanicularis en Leptacera tussen 14 en 22°C. Die volopste predatoriese arthropode in die mis was die histerid Carcinaps pumilia Erichson, die staphylinid Philanthus sardidus (Gravenhorst) en die myt Machrascheles muscaedamesticae (Scopoli). Hulle temperatuurtoleransie in die mis was tussen 12 en 31°C. Machrasceles muscaedamesticae en P. sardidus het vars mis verkies, terwyl C. pumilio voorkeur aan ouer mis gegee het. Gevolglik behoort hierdie twee predatore mekaar te komplementeer in programme van ge-integreerde plaagbestuur. In Studie van die vertikale deursnee-profiel van die miskeel het duidelik getoon dat die prooispesies M. damestica en en F canicularis en die predator P. sardidus in die kroon van die miskeel voorkom. Die opeenvolging van die arthropode in die ophopende hoendermis en die invloed van mishoogte op hulle getalle is bestudeer. Die prooispesies M damestica en F canicularis was die eerste koloniseerders, gevolg deur die predatore P. sardidus en M muscaedamesticae. Carcinaps pumilia was In laat koloniseerder. Die getalle van die larwes van M damestica en F. canicularis was negatief gekorreleer met die toename in mishoogte terwyl die getalle van die predartore C. pumilia en M. muscaedamesticae positief daarmee gekorreleer was. Die totale ontwikkelingstyd van C. pumilia van eier tot die volwassene se verskyning was 20.5 dae by 30°C. Twee larwale instars is gevind. Die onvolwasse stadia het 50% mortaliteit ondergaan voor die verskyning van die volwassenes. Die volwassenes van C. pumilia kan tot 130 dae lank by 30°C lewe en het In Tipe 1 oorlewingskurwe gehad. Die intrinsieke tempo van natuurlike toename (rm) was 0.064943 en die netto reproduksietempo (Rs) 20.191. Die tempo van eierlegging was in direkte verhouding tot die liggaamsgrootte en massa. Toename in digtheid het 'n onderdrukkende effek op vrugbaarheid gehad en tot 'n toename in ontwikkelingstyd gelei. Digtheid sal dus 'n kritieke faktor wees III emge program van massateling vir hierdie predator van vlieglarwes. Daarmee saam het 'n toename in digtheid die verspreiding van C. pumilio gestimuleer. By 'n digtheid van 50 C. pumilio volwassenes per houer het die verspreiding nie 2.5% oorskrei nie, in vergelyking met tot 24.0% by 'n dightheid van 400. Die predasietempo van vliee deur C. pumilio in die laboratorium het afgeneem met 'n toename in predatordigtheid, maar toegeneem met 'n toename in verhongering. Verhongering het nie 'n invloed gehad op die predasietempo van M. muscaedomesticae nie. 'n Tegniek met Drosophila melanogaster Meig. as bron van prooi in die teling van C pumilio is suksesvol ontwikkel en dit kan van kommersiele waarde wees. Dit blyk dat D. melanogaster ideaal kan wees as 'n bron van prooi in die massateling van Cpumilio vanwee sy kort ontwikkkelingstyd van ongeveer tien dae. Die spesies is ook goedkoop en maklik om te teel, en het 'n baie hoe biotiese potensiaal.Care inops pumilio wat op 'n kunsmatige dieet gevoed het, het 'n verlengde ontwikkelingstyd en gewigstoename gehad, en het minder eiers gele as die wat op 'n natuurlike dieet gevoed het. C. pumilio het sy lewensloop op die kunsmatige dieet voltooi en beide die FJ en F2 generasies wat op die kunsmatige dieet gevoed het, was in staat om eiers te Ie. Dit kan die eerste stap wees in 'n poging om 'n kunsmatige dieet te vind wat dit sal moontlik maak om C. pumilio aaneenlopend te teel sodat dit deurlopend beskikbaar kan wees vir gebruik in die biologiese beheer van huisvliee,

Orientadora : Profa. Dra. Lúcia Massuti de Almeida / Co-orientador : Prof. Dr. Michael S. Caterino / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Entomologia). Defesa: Curitiba, 17/07/2014 / Inclui referências / Área de concentração : Entomologia / Resumo: Histeridae é composta por aproximadamente 4.200 espécies divididas em 11 subfamílias, das quais Histerinae é a maior, compeendendo cerca de 50% do número de espécies da família. São na sua maioria predadores generalistas com uma grande diversidade morfológica, a qual está intimamente relacionada aos ambientes habitados por esses besouros. Podem ser encontrados associados a material em decomposição (animal ou vegetal), fezes, carcassas, ninhos de inúmeros vertebrados e também associados a insetos sociais como formigas e cupins. Histerinae é formada por 5 tribos, Exosternini Bickhardt, 1914; Hololeptini Hope, 1840; Platysomatini Bickhardt, 1914; Omalodini Kryzhanovskij, 1972 e Histerini Gyllenhal, 1808. Atualmente Omalodini Kryzhanovskij, 1972 é composta por doze gêneros e aproximadamente 100 espécies, dos quais Omalodes Dejean, 1833 é o maior dentro de Omalodini, com aproximandamente 63 espécies descritas em três subgêneros: Omalodes s. str., O. (Diplogrammicus) Lewis, 1907 eO. (Cornillus) Lewis, 1907. O gênero apresenta uma distribuição quase que exclusivamente Neotropical, exceto por três espécies encontradas no limite sul dos Estados Unidos. Os principais objetivos desse trabalho foram testar a monofilia de Omalodes realizando a análise cladística do gênero e revisar Omalodes (Omalodes). A matriz foi composta por 53 táxons terminais (50 do grupo interno e três do grupo externo) e 102 caracteres de morfologia de adultos. Foram realizadas análises com pesagem igual e implícita; foram obtidas 34 árvores mais parcimoniosas na análise com pesagem igual e em todos os resultados o gênero foi considerado monofilético e hipóteses de relacionamento foram propostas para diversas espécies do gênero. É sugerido que o gênero seja formado por apenas dois subgêneros: Omalodes (Omalodes), composto por todas as espécies anteriormente alocadas nesse subgenera e também pelas espécies previamente alocadas em Omalodes (Diplogrammicus) e mantendo Cornillus como um subgênero válido de Omalodes.Cinco novas espécies foram descritas para o gênero: Omalodes (O.) mazuri, Omalodes (O.) rivus, Omalodes (O.) punctulatus, Omalodes (O.) sp. nov. A e Omalodes (O.) sp. nov. B; três novas sinonímias são propostas: Omalodes (O.) foveola (=Omalodes (O.) foveolabrasilianussyn. nov.); Omalodes (O.) lucidus (=Omalodes (O.) lucidus peruvianus syn. nov.) e Omalodes (O.) grossus (=Omalodes (O.) grossus lubricans syn. nov.) e uma chave dicôtomica atualizada é apresentada, incluindo as novas espécies. Lectótipos e paralectótipos foram designados para Omalodes (O.) anthracinus Marseul, 1853; Omalodes (O.) areaolatus Schmidt, 1889; Omalodes (O.) bifoveolatus Marseul, 1853; Omalodes (O.) clavulus Lewis, 1888; Omalodes (O.) fassli Bickhardt, 1911; Omalodes (O.) faustus Erichson, 1834; Omalodes (O.) foveola Erichson, 1834; Omalodes (O.) laevicollis Bickhardt, 1911; Omalodes (O.) lucidus Erichson, 1834; Omalodes (O.) novus Marseul, 1853; Omalodes (O.) seriatus Schmidt, 1889; Omalodes (O.) wagneri Desbordes, 1919. Palavras-chave: Filogenia, Omalodini,sistemática, taxonomia. / Abstract: Histeridae is composed of approximately 4,200 species distributed in 11 subfamilies, Histerinae is the largest of those comprising about 50% of the species of the family. They are generalistic predators with great morphological diversity, widely distributed in a great variety of enviroments, such as decomposing material (vegetable and animal), excrement, caracasses, nest of various vertebrates and also associated with other social insects such as ants and termites. Histerinae is composed of 5 tribes, Exosternini Bickhardt, 1914; Hololeptini Hope, 1840; Platysomatini Bickhardt, 1914; Omalodini Kryzhanovskij, 1972 and Histerini Gyllenhal, 1808. Currently Omalodini Kryzhanovskij, 1972 is composed of twelve genera and approximately 100 species of which Omalodes Dejean, 1833 is the largest genus of the tribe, with approximately 63 species described in three subgenera: Omalodes s. str., O. (Diplogrammicus) Lewis, 1907 andO. (Cornillus) Lewis, 1907. The genus presents an almost exclusivelyNeotropical distribution, except for three species with a distribution extending to the southern border of the USA. The main objectives of this work were to test the monophyly of Omalodes through the cladistic analysis of the genus, and to revise the species of Omalodes (Omalodes). The matrix was composed of 53 terminal taxa (50 of the ingroup and three of the outgroup) and 102 characters of adult external morphology. Numerous analyses were conducted utilizing equal weights and implicit weights; 34 most parsimonious trees were obtained and in all analyses the genus was recovered as a monophyletic group.Additionally, phylogenetic hypotheses for several species were proposed. It is suggested that the genus should should havetwo subgenus: Omalodes (Omalodes), composed of the previously species allocated in this subgenus and also by the species previously allocated in Omalodes (Diplogrammicus) and maintaining Cornillus as a separate subgenus of Omalodes. Five new species are described: Omalodes (O.) mazuri, Omalodes (O.) rivus, Omalodes (O.) punctulatus, Omalodes (O.) sp. nov. A andOmalodes (O.) sp. nov. B; three new synonyms are proposed for the genus: Omalodes (O.) foveola (=Omalodes (O.) foveolabrasilianussyn. nov.); Omalodes (O.) lucidus (=Omalodes (O.) lucidus peruvianus syn. nov.) andOmalodes (O.) grossus (=Omalodes (O.) grossus lubricans syn. nov.) and a new dichotomous key is proposed for the species of the genus.Lectotypes and paralectotypeswere designatedforOmalodes (O.) anthracinus Marseul, 1853; Omalodes (O.) areaolatus Schmidt, 1889; Omalodes (O.) bifoveolatus Marseul, 1853; Omalodes (O.) clavulus Lewis, 1888; Omalodes (O.) fassli Bickhardt, 1911; Omalodes (O.) faustus Erichson, 1834; Omalodes (O.) foveola Erichson, 1834; Omalodes (O.) laevicollis Bickhardt, 1911; Omalodes (O.) lucidus Erichson, 1834; Omalodes (O.) novus Marseul, 1853; Omalodes (O.) seriatus Schmidt, 1889; Omalodes (O.) wagneri Desbordes, 1919. Key words:Omalodini,Phylogeny, systematic, taxonomy.

Necrophilous insects, if correctly identified, can provide useful forensic information. Research in this area has focussed on flies and beetles remain comparatively under-studied, partly because some adult carrion beetles are difficult to identify morphologically, as are their juvenile stages, often requiring specialist expertise in both cases. Molecular taxonomy has been proposed as a solution to these problems. DNA “barcodes" are short fragments of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) DNA that are anticipated to delineate species. This approach is becoming increasingly popular, but has been met with varying enthusiasm from taxonomists. This thesis examines their use in identifying forensically significant beetles.The DNA barcodes of 234 specimens of 25 forensically significant southern African beetle species from seven families (Cleridae, Dermestidae, Silphidae, Staphylinidae, Scarabaeidae, Trogidae and Histeridae) were obtained. Thirty-three initial barcode amplification failures were overcome by using primers other than the standard Folmer pair, undermining the barcode concept’s hope of universal primers that would allow even non-specialists to produce barcodes. Another 150 specimens (64%) entirely failed to yield barcodes, including 18 fresh specimens of three species of Trogidae, implying another lack of universality of the barcoding protocol. The majority of the beetles clustered with confamilials on neighbour-joining and maximum likelihood trees, but 1.3% of the barcodes failed to cluster with their respective families, raising questions concerning the associating power of barcodes. The identification tools of the GenBank and BOLD on-line DNA sequence databases identified 21% of the specimens to the species level, 6% of them correctly. There was evidence of a paralogous sequence in the Cleridae that, while supporting identification now that it has been associated with a morphological identification, would hamper attempts at identification by clustering or phylogenetic analysis.Distance and haplotype network analyses of the barcodes of six widespread species showed that they are not geographically structured. Barcodes are thus unlikely to be indicators of the region of origin of a species and will not determine whether a corpse has been relocated after death. To assess whether a different mitochondrial DNA fragment might address (some of) these problems, a 2.2 kb fragment extending from the 5’ end of the COI gene to the 3’ end of the Cytochrome Oxidase II (COII) gene was analysed for nine species. It was found that, for Dermestidae, Scarabaeidae and Histeridae, higher degrees of diversity occurred downstreamof the barcode region, but the region of highest diversity in the Cleridae was in the barcode region. Thus, finding a more reliable fragment along the COI-COII region for each family may make robust and guaranteed DNA-based identification of these beetles more likely. The possibility of a forensic specimen being incorrectly or not identified based on its barcode alone exists in about 40% of cases, even with the new barcodes reported here. Forensic science sets a very high bar in assessing the performance of its techniques, and it is concluded that barcodes currently have unsettling failure rates as court-worthy evidence.