Studies on The Systematic Position and Generic Relationships of The Tribe Epilachnini (Coleoptera:Coccinellidae) From Yunnan

This paper deals with the systematic position and generic relationships of the tribe Epilachnini based on the morphological characteristics,especially on the basal teeth of the tarsal claws,lateral teeth of mandibles,on male and female genitalia.Applying cladistic methodology,the authors also discussed phylogenetic relationships within the tribe.Five genera,I.e.Epilachna,Afidenta,Afissula,Henosepilachna,Afidentula,are selected as the taxa for cladistic analysis.A taxonomy based on the cladogram is different from the orthodoxa one.The genus Epilachna should be divided into three phylogenetic groups.A subgeneric rank for the three groups is accepted in this treatment.Two new subgenera of Epilachna,I.e.Aparodentata Cao et Wang,Uniparodentata Cao et Wang,are described.