Phylogenetic relationships of the genus Anomala (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae: Rutelinae)

A phylogenetic analysis based on adult morphology that includes some genera included in the tribe Anomalini is presented, to redefine the genus Anomala Samouelle, 1819, and evaluate its phylogenetic situation. The parsimony analysis, based on 46 species of 18 genera from several areas of the world, allowed LIS to test the monophyly of some genera and evaluate their taxonomic position, and to reveal that the generic limits are not clear. On the basis of the strict consensus cladogram there is reason to consider the American species heretofore included in Anomala as members of a different genus, Paranomala Casey, 1915, stat. rev. Some American species included in the genus Callistethus Blanchard, 1851 are transferred to Paranomala, with exception of C. viduus (Newman), a finding that supports the revalidation of the genus Pachystethus Blanchard, 185 1, stat. rev. Anomalacra Casey, 1915 is synonymized with Paranomala, and Anomala carlsoni Hardy is transferred to Leptohoplia Saylor, 1935. The descriptions and diagnoses of the genera Anomala, Paranomala, Callistethus and Pachystethus are updated and a generic key to the New World Anomalini is provided with the new nomenclatural changes proposed.