The genus Symmela Erichson, 1835 (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Sericini): taxonomy and phylogenetic analysis

The taxonomy of the species of the South American genus Symmela Erichson, 1835 is revised. As a result, we propose the following new synonymies: Symmela longula Erichson, 1835 (= Symmela angustula Moser 1919 syn. nov.), Symmela nitida Erichson, 1835 (= Symmela tenella Erichson, 1835 syn. nov.). Fourteen new species are described: Symmela beskei sp. nov., S. capixaba sp. nov., S. clarki sp. nov., S. erichsoni sp. nov., S. fuhrmanni sp. nov., S. guerlini sp. nov., S. iannuzziae sp. nov., S. martinezi sp. nov., S. nunesorum sp. nov., S. paschoali sp. nov., S. pseudopaca sp. nov., S. reischei sp. nov., S. terezae sp. nov., S. unidentata sp. nov. The lectotypes of the following taxa were designated: Serica flavimana Gory, 1832, Symmela angustula Moser, 1919, S. clypeata Erichson, 1835, S. corumbana Moser, 1921, S. instabilis Erichson, 1835, S. longula Erichson, 1835, S. mutabilis Erichson, 1835, S. nitidicollis Burmeister, 1855, S. opaca Erichson, 1835, S. tarsalis Moser, 1919, and S. tenella Erichson, 1835. Species are redescribed and a key to the species is given; details of external morphological features as well as the aedeagus are illustrated for all taxa. Distribution of the species is shown on a map. A phylogenetic analysis based on 137 morphological characters and parsimony indicates that Symmela is monophyletic.