Phylogenetic analysis of myxophaga (Coleoptera) with a redescription of Lepicerus horni (Lepiceridae)

40 morphological characters of adults of Myxophaga and 54 characters of lar vae were analyzed phylogenetically. The analysis of adult characters suppor ts the monophyly of Myxophaga and the following branching pattern within th e ingroup: (Lepiceridae + ((Delevea + (Satonius + ((Torridincola + Incoltor rida) + (Ytu + (Claudiella + lapir))))) + (Microsporus + (Hydroscapha + (Sc aphydra + Yara)))). Undivided maxillary mala and widely separated mesocoxae are unambiguously placed autapomorphies of Myxophaga. A peg-like apical ma xillary palpomere, a fringe of microtrichiae along the posterior hind wing margin, and a curved and shortened subcosta are autapomorphies of Myxophaga excl. Lepiceridae. A monophylum comprising Microsporidae and Hydroscaphida e is indicated by 3-segmented tarsi, posteriorly concave metacoxal plates, and widely separated metafurcal bases. The second analysis which includes t he larval characters is largely consistent with the analysis of adult featu res. The branching pattern does not indicate whether riparian or hygropetri c habitats are ancestral for Myxophaga. However, a preference for moist sub strates at river edges appears more plausible as a similar life style is no t uncommon in other groups of Coleoptera.