Phylogenetic relationships in Hybosoridae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea).

This article presents a comprehensive morphological phylogenetic analysis of the beetle family Hybosoridae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea), focusing especially on the subfamily Hybosorinae, which had been underrepresented in previous studies. The study confirms the monophyly of Hybosoridae and three of its subfamilies (Anaidinae, Ceratocanthinae, and Liparochrinae), while redefining Pachyplectrinae to include the previously uncertain genera Borrochrus and Daimothoracodes and transferring Brenskea to Hybosorinae to recover monophyly. Two monotypic genera, Hapalonychoides and Hybosoroides, are synonymized with Apalonychus and Hybosorus, respectively. Additionally, the genus Orubesa, traditionally placed in Scarabaeidae, is shown to be more closely related to Ochodaeidae and thus excluded from Hybosoridae. The study also clarifies relationships among subfamilies and genera within Hybosoridae, providing a refined framework for future taxonomic and evolutionary research on this globally distributed beetle family.