TERMINAL, ABDOMINAL SEGMENTS OF TERRESTRIAL LIVING ADEPHAGA (COLEOPTERA) AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE FOR PHYLOGENY

The skeleton of segments VIII, IX and X of the female abdomen is described in 71 spp. of Adephaga and 13 Polyphaga. This musculature was studied in .apprx. 45 spp. In the most primitive case the abdomen of Coleoptera consists of at least 10 segments. With few exceptions segment IX is invaginated into segment VIII in all Coleoptera studied. In almost all cases coxosternum VIII is retracted into the region of sternum VII; tergum VIII is invaginated into the region of tergum VII mostly in part, but sometimes completely or not at all. It is possible to homologisize all elements of the outer female genital organs of the Coleoptera studied with elements of the basic pterygote plan. In some Coleoptera the genital appendage of segment VIII is still visible. Within segment IX gonocoxa and stylus (3rd valvula) are preserved. In many Polyphaga the terminal segment of the stylus is developed in the form of a palpus. In all Adephaga the terminal segment of the stylus is fused with the gonocoxa or reduced. The 2nd gonapophyses do not exist in Coleoptera. The gonangulum is fused with tergum IX. In Adephaga and Polyphaga the gonocoxa is divided into a cranial and a caudal part. Probably the caudal part is homologous to the basic segment of the stylus. The terminal, dorsal plate of the abdomen consists of tergum IX and X in Adephaga and Polyphaga. In most cases tergum IX and X are fused. In the basic plan of Adephaga tergum IX is divided into 2 lateral plates, which cover the flanks of segment IX. In some Coleoptera a rest of sternum X is preserved. The gonocoxapophysealmuscle of segment VIII is retained in all Adephaga and some Polyphaga. The 2 gonocoxotergalmuscles of segment IX exist in all Adephaga and some Polyphaga. In some Adephaga and Polyphaga intertergal- and intersternal muscles are present between segment IX and X. The outer genital organs in Rhysodidae seems to be very primitive within the Adephaga. Making use of the synapomorphic characters of the terminal abdominal segments, the phylogenetic conclusions drawn were: the Cicindelidae constitute a monophyletic group within which the Megacephalini represent a paraphyletic group; Trachypachini + Metriini + Paussini + Elaphrini + Omophronini + Opisthiini + Nebriini + Notiophilini + Scaritini + Hydradephaga constitute a monophyletic group; Carabini + Cychrini + Pamborini + Siagonini constitue a monophyletic group; the Harpalinae (sensu Ganglbauer, 1892; Crowson, 1967) represent a monophyletic group; Galeritini + Anthiini + Graphopterini + Corsyrini + Mormolycini + Pseudomorphini may be considered monophyletic within which the Anthiini + Graphopterini + Corsyrini constitute a monophyletic group, with the Corsyrini more closely related to the Graphopterini than to the Anthiini., the Mormolycini closely related to the Pseudomorphini gland the Anthiini + Graphopterini + Corsyrini representing the sister-group Mormolycini + Pseudomorphini. The phylogenetic conclusions must not be considered as final, as they are drawn using only terminal the abdominal segment of characters.