title: A taxonomic monograph of the leaf-litter inhabiting weevil genus Plumolepilius new genus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Molytinae: Conotrachelini) from Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador.
abstract: We describe the Mesoamerican leaf litter weevil genus Plumolepilius Barrios-Izás & Anderson, new genus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Molytinae: Conotrachelini) (type species P. trifiniensis Barrios-Izás & Anderson, new species), species of which inhabit mountain ecosystems from the state of Chiapas in southeastern Mexico to northern Panama. In this paper we describe nine new species from Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador: P. trifiniensis Barrios-Izás & Anderson, new species (El Salvador and Guatemala); P. branstetteri Barrios-Izás & Anderson, new species (Guatemala and Mexico); P. longinoi Barrios-Izás & Anderson, new species (Guatemala and Mexico); P. cortezi Barrios-Izás & Anderson, new species (Guatemala and Mexico); P. canoi Barrios-Izás & Anderson, new species (Guatemala); P. schusteri Barrios-Izás & Anderson, new species (Guatemala and Mexico); P. daryi Barrios-Izás & Anderson, new species (Guatemala); P. yolnabajensis Barrios-Izás & Anderson, new species (Guatemala); and P. macalajauensis Barrios-Izás & Anderson, new species (Guatemala).        The genus and the species are named and described, information on their geographical distributions is given and images of the habitus of both sexes and the aedeagus are presented. A key to the species of Plumolepilius based on males is included.        The monophyly of Plumolepilius was confirmed by a parsimony analysis of external and male aedeagus morphology and the genus is best characterized by the presence of plumose scales lining the prosternal channel. Phylogenetic analysis supports that Lepilius Champion 1905 is the sister genus of Plumolepilius.
authors.affiliation: Museo de Zoología "Alfonso L. Herrera", Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Apartado postal 70-399, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico. Centro de Estudios Conservacionistas (CDC) - Centro Universitario de Zacapa (CUNZAC), Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Ciudad Universitaria, Zona 12, 01012 Guatemala, Guatemala.; Email: manuelbarriosgt@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Manuel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Barrios-Izás
authors.affiliation: Canadian Museum of Nature, P.O. Box 3443, Station D, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 6P4, Canada.; Email: randerson@mus-nature.ca.
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Museo de Zoología "Alfonso L. Herrera", Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Apartado postal 70-399, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico.; Email: juanmorrone2001@yahoo.com.mx.
authors.forename: Juan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Morrone
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004544:El Salvador; D005260:Female; D006166:Guatemala; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D010802:Phylogeny; D013045:Species Specificity; D048889:Weevils / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000145:classification*