Abstract: This paper deals with the phylogenetic systematics and taxonomic status of four Chinese genera of the tribe Platyscelidini based on defensive gland structure. We summarized the characteristics of the glands at the generic level and tribric level according to gland position, shape, length and width, the distance between the two glands, and gland surface decorated whorles and wrinkles. The SPSS 13.0 and Hennig 86 program (version 1.5) were used to analyze the selected characteristics of defensive glands, the former was the hierarchical analysis while the latter the evolutionary one, and both analysis results support the stability of the existing classification system of Platyscelidini. The latter analysis result suggests that the evolutionary relationship should be as (Myatis+Bioramix)+(Oodescelis+Platysceli).

Key words: Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Platyscelidini, defensive glands, phylogenetic systematics