Species delimitation, classical taxonomy, and genome skimming: a review of the ground beetle genus Lionepha (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

<p>The western North American genus <i>Lionepha</i> is shown to contain at least 11 species through a combination of eight-gene species delimitation analyses and morphological study. In order to confirm the names of several species, we sequence DNA of primary types of several names, including a LeConte lectotype collected in the 1850s, using next-generation sequencing. We examine chromosomes of eight species, and show that all have 12 pairs of autosomes and an X0/XX sex-chromosome system. The following species are described as new: <i>Lionepha australerasa</i>, <i>L. kavanaughi</i>, <i>L. lindrothi</i>, and <i>L. tuulukwa</i>. The name <i>Lionepha erasa</i> is shown to belong to a relatively rare, western species ranging from Oregon through Alaska; the common, widespread species previously known as <i>Lionepha erasa</i> now takes the name <i>L. probata</i>. <i>Bembidion lindrothellus</i>, <i>B. chintimini</i>, and <i>B. lummi </i>are synonymized with<i> L. erasa.</i> We provide tools to identify specimens to species, including illustrations and diagnoses.</p>