A cladistic analysis is made of the relationships between the genera of the tribe Adesmiini (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). As a result of the analysis, two genera, Physostema Solier and Cauricara Penrith, are reduced to subgenera of Adesmia Fischer and Stenocara Solier respectively. The North African monotypical genus Megagenius Solier is removed from the tribe Adesmiini and placed in the tribe Tentyriini. The genus Stenodesia Reitter is revised and two new species, Stenodesia montiscedrae and S. oosthuizeni, and a new subspecies, S. globulum kaokoensis, are described. As a result of the discovery of the latter, S. verruculifera (Haag) and its subspecies marshalli Koch are reduced to subspecies of S. globulum (Haag). Keys to the genera and subgenera of Adesmiini and to the species and subspecies of Stenodesia are given. The biogeography and centre of origin of the tribe are discussed. Keywords: Adesmiini, Coleoptera, Darkling beetles, Genera identification key, Species identification key and Tenebrionidae.