The purpose of this application, under Article 70.2 of the Code, is to conserve the current usage of the generic name Phelister Marseul, 1853 for a well-established genus of histerid beetles. Modern authors cite either Phelister haemorrhous Marseul, 1853 (designated by Kryzhanovskij & Reichardt, 1976) or Paromalus rouzeti Fairmaire 1850 (designated by Mazur, 1984) as the type species of Phelister. However, the correct, long-overlooked type species is Platysoma venustum LeConte, 1844, which is currently recognized as a valid species of Baconia Lewis, 1885. Acceptance of Platysoma venustum as the type species of Phelister would change the current concept of that genus to that of Baconia, and the species currently included in Phelister would require a new genus-group name as there are no junior synonyms from which to choose the next available name. To avoid the nomenclatural instability that would result from following the Principle of Priority, it is proposed that all type fixations for Phelister Marseul, 1853 preceding that of Phelister haemorrhous Marseul, 1853 by Kryzhanovskij & Reichardt (1976) be set aside.