FNZ 47 - Erotylidae (Insecta: Coleoptera: Cucujoidea) - Abstract
Leschen, RAB 2003. Erotylidae (Insecta: Coleoptera: Cucujoidea): phylogeny and review. Fauna of New Zealand 47, 108 pages.
(
ISSN 0111-5383 (print),
;
no.
47.
ISBN 0-478-09350-0 (print),
).
Published 05 Jun 2003
ZooBank: http://zoobank.org/References/F7BD20B2-D210-4D51-9CB2-1BC51DF75F2C
Abstract
Nine species of New Zealand Erotylidae (excluding Erotylinae) belonging to five genera are described. Two of these species from the Three Kings Islands are described as new: Loberus watti Leschen and Loberus borealis Leschen. One species is transferred from Cryptophagidae to Erotylidae (Loberus anthracinus (Broun), new combination) and another is synonymised with Loberonotha olivascens (Broun) (= Telmatophilus vestitus Broun). Cryptophilus integer (Heer) is newly reported from New Zealand.
An amended world classification of the Erotylidae is proposed. A cladistic analysis of the families Erotylidae and Languriidae based on 120 adult morphological characters and 57 terminal taxa demonstrates that the family Languriidae is paraphyletic with respect to the placement of Erotylidae. The subfamily Xenoscelinae and its tribes are paraphyletic with respect to the placements of other subfamilies of Languriidae. The name Erotylidae has nomenclatural priority and the name Languriidae is treated as a synonym of the former. A new classification is proposed and recognises six subfamilies: Xenoscelinae (7 genera), Pharaxonothinae (5 genera), Loberinae (6 genera), Languriinae (72 genera), Cryptophilinae (13 genera), and Erotylinae (5 tribes). The monophyly of Loberinae is questionable because of the placement of Loberus and the uncertain generic status of some of its relatives. Cladoxenini is shown to be paraphyletic, and three tribes are recognised in Languriinae: Hapalipini (new tribe, type genus Hapalips Reitter), Languriini, and Thallisellini. Three tribes are recognised in Cryptophilinae: Cryptophilini, Empocryptini (new tribe, type genus Empocryptus Sharp), and Toramini. The monotypic tribes Loberonothini and Xenoscelinini are redundant and are synonymised with Xenoscelinae and Cryptophylini, respectively.
The following changes in generic status and family-group placements are made for the world fauna: Rhopalocryptus Arrow is transferred to Salpingidae (Prostominiinae), Cryptophagops Grouvelle is synonymised with Henoticus (the type species Cryptophilus alluaudi Grouvelle is transferred to Henoticus (Cryptophagidae)), the three species described by Bruce in Cryptophagops are transferred to Cryptophilus Reitter (C. allotrius Bruce, C. leonensis Bruce, and C. mnionomoides Bruce), Leucohimatiops javanus Heller is synonymised with Ahasverus advena Waltl (Silvanidae), Tomarops Grouvelle is synonymised with Cryptophilus Reitter (resulting in one new combination), and the genus Loberolus is shown to be paraphyletic. Two genera are newly described: Protoloberus (type species Telmatophilus singularis Blackburn) from Australia and Neoloberolus (type species Loberolus cursor Grouvelle) from Central and South America. The following Australian species of Telmatophilus described by Blackburn are transferred to Loberus: L. breviformis, L. koebeli, L. sharpi, L. stygius, and L. sublautus, new combinations. Annotated keys to the higher taxa and genera of all subfamilies except Erotylinae and Languriini are provided and biological information, including cycad feeding and mycophagy, is summarised.
Keywords: Coleoptera, Cucujoidea, Erotylidae, Languriidae, taxonomy, classification, key, phylogeny, generic status changes, family placement changes, new species, new synonymy, distribution, ecology, biology, species endemism, fauna.