FNZ 61 - Lucanidae (Insecta: Coleoptera) - Abstract
Holloway, BA 2007. Lucanidae (Insecta: Coleoptera). Fauna of New Zealand 61, 254 pages.
(
ISSN 0111-5383 (print),
;
no.
61.
ISBN 978-0-478-09395-7 (print),
).
Published 21 Nov 2007
ZooBank: http://zoobank.org/References/DD20213C-BAEF-49E8-9C34-D65807AA5945
Abstract
The morphology of New Zealand’s stag beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera: Lucanidae) is discussed and illustrated. New information is presented about the structure of the labium and profemoral setiferous patches in the family. All the genera and previously known species are redescribed and morphological structures including male and female genitalia are illustrated for the endemic species and, when appropriate, for the exotic species. The composition and relationships of the New Zealand lucanid fauna are discussed, and the known distribution and altitudinal ranges of the species are summarised and mapped. Habitats and the food of adults and larvae are discussed in general terms and in detail under each species. Keys for the identification of subfamilies, genera, and species of lucanids found in New Zealand are provided.
Thirtyfive endemic and 4 foreign species are recognised. They belong in 9 previously described genera representing 4 subfamilies: AESALINAE – Holloceratognathus Nikolaev, 1998 (3 species), Mitophyllus Parry, 1843 (14 species); LAMPRIMINAE – Dendroblax White, 1846 (1 species), Lamprima Latreille, 1807 (1 species); LUCANINAE – Geodorcus Holloway, 1996 (10 species), Paralissotes Holloway, 1996 (7 species), Ryssonotus MacLeay, 1819 (1 species), Serrognathus Motschulsky, 1861 (1 species); SYNDESINAE – Syndesus MacLeay, 1819 (1 species).
Seven new endemic species are described, 2 species are reinstated, and 1 species becomes a transferred synonym: AESALINAE: Mitophyllus angusticeps Broun, 1895, reinstated species, M. arcuatus new species, M. falcatus new species, M. fusculus (Broun, 1886) reinstated species, new combination, M. mandibularis Broun, 1917, transferred synonym of M. angusticeps Broun, 1895, M. solox new species; LUCANINAE Geodorcus alsobius new species, G. montivagus new species, G. servandus new species, G. sororum new species.
The 4 foreign species are: LAMPRIMINAE – Lamprima aurata Latreille, 1817 (from Australia, probably not established); LUCANINAE Ryssonotus nebulosus (Kirby, 1818) (from Australia, established), Serrognathus sika (Kriesche, 1921) (from Taiwan, unlikely to be established), Syndesus cornutus (Fabricius, 1801) (from Australia, established).
The following 3 species are deleted from the New Zealand fauna: LUCANINAE: Figulus modestus Parry, 1863 (=F. fissicollis Fairmaire, 1849, from the Pacific, incorrectly labelled), Figulus monilifer (= F. sublaevis (Palisot de Beauvois, 1805), from Africa, incorrectly labelled), Lissotes desmaresti Deyrolle, 1881 (from Tasmania, incorrectly labelled; Holloway (1961) incorrectly treated L. desmaresti as a synonym of Dorcus (=Geodorcus) capito).
There is special concern for the survival of some of the large bodied, flightless species of Geodorcus that have been found only on islands or isolated mountain tops. These beetles should have the same status as flightless birds in the New Zealand biota and be given the equivalent protection from habitat destruction, rodent predation and unauthorised collectors.