Taxonomic revision of the genus Phylacastus Fairmaire (Tenebrionidae, Eurynotina): shortfalls of anatomical nomenclature with notes on aedeagal homology
Author
Lumen, Ryan
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3958-7596
Zoological Museum, Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
rplumen@gmail.com
Author
Kaminski, Marcin Jan
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2915-0614
Zoological Museum, Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland & Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
text
ZooKeys
2023
2023-01-05
1138
1
27
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1138.95968
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1138.95968
1313-2970-1138-1
94AF8515FC534C7EB08A646F2D64355F
BFD4A22FBD59587DA8A0A7000B7A16CE
Phylacastus ancoralium
sp. nov.
Figs 1A
, 2A, B
, 3F
, 4B, G
, 5
, 6C
Material examined
(data represents single specimens unless otherwise noted).
Holotype
(TMNH): "
S.Afr.
;E.
Lesotho
Hodson's
Peak
300 m
29.37°S
,
29.17°E
;
11.3.1976
;E-Y:1069 fr.und.stones,
3150 m
leg.
Endroedy-Younga.
"
With an additional label on red paper: "
Holotype
:
Phylacastus ancoralium
Lumen & Kaminski".
Paratypes
(
n
= 11) (TMNH and MIIZPAN):
Two
specimens with same data as Holotype (MIIZPAN). "
S.Afr.
Basutoland
Makheke Mnts
15 miles
ENE
Mokhotlong
. 8.IV.51 No. 268;
Swedish
South Africa
Expedition
1950-1951; red label." (MIIZPAN), "
S.Afr.
,
Lesotho
Drakensbg,Black Mt.
29.31°S
,
29.12°E
;
9.3.1976
;E-Y:1060 from under stones leg.
Endroedy-Younga.
"
, "
S.Afr.
;E.
Lesotho
Hodson's
Peak
300 m
29.37°S
,
29.17°E
;
11.3.1976
;E-Y:1067 from under stones leg.
Endroedy-Younga
"
(
five specimens
)., "
S.Afr.
, E.
Lesotho
Sani Pass Valley
29.39°S
,
29.12°E
;
10.3.1976
; E-Y:1066 from under stones leg.
Endroedy-Younga
"
(
two specimens
)
.
Diagnosis.
Phylacastus ancoralium
is highly modified compared with its congeners. In addition to its wide geographic separation from other species (Lesotho), it can be separated from all other species of
Phylacastus
via the elytra (with extremely weak to absent elytral striae), prosternum (weakly produced between forecoxae, rather than projecting more strongly beyond (Fig.
3E
)), aedeagus with ancorae on the ventral surface of the parameres (Fig.
4G
), and ovipositor relatively short compared to other species (ratio of ovipositor coxites I-IV to paraprocts nearly 1:1, rather than more distinctly <1:1) (Fig.
5
).
Etymology.
This species is named for the ancorae of the male aedeagus, which in
Blaptinae
are hypothesized to anchor the male genitalia during copulation. To date, this is the only species within the subtribe
Eurynotina
with ancorae.
Description.
Length 6-7 mm.
Head
: punctures separated by ~1 feature diameter. Mentum midportion slightly narrowing apically, exposing lateral wings, midportion without distinct median carina.
Prothorax
: pronotum finely punctate, punctures widely spaced, separated by> 1 feature diameter. Hypomeron lightly wrinkled and finely punctate. Prosternal process weakly produced between forecoxae.
Pterothorax
: elytra width about equal to pronotal width. Elytral striae and intervals punctate; striae very weakly impressed or absent. Interval punctures fine and widely spaced (>1 feature diameter), distinctly smaller than strial punctures. Elytral tubercles absent.
Abdomen
: ventrite V sulcus narrowly separated from apical border.
Terminalia
: male: parameres tapering apically, fused basally with narrow opening at apex exposing median lobe. Each paramere bearing a small, ventral medial ancora. Female: Ratio of ovipositor coxites I-IV to paraprocts nearly 1:1. Bursa copulatrix not bilobate, accessory gland present near-to spermatheca, accessory pouch present.
Distribution.
Lesotho.