Taxonomic revision of the genus Phylacastus Fairmaire (Tenebrionidae, Eurynotina): shortfalls of anatomical nomenclature with notes on aedeagal homology

By

Lumen, Ryan
Kamiński, Marcin

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2023

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

1138

Pages

1--27

Subjects

Amphidorini , clavae , Dendarini , laciniae , median lobe , parameres , Pedinini , South Africa

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1138.95968

 

Abstract

The genusPhylacastusFairmaire (Tenebrionidae, Blaptinae, Platynotini, Eurynotina) is revised. Two new species and one new synonymy are presented along with new diagnoses, descriptions, a distribution map, and key to species. The resulting species ofPhylacastusare:P. ancoraliumsp. nov.,P. crypticoidesKoch (=P. pretoriensisKochsyn. nov.),P. makskacymirowisp. nov.,P. rhodesianusKoch, andP. striolatusFairmaire. Lectotypes are designated for the type species,P. striolatus, to fix the taxonomic status of the species and genus. As a result of examination and subsequent description ofP. ancoraliumsp. nov., a brief review and treatment of aedeagal morphology is presented. The nomenclature (“clavae” versus “laciniae”) and phylogenetic occurrence of accessory structures of the paramere-median lobe area within Blaptinae Leach and Adelinina LeConte (Diaperinae, Diaperini) are discussed. New descriptive terminology (i.e., ancora [singular] and ancorae [plural]) is proposed for these aedeagal structures in Blaptinae to clarify their function and resolve past ambiguities. The morphology within representatives ofAdelinaDejean,AlphitophagusStephens,GnatocerusThunberg, andSitophagusMulsant is also briefly contrasted and outlined.