On the taxonomic status of two giant cockroaches of Bionoblatta (Blattodea, Blaberidae) collected by José Pinto da Fonseca, a founder of the Brazilian Society of Entomology

By

Polizeli, Leonardo
Pinto, Ângelo Parise

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2025-1-7

Original Publication

Journal of orthoptera research : JOR

Volume

34

Series / Issue

Issue: 1

Pages

31--38

Subjects

Blaberinae , Brachycolini , Neotropical , Nomenclature , systematics , taxonomy , trilobite cockroaches , Zetoborinae

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Philadelphia, Penn Orthopterists' Society 1992-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/jor.34.129911

 

Abstract

The blaberids Parahormetica hylaeceps Miranda-Ribeiro, 1936 and Bion mastrucatus Rehn, 1937 were described in the 1930s from single males collected by José Pinto da Fonseca (JPF) in the 1910s. Both specimens came from the region of Mariana municipality, Minas Gerais State, an ecotonal formation between the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado domains in southeastern Brazil. Recently, P. hylaeceps was transferred to Bionoblatta Rehn, 1940, and its strong morphological similarity with Bion mastrucatus (already in Bionoblatta) was highlighted, indicating the need to investigate the validity of these names. Here, we addressed this question by analyzing photos of the type material, comparing original descriptions, and examining data on both the collecting site and the collector’s history. We conclude that Parahormetica hylaeceps should be considered a senior synonym of Bion mastrucatussyn. nov.; hence, the valid name should be Bionoblatta hylaeceps (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1936). We also provide a new diagnosis, synonymy, and review of the distribution of this species, finding Bionoblatta hylaeceps to be endemic to the Itacolomi Peak region. We also present a short account of the work of JPF, including his relevance to Brazilian entomology and itinerary for collecting these specimens. Bionoblatta have five poorly known species of blaberids that, despite recent advances in the genus taxonomy, are still pending review.