Corresponding author: Steven W. Lingafelter (
Academic editor: A. Konstantinov
A taxonomic review of the genus
Waqa-Sakiti H, Winder L, Lingafelter SW (2015) Review of the genus
Several widespread
The Fijian
The genus
The habits of adult
Bernice P. Bishop Museum Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, France Natural History Museum, London, UK Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, USA Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique, Brussels, Belgium University of the South Pacific, Fiji
Where possible, redescriptions were based on examination of holotype specimens. Occasionally, it was necessary to examine photographs of types or original literature as supplemental references—the latter especially if the holotypes or lectotypes could not be found and presumed lost.
Key anatomy of
Original descriptions were also adapted to include detailed high resolution color photographs of each specimen. Photographs of museum voucher specimens were taken using a Leica MZApo stereomicroscope. Extended focus images were taken using a JVC digital camera KY-F70 and Archimed software (Microvision Instruments). Detailed photographs taken for each species included: a) dorsal habitus, b) head region, c) pronotal region and d) ventral region. A key was then developed to provide a means to distinguish individual species.
Based on the holotype specimen (
This species is most similar to
Superficially similar in form and color to
Based on photograph of lectotype (
This species is recognized by the relatively narrow, parallel-sided appearance and elytra with an indistinct, postmedial dark macula that extends toward the base. It is distinguished from the similar
Based on a specimen housed in
There is some inconsistency between the original description (
Based on the holotype (
Although first described under the name
Based on the holotype specimen (
The key characters show this species to be closest to
Based on the holotype specimen (
This is one of two species characterized by dense pubescent maculae on the pronotum, the other being
Based on a photograph of the holotype specimen (
This species is distinguished by having the pronotum with uniform, dense punctation, the third antennal segment extending to about the midpoint of pronotum, and the head, pronotum and scutellum with fine, sparse, ochraceous pubescence. It shares with
Based on the holotype specimen (
By the key characters,
Based on the holotype and a paratype (
One of the characters that define this species is the moderately dense, yellowish pubescence that extends from the sides of the pronotum across the base. In the key, it falls nearest
Based on the holotype specimen (
This species is very distinctive among the Fijian
Based on the holotype specimen (
This species was not included in the key in the original publication (
Based on the holotype and a paratype specimen (
The distinctive, longitudinal, glabrous striae characterize this species. The only other species with semi-regular glabrous areas on the elytra is
Based on photograph of the holotype specimen (
The very dense, nearly white pubescence of the scutellum is distinctive, along with the dorsally callous pronotum. This species is endemic to Fiji and known only from Viti Levu where specimens were collected in September (
Based on the holotype specimen (
The prominent anterolateral pronotal tubercles, narrowly tapering pronotum posteriorly, and acutely declivous prosternal process are distinctive for this species. This recently described species is endemic to Fiji and known only from Gau and Viti Levu Islands where specimens have been collected in Malaise traps, mostly, from April through June and October through November (
Based on the original description (Fabricius 1787) and specimens from 1938, 2005 and 2007 surveys (FNIC,
This species is somewhat variable and lacking a suite of very distinctive characters. In the key, it is distinguished by the pronotum lacking maculae and lateral tubercles but having several dorsal calli, and having pubescence of the head, pronotum, elytra and scutellum similar in density and coloration. This species is widespread and known from Mauritius, Seychelles, New Zealand, Waigeo Island, Papua New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Hawaii, and Fiji (
Based on the holotype specimen (
This species is most similar to
Diagnostic features in the key include easily coded character states: presence/absence of a macula on the pronotum; shape and color of the macula on pronotum; shape of pronotum (i.e. tuberculate, strongly/weakly arcuate); color of pubescence on pronotum; density of pubescence on pronotum; pronotum with or without calli; and elytra with/without a glabrous line or macula.
1 | Pronotum with yellow macula |
|
– | Pronotum without yellow macula |
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2(1) | Pronotum with two dense areas of yellowish pubescence on either side, subequal in length |
|
– | Pronotum with three or four areas of yellowish pubescence on either side, apical one largest |
|
3(1) | Pronotum tuberculate laterally |
|
– | Pronotum not tuberculate |
|
4(3) | Pronotum strongly arcuate with white pubescence denser on either lateral sides |
|
– | Pronotum quadrate, posteriorly narrowed, with patchy yellow pubescence denser on either sides and posterior margin |
|
5(3) | Pronotum with calli |
|
– | Pronotum without calli |
|
6(5) | Head and pronotum with moderately dense yellowish pubescence. Scutellum with pubescence of similar color as that on pronotum and elytra |
|
– | Head and pronotum with sparse ochraceous pubescence. Scutellum with much paler pubescence than on pronotum and elytra |
|
7(5) | Mesosternal process tuberculate anteriorly |
|
– | Mesosternal process not tuberculate |
|
8(7) | Pronotum quadrate in shape. Integument rather opaque, not strongly shining. Large species (>21 mm in length) |
|
– | Pronotum uniformly rounded laterally. Integument very shiny. Moderate to small species (<20 mm in length) |
|
9(7) | Elytra with glabrous lines or spots between pubescence |
|
– | Elytra without glabrous lines or maculae |
|
10(9) | Elytra with fine glabrous linear regions between pubescence. Prosternal process very narrow between procoxae |
|
– | Elytra with small scattered glabrous spots between pubescent patches. Prosternal process moderately wide between procoxae |
|
11(9) | Prosternal process incomplete between procoxae |
|
– | Prosternal process fully extending between procoxae |
|
12(11) | Pronotum with uneven punctation. Third antennal segment extending nearly to posterior margin of pronotum. Head, pronotum and scutellum with dense yellowish tomentum |
|
– | Pronotum with uniform, dense punctation. Third antennal segment extending to about midpoint of pronotum. Head, pronotum and scutellum with finely sparse ochraceous pubescence |
|
13(11) | Pronotum strongly arcuate laterally |
|
– | Pronotum weakly arcuate/feebly elongate |
|
14(13) | Pronotum almost hexagonal in shape, with a diffuse, dark macula in the integument either side of middle, widest before middle |
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– | Pronotum with sides broadly rounded, without maculae on integument, widest medially |
|
15(13) | Elytra with apical third paler than rest |
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– | Elytra uniformly colored |
|
16(15) | Mesosternal process basal notch parallel sided. Pronotum with narrow, glabrous, impunctate line at middle restricted to posterior half |
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– | Mesosternal process basal notch at an angle. Pronotum with narrow, glabrous, impunctate line at middle centrally located |
|
This study was possible through funding from the Darwin Initiative project: “Focus for Fiji: Insect Inventories for Biodiversity Assessments” (Ref: 15007). Thank you to our project partners, The University of Sussex, UK especially Dr. Alan Stewart. We also thank Prof. Bill Aalbersberg and Marika Tuiwawa (IAS,