Research Article |
Corresponding author: Wioletta Tomaszewska ( wiolkat@miiz.waw.pl ) Academic editor: Michael Thomas
© 2018 Emmanuel Arriaga-Varela, Wioletta Tomaszewska, Lizhi Huo, Matthias Seidel.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Arriaga-Varela E, Tomaszewska W, Huo L, Seidel M (2018) On Neotropical Merophysiinae with descriptions of a new genus and new species (Coleoptera, Endomychidae). ZooKeys 736: 1-41. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.736.21628
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Intensive survey of museum collections and new field collecting resulted in discovery of six new, closely related species of the Neotropical Merophysiinae. A new species of the genus Lycoperdinella Champion, L. boliviensis sp. n., from Bolivia and Brazil, and five new species from Mexico for which a new genus is proposed here as Rueckeria gen. n.: R. inecol (type species), R. nigrileonis, R. ocelotl, R. puma, R. skelleyi spp. n., have been discovered. Lycoperdinella, Rueckeria gen. n., L. subcaeca Champion and all new species are diagnosed, described, and illustrated. Keys to the species of Lycoperdinella and Rueckeria and a distribution map are provided. A lectotype of Lycoperdinella subcaeca Champion, 1913 is designated. Molecular barcodes of three new species of Rueckeria are provided in order to help with the identification of these taxa.
Coccinelloidea , Entomology, Lycoperdinella , new genus, new species, Rueckeria , taxonomy
Merophysiinae is a subfamily of Endomychidae, a moderately large family of mycophagous beetles distributed worldwide but with highest diversity in the tropical regions (
Merophysiinae (= Holoparamecinae) (
The Neotropical region is inhabited by five merophysiine genera. Holoparamecus Curtis, 1833, including numerous species distributed worldwide, and four genera endemic to the Neotropics: Colovocerida Belon, 1884, Lycoperdinella Champion, 1913, Pseudevolocera Champion, 1913 and Pseudoparamecus Brèthes, 1922. However, apart from the often studied and well known Holoparamecus, and carefully studied (during preparation of this paper) type material of monotypic Lycoperdinella, the remaining three genera are rather enigmatic. Pseudevolocera was described as having a 10-segmented antenna with 3-segmented club, prosternum having large fossae for the reception of antennal club, pronotum with basal groove but without foveae, tarsi 3-segmented, metaventral postcoxal lines, and weak abdominal lines present.
In addition to the information about the introduced species of Holoparamecus, which probably feed on the molds of stored grains (
A recent survey of the Endomychidae material from museum collections (National Museum in Prague; The Natural History Museum in London; Florida State Collection of Arthropods in Gainesville, FL; Museum and Institute of Zoology in Warsaw) carried out by the authors, and recent field collecting in Mexico, carried out by EA-V and MS, revealed the new discoveries reported here.
Six new species of Merophysiinae from Central and South America have been discovered and are described in this paper. A new species of Lycoperdinella from Bolivia and Brazil, and five new species from Mexico for which a new genus is proposed here as Rueckeria gen. n.
The genus Lycoperdinella was established by
Acronyms for the depositories of specimens are:
IEXA Institute of Ecology, Xalapa, Mexico;
MIZ Museum and Institute of Zoology PAS, Warszawa, Poland;
MNKM Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia;
Genitalia of both sexes, if available, were dissected, cleared in 10% KOH solution and rinsed with distilled water, then transferred to glycerol and examined on slides. After examination the genitalia were transferred to microvials and pinned beneath the specimens. Measurements were made using an ocular micrometer attached to an Olympus (SZX 16) dissecting microscope. The following measurements were made and are used in descriptions: TL – total length, from apical margin of clypeus to apex of elytra; PL – pronotal length, from the middle of anterior margin to margin of basal foramen; PW – pronotal width at widest part; EL – elytral length across sutural line including scutellum; EW – elytral width across both elytra at the widest part. Habitus photographs were taken using a Canon EOS 550D digital camera with attached Canon MP-E65mm f/2.8 1–5× macro lens, and subsequently modified in Adobe Photoshop CS5. The photographs of the genitalia and the other disarticulated morphological structures were taken using a Canon EOS 1100D digital camera attached to an Olympus BX41 compound microscope and subsequently combined using Helicon Focus software. Scanning electron micrographs were taken using a Hitachi S-3700N environmental electron microscope at the Department of Palaeontology, National Museum in Prague and a HITACHI S-3400N microscope (www.hitachi.com) in the Electron Microscopy Laboratory at the Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw.
The species descriptions of Lycoperdinella start from the type species and follow by a new species; the species of Rueckeria gen. n., are ordered alphabetically.
The beetle-specific terminology and numbering of body parts follow
DNA barcoding. Most of the examined specimens were collected during a recent expedition to Mexico. Samples were preserved in 96 % alcohol and stored at -20 °C. DNA was extracted from complete specimens using a Qiagen Blood and Tissue DNA extraction kit following the manufacturer's, instructions. The highly variable 5’ region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI) was amplified using LCO1490 (5’-GGTCAACAAATCATAAAGATATTGG-3’) and HCO2198 (5’-TAAACTTCAGGGTGACCAAAAAATCA-3’) primers (Folmer et al. 1994). Each 10 µl PCR reaction contained 6.7 µl H2O, 0.4 µl of MgCl2 (25 mM), 0.2 µl of dNTPs (10 mM), 0.3 µl of each forward and reverse primer (10 µM), 0.1 µl of Taq polymerase (5 u/µl), 1.0 µl of 10x Taq buffer, and 1.0 µl of DNA template. The PCR conditions consisted of 3 min at 94 °C + 35 cycles of 30 s at 94 °C, 45 s at 48 °C and 1 min at 72 °C + 8 min at 72 °C. 5 µl of each PCR product were purified by adding 0.5 µl (20 u) Exonuclease I (Exo1) and 1µl (1 u) Thermosensitive Alkaline Phosphatase (FastAP) (Thermo Fisher Scientific) and incubating the mixture for 15 min at 37 °C, followed by 15 min at 80 °C. Sequences were edited with Geneious 9. We did not attempt DNA extraction and sequencing of museum specimens, that is why only sequences for three species of Rueckeria gen. n. are presented.
Lycoperdinella
Champion, 1913: 114. Type species: Lycoperdinella subcaeca Champion, 1913 (by monotypy). –
Lycoperdinella can be distinguished from other Neotropical Merophysiinae by the following combination of characters: antenna 10-segmented with 1-segmented club (Fig.
Length 1.3–1.4 mm. Body elongate, approx. 2.2 times longer than wide, weakly convex, approx. 3.3 times as long as high; shiny, smooth, covered with sparse and long pale setae. Color light brown.
Head (Figs
Prothorax. Pronotum (Figs
Meso- and metathorax. Mesonotum sclerotized; scutellar shield small, strongly transverse, widely rounded apically, partially covered by base of pronotum. Mesoventrite (Fig.
Legs. Trochanter moderately elongate (Fig.
Abdomen (Figs
Male not known.
Female genitalia (Figs
Central and South America: Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Guatemala (Fig.
Lycoperdinella
subcaeca
Champion, 1913: 115. Type locality: Guatemala. –
Lycoperdinella subcaeca is similar to L. boliviensis in its body shape, color and vestiture, however L. subcaeca can be separated from that species by having the pronotum more elongate (0.80 times as long as broad), eyes reduced to six facets only (in both type specimens studied), mentum somewhat pentagonal (sharply produced anteriorly in the middle of apical margin), the abdominal ventrite 1 longer than the mesoventrite and the hind wings absent.
Length 1.39 mm, width 0.66 mm, height 0.47 mm; body elongate-oval, moderately convex, 2.11 times as long as wide, 2.96 times as long as high (Figs
Head with interocular distance 0.83 times as wide as head including eyes. Eyes very small, composed of six facets (Fig.
Pronotum weakly transverse (Fig.
Elytra 0.94 mm long, 1.42 times longer than wide; 2.19 times as long as and 1.22 times as wide as pronotum; widest at basal fourth then continuously distinctly converging to rounded apex; with hooked tooth present anterolateral corner. Hind wings absent.
Legs moderately long. Femora very narrow at base, strongly widened at apical half. Tibiae narrow, straight, continuously widened towards their apices. Metatibia very narrow, 0.34 times as long as elytra. Metatarsus moderately long, 0.6 times as long as metatibia.
Abdomen (Figs
Female genitalia (Fig.
Male unknown.
Lectotype of Lycoperdinella subcaeca Champion, female, GUATEMALA, “Livingston, 65, Guat./ H.S. Barber Collector/ U.S. Nat. Mus. 1913–253, det. Champion/ Lycoperdinella subcaeca Ch./ Co-type” (
Central America: Guatemala (Fig.
This species was listed by
The name of this species is derived from the country of origin of the holotype.
Lycoperdinella boliviensis closely resembles L. subcaeca in its overall body shape, color and vestiture, but can be separated from L. subcaeca by having the pronotum more transverse (0.68–0.70 times as long as broad), eyes composed of 36 facets (based on studied specimens), mentum subrectangular with its anterior margin weakly arcuate, and the abdominal ventrite 1 shorter than the mesoventrite, and by the presence of well-developed hind wings.
Length 1.30–1.40 mm, width 0.60 mm, height 0.43 mm; body elongate-oval, moderately convex, 2.25 times as long as wide, 2.85 times as long as high (Fig.
Head with interocular distance 0.75 times as wide as head including eyes (Fig.
Pronotum weakly transverse (Fig.
Elytra 0.82–0.88 mm long, 1.38–1.45 times longer than wide; 2.60–2.70 times as long as and 1.25 times as wide as pronotum; widest at basal fourth then continuously distinctly converging to rounded apex; with hooked tooth present at anterolateral corner. Punctation composed of small setiferous punctures, and sparse larger, shallow foveate punctures (Fig.
Legs moderately long. Femora very narrow at base, strongly widened at apical half. Tibiae narrow, straight, continuously widened towards their apices. Metatibiae very narrow, 0.35 times as long as elytra. Metatarsus moderately long, 0.55 times as long as metatibia.
Abdomen with ventrite 1 slightly shorter than metaventrite and as long as three following ventrites combined (Fig.
Female genitalia with long, narrow coxites, emarginate at their apices, styli indistinct; spermatheca with one chamber rounded and second irregularly long oval; sperm duct moderately long, accessory gland elongate oval (Fig.
Male unknown.
Holotype, female, BOLIVIA, “BOLIVIA: Cochabamba Dept. Est. Biol. Sacta, Univ Mayor S. Simeon. 17°06.48', 64°46.94', 300 m; rainforest FIT; 16/27-XII-2005; s. & J. Peck 05-47” (MNKM). Paratypes, BOLIVIA, same data as holotype (3 females:
South America: Bolivia (Cochabamba), Brazil (Manaus) (Fig.
Fragments of phragmospores (Fig.
1 | Pronotum 0.80 times as long as wide (Fig. |
L. subcaeca Champion |
– | Pronotum 0.68–0.70 times as long as wide (Fig. |
L. boliviensis sp. n. |
Rueckeria inecol sp. n.
This genus is dedicated to Dr. Wolfgang Rücker, German coleopterist, who has devoted many years of his life to the study of merophysiine beetles.
Gender feminine.
Rueckeria can be easily distinguished from other Neotropical Merophysiinae by the following combination of characters: antenna 10-segmented with 1-segmented club (Fig.
Length 1.3–2.2 mm. Body elongate, approx. 2.0 times longer than wide, weakly convex, 2.8–3.3 times as long as high; shiny, smooth, covered with sparse and short pale setae. Color light brown to black.
Head (Fig.
Prothorax. Pronotum (Figs
Meso- and metathorax. Mesonotum (Fig.
Legs. Trochanter moderately elongate (Fig.
Abdomen (Figs
Aedeagus (Figs
Female genitalia (Figs
Mexico: Hidalgo, Querétaro, Veracruz (Fig.
The name of the new species is dedicated to our colleagues in INECOL (The Institute of Ecology, Xalapa, Mexico), institution where the project within most specimens of this species were collected was held. Noun in apposition.
Rueckeria inecol is similar to R. skelleyi and R. ocelotl spp. n., by having the body completely brown and the abdominal ventrite 1 with irregularly rounded postcoxal lines (Fig.
Length 1.90–2.17 mm, width 1.00–1.05 mm, height 0.62–0.67 mm; body elongate-oval, weakly convex, 2.07–2.34 times as long as wide, 3.32–3.36 time as long as high (Figs
Pronotum weakly transverse (Fig.
Elytra 1.25–1.32 mm long, 1.24–1.28 times as long as wide; 2.37–2.50 times as long and 1.44–1.53 times as wide as pronotum; widest at basal fourth, then continuously strongly converging to rounded apex. Punctation composed of widely spaced small setiferous punctures and slightly larger, shallow foveate punctures (Fig.
Legs moderately long. Femora very narrow at base, then strongly widened at apical half. Tibiae moderately narrow, continuously widening to apex. Metatibia very narrow, continuously widening apically, 0.31–0.36 times as long as elytra; metatarsus long, 0.66 times as long as metatibia.
Abdomen with ventrite 1 slightly shorter than metaventrite and almost as long as three following ventrites combined (Figs
Male genital segment with sternite emarginate apically and acuminately rounded at its base (Fig.
Female genitalia with narrow coxites, with moderately large styli bearing two apical setae; spermatheca elongate (Fig.
Holotype male, MEXICO, “Mexico: Veracruz Trucha Feliz, 1 km SW of Rancho Viejo (W of Xalapa) 19°31.1'N 96°59.1'W; 1445 m 9.ix.2016; Alvarado, Arriaga, Fikáček & Seidel lgt. 2016-MX15 / sifting of accummulations of leaf litter in small pieces of riverside forest” (
Mexico: Veracruz (Fig.
GenBank accession number: MG676234
The name of this new species is dedicated to our coleopterist colleagues in the National Collection of Insects in UNAM (National Autonomous University of Mexico) whose mascot is the puma, the pan-American felid.
Rueckeria puma is most similar to R. nigrileonis by its small size, black body with yellow legs, antennae, and mouth parts (Fig.
Length 1.15–1.60 mm, width 0.72–0.54 mm, height 0.41 mm; body moderately elongate-oval, moderately convex, 2.2–2.1 times as long as wide, 3.1–3.0 times as long as high (Figs
Head with interocular distance 0.8 times as wide as head including eyes (Fig.
Pronotum weakly transverse (Fig.
Elytra 0.88–0.97 mm long, 1.30–1.38 times longer than wide; 2.30–2.38 times as long as and 1.38–1.42 times as wide as pronotum; widest at basal fourth then continuously strongly converging to rounded apex. Punctation composed of small setiferous punctures, each accompanied posteriorly by 2–3 slightly larger shallow foveate punctures. Metaventrite with postcoxal longitudinal ridges extending slightly beyond anterior 2/5 (Fig.
Legs moderately long. Femora very narrow at base, strongly widened at apical half. Pro- and mesotibiae very narrow, protibiae weakly sinuate, slightly widened towards apex. Metatibia very narrow, almost straight, continuously widening apically, more accentuated at apical fifth, slightly bent inwards in apical 2/3, 0.39–0.40 times as long as elytra. Metatarsus long, 0.65 times as long as metatibia.
Abdomen with ventrite 1 slightly shorter than metaventrite and as long as three following ventrites combined (Fig.
Male genital segment with sternite emarginate apically, and acuminately rounded at its base. Tegmen large, sinuate in lateral view, with rugose and distinctly acuminate apex. Median lobe short, strongly widened at base, markedly curved, continuously strongly narrowing to acute apex. Tegminal strut absent (Fig.
Female genitalia (Fig.
Holotype, male, MEXICO, “MEXICO: Hidalgo La Mojonera 4.8 km SE Zacualtipan, upper part of Fagus forest; 20°37.9'N 98°37.0'W; 2010 m; 13-16.ix.2016; Arriaga, Cortés, Fikáček & Seidel lgt. 2016-MX22 / sifting of large accummulations of leaf litter in relictual Fagus forest with intermixed Magnolia and tree ferns, with sparse to dense understory and many (partly rotten) fungi and logs” (
Mexico: Hidalgo (Fig.
GenBank accession number: MG676232
This new species is dedicated to our coleopterist colleagues in the entomological collection of the University of Guadalajara, whose mascot is a black lion. The name is derived from Latin “niger” (black) and “leo” (lion).
Rueckeria nigrileonis is most similar to R. puma by its small size and black body with legs, antennae and mouth parts yellow (Fig.
Length 1.29–1.37 mm, width 0.67–0.71 mm, height 0.5 mm; body moderately elongate-oval, moderately convex, 1.92–1.95 times as long as wide, 2.80 –2.95 times as long as high (Figs
Head with interocular distance 0.8 times as wide as head including eyes. Eyes small, composed of 18 facets. Antenna moderately long and slender, 0.85 times as long as head and pronotum combined; scape 1.33 times longer than wide, 1.33 times as long as pedicel; pedicel 1.36 times longer than wide; third antennomere 1.66 times longer than wide, equal in length with pedicel; antennomeres 4–8 getting gradually shorter and wider towards antennomere 9 which is as long as wide and 0.7 times longer than pedicel; terminal antennomere inflated, asymmetrical, 2.25 times as long at longer margin as pedicel, its longer margin 1.45 times longer than lateral one and 1.05 as long as apical margin, apical margin truncate. Mentum subquadrate, weakly produced anteriorly in middle of anterior margin (Fig.
Pronotum weakly transverse (Fig.
Elytra 0.80–0.88 mm long, 1.18–1.24 times longer than wide; 2.10–2.20 times as long and 1.31–1.38 times as wide as pronotum; widest at basal fourth then continuously strongly converging to rounded apex. Punctation composed of small setiferous punctures, each accompanied posteriorly by 2–3 slightly larger shallow foveate punctures (Fig.
Legs moderately long. Femora very narrow at base, strongly widened at apical half. Pro- and mesotibiae very narrow, slightly curved inwards, parallel sided along basal 2/3, then widened towards apex. Metatibia very narrow, almost straight, continuously widening apically, more accentuated at apical fifth, 0.38–0.42 times as long as elytra. Metatarsus long, 0.68 times as long as metatibia.
Abdomen with ventrite 1 slightly shorter than metaventrite and as long as three following ventrites combined (Fig.
Male genital segment with sternite emarginate apically, and acuminately rounded at its base. Tegmen large, slightly curved in lateral view, with rugouse apex. Median lobe short, markedly curved, continuously strongly narrowing to acute apex. Tegminal strut absent (Fig.
Female genitalia with moderately broad coxites with two apical setae, styli vestigial; spermatheca large, subreniform (Fig.
Holotype, male, MEXICO “Mexico: Veracruz. Tlalnehuayocan, Río Pixquiac, Fragmented cloud forest, 1522 m 19°32'4.9"N 96°59'52"W, Sifted leaf litter, 5.V.2013. Leg. E. Arriaga, F. Alvarado & R. Madrigal (
Mexico: Veracruz (Fig.
The name of the new species is dedicated to our colleague Dr. Paul Skelley, the curator of the entomology collection in
Rueckeria skelleyi is similar to R. inecol and R. ocelotl spp. n, by the body completely brown and the abdominal ventrite 1 with irregularly rounded postcoxal lines. However it can be distinguished by the basal lateral pores not perforated as in the other species (Fig.
Length 1.50 mm, width 0.64 mm, height 0.43 mm; body elongate-oval, weakly convex, 2.35 times as long as wide, 3.32–3.50 times as long as high (Figs
Head with interocular distance 0.80 times as wide as the head including eyes. Eyes small, composed of approximately 16 facets. Antenna moderately long and slender, 0.75 times as long as the head and pronotum combined; scape 1.20 times as long as wide, 1.16 times as long as pedicel; pedicel 1.5 times longer than wide; third antennomere 1.8 times as long as wide, 0.83 times as long as pedicel; antennomeres 4–7, 1.4 times as long as wide and 0.5 times as long as pedicel; antennomeres 8–9 as long as wide, 0.7 times as long as pedicel; terminal antennomere inflated, asymmetrical, 3.0 times longer at longer margin than pedicel, longer margin 1.32 times longer than lateral one, apical margin truncate. Mentum subquadrate, very weakly produced anteriorly in middle of anterior margin (Fig.
Pronotum weakly transverse (Fig.
Elytra 0.85 mm long, 1.40 times as long as wide; 2.43 times as long and 1.34 times as wide as pronotum; widest at basal fourth then continuously strongly converging to rounded apex. Punctation composed of small setiferous punctures and dispersed, slightly larger, shallow foveate punctures.
Legs moderately long. Femora very narrow at base, then strongly widened at apical half. Tibiae moderately narrow, continuously widening to apex. Metatibia very narrow, straight, continuously widening apically, 0.31–0.36 times as long as elytra; metatarsus very long, 0.66 times as long as metatibia.
Abdomen with ventrite 1 slightly shorter than metaventrite and almost as long as three following ventrites combined; postcoxal lines on ventrite 1 reaching about half length of ventrite, irregularly rounded. Ventrite 5 arcuate apically.
Male genital segment with sternite rounded apically, basal margin acuminately rounded. Tegmen large, distinctly longer than median lobe, parallel sided, weakly curved in lateral view, apex rounded; tegminal strut indistinct. Median lobe widened and with additional acute ventral process near base, then strongly narrowing to markedly acute apex (Fig.
Female unknown.
Holotype, male, MEXICO, “MEXICO: Querétaro; Mpio: San Joaquin, Campo Alegre, 20°54'47"N, 99°34'35"W, 8-15-DEC-2013, 2480 m, P. Skelley, P. Kovarik, R. Jones, surface dung pitfall” (
Mexico: Querétaro (Fig.
GenBank accession number: MG676233
The name is derived from the Nahuatl word for jaguar, inspired by the rosette-like pattern that can be seen on the elytra under certain type of light, caused probably by different densities of the chitin. A noun in apposition.
Rueckeria ocelotl is similar to R. inecol and R. skelleyi spp. n, by the body completely brown and the abdominal ventrite 1 with irregularly rounded postcoxal lines (Fig.
Length 2.00–2.15 mm, width 0.80–0.85 mm, height 0.62–0.67 mm; body elongate-oval, weakly convex, 2.35–2.50 times as long as wide, 3.32–3.36 time as long as high (Figs
Head with interocular distance 0.75 times as wide as head including eyes. Eyes small, composed of approximately 16 facets (Fig.
Pronotum weakly transverse, 0.77–0.80 times as long as wide (Fig.
Elytra 1.15–1.18 mm long, 1.38–1.43 times as long as wide; 2.25–2.30 times as long as and 1.26–1.30 times as wide as pronotum; widest at basal fourth then continuously strongly converging to rounded apex. Punctation composed of small setiferous punctures and widely spaced, slightly larger, shallow foveate punctures (Fig.
Legs moderately long. Femora very narrow at base, then strongly widened at apical half. Tibiae moderately narrow, straight sided, continuously widening to apex. Metatibia very narrow, straight, continuous widening apically, 0.35–0.37 times as long as elytra; metatarsus 0.66 times as long as metatibia.
Abdomen with ventrite 1 slightly shorter than metaventrite and almost as long as three following ventrites combined; postcoxal lines on ventrite 1 shallow, nearly reaching 2/5 length of ventrite, irregularly rounded.
Male genital segment with sternite emarginate apically, and strongly acuminate at its base. Tegmen shorter than median lobe, narrower at basal third, then widening towards apex, with long setae on apical margin. Median lobe cylindrical, weakly curved in lateral view, narrowing near moderately acuminate apex (Fig.
Female genitalia with moderately broad coxites and with styli vestigial (Fig.
Holotype, male, MEXICO: “MEXICO: Hidalgo La Mojonera 4.8 km SE Zacualtipan, upper part of Fagus forest; 20°37.9'N 98°37.0'W; 2010 m; 13-16.ix.2016; Arriaga, Cortés, Fikáček & Seidel lgt. 2016-MX22 / sifting of large accumulations of leaf litter in relictual Fagus forest with intermixed Magnolia and tree ferns, with sparse to dense understory and many (partly rotten) fungi and logs” (
1 | Color black with yellow antennae and legs (Figs |
2 |
– | Color reddish brown with paler antenna and legs (Figs |
3 |
2 | Pronotum more strongly narrowed at base (1.20 times wider at widest part than at base) (Fig. |
R. puma sp. n |
– | Pronotum less strongly narrowed at base (1.05 times wider at widest part than at base) (Fig. |
R. nigrileonis sp. n |
3 | Pronotum with margins weakly crenulate (Fig. |
R. ocelotl sp. n |
– | Pronotum with margins smooth (Figs |
4 |
4 | Pronotum without perforated basal lateral pores, with just feeble and slightly depressed foveae (Fig. |
R. skelleyi sp. n |
– | Pronotum with perforated basal lateral pores (Fig. |
R. inecol sp. n. |
The findings presented in this work reveal that the merophysiine fauna in the Neotropics is very poorly known. As a result, its diversity has been highly underestimated, while some monotypic genera considered as part of the subfamily were never re-examined and are most likely misclassified. This situation is caused in part to the lack of interest in studying small-sized beetles associated with environments such as forest leaf litter. Recent effort on studying the leaf-litter dwelling beetles from the cloud forests of Mexico revealed an unexpected diversity of merophysiine representatives that did not completely fit in the current generic concepts available. For those species a new genus, Rueckeria, is established here. Its members are evidently closely related to Lycoperdinella, a genus that was previously considered as monotypic. The distribution of Lycoperdinella is greatly expanded, from Guatemala and Costa Rica where it was previously recorded to Bolivia and Brazil. In contrast to Lycoperdinella, where species seem to be broadly distributed, representatives of Rueckeria probably occur locally and have higher speciation-rate caused by the lack of flying ability. So far Rueckeria is known only from Mexican biogeographical provinces: Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt and Sierra Madre Oriental. However, it cannot be stated that its distribution is restricted to these provinces. Additional collecting efforts will likely result in new discoveries at the specific level and could provide more DNA-grade specimens that will help us testing the monophyly of the genera. In parallel, the type specimens of the enigmatic genera Colovocerida Belon, Pseudevolocera Champion, and Pseudoparamecus Brèthes, must be studied in order to elucidate their systematic position.
We thank Michael Geiser (