Heterolepismatinae, Mendes, 1991

Molero-Baltanás, Rafael, Gaju-Ricart, Miquel & Smith, Graeme B., 2024, New insights in the taxonomy of Lepismatidae (Insecta, Zygentoma) with an updated key to genera and future challenges, European Journal of Taxonomy 943 (1), pp. 80-126 : 118

Heterolepismatinae

(40 species in 3 genera, Fig. 22 )

Very common in Australia, with many more species awaiting description. Also limited distribution elsewhere except on Indian and Pacific Islands where it is very common. This raises the question of its Gondwanan origin, or perhaps it could be an old Australian subfamily that has spread by rafting. They are superficially very similar in appearance, but molecular data reveal deep divergences between species. The genus Heterolepisma is probably polyphyletic. It needs quite a lot of work to decide what characters are of phylogenetic importance and we need to obtain specimens of the Argentinian type species of Heterolepisma to define the true Heterolepisma .

Figures

Fig. 22. World distribution of representatives of the subfamily Heterolepismatinae Mendes, 1991.