Pheletes Kiesenwetter, 1858: 328

Etzler, Frank E., 2019, Generic Reclassification of Limonius Eschscholtz, 1829 (Elateridae: Dendrometrinae) sensu Candèze 1860 of the World, Zootaxa 4683 (3), pp. 301-335 : 325-327

4. Pheletes Kiesenwetter, 1858: 328 , 2 species

Type species: Elater bructeri Panzer, 1795 (= Elater aeneoniger DeGeer, 1774 ) by monotypy; Reitter 1905: 18; Leng 1920: 168; Blackwelder 1944: 291; Cate 2007: 166. Treating Pheletes as a synonym of Limonius: Candèze 1860: 377 ; Leseigneur 1972: 180; Platia 1994: 109. Pheletes as subgenus of Limonius ; Van Dyke 1932: 334; Glen 1950: 159; Al Dhafer 2009: 215. Hammionus Gistel, 1834: 11 [HN], not Hammionus Charpentier, 1825 — type species Elater bructeri Panzer, 1795 , by mono- typy.

Nearctic species (1)

Pheletes lecontei ( Lane, 1971) : 24 ( Limonius ) new combination.

Limonius consimilis auct. not Walker, 1866: 325.

Limonius nitidicollis LeConte, 1869: 378 [HN], not Limonius nitidicollis Laporte 1840 .

Palearctic species (1)

Pheletes aeneoniger (DeGeer, 1774) : 328 ( Elater ).

Elater bructeri Panzer, 1795: 243 .

Elater minutus Paykull, 1800: 40 [HN], not Elater minutus Linnaeus, 1758 .

Elater nitidus Gmelin, 1790: 1915 .

Limonius pusillus Sahlberg, 1900: 17 .

Diagnosis. From small black, true Limonius , this genus can be distinguished by the prosternal sutures never grooved anteriorly and the posteriorly pointed scutellum (similar to Fig. 47). The male genitalia (Fig. 46) is unique for the genus-group, bearing a broad median lobe and broad, flat parameres with a short sharp hook apically. The female internal genitalia (Fig. 45) distinguish this genus with a broad area with small sclerotized tubercles on the uterus, and a long and narrow bursa copulatrix with a coiled apical end. This genus is very closely related to the new genus Tetralimonius , whose members were previously placed here. In addition to the genitalic characters, Pheletes can be distinguished from Tetralimonius by the carinate hind angles, simple pronotal punctation, and the narrowly open procoxal cavities (Fig. 44). The larvae of Pheletes possess unique mandibles, bearing three cusps anterad the retinaculum (Fig. 68), which readily separates them from Limonius which has a mandible with a single point anterad the retinaculum (Fig. 65). Larvae have a tridentate nasale on the frontal clypeal area (Fig. 63) similar to true Limonius (Fig. 62).

Generic Description. Piceous, relatively small, 3.5–7mm in length, shining. Head with simple, well-spaced, punctures; frons with center bulbous and surrounded by faint triangular impression; frontal margin entire, narrowly carinate, broadly arcuate when viewed anteriorly. Antennae with 2 nd antennomere subcylindrical, slightly wider than 3 rd and subequal to or shorter than 3 rd, 3 rd subcylindrical, slightly shorter than or subequal to 4 th, 4 th to 10 th antennomeres weakly serrate, almost filiform in P. lecontei , 11 th ovoid. Pronotum as wide as long or wider than long, anterior angles not expanded; hind angles moderately wide at base, with single carina, acute at tip and weakly divergent at most; posterior margin lacking basal incisures and basal notch; prosternal sutures double, not grooved anteriorly; posterior margin of hypomeron slightly sinuate at most; prosternal process weakly expanded laterally; procoxal cavities narrowly opened (Fig.44). Scutellum sub-pentagonal, sometimes appearing sub-triangular, medially convex ( P. aeneoniger ) or relativey flat ( P. lecontei ). Mesepisternum not reaching mesocoxal cavity. Abdomen with lateral micro-serrations on each ventrite. Legs slender, tarsomeres simple, with dense setal pads ventrally; claws simple, lacking setae. Male genitalia with medial lobe wide, parameres relatively wide, well sclerotized, with apical expansion, not membraneous near apex (Fig. 46). Female internal genitalia with uterus bearing two distinct colleterial glands and a band of distinct sclerotization; bursa copulatrix long, ending in bulbous area, with tubular extenstion (duct to spermatheca of Becker 1956) arising from end with accessory gland or diverticulum at base, base of glands surroun

Discussion. These two species have been compared several times. Becker (1956) compared the female internal genitalia, finding them to be very similar (Fig. 45), and suggested they formed a natural group. Male genitalia are also similar between these two species (Fig. 46). Lanchester (1941) and Glen (1950) compared the larvae, also stating that these two species likely represent a distinct group, based on the unique larval mandibles and the presence of stemmata. With the characters of the female internal genitalia, and the characteristic larvae (Figs. 55 and 60), the recognition of Pheletes as a distinct genus is well supported. Larvae have been collected from moss ( Glen 1950).

The disjunct distribution of these species, one found across Europe and the other limited to the Pacific Northwest of North America, should be explored. It could be a product of misidentification of a related species as a member of another genus in the Limonius genus-group, or a lack of collecting in the areas between (Northern Asia). It may also be that these two species are relict populations of a group that had a much broader distribution in the past. With this recognition of the similarity between these two species, these questions can now be explored.