Phylacastus crypticoides Koch

Lumen, Ryan & Kaminski, Marcin Jan, 2023, Taxonomic revision of the genus Phylacastus Fairmaire (Tenebrionidae, Eurynotina): shortfalls of anatomical nomenclature with notes on aedeagal homology, ZooKeys 1138, pp. 1-27 : 1

Phylacastus crypticoides Koch

Figs 1C , 3A, D, F , 4E , 5 , 6B , 8B

Phylacastus crypticoides Koch, 1954a: 286. Kamiński 2016: 245.

Phylacastus pretoriensis = Phylacastus pretoriensis Koch, 1954a: 285, syn. nov. Kamiński 2016: 245.

Material examined

(data represents single specimens unless otherwise noted). Holotype (TMNH): " Lydenburg Distr. 1896 P.A. Krantz; Phylacastus crypticoides DET.C.KOCH 1953; Holotype No: 1873 Phylacastus crypticoides KOCH; Phylacastus crypticoides Koch; Eurynotus ? sp.."

Additional material examined

(TMNH). " S.Afr., N.Transvaal Nylsvley Met.Sta. 24.40°S, 28.42°E; 285.1975; E-Y:1160 humus, Berlese , open leg. Endrödy-Younga.”, " S.Afr., N.Transvaal Nylsvley, Smith frm 24.40°S, 24.42°E 15.11.1975; E-Y: 952 cattle dung leg. Endrödy-Younga; trench; rep: 5 cage mesh 9 mm 7 day aft.sett."*, " S.Afr., N.Transvaal Nylsvley Met.Sta. 24.40°S, 28.42°E; 29.3.1976; E-Y:1112 sifted litter, open leg. Endrödy-Younga.”, " S.Afr.; Limpopo Prov. Lindani Nat Res 1336 m 24.02°S, 28.23°E; 8.12.2005; E-Y:3687 single, bushveld leg. Gusmann, Müller.”, " S.Afr., N.Transvaal Nylsvley, Smith frm 24.40°S, 24.42°E 8.1.1976; E-Y: 990 sifted litter. Endrödy-Younga” *, " S.Afr.Tvl.Waterbg Lapalala Wilderness 23.49°S, 20.17°E; 16.8.1975; E-Y:829 from under stones leg. Endrödy-Younga” (seven specimens)1 .

Notes.

Koch described both Phylacastus crypticoides and P. pretoriensis (1954a), differentiating them from the already described P. striolatus and his additional species P. rhodesianus based on the following: P. pretoriensis with a basal pronotal margin that is reduced medially, and P. crypticoides with a cariniform structure of the mentum and a more apically positioned sulcus on abdominal ventrite V. Upon investigation here, the margination of the pronotal base, while variable, appears to be consistently present in all species with no uniform reduction in restricted populations or collection events examined here. The sulcus of abdominal ventrite V is also consistent between specimens of both of Koch’s species. Furthermore, P. crypticoides and P. pretoriensis specimens compared with his type material bear the carina attributed to P. crypticoides . As such, we have decided here to synonymize the two species under P. crypticoides .

Redescription.

Length 6-7 mm. Head: punctures separated by <1 diameter. Mentum broad, lateral wings concealed, midportion with thin, distinct medial carina. Prothorax: pronotum punctate, punctures closely spaced, separated by ≤ 1 diameter. Hypomeron lightly wrinkled to rugose. Prosternal process produced between forecoxae (Fig. 3D ). Pterothorax: elytra width about equal to pronotal width. Elytral striae, intervals punctate; striae clearly impressed. Interval punctures closely spaced (≤1 diameter), slightly smaller than strial punctures. Elytral tubercles absent; apical declivity with at most weak bumps or callosities (Figs 1C , 2E, F ). Abdomen: ventrite V sulcus narrowly separated from apical border. Terminalia: male: parameres tapering apically, fused basally with narrow opening at apex exposing median lobe. Female: ovipositor slightly elongate (ratio of ovipositor coxites I-IV to paraprocts <1:1). Bursa copulatrix not bilobate, accessory gland present near-to spermatheca, accessory pouch absent.

Distribution.

South Africa.

Figures

Figure 1. Dorsal habitus of Phylacastus species A Phylacastus ancoralium sp. nov. holotype B Phylacastus makskacymirowi sp. nov. C Phylacastus crypticoides D Phylacastus rhodesianus E Phylacastus striolatus lectotype. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figure 2. Phylacastus lateral aspect photographs and close-up of apical elytral tubercles and striae A Phylacastus ancoralium lateral angle B P. ancoralium close-up of elytra apical declivity C P. rhodesianus lateral angle D P. rhodesianus close-up of elytra apical declivity E P. striolatus lateral angle F P. striolatus close-up of elytra apical declivity.

Figure 3. Diagnostic features of Phylacastus species A-C mentum (Median keel red, middle portion and lateral wings blue and green respectively) D-E prosternal process F-G abdominal ventrite V A, D, F Phylacastus crypticoides B P. makskacymirowi C P. rhodesianus E P. ancoralium G P. striolatus. Scale bars: 0.1 mm

Figure 4. Phylacastus species spp. aedeagi A-D aedeagus dorsal view E, F aedeagus Ventral view A, H Phylacastus striolatus B, G P. ancoralium (ancorae highlighted blue) C P. rhodesianus E P. crypticoides D, F P. makskacymirowi (subapical sutures highlighted blue). Median lobes highlighted green. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

Figure 5. Phylacastus ovipositor (dorsal). Right Phylacastus ancoralium Left P. crypticoides. Abbreviations: C - Coxae (1 - 4); Prct - Paraprocts. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figure 6. Phylacastus internal female structures A Phylacastus striolatus B P. crypticoides C P. ancoralium. Abbreviations: Ag - Accessory gland, Ap - Accessory pouch, Bc - Bursa copulatrix, Ov - Oviduct, Sp - Spermatheca.

Figure 8. Distribution of ancorae in Blaptinae (displayed on Bayesian molecular topology from Kaminski et al. 2021 a) A Heliopates ibericus Mulsant & Rey (Dendarina) apical aedeagus B Phylacastus crypticoides aedeagus. Dark blue clades = all representatives have ancorae. Light blue clades = exceptions (with or without ancorae). White clades = no ancorae. Abbreviations: an - ancora, bap - basal apophysis, cc - sclerotized connection to parameres, ml - median lobe, par - parameres.