Revision of flightless New Zealand Picrotini (Coleoptera: Cryptophagidae): phylogeny of Thortus, eye reduction, and rarity
Leschen Richard A. B., Chen Yandong, Harmer Aaron M. T.
Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 64(2): 455-500, 2024
Published online: 26th December 2024
Views: 208
Abstract: The apterous New Zealand genera Picrotus Sharp, 1886 and Thortus Broun,
1893 are revised to include two species and 13 species, respectively, with
12 new species: Picrotus wairarapa sp. nov., Thortus bullerensis sp. nov., T.
crowsoni sp. nov., T. helmorei sp. nov., T. latus sp. nov., T. lobatus sp. nov.,
T. luscus sp. nov., T. michauxi sp. nov., T. parallelus sp. nov., T. simplex sp.
nov., T. sulcatus sp. nov. and T. tioripatea sp. nov. One species previously
thought to be a member of Picrotus is transferred to a new genus: Callichrotus
gimmeli gen. & sp. nov. The largest species, T. michauxi, is endemic to the
subantarctic islands while the rest are mainland. Four species of Thortus have
eyes consisting of a single ommatidium. We determined the origin of
microphthalmy and attempt to reconstruct the biogeography of Thortus with a
morphological cladistic analysis that included Callichrotus and Picrotus as
outgroups. Thortus michauxi was sister to remaining species with largely
unresolved relationships and included two monophyletic clusters. Thortus amoenus
(Broun, 1912), T. lobatus, and T. sulcatus formed a group based on the presence
of a complete parasutural striae, and within it, the latter two species have
parameres with posterior membranous extensions, which supports them as sister
species. In some trees, T. bullerensis, T. parallelus, and T. ovalis are
supported by a narrowly constricted frons, a character that is variable within
the genus. Microphthalmy evolved multiple times in Thortus. Eye reduction in
other New Zealand beetles is reviewed. Based on number of collection events and
specimen counts, most species would be considered as rare, with six newly
described species known from single locations, three species of which are known
from singletons. Despite classed as rare, it is likely that most species may be
protected from extinction because they live in reserves or national parks.
Key words: Coleoptera, Cucujoidea, Cryptophagidae, Picrotini, biogeography, conservation,
flightlessness, key to species, morphology, new genus, new species, ommatidia, rarity,
taxonomy, New Zealand
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