Perisphaerinae, Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1865

Li, Xin-Ran, Wang, Li-Li & Wang, Zong-Qing, 2018, Rediscovered and new perisphaerine cockroaches from SW China with a review of subfamilial diagnosis (Blattodea: Blaberidae), Zootaxa 4410 (2), pp. 251-290 : 254

Subfamily Perisphaerinae

See Li & Wang (2016) for citations.

Tentative diagnosis. Female neoteny ( Fig. 9 ), integument hardened (in male adults, limited to pronotum and base of tegmen); ventral pronotum with typical carinae, which end with a lobe or a process, more evident in males ( Fig. 9G ). Front femur type C or D. In females of many species, the abdominal tergites bear one or more pits at sides, along the tergal furrow ( Fig. 9C ); an orifice usually present in the pit. The number of pits on either side of the third through seventh tergum is a diagnostic character of species, and it can be stated as ‘ pit formula ’. For example, pit formula 1-1-2-2-2 means that third tergum through seventh tergum typically has one, one, two, two, two pits respectively; pit formula [3] means that either side of third tergum through seventh tergum each has three pits typically. Cerci of nymphs and females very short, coniform, coalesced into one segment, sometimes the cercomeres are observable. The male phallic complex is generalized as Fig. 10A . Sclerotizations of cleft phallomere are R1T’, R2’, R3’ and R5’; virga well developed (except for Pseudoglomeris semisulcata Hanitsch and Ps. angustifolia (Wang & Che)) , the virga sclerite occupies the dorsal wall and sometimes part of the ventral wall of the virga; basolateral sclerite large, approximately as wide as the hook-like phallomere; the hook-base sclerite and the hook at the same side. Female valvulae and surrounding components are generalized as Fig. 10B .

Distribution. Oriental, Australian and Ethiopian Regions. Fig. 11 shows the localities in southwestern China.

Remarks. Perisphaerus is the type genus of Perisphaerinae . But unfortunately, Brunner (1865) proposed Perisphaerinae (originally as a tribe) based on the name of Perisphaerus , whilst based on the concept of Hyposphaeria Lucas , though he did not mention the latter (see Li & Wang 2016 for details). Brunner (1865) included the type species of Perisphaerus into Derocalymma , and later he ( Brunner 1893) included two Perisphaerus species into Pseudoglomeris Brunner ; the typification of Perisphaerinae is therefore further complicated. To avoid confusion, we treat Perisphaerus as the type genus of Perisphaerinae , nomenclaturally and actually. In addition, if the name Perisphaerinae Brunner, 1865 becomes misleading, then we recommend using Perisphaerinae Walker, 1868 , which is based on both the name and concept of Perisphaerus .

Grandcolas (1997) suggested five synapomorphies for Perisphaerinae (see Introduction herein). The third is that the paratergite (tergal extension in Fig. 10B ) of female genitalia has an unusual groove and thus a “lip” on the other side. This character, however, is found at least in Blaptica (Blaberinae) , Diploptera (Diplopterinae) , Panesthiinae , Paranauphoeta (subfamily uncertain) and Pseudophoraspis (Epilamprinae) (XRL personal observation). This is common among Blaberidae , and likely extends beyond just Blaberidae . Besides, we do not consider that the tergal extension is useful in subfamilial taxonomy in Blaberidae . The fourth synapomorphy in Grandcolas (1997) is that the first valvifer arm (gonocoxa in Fig. 10B ) of female genitalia has a small fold on the right side, which often separates the sclerite. This is, however, found in only two out of 15 species (and some undetermined specimens) examined, namely , Ps. aerea and Ps. sculpta . In addition, we agree with Anisyutkin (2003) about the first and second synapomorphies. Therefore, the first through fourth synapomorphies suggested by Grandcolas (1997) are not synapomorphies of Perisphaerinae .

Figures

FIGURE 9. Pseudoglomeris magnifica, a famous species and also an example of perisphaerines. A–C. Female, arrowheads indicate pits.D–G. Male, the white line contours the typical carina.Scale bar:5mm (A, B, D, E) or 1mm (C, F, G).

FIGURE 10. Generalized diagram of male and female genitalia. A. Male phallic complex, with membrane depicted as transparent dotted area. B. Female valvulae and surrounding components, with membrane depicted as opaque white area.Note that either the valvula I or the valvulaeII and III are artificially reversed.Dashed line, cutting line; circled line, folding line.

FIGURE 11. Localities in southwestern China. For details see Appendix I. Map image: Google, Copernicus; data: SIO, NOAA, U.S. Navy,NGA, GEBCO.