Pyropterus, Mulsant, 1838

Kazantsev, Sergey V., Motyka, Michal & Bocak, Ladislav, 2023, European net-winged beetles of the Pyropterus clade, with the description of Gomezzuritus gen. nov. (Coleoptera: Lycidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 888, pp. 159-174 : 161-162

The Pyropterus clade

Remarks

Dictyopterini was recently analyzed ( Kazantsev 2004; Motyka et al. in press) and close relationships were recovered for a group of four genera: Pyropterus , Helcophorus , Benibotarus , and Gomezzuritus gen. nov., described here. Additionally, based on morphology, Greenarus Kazantsev, 1995 is added to this clade. The pyropterine genera are characterized by the wide pronotal areola that differs from the basally constricted areolae of other dictyopterine genera. Additionally, the antennomeres are subequal in length. None of these characters is clearly defined in all taxa and all specimens. The shape of the pronotal costae is particularly often variable, as net-winged beetles are soft-bodied. Therefore, we propose to use an informal designation, ‘the Pyropterus clade’. We also avoid the description of a subtribe as Dictyopterini is a relatively small group and we are still unsure about the relationships of some dictyopterine taxa. An eventual reclassification would have to consider the entire global diversity.

Genera included in the pyropterine clade

Pyropterus , Gomezzuritus gen. nov., Helcophorus , Greenarus , and Benibotarus .

Distribution

The pyropterine clade is distributed in the Palaearctic, Nearctic, and Oriental (northern part only, i.e., northern Thailand and Laos) realms ( Masek et al. 2018; Kazantsev, 2020). Fossil taxa of these groups have been recorded from Baltic and Rovno amber ( Kazantsev & Perkovsky 2022).

Identification key to the genera of the Pyropterus clade

1. Each elytron with four longitudinal costae, no secondary costae present in the middle part of elytron, at most vestiges present in humeri .................................................................................................... 2

– Each elytron with three longitudinal costae in the whole length, secondary costae present in the whole elytron ( Fig. 1B, D–E ) ........................................................................................................... 3

2. Elytral cells strongly transverse ................................................................ Pyropterus Mulsant, 1838

– Elytral cells quadrate or only slightly transverse ................................ Helcophorus Fairmaire, 1891

3. Male antennomeres 3–11 with decumbent pubescence, the apex of phallus simple ........................ 4

– Male antennomeres 3–11 with erect pubescence, the apex of phallus preapically toothed ( Fig. 2I– K ) .................................................................................................................. Gomezzuritus gen. nov.

4. Parameres of aedeagus complete ............................................................... Benibotarus Kôno, 1932

– Parameres of aedeagus ventrally greatly incised ................................... Greenarus Kazantsev, 1995

Figures

Fig. 1. Phylogenetic relationships of pyropterine genera and their closest relatives (modified from Motyka et al. in press). B–E. The general appearance of Western Palaearctic Dictyopterini Houlbert, 1922. B–C. Benibotarus alternatus (Fairmaire, 1856), ♂. D. B. longicornis (Reiche, 1878), ♂. E. B. rubripes (Pic, 1897), ♂. F. Distribution of Benibotarus Kôno, 1932 in the Western Palaearctic region. Nomenclature follows the placement of species before taxonomic changes discussed in the present study. The northern part of the range of B. taygetanus (Pic, 1905) is not shown (see Bocakova & Bocak 1987; Kazantsev 2012a).

Fig. 2. Gomezzuritus alternatus (Fairmaire, 1856) comb. nov., ♂, dissected (LMBC), from Asturias, Las Agüeras, 35 km SW of Oviedo. A. Head, frontal view. B. Head, ventral view. C. Metathoracic leg. D. Elytron. E. Meso- and metathorax, ventral view. F. Ditto, dorsal view. G. Pronotum. H. Hind wing. I–K. Male genitalia. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.