Limulopteryx Hall, 2003

Grebennikov, Vasily V., 2008, A new species for Limulopteryx from Cameroon with the first record of termitophilous Ptiliidae (Coleoptera) outside the Neotropics, Zootaxa 1727, pp. 49-56 : 50

Genus Limulopteryx Hall, 2003

Type species. Limulopteryx loebli Hall, 2003: 88 , by original designation

Description. This genus was adequately described when erected ( Hall, 2003). Some generic characters, however, show difference between the type species and the new one. They are listed below in the key for both known Limulopteryx species.

Distribution. The genus Limulopteryx is currently known from the Neotropical ( Belize, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru) and Afrotropical ( Cameroon) zoogeographical regions.

Monophyly and taxonomic position. There is currently no phylogenetic hypothesis based on numerical analysis to support monophyly of Limulopteryx . The overall similarity of both included species, particularly limuloid body form ( Fig. 2 ), presence of the spatulate ventral process protruding between mesocoxae ( Figs 11 , 14 ), as well as association with termites ( Fig. 15 ), are the only viable indications that the genus might be a monophyletic group. The latter is challenged by the fact that none of these features is unique for Limulopteryx within Ptiliidae , as this genus is currently understood. See below for more extensive phylogenetic discussion.

Figures

FIGURE 15. Graphical summary of known records of Ptiliidae (Coleoptera) associated with termites (Isoptera). Number of termite genera and species is indicated in brackets and separated by slash (/) following the family / subfamily name. Number of genera / species for termite families / subfamilies and phylogenetic hypothesis from Kambhampati and Eggleton (2000).

FIGURES 1 – 5. Limulopteryx hintelmanni sp. n. (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae) from Cameroon. 1 — Habitus view of two beetles together with three associated Nasutitermitinae termites; 2 — dorsal (left, body contracted) and ventral (right, body expanded) habitus view; 3 — habitus, ventral view; 4 — abdomen with elytra opened, dorsal view; roman numbers indicate tergites; 5 — the same as 4, but focusing at the aedeagus and the shape of tergite X (pygidium).

FIGURES 6 – 11. Limulopteryx hintelmanni sp. n. (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae) from Cameroon. 6 — habitus, dorsal view; 7 — habitus, ventral view; 8 — habitus, anterior view; 9 — habitus, posterior view; 10 — head, pro- and mesothorax, ventral view; 11 — habitus, right ventro-posterio-lateral view.

FIGURES 12 – 14. Limulopteryx hintelmanni sp. n. (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae) from Cameroon. 12 — right antenna and eye, with the base of antenna partly hidden in the antennal groove, ventral view; 13 — meso- and metascutelum, dorsal view; 14 — meso- and metaventrum showing spatulate process, transverse meso-metaventral sutures and metendosternite, ventral view.