Securiops, : Kluge, 2020

Kluge, Nikita J., 2023, Redescription of the subgenus Securiops Jacobus, McCafferty & Gattolliat 2006 (Ephemeroptera, Baetidae, Procloeon Bengtsson 1915), Zootaxa 5343 (3), pp. 243-272 : 251-252

Status of Securiops .

Kaltenbach et al. (2023) treated Securiops as a genus but not as a subgenus, reporting the following its characters as generic ones: ́(1) labium with strongly reduced glossae, enlarged paraglossae, and very broad, hatchet-like palps; (2) tergalii I–IV with two lamellae; (3) legs elongate, with relatively few short setae on dorsal and ventral margins; (4) claws very elongate, without denticles; and (5) lateral margins of posterior abdominal segments with sharp spines». Actually, only the first of these characters constitutes autapomorphy of the subgenus Securiops , while the characters (2)–(5) are diagnostic for the taxon Cloeon /fg1, to which the subgenus Securiops belongs. The regular lateral row of greatly enlarged spines on distal part of cercus ( Figs 71–72, 105, 124–125) is the most important diagnostic character of Procloeon s. l., to which the subgenus Securiops belongs.

Distribution. Paleotropical (Afrotropical and Oriental Regions).

Species composition. Afrotropical species: Procloeon (Securiops) falcatum ( Crass 1947) comb. n.; P. (S.) macafertiorum (Lugo-Ortiz in Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty 1996); P. (S.) mandrare ( Jacobus, McCafferty & Gattolliat 2006) comb. n.; P. (S.) megapalpus ( Jacobus, McCafferty & Gattolliat 2006) comb. n.; P. (S.) mutadens ( Jacobus, McCafferty & Gattolliat 2006) comb. n.. Oriental species: Procloeon (Securiops) primasia ( Kaltenbach et al. 2023) comb. n.

Key to larvae (the number in parentheses refers to the antithesis)

1(4) Hind protoptera present ( Figs 29, 67) (can be poorly visible, since cuticle of hind protopteron is colorless)............... 2

2(3) Abdominal terga IV–X with numerous scales ( Figs 55–56); terga IV and VII without medial longitudinal stripe ( Fig. 26)........................................................................................... P. (S.) falcatum

3(2) All abdominal terga without scales, with numerous denticles ( Fig. 74); terga IV–V and VII–IX with contrasting medial longitudinal stripe on light background ( Figs 66, 69)........................................ P. (S.) macafertiorum

4(1) Hind protoptera absent ( Fig. 108, 111) or represented by short vestiges ( Fig. 102).

5(6) Spines on lateral side of cercus sharply differentiated: in proximal portion of cercus all spines stout, conic and not longer than next cercomere; in distal portion of cercus all spines delicate, widened from base, as long as 2–3 next cercomeres ( Figs 124–125). Tergalii with apex stretched and pointed, resembling linden leaf ( Figs 18–24)................. P. (S.) primasia

6(5) Spines on lateral side of cercus gradually change from shorter in proximal part of cercus to longer in its distal part ( Fig. 105). Tergalii with apex rounded ( Gillies 1988: figs 14–19)..................................................................................................... P. (S.) mutadens ; possibly, also (S.) mandrare and P. (S.) megapalpus .