Ypsiloncyphon Klausnitzer, 2009

Zwick, Peter, 2014, Australian Marsh Beetles (Coleoptera: Scirtidae). 6. Genera Calvarium Pic, Papuacyphon Zwick, and Ypsiloncyphon Klausnitzer, Zootaxa 3846 (1), pp. 1-41 : 16

Genus Ypsiloncyphon Klausnitzer, 2009

Males of several “ Cyphon -like” Scirtidae whose invaginated abdominal segments 8 and 9, and whose genitalia include Y-shaped components, stood out from other “ Cyphon -like” taxa as a separate entity which Yoshitomi (2005) called the chlorizans -group. Ruta (2007) recognized 3 subgroups in it. Klausnitzer (2009) established the genus Ypsiloncyphon for the chlorizans -group, with the same three species groups. Each of these groups appears to be a monophylum. In contrast, the monophyly of Ypsiloncyphon as a whole is less convincingly documented. Species groups 1 and 2 are Oriental and unknown in the Australasian region where species group 3 is endemic.

Species group 3 is very distinct by the male terminalia and females uniformly possess a dictyon in the genitalia which was never before described or illustrated. However, this is apparently a universal feature of the genus, known also in Oriental, Neotropical, and Afrotropical species (R. Ruta, personal communication). Therefore I decided to wait for additional information on the other two species groups before creating a new genus-group name for group 3, which may be required in the future.

A general description applicable to all species in group 3 is provided. Previously included species are redecribed from types, and several new species from Australia and New Guinea are named and described.