Protopeltis Crowson, 1964

Kolibac, Jiri, 2013, Trogossitidae: A review of the beetle family, with a catalogue and keys, ZooKeys 366, pp. 1-194 : 95-96

Genus Protopeltis Crowson, 1964 Fig. 9 ; Map 10

Protopeltis Crowson, R. A. 1964a: 287, 295.

Type species.

Grynoma viridescens Broun, 1886 [by original designation]

Crowson, R. A. 1964a: 295. Crowson, R. A. 1966: 120. Kolibáč, J. 2005: 79. Kolibáč, J. 2006: 111 (phylogeny)

Description.

Body size: about 2.5 mm. Body shape flat. Gular sutures wide, subparallel. Frontoclypeal suture absent. Frons: longitudinal groove or depression absent. Cranium ventrally: tufts of long setae at sides absent. Submentum: ctenidium absent. Antennal groove present. Eyes: size large, lateral. Eyes number: two. Lacinial hooks: three. Galea: shape elongate. Galea: ciliate setae absent. Palpifer: outer edge even. Mandibular apical teeth number: two, horizontally situated. Mola present. Penicillus (at base) absent. Pubescence above mola or cutting edge present. Ventral furrow present. Basal notch moderate. Labrum-Cranium not fused. Ligula: ciliate setae absent. Ligula membranous, not retroflexed. Antenna 11-segmented. Antennal club symmetrical, sensorial fields absent. Front coxal cavities externally open, internally open. Pronotum transverse. Middle coxal cavities open. Elytra: long hairs absent. Epipleuron moderate. Elytral interlocking mechanism absent, carinae reduced. Elytral punctation irregular, scales absent. Wing: radial cell oblong (or reduced), wedge cell absent, cross vein MP3-4 absent, cross vein AA1+2-3+4 absent. Front tibiae: spines along side moderate. Claws: denticle absent. Tegmen composed of two parts.

Larva: Frontal arms curved (cucujoid). Epicranial stem present. Endocarina present. Gular sutures conspicuous, parallel. Gula: anterior apodemes present. Paragular sclerites absent. Hypostomal rods absent. Stemmata number: five. Mandibular apical teeth number: two, horizontally situated. Lacinia mandibulae tridentate. Mola absent. Maxillary palpi 3-segmented. Palpifer present. Pedunculate seta absent. Mala simple. Mala: bidentate protrusion present. Cardo-Stipes not fused. Cardo: size much smaller than stipes. Labial palpi 2-segmented. Prementum in single part, anterior margin even. Antennal joints 1, 2 transverse. Sensory appendix larger than half of joint 3. Thoracic sclerites pattern (dorsally) 1-2-2. Thoracic sclerites pattern (ventrally) 1+0+0. Trochanter triangular. Abdominal segment IX not divided. Tergite IX flat. Urogomphi present, hooked; median process absent.

Biology.

Larvae of Protopeltis viridescens were collected, according to Crowson’s note, at " fungusy bark of dead Nothofagus ". The adult gut he examined contained " abundant fungal material ", determined as " probably Hymenochaete sp. " ( Crowson 1964a). Larva and adult are probably fungivorous.

Distribution.

New Zealand (for example, Arthur’s Pass National Park).

Species:

Protopeltis pulchella Broun, 1915; New Zealand (RAC)

Broun, T. 1915: 314 ( Promanus ). Crowson, R. A. 1964a: 289

Protopeltis viridescens Broun, 1886; New Zealand (RAC)

Léveillé, A. 1910: 29 ( Grynoma ). Crowson, R. A. 1964a: 290 (larva). Iablokoff-Khnzorian, S. M. 1975: 147. Kolibáč, J. 2005: 78. Kolibáč, J. 2006: 109

Figures

Figure 9. A Peltis (syn. Zimioma, Ostoma) grossa B Peltis (syn. Ostoma) ferruginea C Colydiopeltis loebli D Colydiopeltis compactum E Colydiopeltis burckhardti F Parapeltis australicum G Protopeltis viridescens H cf. Globorentonium plaumanni, Brazil (1 - 3: three different specimens from the same locality).

Map 10. A distribution of the tribe Thymalini including Rentonium - group.