Biology and morphology of immature stages of banana-associated Protosternum beetles, with comments on the status of Taiwanese endemic P. abnormale (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae)
Date
2018
Authors
Fikáček, Martin
Liang, Wei-Ren
Hsiao, Yun
Jia, Fenglong
Vondráček, Dominik
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Urban & Fischer Verlag
Abstract
The available data on the biology of the water scavenger beetle genus Protosternum Sharp, 1890 (Hydrophilidae: Sphaeridiinae: Protosternini) are summarized, indicating an obligate association of Protosternum beetles with banana plants (Musaceae): they inhabit decaying tissues of old banana stems in which adult feeding, larval development and pupation takes place. Second and third instar larvae and pupa of the Taiwanese-endemic P. abnormale (Orchymont, 1913) are described in detail, based on field-collected specimens associated with co-occurring adults by cox1 DNA barcodes. Larvae are unique in the Hydrophiloidea by having strongly asymmetrical mouthparts with a large basal bifid tooth on the right mandible, indicating a specialized prey preference. Putative larval synapomorphies of the Protosternini are revealed, based on the comparison of the Protosternum larva with that of Sphaerocetum. Taxonomic status of P. abnormale is revealed to be confused by previous authors due to the absence of male specimens and is clarified here. Two new species are described based on specimens previously misidentified as P. abnormale: P. malayanum sp. nov. from Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia, and P. hainanense sp. nov. from Hainan.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Collections
Source
Zoologischer Anzeiger
Type
Journal article
Book Title
Entity type
Access Statement
License Rights
DOI
10.1016/j.jcz.2018.10.001
Restricted until
2037-12-31