Pseudoglomeris Brunner, 1893

Li, Xin-Ran, Wang, Li-Li & Wang, Zong-Qing, 2018, Rediscovered and new perisphaerine cockroaches from SW China with a review of subfamilial diagnosis (Blattodea: Blaberidae), Zootaxa 4410 (2), pp. 251-290 : 259-260

Genus Pseudoglomeris Brunner, 1893

Corydidarum Brunner, 1865: 411 , without descriptions but with a citation to Perisphaeria (Blepharodera) sericea Saussure, 1863: 138 . Syn. n.

Pseudoglomeris Brunner, 1893: 42 , type species Perisphaeria (Perisphaeria) glomeris Saussure, 1863: 135 . Saussure & Zehntner 1895: 37.

Trichoblatta Saussure & Zehntner, 1895: 44 ; Kirby 1904: 191, T. sericea was designated as the type; Princis 1964: 207, catalogue. Syn. n.

Kurokia Shiraki, 1906: 188 , type species K. nigra by monotypy; Princis 1964: 207, synonymized with Trichoblatta . Syn. n.

Glomerexis Bey-Bienko, 1938: 123 , type species Glomerexis tibetana Bey-Bienko, 1938 ; Wang & Che, 2011: 367. Syn. n.

Glomeriblatta Bey-Bienko, 1950: 270 , type species Pseudoglomeris planiuscula Brunner, 1893: 44 ; Princis 1964: 207, synonymized with Trichoblatta . Syn. n.

Diagnosis. Similar to Perisphaerus , but these cockroaches cannot roll up into a ball. In most species, middle and hind femora with a spine in middle of dorsocaudal margin (morphologically ventrocaudal), usually another spine present at the base. Males almost indistinguishable from those of Perisphaerus , but the pronotum not that strongly convex.

Further description. Nymphs’ and females’ body oval, dorsum somewhat convex. Head hidden, width approximately 1/3 to 1/4 of body width; eyes large, joining each other or almost joint; female ocellar spots tiny, sometimes almost invisible; male ocellar spots very large in macropterous species but as small as female’s in brachypterous and apterous species; frons usually with an impression between the posterior points of ocellar spots. Front femur type C1 or sometimes C0 or D. Eighth and ninth terga of both sexes and eighth sternum of male mostly hidden, only the hind margin exposed. Hind 2/3 of male supra-anal plate nearly membranous; cerci with nine or ten segments. Male subgenital plate with a large membranous area at right rear (around right stylus if present), usually also a small membranous area present at left rear (around left stylus if present).

Synonymy. The synonymy among Corydidarum , Pseudoglomeris and Trichoblattta requires a clarification. Since Princis’ (1964) catalogue, Bey-Bienko (1969) and Anisyutkin (2003) described species under Trichoblatta , whilst earlier taxonomists ( Brunner 1893, Shelford 1907, Hanitsch 1924) described species under Pseudoglomeris , which was not listed as a synonym of Trichoblatta by Princis (1964). These species should obviously be included in one genus, and these authors’ views of Trichoblatta and Pseudoglomeris overlap. We compared the original descriptions of these genera, and examined the photos of the type specimens of the type species, namely, Perisphaeria glomeris Saussure in MNHN (on loan from MHNG) and Perisphaeria sericea Saussure in MHNG: they fall into one genus. Therefore, Trichoblatta is synonymized with Pseudoglomeris . The name Corydidarum , now popular on the Internet, was proposed by Brunner (1865). Leaving only a citation, Brunner (1865) assigned Corydidarum to Perisphaeria sericea Saussure ; thus, Corydidarum and Trichoblatta are objective synonyms. Brunner (1865) did not describe the genus, and no longer used this name in his subsequent works. The name Corydidarum is absent from any other taxonomic works, i.e. it has never been formally used; therefore, it is undesired to use this name hereafter.

Glomerexis differs from Pseudoglomeris in apterous (Bey-Bienko 1938) or brachypterous male ( Wang & Che 2011). Bey-Bienko (1938) distinguishes between these genera by wing-morph only, and did not suggest any other differences. However, wing-morph alone is insufficient for the generic diagnosis. The males of two brachypterous species , Ps. angustifolia and Ps. semisulcata , which resemble the apterous Ps. tibetana , differ from those of other Pseudoglomeris species: tiny ocellar spots and tiny typical carina lobe (like the females), and virga sclerite absent. We do not consider the former two differences to be of generic diagnosis, since these characters are also neoteny, and it is normal for the brachypterous males to exhibit neoteny, given that the apterous females are all neotenic. In comparison, the absence of virga sclerite can be a significant character that can be used to distinguish between genera, but we do not do so because no other significant differences can support the division. Nonetheless, Glomerexis may be regarded as a subgenus of Pseudoglomeris , if the male of Ps. tibetana , the type species of Glomerexis , lacks the virga sclerite, too. This is likely true but requires an investigation. If the male genitalia of Ps. tibetana fall into the normal morphology of Pseudoglomeris , on the contrary, a new subgenus should be established based on Ps. angustifolia or Ps. semisulcata . Judging from current evidence, we synonymize Glomerexis with Pseudoglomeris , but it is premature to propose a subgenus.

Distribution. Oriental Region.