Mimonephelotes, Breuning, 1970

Vitali, Francesco & Chemin, Gerard, 2022, Taxonomic notes about the genus Nephelotus Pascoe, 1866 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae), Zootaxa 5141 (1), pp. 79-86 : 83

Mimonephelotes and Mimanhammus vs. Nephelotus

( Figs 9–15 )

Breuning (1970) did not compare Mimonephelotes to Nephelotus but to Anhammus , stating that it differs from it in the shorter lateral pronotal spine and in the presence of a short carina on each elytral base. This carina is, in reality, a double series of tubercles located on a bulge similar in all to that of N. conspersus or N. marcipor . Thus, the provided characters are just typical of the genus Nephelotus .

However, this taxon from Luzon clearly differs from N. marcipor . The body size is more robust and larger (19- 27 mm vs 19-23 mm), the basal granulation of elytra forms distinct rows separated by smooth areas, the humeral tubercle is longer and finally, the pronotal disc is densely punctate (rather than smooth) at sides. Moreover, it differs from the Luzon population of N. marcipor in the pronotal tubercles twice as long as wide. These characters support the validity of N. enganensis as a true species.

Breuning (1971) introduced Mimanhammus as substitute name for Mimonephelotes , claiming that this name was preoccupied. Actually, the name in question was Mimonephelotus Breuning, 1940 , which differs by one letter (Mimonephelot-e-s vs. Mimonephelot-u-s); thus, Mimanhammus is an unnecessary replacement name. Finally, Breuning (1982) described this species for a second time as Anhammus luzonicus , based again on a female from Luzon.

In conclusion, the following taxonomic changes are proposed:

Nephelotus Pascoe, 1866

= Mimonephelotes Breuning, 1970 n. syn.

= Mimanhammus Breuning, 1971 n. syn.

Nephelotus enganensis ( Breuning, 1970) n. comb.

= Anhammus luzonicus Breuning, 1982 n. syn.

Both M. enganensis and A. luzonicus were described from females. The male, still unknown, is described here.

Figures

FIGURES 9–15. 9. HOLOTYPE ♀ Mimonephelotes enganensis Breuning, 1970, habitus (photo: G. Chemin); 10. ditto, lateral view (photo: G. Chemin); 11. ditto, labels (photo: G. Chemin); 12. HT ♀ Anhammus luzonicus Breuning, 1982, habitus (photo: G. Chemin); 13. ditto, lateral view (photo: G. Chemin); 14. ditto, labels (photographed by: G. Chemin); 15. ♂ Nephelotus enganensis, habitus (Photo: G. Chemin).