Tibiocnodes Gearner & Kamiński, 2021

Gearner, Olivia M., Kamiński, Aaron D. Smith Marcin J., Kanda, Kojun & Swichtenberg, Kali, 2021, Discovery of New Genera Challenges the Subtribal Classification of Tok-Tok Beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Sepidiini), Insect Systematics and Diversity (AIFB) 5 (2), pp. 1-10 : 8-9

Genus Tibiocnodes Gearner & Kamiński gen. nov.

Type Species. Psammodes lucidus Fåhraeus, 1870 ; here designated.

Diagnosis. This genus can be differentiated from related genera, such as Ocnodes , by the protibial ridge, which is reduced to a ‘tooth’ at the apex of the tibia ( Fig. 3A–C ). Some larger species in this genus also have tubercles on the lateral sides of the pronotum. Finally, this genus can be distinguished by the unusually long arms of the spiculum ventrale ( Fig. 6C ), as compared to other members of the tribe. Further diagnosis provided below.

Etymology. Name refers to the most prominent diagnostic character of the newly described genus. Gender masculine.

Species Included (7). Tibiocnodes badeni (Haag-Rutenberg, 1871) comb. nov., Tibiocnodes herculeanus (Haag-Rutenberg, 1871) comb. nov., Tibiocnodes discrepans (Péringuey, 1904) comb. nov., Tibiocnodes lucidus (Fåhraeus, 1870) comb. nov., Tibiocnodes placidus (Péringuey, 1899) comb. nov., Tibiocnodes spinosus (HaagRutenberg, 1871) comb. nov., and Tibiocnodes tristis (Fåhraeus, 1870) comb. nov.

Note. It should also be noted that based on our phylogeny and apparent lack of morphological differences, except the body size, Ti. tristis and Ti. lucidus are likely synonyms; however, due to lack of access to type materials for Ti. tristis , we are refraining from formally synonymizing them at this time.

Figures

Fig. 3. Dorsal habitus and morphological features of specimens representing the following species: (A) Tibiocnodes tristis (Fåhraeus, 1870); (B) Tibiocnodes lucidus (Fåhraeus,1870);(C) Tibiocnodes spinosus (Haag-Rutenberg,1871);(D) Ocnodes similis (Péringuey,1899);(E) Tuberocnodes humeralis (Haag-Rutenberg, 1871); (F) Tuberocnodes procursus (Péringuey, 1899); (G) Tuberocnodes synhimboides sp. nov.—paratype. es, elytral slope; mt, metatarsi; pn, pronotum; pt, protibia; r, protibial ridge.

Fig. 6. Female terminalia of species representing newly established genera. (A–D) Tibiocnodes lucidus; (E–G) Tuberocnodes synhimboides. (A, B) Ovipositor; (C, G) spiculum ventrale; (D) proctiger. c, coxites; c2–c4, coxite plates 2–4;ip, inner plate of paraproct;op,outer plate of paraproct;v,valvifer.