Notomicrus nanulus species group
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https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1025.60442 |
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lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C9D007A0-2385-4104-816C-F9177473ABBC |
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https://treatment.plazi.org/id/6462B419-D197-5875-B530-E2A73C87E3E7 |
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Notomicrus nanulus species group |
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2. Notomicrus nanulus species group
Diagnosis.
Members of this species group are most easily identified by their (1) monotone brown elytral color (Fig. 1a-c View Figure 1 ); (2) rounded, oval body shape; (3) rounded posterior lobes of the noterid platform (Fig. 4b-d View Figure 4 ); and (4) by their coarser microsculpture, consisting of isodiametric cells, appearing scale-like, rather than as a finer mesh of transversally elongated cells. This latter character is best viewed in light reflecting off the elytra. Even in species with finer variants of the cell-like microsculpture (e.g. N. sharpi ), there is no iridescence. Punctation is largely indistinct, except for the discal series and sometimes sporadic punctures posteriorly.
Members of the N. nanulus group present a combination of characters that are variably shared with N. brevicornis , N. teramnus and the members N. tenellus group. This pattern, in tandem with our phylogenetic understanding, for example, Notomicrus tenellus group being sister to all other Notomicrus ( Baca and Short 2020), suggest that N. nanulus species are united by a combination of characters that are plesiomorphic at some level within the genus. All share similar microsculpture consisting of isodiametric cells, often appearing scale-like to some degree. However, the N. nanulus group is distinguished from the N. tenellus group by the more rounded body outline (Fig. 1a-c, j View Figure 1 ) and from the N. tenellus group and N Notomicrus brevicornis by the shape of the noterid platform, with the Notomicrus nanulus group presenting posterior lobes that are rounded or squared (Fig. 4b-d View Figure 4 ). The rounded/squared lobes of the noterid platform character distinguish the Notomicrus nanulus group from N. teramnus (Fig. 4i View Figure 4 ) also, but more subtly. The Notomicrus nanulus group also typically presents a noterid platform with more longitudinally-elongated proportions than N. brevicornis (Fig. 4h View Figure 4 ). Males of the N. nanulus group present unbifurcated anterior protarsal claws, unlike N. brevicornis and the N. tenellus group. The aedeagi of known males of the N. nanulus group are easily distinguished; see Young (1978) and Manuel (2015).
Composition.
N. chailliei Manuel, 2015; N. femineus Manuel, 2015; N. huttoni Young, 1978; N. nanulus (LeConte, 1863); N. sharpi Balfour-Browne, 1939.
Identification resources.
Young (1978); Manuel (2015).
Remarks.
Future work on this group may prove difficult as many species are collected with high ratios of females to males. An example was N. femineus Manuel, 2015, in which extensive collecting yielded only females, raising the possibility of parthenogenetic reproduction. Personal observations indicate that multiple undescribed species are represented by females only. We note that females of this group can be especially difficult to distinguish and are often misidentified as N. brevicornis (see comments on N. brevicornis , below). Notomicrus teramnus is a potential member of this species group based on color, shape and microsculpture, but is treated separately in the key, pending further investigation (see Notomicrus insertae sedis species below).
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