Physomeloe, Reitter, 1911

Bologna, M. A. & Pinto, J. D., 2002, The Old World genera of Meloidae (Coleoptera): a key and synopsis, Journal of Natural History 36 (17), pp. 2013-2102 : 2071-2072

The placement of Physomeloe in the Meloini is suggested by recent phylogenetic analysis (Bologna and Pinto, 2001). Its position here requires corroboration, 2014 however. February Subfamily 56. Stenodera Tribe NEMOGNATHINAE STENODERINI Eschscholtz, 1818 13 Zonitides Abeille de Perrin, 1880 . Type species: Zonitides oculifer Abeille de Perrin, 1880 , by 15 monotypy (see Selander, 1991).: 23 Stenoderina Aksentjev, 1988 (as subgenus; currently valid). Type species: Zonitis puncticollis at Chevrolat, 1829–1844, by original designation; name originally proposed by Maran] (1942a) without designation of a type species. Bath Type species. Stenodera sexpunctata Eschscholtz, 1818 (= Meloe caucasica of Pallas, 1782), by monotypy. 8 spp. University [and References Geographic into China distribution including the. From southern the tropical Balkans regions to the Near (Kiangsi East; Fukien and central). Asia, by Taxonomy. Abeille de Perrin (1880); Escherich (1897a, 1897b); Fairmaire Downloaded (1991 1897 Anatomy Bionomics a)).; Maran.. Gupta (Bologna 1942a (revision 1971 (1994, 1978 a and).). key); Aksentjev (1978); Bologna (1979, 1988b,

Notes

Based on adult morphology, Selander (1964) separated this genus as the most primitive tribe of Nemognathinae . Although not initially accepted by Bologna (1991a), the recent discovery of the rst-instar larva of S. puncticollis Chevrolat (CB) and subsequent phylogenetic analysis support Selander’s placement (Bologna and Pinto, 2001).

As the most primitive genus of Nemognathinae several plesiotypic characters are found in adults (e.g. gonoforceps incompletely fused; galeae unmodi ed) and larvae (non-phoretic). The presence of modi ed tarsal segments in males of two species (djakonovi Aksentjev, 1978 and anatolica Frivaldsky, 1884) presumably is associated with complex courtship behaviour and may be phylogenetically signi cant. Strong sexual dimorphism is common in the Meloinae (Selander, 1964) but is infrequent in the Nemognathinae , occurring only in Stenodera and two Australian genera ( Palaestra LaPorte de Castelnau and an undescribed genus). Interestingly, all three

2014 February 13 15: 23 at] Bath of University [by Downloaded

2072 M. A. Bologna and J. D. Pinto genera are primitive nemognathines and somewhat intermediate phenetically to the two subfamilies.

The species foveicollis (Fairmaire, 1897) was included in this genus by Maran (1942a) without examining specimens. Its placement here is con rmed based on our study of material from S China (CASC).

The rst-instar larva of S. Puncticollis is currently being described. Larval biology has not been studied but rst-instar anatomy indicates the absence of phoresy. This is the only known example of non-phoresy in the Nemognathinae .