The larva of Sirrhas variegatus, sp.nov., with notes on the Perimylopidae, Ulodidae (stat. nov.), Zopheridae and Chalcodryidae (Coleoptera : Tenebrionoidea)

Abstract

Sirrhas Champion and its type, S. limbatus Champion, are redescribed and S. variegatus, sp. nov., is described, along with its presumed larva. The two species are distinguished in a key and comments are made on their geographic distribution and habits. Sirrhas is compared with members of the Chalcodryidae, in which the genus is currently placed, and with the tenebrionoid taxa Melytra Pascoe, Parahelops Waterhouse, Perimylopidae and Zopheridae, each of which is discussed and delimited. A phylogenetic analysis is carried out on a matrix of 21 genera of Tenebrionoidea and 31 characters taken from both larvae and adults. As a result, the following taxonomic changes are proposed: (1) Sirrhas to be moved from Chalcodryidae to Perimylopidae, and the latter group expanded to include Melytra and Parahelops, and (2) the zopherid subfamily Ulodinae, including Pteroderes Germain and Trachyderastes Kaszab, but excluding Melytra and Parahelops, to be raised to family rank. The remaining Zopheridae form a monophyletic group with Colydiidae and Monommatidae, but relationships within that complex are not discussed further. A key to the genera of Ulodidae and Perimylopidae based on adults is given. The following new combinations are proposed in Ulodidae: Ganyme tuberculata (Carter) and G. demarzi (Kulzer).