Ptinella cavelli group

Taxonavigation

Ordo: Coleoptera
Familia: Ptiliidae
Genus: Ptinella Wikispecies link

Name

• Ptinella cavelli group

Notes

• the Ptinella cavelli group is endemic to the New Zealand subregion, though P. cavelli itself is adventive in the British Isles
• it comprises the following 8 nominal species (all are considered valid):
  • Ptinella atrata Wikispecies link
  • Ptinella brunnescens Wikispecies link
  • Ptinella cavelli Wikispecies link
  • Ptinella ferruginea Wikispecies link
  • Ptinella lucida Wikispecies link
  • Ptinella octopunctata Wikispecies link
  • Ptinella pustulata Wikispecies link
  • Ptinella snarensis Wikispecies link
• there are published indications of 1-2 undescribed species
  • Johnson (1975) reports a single male specimen, from the Kermadecs, 'probably belonging to the cavelli group'. It is referred to therein as Ptinella sp. indet., and noted that 'it greatly resembles an apparently undescribed and widespread New Zealand species belonging to the cavelli group'. This latter species was presumably described subsequently by Johnson (1982), though without reference to the Kermadecs species. It is unclear from this if the Kermadecs species is conspecific with the latter species, or whether it remains undescribed? Maddison in Macfarlane et al. (2010: 413) presumably assumed the latter interpretation by listing Ptinella n. sp. E K
  • Emberson (2002: 70) reports a winged species, 'Ptinella n. sp., ?cavelli species group' (det. Johnson), from the Chatham Islands, where P. brunnescens (brachypterous) also occurs
• the group as a whole is found throughout New Zealand, including the following outlying island groups:
  • 29°S: Kermadecs
  • 44°S: Chatham Islands
  • 48°S: The Snares
  • 49°S: Antipodes Islands
  • 50°S: Auckland Islands
  • 52°S: Campbell Island
• members of the cavelli group are not truly dimorphic, unlike typical Ptinella, which occur in forms alata and aptera
• according to Johnson (1975b: 215), members of the cavelli group 'have an identical or very similar spermatheca, but nevertheless differ in a number of external characters'. Male genitalia do not present good taxonomic characters in Ptinella, so the taxonomy of the cavelli group is based entirely on external morphology

References

• Emberson, R.M. 2002: The beetle (Coleoptera) fauna of the Chatham Islands: additions and corrections. New Zealand entomologist, 25: 69–77.
• Johnson, C. 1975: Ptiliidae (Coleoptera) from the Kermadec Islands. New Zealand entomologist, 6: 56-58.
• Johnson, C. 1975b: Five species of Ptiliidae (Col.) new to Britain, and corrections to the British list of the family. Entomologist's gazette, 26: 211-223.
• Johnson, C. 1982: An introduction to the Ptiliidae (Coleoptera) of New Zealand. New Zealand journal of zoology, 9: 333-376. Google books BUGZ
• Macfarlane, R.P. et al. 2010: [Chapter] NINE Phylum ARTHROPODA SUBPHYLUM HEXAPODA Protura, springtails, Diplura, and insects. Pp. 233-467 in Gordon, D.P. (ed.): New Zealand inventory of biodiversity. Volume 2. Kingdom Animalia. Chaetognatha, Ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Canterbury University Press, Christchurch, New Zealand. ISBN 978-1-87725793-3

Stephen Thorpe 01:29, 25 January 2011 (CET)