Documentation of New Species of the Bizarre South African Endemic Genus Meziomorphum (Coleoptera: Ptinidae)
Grade Level at Time of Presentation
Junior
Major
Biology
Minor
-
Institution
Western Kentucky University
KY House District #
20
KY Senate District #
32
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
T. Keith Philips, Ph.D.
Department
Dept. of Biology
Abstract
Documentation of New Species of the Bizarre South African
Endemic Genus Meziomorphum (Coleoptera: Ptinidae)
Olivia M. Gearner
T. Keith Philips
Department of Biology, Western Kentucky University
South Africa is home to some of the highest spider beetle diversity in the world. However, due to their small body size, and often small populations with limited distributions, there are likely many species that remain undiscovered and undocumented. Further, this megadiverse region includes three biodiversity hotspots - regions with high diversity that are also under severe threat of environmental destruction. Meziomorphum is a genus of spider beetles only found in South Africa within two of these hotspots. Four species of this genus are known, including one that exists only within a single cave located in the Western Cape. Four new species were recently discovered in several museum collections and are described herein.
This genus is one of the most morphologically unique and distinct within the spider beetles. Species are characterized by a bizarre meringue-like and thick covering composed of fused setae on the pronotum and rows of long, erect spines on the elytra, the latter potentially an adaptation for avoiding predation from ants. Importantly, these beetles are useful for determining where protected areas should be created, as their distribution reflects habitats with a wide variety of species with similar high levels of endemicity that are also under a great risk of extinction.
Documentation of New Species of the Bizarre South African Endemic Genus Meziomorphum (Coleoptera: Ptinidae)
Documentation of New Species of the Bizarre South African
Endemic Genus Meziomorphum (Coleoptera: Ptinidae)
Olivia M. Gearner
T. Keith Philips
Department of Biology, Western Kentucky University
South Africa is home to some of the highest spider beetle diversity in the world. However, due to their small body size, and often small populations with limited distributions, there are likely many species that remain undiscovered and undocumented. Further, this megadiverse region includes three biodiversity hotspots - regions with high diversity that are also under severe threat of environmental destruction. Meziomorphum is a genus of spider beetles only found in South Africa within two of these hotspots. Four species of this genus are known, including one that exists only within a single cave located in the Western Cape. Four new species were recently discovered in several museum collections and are described herein.
This genus is one of the most morphologically unique and distinct within the spider beetles. Species are characterized by a bizarre meringue-like and thick covering composed of fused setae on the pronotum and rows of long, erect spines on the elytra, the latter potentially an adaptation for avoiding predation from ants. Importantly, these beetles are useful for determining where protected areas should be created, as their distribution reflects habitats with a wide variety of species with similar high levels of endemicity that are also under a great risk of extinction.