Luciola sensu Paruula Kiesenwetter. Matsumura 1928
Creators: name: Ho, - Z.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2019
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Lampyridae
Luciola

description: Luciola s. lato sensu Ballantyne et al. 2015
As a heterogeneous assemblage of species, Luciola s. lato cannot be distinguished further here and its subdivision is being progressively addressed. Species still listed here are those assigned to Luciola in McDermott (1966) for which we currently cannot assign a genus. We believe they are sufficiently distinctive that the real possibility still exists for reliable association of males and determination of a generic placement. Many have types although in rather poor condition. All are in MNHN.
McDermott’s (1966) catalogue of the Luciolinae distinguished several genera by male abdominal distinctiveness (Colophotia, Pteroptyx, Pygoluciola and Pyrophanes), and one genus by the very distinctive elytral punctation (Curtos). A subgenus of Luciola distinguished by a pronounced eye emargination in the males (Bourgeoisia) has since been submerged under Luciola s. str. Presence of flightless females distinguished Luciola s.g. Hotaria and Lampyroidea. However for various reasons, not entirely unrelated to the same problems we have encountered here, 279 species were assigned to Luciola s.g. Luciola. This arrangement in McDermott (1966) of 279 species under Luciola Laporte was the largest stumbling block to identification and understanding of the fauna of this area. However at least 100 species of African Luciolinae assigned in McDermott to Luciola are not investigated. Ballantyne et al. (2015) outlined their approach to Luciolinae taxonomy and the problems posed with this heterogeneous assortment of species. They outlined the historical nature of their approach, which has been to develop a working taxonomic framework for the Luciolinae while attempting to identify all the species listed under Luciola in McDermott (1966). Their success thus far is exemplified in the results presented here. They listed in Appendix 3 96 species from the defined study area which still stood under Luciola s.g. Luciola. Of the 45 species for which types could be located, or which were not based on females, they suggested possible placements for 24, many of which have been effected here.
We list here 34 species still standing under Luciola s. lato. Of these eight have female types, only one of which, L. obscura, has sufficiently distinctive colouration that assignment of similarly coloured males might be possible. We have not located types for twelve species. Of the others where types can be located the somewhat fragile nature of the types has precluded any attempt thus far at dissection. Dissections must address the terminal abdomen for generic characters, and this is often the first part of the specimen to become dislodged.
Ballantyne et al. (2016) have short diagnoses and pictures of many species (see Table 18), and preliminary comments have been made already, or can be made about many of the species included below. Luciola auritula although known only from a female has distinctive brown lateral markings on an otherwise yellowish pronotum. Luciola clara and L. curticollis are probably the same species (Ballantyne et al. 2016 figs 47–50). Although both known only from females L. candezei and L. ochracea are very distinctively coloured large species, and are probably the same (Ballantyne et al. 2016 figs 152–157). Both L. davidis and L. maculipennis may be species of Pygoluciola. Luciola nicollieri may be represented by specimens illustrated by Fu (2014: 47), and Yiu (2017: 98). In the absence of a type of laticollis and a definitive identification we retain laticollis here (see Yiu 2017: 94).
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Species PeninsulaMalay- Locationoftypes Myanmar Vietnam Cambodia Indochina SriLanka Indonesia Ambonisland Philippines Females Referencesfor illustrationsof * Borneo China Celebes India Japan
sia Krea Larvae species
roseicollis Pic 1933 * MNHN
rugiceps Olivier 1886 *
sordida Olivier 1905 * MNHN
sudra Gorham 1903 * * NHML
tenuicornis Olivier 1885 * MNHN 1
tincticollis Gorham 1895 * *
unmunsana Doi 1931 *
= tsushimana Nakane 1970 CTN
= papariensis Doi 1932 * *
varia Olivier 1908 * MNHN
xanthura Gorham 1880 * IRNSB
Luciola picea and L. pallidipes (which is described here) bear similar dorsal colouration and are a similar size. Luciola xanthura has similar aedeagal pattern to that illustrated by Fu (2014: 43, 52) and is very similar to L. sudra. Preliminary indications are that L. varia should be assigned to Sclerotia Ballantyne. Others are sufficiently distinctive either in dorsal colouration or in size, that it should be possible to obtain fresher specimens to allow dissection that has not been attempted on many of the fragile types. These species include L. gigas, L. obscura and L. limbatipennis.
description: Published as part of Ho, - Z., 2019, The Luciolinae of S. E. Asia and the Australopacific region: a revisionary checklist (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) including description of three new genera and 13 new species, pp. 1-174 in Zootaxa 4687 (1) on pages 102-105, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4687.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/3508098