ABSTRACT
An updated checklist of fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) from Mexico is presented. The checklist includes the following valid taxa: the subfamilies Amydetinae Olivier in Wytsman, 1907, Chespiritoinae Ferreira, Keller and Branham, 2020, Photurinae Lacordaire, 1857, Pterotinae LeConte, 1861, and Lampyrinae Rafinesque, 1815, in addition to 8 tribes (including incertae sedis), 2 subtribes, 25 genera, and 232 species. We also propose Photinus cubilguitzi Prez-Hernndez Zaragoza-Caballero nom. nov. as a replacement name for Photinus moestus (Gorham, 1884) nec Photinus moestus (Perty, 1830). At least 152 documented species (65.6% of the total) are restricted to Mexico, another 21 have also been recorded in Canada and the United States of America, and 59 in different Latin American countries. Remarkably, Photinini contains 64.6% (150 species) of the Mexican lampyrid fauna, and at least 54.7% (127 species) belong to the Photinus genus. The Mexican Transition Zone had higher Lampyridae species richness and endemism than the Nearctic and Neotropical biogeographic regions in the country, while the Transmexican Volcanic Belt, Veracruzan and Balsas Basin biogeographic provinces harbor the highest overall species richness and endemism. Veracruz and Oaxaca are the richest states in terms of lampyrid genera and species, while Aguascalientes, Quertaro and Zacatecas have only one or no species recorded each. To date, 10% of the global firefly fauna has been recorded in Mexico, and the country has a large number of endemic species. It is essential to intensify the study and fieldwork throughout the country to increase our knowledge of the group, with special focus on poorly explored regions and endemic species, and from other perspectives in addition to taxonomy.
Subject(s)
Coleoptera , Fireflies , Animals , Mexico , PhylogenyABSTRACT
A checklist, distribution records, and the updated nomenclature for Mexican Lycidae are presented here. Two subfamilies, 7 tribes, 24 genera, 2 subgenera and 168 valid species of Lycidae (Coleoptera: Elateroidea) taxa were recorded from Mexico, including 111 (66%) endemic species. For each species, synonyms used in Mexico and geographical distribution in Mexican states were provided. The highest species richness was recorded in Veracruz, Chiapas and Oaxaca, while Aguascalientes and the Yucatan Peninsula states had very few records of Lycidae species probably due to the lack of fieldwork. In the Nearctic region, Lycidae diversity comprised 4 tribes, 10 genera and 27 species; in Mexican transition zone, 5 tribes, 17 genera and 100 species; and in Neotropical region, 7 tribes, 19 genera and 94 species. The highest species richness of Lycidae was recorded in the Veracruzan, Transmexican Volcanic Belt and Chiapas Highlands provinces. Although there has been a relevant rise in taxonomical work concerning Mexican lycid fauna in the last two decades, it is still necessary to continue in systematic, ecological, and biogeographical studies of the family in Mexico, especially in scarcely studied regions.
