Neurhermes is a genus of dobsonflies in the family Corydalidae.

Neurhermes
Adult Neurhermes nigerescens
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Megaloptera
Family: Corydalidae
Genus: Neurhermes
Navás, 1915

Description

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Questions about whether Neurhermes and Protohermes are separate genera have been raised repeatedly, with several species being transferred between the two.[1] Neurhermes can be differentiated from Protohermes by presence of protrusions from the sternite plate.[2] Geologic uplift likely resulted in speciation across mainland southeast Asia, followed by dispersal to Sundaland.

Species in Neurhermes and some in Protohermes were originally placed in the deprecated genus Hermes.[3] The color patterns have been described as an example of Batesian mimicry of toxic zygaenid moths.[1] Neurhermes males produce large nuptial gifts of gelatinous spermatophores, but have small mandibles and limited sexual dimorphism compared to many other dobsonflies.[4] Unlike most other dobsonflies, Neurhermes are active during the day, possibly meaning the dark wing color is more related to preventing hybridization with other sympatric genera.[5]

Nanocladius asiaticus have a commensal relationship with many Asian Corydalidae species, and Neurhermes maculipennis serves as the host in the Malay peninsula.[6]

Taxonomy

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Neurhermes, when it is recognized as a valid genus, contains the following species, which are otherwise considered to belong to the genus Protohermes:[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b Liu, Xingyue; Yang, Ding (2006). "The Protohermes differentialis group (Megaloptera: Corydalidae: Corydalinae) from China, with description of one new species". Aquatic Insects. 28 (3): 219–227. doi:10.1080/01650420600980297. ISSN 0165-0424.
  2. ^ LIU, XINGYUE; LÜ, YANAN; ASPÖCK, HORST; YANG, DING; ASPÖCK, ULRIKE (2015-10-27). "Homology of the genital sclerites of Megaloptera (Insecta: Neuropterida) and their phylogenetic relevance". Systematic Entomology. 41 (1): 256–286. doi:10.1111/syen.12154. ISSN 0307-6970.
  3. ^ Petri, Karl (1904). "Beschreibung einiger neuer Lixus-Arten". Wiener entomologische Zeitung. 23: 65–77. doi:10.5962/bhl.part.27189. ISSN 1562-0891.
  4. ^ Liu, Xingyue; Hayashi, Fumio; Lavine, Laura C.; Yang, Ding (2015-05-22). "Is diversification in male reproductive traits driven by evolutionary trade-offs between weapons and nuptial gifts?". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 282 (1807): 20150247. doi:10.1098/rspb.2015.0247. ISSN 0962-8452. PMC 4424648.
  5. ^ CHANG, WENCHENG; HAYASHI, FUMIO; LIU, XINGYUE; YANG, DING (2013-12-03). "Discovery of the female of Protohermes niger Yang & Yang (Megaloptera: Corydalidae): Sexual dimorphism in coloration of a dobsonfly revealed by molecular evidence". Zootaxa. 3745 (1): 84. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3745.1.7. ISSN 1175-5334.
  6. ^ Hayashi, Fumio (1998). "Nanocladius (Plecopteracoluthus) asiaticus sp. n. (Diptera: Chironomidae) phoretic on dobsonfly and fishfly larvae (Megaloptera: Corydalidae)". Aquatic Insects. 20 (4): 215–229. doi:10.1076/aqin.20.4.215.4465. ISSN 0165-0424.
  7. ^ Lacewing Digitial Library: Neurhermes