New species and generic delimitation of the Afrotropical genera Bugilliesia Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty, 1996; Cheleocloeon Wuillot & Gillies, 1993 and Delouardus Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty, 1999 (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae)

Abstract

The larval stage of the genera Bugilliesia Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty 1996; Cheleocloeon Wuillot & Gillies, 1993 and Delouardus Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty, 1999 are remarkably similar. In order to avoid inaccuracy in generic placement, we propose new generic diagnoses with new discriminating characters. The setation of the labrum, details of the right and left prostheca, the shape of the maxillary palp and the shape of the legs are the most reliable characters for separating the different genera. Based on this, the generic attribution of Cheleocloeon mirandei Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty, 1997 is incorrect and the species must be transferred to Bugilliesia as B. mirandei n. comb. A new species of Bugilliesia is described from South Africa. This greatly increases the distribution of Bugilliesia to include the whole of the Afrotropical region including Madagascar. A new species of Cheleocloeon is also described, confirming the presence of this genus in Madagascar.

Keywords:

• Baetidae
• systematics
• Afrotropical
• Bugilliesia
• Cheleocloeon

Acknowledgements

We want thank those who took part and gave us great help during the field trips to Madagascar and/or South Africa in 2003: Michel Sartori, Pascale Derleth and Olivier Glaizot (Museum of Zoology, Lausanne, Switzerland), Jean-Marc Elouard and Dominique Holveck (Montpellier, France) and Ferdy de Moor (Albany Museum, Grahamstown, South Africa). Field sampling in South Africa was conducted with the help of staff of the Kruger National Park, in particular Hendrik Sithole, Bruce Leslie, Velly Ndlouy, Sipho Mokgalaka and Thomas Ndoy. The Directorate of Museums and Heritage Resources, Eastern Cape, are thanked for providing research facilities at the Albany Museum to its staff and colleagues. The National Research Foundation is thanked for supporting research in Ephemeroptera systematics in South Africa. MTM was supported by a Swiss National Fund stipend (Nr. 68592) and the UK BBSRC (BBS/B/04358). Carolina Nieto and an anonymous reviewer provided useful comments on the manuscript.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Michael T. Monaghan†

†Current address: Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany