The Centroptiloides complex of afrotropical small minnow mayflies (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae)

Abstract

The Centroptiloides complex is a distinctive monophyletic grouping of Afrotropical Baetidae (Ephemeroptera) genera with single marginal intercalary veins in the forewings and 2 subparallel rows of denticles on the larval tarsal claws. The complex includes 30 nominal species in Acanthiops Waltz & McCafferty, Afroptilum Gillies, Barnumus McCafferty & Lugo-Ortiz n. gen., Centroptiloides Lestage, Dicentroptilum Wuillot & Gillies, Edmulmeatus Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty, Herbrossus McCafferty & Lugo-Ortiz n. gen., Nesoptiloides Demoulin, Peuhlella Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty n. gen., Susua Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty n. gen., and Thraulobaetodes Elouard & Hideux. Each genus is detailed and is distinguishable by autapomorphies. The concept of Afroptilum is considerably restricted. Platycloeon Gillies & Wuillot is a synonym of Acanthiops n. syn. Newly described species include Acanthiops elgonensis Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty n. sp. (Kenya), A. griffithsi Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty n. sp. (Kenya), A. zomba Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty n. sp. (Malawi), Afroptilum confusum Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty n. sp. (Madagascar), A. lepidum Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty n. sp. (Madagascar), Barnumus editus McCafferty & Lugo-Ortiz n. sp. (South Africa), Dicentroptilum merino Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty n. sp. (Madagascar), and Herbrossus edmundsorum McCafferty & Lugo-Ortiz n. sp. (Madagascar). These include the 1st reports of Afroptilum and Dicentroptilum outside of Africa. New records for previously described species include Acanthiops tsitsa Barber-James & McCafferty (Malawi, Mozambique),Afroptilum sudafricanum (Lestage) (Lesotho), Centroptiloidesbifasciata (Esben-Petersen) (Kenya, Mozambique), and Dicentroptilum papillosum Wuillot (Mozambique, South Africa). New generic assignments include Acanthiops cooperi (Gillies & Wuillot) n. comb., A. erepens (Gillies) n. comb., Peuhlella christinae (Wuillot) n. comb., and Susua niandanensis (Wuillot) n. comb. Centroptiloides bifasciata and Nesoptiloides intermedia (Demoulin) are redescribed based on new larval collections.