How many species of alderflies are in southern Brazil? On the taxonomy of Ilyobius Enderlein, 1910 and the names Protosialis nubila, P. brasiliensis, and P. hauseri (Megaloptera: Sialidae)

Abstract

In this study, we revisited the taxonomy of three southern endemic Brazilian species of alderflies of the genus Ilyobius Enderlein, 1910. Our investigation was based on specimens of Ilyobius nubilus (Navás, 1933) collected from a recently discovered population from state of Paraná, which is the first record of the family Sialidae for that state. The specific limits between Protosialis nubila Navás, 1933, P. brasiliensis Navás, 1936 and P. hauseri Contreras-Ramos et al., 2005—all now combined in Ilyobius—were evaluated based on a comparative morphological study. In light to the new data, we judge Protosialis brasiliensis and P. nubila represent the same species, and therefore, Protosialis brasiliensis is therefore reinstated as the junior synonym of P. nubila with Ilyobius nubilus (Navás, 1933) the valid name to be applied to this species. A reviewed diagnosis for I. nubilus, including a key to Brazilian species of genus are presented and the specific status of I. hauseri is also discussed.