Work

Revised placement of Epilandex Hebard, 1927 in Anisolabididae (Insecta, Dermaptera) with a re-evaluation of Carcinophora kawakamii (Shiraki, 1928) and Epilandex acuminata Srivastava, 2003

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The earwig genus Epilandex Hebard, 1927 (type species: Landex burri Borelli, 1921) consists of 14 named, small anisolabidid earwig species known from both the Old and New Worlds, and is characterized by long, acuminate parameres in the male genitalia. This study generated the first molecular data for newly obtained Epilandex specimens and evaluated its phylogenetic position within Anisolabididae. We analyzed combined mitochondrial and nuclear gene data, in conjunction with a re-examination of their external and genital morphology. Although this genus has traditionally been placed in Anisolabidinae, our results demonstrate that Epilandex should be recognized as a separate clade from other members of this subfamily. The name “Landicinae,” which had been used for such a treatment, is a synonym of Anisolabidinae, due to the misidentification of the type genus, and therefore we propose the new name Epilandicinae. Furthermore, based also on the examination of museum specimens, this study revises species delineations within Epilandex , including the proposal of Ep. kawakamii comb. nov . The female genitalia of this genus is also reported for the first time, together with new distribution records of two species in Asia.

Source: ZooKeys

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1294.201081