Research Article |
Corresponding author: Leonardo Polizeli ( leonardopolizeli2@gmail.com ) Academic editor: Daniel Petit
© 2025 Leonardo Polizeli, Ângelo Parise Pinto.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Polizeli L, Pinto ÂP (2025) On the taxonomic status of two giant cockroaches of Bionoblatta (Blattodea, Blaberidae) collected by José Pinto da Fonseca, a founder of the Brazilian Society of Entomology. Journal of Orthoptera Research 34(1): 31-38. https://doi.org/10.3897/jor.34.129911
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The blaberids Parahormetica hylaeceps Miranda-Ribeiro, 1936 and Bion mastrucatus Rehn, 1937 were described in the 1930s from single males collected by José Pinto da Fonseca (JPF) in the 1910s. Both specimens came from the region of Mariana municipality, Minas Gerais State, an ecotonal formation between the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado domains in southeastern Brazil. Recently, P. hylaeceps was transferred to Bionoblatta Rehn, 1940, and its strong morphological similarity with Bion mastrucatus (already in Bionoblatta) was highlighted, indicating the need to investigate the validity of these names. Here, we addressed this question by analyzing photos of the type material, comparing original descriptions, and examining data on both the collecting site and the collector’s history. We conclude that Parahormetica hylaeceps should be considered a senior synonym of Bion mastrucatus syn. nov.; hence, the valid name should be Bionoblatta hylaeceps (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1936). We also provide a new diagnosis, synonymy, and review of the distribution of this species, finding Bionoblatta hylaeceps to be endemic to the Itacolomi Peak region. We also present a short account of the work of JPF, including his relevance to Brazilian entomology and itinerary for collecting these specimens. Bionoblatta have five poorly known species of blaberids that, despite recent advances in the genus taxonomy, are still pending review.
Blaberinae, Brachycolini, Neotropical, nomenclature, systematics, taxonomy, trilobite cockroaches, Zetoborinae
Scientific collections are of great importance to the development of scientific thinking and have been used in collections-based science from the 18th century to the present day (see
Natural history collections are the result of centuries of contributions from many collectors and naturalists, with José Pinto da Fonseca (1896–1982, hereafter JPF) among them. JPF was an important collector and preparator of birds (
Parahormetica hylaeceps was described based on a single male collected by JPF from Mariana municipality in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The holotype was deposited in the Museu Nacional, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (MNRJ), and was lost in the catastrophic fire of 2018 (S. F. Lopes 2021, personal communication; see
In turn, Bion and its single species, Bion mastrucatus, were described based on a single male from “Serra do Itacolomi” in Mariana Municipality also collected by JPF, with the locality originally indicated mistakenly as the state of São Paulo by
We recently transferred Parahormetica hylaeceps to Bionoblatta based on characters from the original description and examination of a photo of the habitus of a male, which was considered its putative holotype (
Today, both Parahormetica hylaeceps Miranda-Ribeiro, 1936 and Bion mastrucatus Rehn, 1937, are combined with Bionoblatta (
We evaluated the taxonomic validity of P. hylaeceps and Bion mastrucatus by comparing the original descriptions, available images of the holotypes of Bionoblatta species, original data from the collecting site, and the collector’s history. The nomenclature was evaluated following the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN 1999).
The original descriptions of
Habitus and labels of the name-bearing specimen of Bion mastrucatus and habitus of the putative holotype of Parahormetica hylaeceps. A–C. Holotype of Bion mastrucatus: A. Dorsal view; B. Ventral view; C. Collection labels; D. Putative holotype of P. hylaeceps in dorsal view. A–C. Photos by H Hopkins, available in Cockroach Species File – CSF (
Page of catalog of the collections of Museu Paulista (now Museu de Zoologia da USP) and outlines of terminalia of specimens of Bion mastrucatus and Parahormetica hylaeceps. A. Page with record of entry of José Pinto da Fonseca’s specimen to museum holding; B. Close up of the entry of the holotype of Bion mastrucatus; C. Outlines of terminalia based on original description illustration and photos from specimens. Abbreviations: cc = cercus, sap = supraanal plate, sgp = subgenital plate. A, B. Adapted from photo by AM Vasques.
Characters of holotypes of Bion mastrucatus and Parahormetica hylaeceps and the putative holotype of Parahormetica hylaeceps (in MNRJ, without data). Data extracted from original descriptions by
Character / Specimen | Bion mastrucatus | Parahormetica hylaeceps | Putative holotype of Parahormetica hylaeceps | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Coloration of anterior surface of head | Liver-brown | Dark reddish-brown | n.o. |
2. | Pale spots at anterior surface of head | Four paired dots of vinaceous-rufous placed immediately mesad of antennal scrobes and at proximo-lateral angles of clypeus | A light reddish-brown spot lateral to the base of antenna, and another below | n.o. |
3. | Antennae coloration | Pitch-brown | Dark reddish-brown (incomplete) | n.o. |
4. | Pronotum | Median length faintly less than three-fourths the greatest breadth […] general arcuation | Large, wide, convex and parabolic | Wider than long, semicircular |
5. | Anterior margin of pronotum | Dorsal recurving, thickening | Strongly protruded upward | Projected dorsally (upwards) |
6. | Diskal anterolateral tubercle-like processes (DTP) | Pair of elevated, smoothly but not glabrously rounded, large boss-like tubercles | Pair of very large smooth tubercles | Pair of large and smooth (rounded) tubercles |
7. | Posterior margin of diskal horseshoe-like process (DHP) | In contact with the caudal margin of the pronototum from which it is separated by a narrow sulcation | Almost fused (undifferentiated) to the posterior margin of pronotum | Adjacent to posterior margin of pronotum |
8. | Inner area of disk coloration | Auburn to orange- rufous | Testaceous, reddish- yellow | Reddish-orange |
9. | Pronotum coloration laterally to the DHP (dorsal view) | Lateral crescents […] auburn to orange-rufous | Elongated reddish-yellow spot, testaceous | Pale orange |
10. | Pronotum coloration in ventral view | Broader crescents of zinc orange to vinaceous-rufous | Elongated reddish-yellow spot, testaceous | n.o. |
11. | Scupturation around the disk | Criboso-punctate | Wrinkled (rugose) | Rough [?] |
12. | Tegmina | Subcircular, separated mesad | Trapezoidal-like with rounded angles [...] posteriorly reaching the second abdominal segment | Subcircular, not touching nor overlapping mesially, tip reaching the second abdominal segment |
13. | Scupturation of dorsal surface of tegmina | Deeply impressed criboso-punctate | Shagreen-like [rough] | Rough, with dense and deep punctuations |
14. | Tegmina color | Dark brown with humeral area reddish-brown | Dark reddish-brown, lighter towards to the humeral area | Dark brown with humeral area reddish-brown |
15. | Humeral trunk [Radial area] | A cicatriform ridge, definite only proximad | Strong, elevated, with two branches disappearing distally | Visible as a carina |
16. | Humeral area [marginal field] | Broad, almost equal in width to a third of the entire tegmen, its dorsal surface appreciably concave | Wide with thickened margin [carinated] | Wide, concave, with thickened margin [carinated] |
17. | Hind wings | Wings rudimentary, present but hidden beneath tegmina | Scale-like, vestigial, almost wingless | n.o. |
18. | Meso- and metathorax coloration | Liver-brown, each crossed by a narrow wavering band of zine orange | Reddish-yellow, [testaceous], with black marks | Reddish-orange, with brown to black marks |
19. | Scupturation of dorsal surface of abdomen | Strongly coarsely and irregularly eroso-shagreenous to strongly rugose | Rugose | Densely rugose, covered with callosities and rough |
20. | Dorsal surface of abdomen coloration | Narrowly bordered with madder brown | Dark brown to black, very finely bordered by reddish-brown | Dark brown, bordered by reddish-brown |
21. | Supraanal plate coloration | Dull zine orange | Reddish-yellow, [testaceous] | Pale orange |
22. | Subgenital plate | Subtrigonal, [...] apex well rounded | Rounded triangular | Not visible [Posterior margin rounded] |
23. | Legs coloration | Vinaceous-rufous to mahogany red | Reddish-brown | Reddish-brown |
24. | Legs spurs coloration | Color of tibiae proximad [reddish-brown], becoming pitch brown distad | Dark brown | Reddish-brown to dark brown, tip black |
25. | Total length (mm) | 35.5 | 35 | n.o. |
26. | Pronotum maximum length (mm) | 12 | 12 | n.o. |
27. | Pronotum maximum width (mm) | 16.9 | 19 | n.o. |
28. | Tegmina length (mm) | 10.5 | 10.5 | n.o. |
A photo from the MNRJ of a male identified as P. hylaeceps was sent to us by Sonia Maria Fraga Lopes. The photo was taken by Edivar Heeren de Oliveira in the 2010s, but not as part of the digitization collections project of the MNRJ (S. Lopes and E. Oliveira 2021, personal communication; see also
A review of the literature and a search for specimens in collections were conducted using digital databases (e.g., Biodiversity Heritage Library, Google Scholar, GBIF, and Taxonomic Catalog of Brazilian Fauna). Search terms included the full names Bionoblatta mastrucatus and Parahormetica hylaeceps and the keywords “Bionoblatta,” “Parahormetica,” “hylaeceps,” “mastrucatus,” and “mastrucata,” which were searched for individually and in combination.
Abbreviations of institutions.—
Based on our comparison, there is no evidence to support the taxonomic validity of the two names; thus, they should be treated as a single taxon. Based on the principle of priority (Art. 23, ICZN 1999), Parahormetica hylaeceps Miranda-Ribeiro, 1936 has precedence over Bion mastrucatus Rehn, 1937, which is deemed its junior synonym. A synonymy, catalog, status of the type material, diagnosis, remarks about the provenance of the specimens, and updated distribution are presented in the sections below.
The comparative analysis of both original descriptions and the specimens’ photos (Figs
On the putative holotype of Parahormetica hylaeceps—A photo taken in the 2010s by Edivar Heeren de Oliveira (EHO) of a male specimen held in the
The careful comparison of the putative holotype and the original description and illustration of P. hylaeceps (see Table
Bion Rehn, 1937: 252 (original description, homonym of Bion Cambridge, 1898).
Bionoblatta Rehn, 1940: 60 (replacement of homonym by a new substitute name).
Bion mastrucatus Rehn, 1937 (by original designation), a junior synonym of Parahormetica hylaeceps Miranda-Ribeiro, 1936.
(see discussion) Bionoblatta diabolus (Saussure, 1864), Bionoblatta hylaeceps (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1936), Bionoblatta itatiayae (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1936), Bionoblatta oiticicai Rocha e Silva Albuquerque, 1957, and Bionoblatta punctata (Saussure, 1873).
Parahormetica hylaeceps
Miranda-Ribeiro, 1936: 218–219, fig. 2 (description of male holotype from Mariana municipality, Minas Gerais State, Brazil in
Bion mastrucatus
Rehn, 1937: 208, 253–256, 258 (description of male holotype from Serra do Itacolomi [state of Minas Gerais], Brazil in
Bionoblatta mastrucatus
(Rehn, 1937): —
Bionoblatta mastrucata
(Rehn, 1937): —
Bionoblatta hylaeceps
(Miranda-Ribeiro, 1936): —
Parahormetica hylaeceps Holotype (by monotypy): BRAZIL • ♂; Minas Gerais State, Mariana municipality; José Pinto da Fonseca leg.;
Bion mastrucatus Holotype (by original designation): BRAZIL • ♂; [Minas Gerais State, Mariana municipality], Serra do Itacolomi; Apr. 1919; José Pinto da Fonseca leg.;
Bionoblatta hylaeceps is a dark and reddish-brown hormeticoid-shape brachypterous blaberid; tegmina largely rounded, reaching the anterior margin of the second abdominal segment and almost touching mesialy, dorsal surface deeply punctuated, coloration dark brown, humeral area reddish-brown; small arolium; dorsal surface of the abdomen densely rugged and with few callosities, coloration dark brown, dull, except for narrow reddish-brown lateral borders. The inner area of the disk and the lateral pale portion of the diskal horseshoe-like process (DHP) of pronotum reddish-orange, as well as the orange-ochre supraanal plate, may help in its identification. Based on the coloration pattern, Bionoblatta hylaeceps resembles the poorly known Bionoblatta punctata (Saussure, 1873), causing misidentification. It is possible to differentiate B. hylaeceps from B. punctata by its large, rounded, oval-like tegmina, largely dark brown with humeral area reddish-brown (tegmina possibly trapezoidal, black colored with brown humeral area in B. punctata); abdomen dark brown, narrowly bordered in reddish-orange dorsally (black in B. punctata) and legs reddish-brown (black in B. punctata).
José Pinto da Fonseca (JPF) and the provenance of the specimens of Bionoblatta—JPF was born in the Mariana municipality in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil in 1896, and soon thereafter his family moved to Lorena in the state of São Paulo (
JPF collected the holotype of Bion mastrucatus in 1919 and sent it to the Museu Paulista. This material was deposited in that institution with collection number #22,074 and recorded in the catalog of the collection with natural history notes that reveal unpublished data about the biology of this species (Fig.
JPF had a remarkable career. At the end of 1920s, he was hired as a technical assistant in entomology at the Biological Institute of São Paulo and, during the same period, founded the Adolph Hempel Entomological Collection (
Distribution— Bionoblatta hylaeceps (cited as P. hylaeceps) has been recorded in many studies as present in the state of Rio de Janeiro (Rocha e Silva Albuquerque 1964, 1982,
As mentioned, the holotype of Bion mastrucatus was collected about 300 m below the rock known as Pedra Menina in the Itacolomi Peak, Mariana. While the holotype of P. hylaeceps was also collected in Mariana, there is no further information about the locality: the specimen and any additional data from the labels or field and collection notebooks were lost during the fire in the
Itacolomi Peak is located within the Itacolomi State Park protected area, which was created by law no. 4,495 on June 14th, 1967 and encompasses approximately 7,000 ha between the municipalities of Mariana and Ouro Preto (Minas Gerais 1967). Although we do not know the conservation status of this species, the type locality being within a protected area likely favors the maintenance of the population of this species.
In this study, we formally proposed P. hylaeceps as a senior synonym for Bion mastrucatus, as suggested by
We believe that, even without the photo of the putative holotype for comparison, the data from the original descriptions of the two species and photos of the holotype of Bion mastrucatus, combined with provenance data, are sufficient to support this synonymy. We are aware that a photo of an unlabeled specimen should not be used as the sole source of evidence for the determination of a type specimen. However, the similarities among the three data sources (original descriptions, available images, and original data from the collecting site) strongly support the proposed synonymy.
Our study is an example of the importance of collection efforts in furthering our understanding of the extant biodiversity. With the re-study of these specimens, important taxonomic contributions to the knowledge of Bionoblatta hylaeceps were made. This study gives new meaning to a poorly known species with a lost holotype, provides new data about its natural history, increases our knowledge about its morphology, aids in the comprehension of local diversity, and facilitates further specimens’ associations with Bionoblatta species. It also is an example of how the loss of biological and cultural collections—in this case, the loss of a heritage of more than 200 years and of 20 million artifacts due the fire at
Because our knowledge about Bionoblatta species is based solely on a few taxonomic surveys—almost entirely on the type specimens and original descriptions (see
Both authors contributed to the conceptualization, formal analysis, data curation, visualization of results, and review and editing of the manuscript. LP was responsible for the original draft. All authors approved the final draft of the manuscript.
This study was partially supported by grants from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) via PIBIC/UFPR and Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) via PPGEnto/UFPR awarded to LP; APP received grants from the projects “Insetos e a metrópole” (Edital #02/2020, #06/2021, #04/2023 – PESQUISA/PRPPG/UFPR, Apoio a Atividades de Pesquisa) and TaxOnline – Network of Biological Collections of Paraná through NAPI – Fundação Araucária de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Estado do Paraná (FA, process #103/2020).
We express our gratitude to Sonia Maria Fraga Lopes and Edivar Heeren de Oliveira for sharing the photo and for information about P. hylaeceps in the