Taxonomy And Phylogenetic Analysis Of The Genus Cerapanorpa (Mecoptera:Panorpidae)

Panorpa is the largest genus of Panorpidae, and is regarded as a paraphyletic group. Panorpa has been subdivided into several species groups for local faunas based mainly on male morphological characters. Recently, three genera, Sinopanorpa Cai & Hua,2008, Furcatopanorpa Ma & Hua,2011, and Dicerapanorpa Zhong & Hua,2013 have been separted from Panorpa. Despite of this, the systematics of Panorpa is still in chaos to date. Comprehensive taxonomic and phylogenetic research of the genus is urgently needed.Cerapanorpa, a new genus of the family Panorpidae, is erected with Panorpa obtusa Cheng,1949 as its type species. This new genus can be readily recognized by the single digitate anal horn on tergum VI in males, and the female genital plate consisting of a broad main plate that bears two pairs of basal plates and a well-developed, elongate axis. Twenty new combinations are transferred from Panorpa Linnaeus,1758. Three new species, Cerapanorpa liupanshana sp. nov., Cerapanorpa protrudens sp. nov. and Cerapanorpa sinuata sp. nov. are described and illustrated. Panorpa alticola Zhou,2000 syn. nov. is proposed as a junior subjective synonym of C. obtusa (Cheng,1949). A key to the species of Cerapanorpa gen. nov. is presented. A key to the genera of Panorpidae is updated to include the new genus.The phylogenetic relationship of 19 species from Cerapanorpa and 2 species from Panorpa was cladistically analysed using Paup*4.0b10 for the first time, with maximum parsimony based on 42 external characters of adults. According to the present cladogram, the genus Cerapanorpa is a monophyletic clade. Two species in Panorpa, with similar male anal horn on tergum VI, are paraphyletic with Cerapanorpa, forming two basalmost clade, for their significant difference in genitalia and other morphological characters. Whether the preceeding species should be transferred from Panorpa to Cerapanorpa needs more evidence. The phylogenetic analysis shows Cerapanorpa as a monophyletic group with somewhat low branch support values. To solve this problem, more suitable characters are needed.