Type material comparison of possible cryptic species of the genus Electrogena (Ephemeroptera, Heptageniidae) in Central Europe

Abstract

The genus Electrogena Zurwerra & Tomka, 1985 is a diverse mayfly group in the Western Palaearctic with a partially unclear taxonomy, even in well-examined areas such as Central Europe. Recently, one of the species belonging to this genus, Electrogena ujhelyii (Sowa, 1981), was identified as a complex of genetically and geographically separated species. Two other species, Electrogena samalorum (Landa, 1982) and Electrogena rivuscellana Sartori & Landolt, 1991 were formerly stated as junior synonyms of the earlier species. The fact that the synonymy of E. samalorum and E. ujhelyii was stated without comparison of any larval or adult material and both species reportedly have different altitude preferences makes the taxonomical position of E. samalorum (and possibly E. rivuscellana) questionable. Among others, a comparison of type series is one of the first methods that should be used to clarify the taxonomical position of closely related taxa. The present study aims to comparatively examine the type material and topotypes of E. ujhelyii and its presumed junior synonym E. samalorum for the first time in detail. Additionally, some notes on the status of the geographically extralimital E. rivuscellana are discussed briefly. We noted a significant similarity of all studied material from both the larval and imaginal stages, and suggest considering both junior synonyms (E. samalorum and E. rivuscellana) as species inquirendae.