A new species of Nyctocrepis Motschulsky, 1853 fireflies from one of the world’s largest urban parks, in the Atlantic Rainforest of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Coleoptera: Lampyridae: Cladodinae)

Abstract

Nyctocrepis is a lineage of moderate-sized (1-2 cm) fireflies endemic to the Atlantic Rainforest, in Brazil. All three Nyctocrepis species are brightly-colored, presumably diurnal, and feature narrow distribution ranges. Herein we describe and illustrate Nyctocrepis monnei sp. nov., recorded from an urban natural park, the Floresta da Tijuca, in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. This new species is unique among its congenerics by the following combination of features: smaller length (~0.8-1.1 cm); frontoclypeo-labral suture membranous; elytron subparallel-sided, pronotum and pronotal disc totally black – except for pair of anterolateral vitreous spots –, and elytron with basal half orangish-yellow and apical half dark-brown; antennal lamellae about 2-3.3× longer than core antennomere; phallus with dorsal plate ridges feebly developed, paramere inner margin slightly concave at apical half, basally smooth, and with an apical concavity at the outer margin. Our study highlights the underestimation of firefly diversity even within large metropolises, and the value of urban parks in protecting endemic species and biodiversity at large in the Atlantic Rainforest.