''Protohermes'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

dobsonflies Dobsonflies are a subfamily of insects, Corydalinae, part of the Megalopteran family Corydalidae. The larvae (commonly called hellgrammites) are aquatic, living in streams, and the adults are often found along streams as well. The nine genera ...

in the family

Corydalidae The family Corydalidae contains the megalopterous insects known as dobsonflies and fishflies. Making up about three dozen genera, they occur primarily throughout North America, both temperate and tropical, South America, Australia, New Zealand, ...

. ''Protohermes'' is the most speciose and widely distributed genus within

Megaloptera Megaloptera is an order of insects. It contains the alderflies, dobsonflies and fishflies, and there are about 300 known species. The order's name comes from Ancient Greek, from ''mega-'' (μέγα-) "large" + ''pteryx'' (πτέρυξ) "wi ...

, but up to 85% of species are restricted to small

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

areas in Asia. This endemism may be a result of an association with high elevation and high slope streams in Northern Vietnam and China.

Description

Adult ''Protohermes'' generally have yellow coloration with white spots on the wings. The male

genitalia A sex organ, also known as a reproductive organ, is a part of an organism that is involved in sexual reproduction. Sex organs constitute the primary sex characteristics of an organism. Sex organs are responsible for producing and transporting ...

are diverse across the genus and can be useful only for species-level identification, especially the shape and size of the tenth

tergum A ''tergum'' (Latin for "the back"; : ''terga'', associated adjective tergal) is the dorsal ('upper') portion of an arthropod Arthropods ( ) are invertebrates in the phylum Arthropoda. They possess an arthropod exoskeleton, exoskeleton wi ...

and the subgenital plate at the ninth

sternum The sternum (: sternums or sterna) or breastbone is a long flat bone located in the central part of the chest. It connects to the ribs via cartilage and forms the front of the rib cage, thus helping to protect the heart, lungs, and major bl ...

Nuptial gift Formally, a nuptial gift is a material presentation to a recipient by a donor during or in relation to sexual intercourse that is not simply gametes in order to improve the reproductive fitness of the donor. Often, such a gift will improve the fit ...

s in ''Protohermes'' may as large as 20% of the total body mass of the male and can require up to 2 days to recover before

mating In biology, mating is the pairing of either opposite-sex or hermaphroditic organisms for the purposes of sexual reproduction. ''Fertilization'' is the fusion of two gametes. '' Copulation'' is the union of the sex organs of two sexually repr ...

again. The size and

phenology Phenology is the study of periodic events in biological life cycles and how these are influenced by seasonal and interannual variations in climate, as well as habitat factors (such as elevation). Examples include the date of emergence of leav ...

of larvae is closely tied to the availability of different sizes of prey.

Dwarfism Dwarfism is a condition of people and animals marked by unusually small size or short stature. In humans, it is sometimes defined as an adult height of less than , regardless of sex; the average adult height among people with dwarfism is . '' ...

occurs in populations on islands and peninsulas as a result of fewer species of large prey, and maturation may be synchronous with prey in locations with

seasonal A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's axial tilt, tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperat ...

variability. Larger larvae do not consume smaller prey, and they actively select prey as an

ambush predator Ambush predators or sit-and-wait predators are carnivorous animals that capture their prey via stealth, luring or by (typically instinctive) strategies utilizing an element of surprise. Unlike pursuit predators, who chase to capture prey u ...

. Larvae are motionless 90% of the time during the day, but do change position on the stream bed during the night.

Taxonomy

''Protohermes'' contains the following species: * ''

Protohermes acutatus ''Protohermes'' is a genus of dobsonflies in the family Corydalidae. ''Protohermes'' is the most speciose and widely distributed genus within Megaloptera, but up to 85% of species are restricted to small endemic areas in Asia. This endemism may ...

'' X.-y. Liu et al., 2007 * '' Protohermes albipennis'' (Walker, 1853) * '' Protohermes arunachalensis'' Ghosh, 1991 * ''

Protohermes assamensis ''Protohermes'' is a genus of dobsonflies in the family Corydalidae. ''Protohermes'' is the most speciose and widely distributed genus within Megaloptera, but up to 85% of species are restricted to small endemic areas in Asia. This endemism may ...

'' Kimmins, 1949 * ''

Protohermes axillatus ''Protohermes'' is a genus of dobsonflies in the family Corydalidae. ''Protohermes'' is the most speciose and widely distributed genus within Megaloptera, but up to 85% of species are restricted to small endemic areas in Asia. This endemism may ...

'' Navás, 1932 * ''

Protohermes basimaculatus ''Protohermes'' is a genus of dobsonflies in the family Corydalidae. ''Protohermes'' is the most speciose and widely distributed genus within Megaloptera, but up to 85% of species are restricted to small endemic areas in Asia. This endemism may ...

'' X.-y. Liu et al., 2007 * ''

Protohermes bellulus ''Protohermes'' is a genus of dobsonflies in the family Corydalidae. ''Protohermes'' is the most speciose and widely distributed genus within Megaloptera, but up to 85% of species are restricted to small endemic areas in Asia. This endemism may ...

'' Banks, 1931 * ''

Protohermes burmanus ''Protohermes'' is a genus of dobsonflies in the family Corydalidae. ''Protohermes'' is the most speciose and widely distributed genus within Megaloptera, but up to 85% of species are restricted to small endemic areas in Asia. This endemism may ...

'' X.-y. Liu & Dvořák, 2017 * ''

Protohermes cangyuanensis ''Protohermes'' is a genus of dobsonflies in the family Corydalidae. ''Protohermes'' is the most speciose and widely distributed genus within Megaloptera, but up to 85% of species are restricted to small endemic areas in Asia. This endemism may ...

'' C.-k. Yang & D. Yang, 1988 * ''

Protohermes cavaleriei ''Protohermes'' is a genus of dobsonflies in the family Corydalidae. ''Protohermes'' is the most speciose and widely distributed genus within Megaloptera, but up to 85% of species are restricted to small endemic areas in Asia. This endemism may ...

'' Navás, 1925 * ''

Protohermes changninganus ''Protohermes'' is a genus of dobsonflies in the family Corydalidae. ''Protohermes'' is the most speciose and widely distributed genus within Megaloptera, but up to 85% of species are restricted to small endemic areas in Asia. This endemism may ...

'' C.-k. Yang & D. Yang, 1988 * ''

Protohermes chebalingensis ''Protohermes'' is a genus of dobsonflies in the family Corydalidae. ''Protohermes'' is the most speciose and widely distributed genus within Megaloptera, but up to 85% of species are restricted to small endemic areas in Asia. This endemism may ...

'' X.-y. Liu & D. Yang, 2006 * ''

Protohermes concolorus ''Protohermes'' is a genus of dobsonflies in the family Corydalidae. ''Protohermes'' is the most speciose and widely distributed genus within Megaloptera, but up to 85% of species are restricted to small endemic areas in Asia. This endemism may ...

'' C.-k. Yang & D. Yang, 1988 * ''

Protohermes congruens ''Protohermes'' is a genus of Dobsonfly, dobsonflies in the family Corydalidae. ''Protohermes'' is the most speciose and widely distributed genus within Megaloptera, but up to 85% of species are restricted to small Endemism, endemic areas in Asi ...

'' X.-y. Liu et al., 2009 * '' Protohermes costalis'' (Walker, 1853) * ''

Protohermes costatostriatus ''Protohermes'' is a genus of dobsonflies in the family Corydalidae. ''Protohermes'' is the most speciose and widely distributed genus within Megaloptera, but up to 85% of species are restricted to small endemic areas in Asia. This endemism may ...

'' (van der Weele, 1907) (=''Neurhermes'') * '' Protohermes curvicornis'' X.-y. Liu et al., 2013 * '' Protohermes davidi'' van der Weele, 1909 * '' Protohermes decemmaculatus'' (Walker, 1860) * '' Protohermes decolor'' Navás, 1931 * '' Protohermes dichrous'' (Brauer, 1878) * '' Protohermes differentialis'' (C.-k. Yang & D. Yang, 1986) (=''Neurhermes'') * '' Protohermes dimaculatus'' C.-k. Yang & D. Yang, 1988 * '' Protohermes disjunctus'' X.-y. Liu et al., 2007 * '' Protohermes dulongjiangensis'' X.-y. Liu et al., 2010 * '' Protohermes festivus'' Navás, 1932 * '' Protohermes flavinervus'' X.-y. Liu et al., 2009 * '' Protohermes flavipennis'' Navás, 1929 * '' Protohermes flinti'' X.-y. Liu et al., 2007 * '' Protohermes fruhstorferi'' (van der Weele, 1907) * '' Protohermes fujianensis'' C.-k. Yang & D. Yang, 1999 * '' Protohermes furcatus'' X.-y. Liu et al., 2008 * '' Protohermes goodgeri'' X.-y. Liu et al., 2013 * '' Protohermes grandis'' (Thunberg, 1781) * '' Protohermes guangxiensis'' C.-k. Yang & D. Yang, 1986 * '' Protohermes gutianensis'' D. Yang & C.-k. Yang, 1995 * '' Protohermes hainanensis'' C.-k. Yang & D. Yang, 1990 * '' Protohermes horni'' Navás, 1932 * '' Protohermes hubeiensis'' D. Yang & C.-k. Yang, 1992 * '' Protohermes hunanensis'' D. Yang & C.-k. Yang, 1992 * '' Protohermes immaculatus'' Kuwayama, 1964 * '' Protohermes impunctatus'' X.-y. Liu et al., 2008 * '' Protohermes infectus'' (McLachlan, 1869) * '' Protohermes ishizukai'' X.-y. Liu et al., 2009 * '' Protohermes karubei'' X.-y. Liu et al., 2013 * ''

Protohermes latus ''Protohermes'' is a genus of dobsonflies in the family Corydalidae. ''Protohermes'' is the most speciose and widely distributed genus within Megaloptera, but up to 85% of species are restricted to small endemic areas in Asia. This endemism may ...

'' X.-y. Liu & D. Yang, 2006 * '' Protohermes lii'' X.-y. Liu et al., 2007 * ''

Protohermes maculiferus ''Protohermes'' is a genus of dobsonflies in the family Corydalidae. ''Protohermes'' is the most speciose and widely distributed genus within Megaloptera, but up to 85% of species are restricted to small endemic areas in Asia. This endemism may ...

'' (Walker, 1853) (=''Neurhermes'') * ''

Protohermes maculipennis ''Protohermes'' is a genus of dobsonflies in the family Corydalidae. ''Protohermes'' is the most speciose and widely distributed genus within Megaloptera, but up to 85% of species are restricted to small endemic areas in Asia. This endemism may ...

'' (G. Gray in Cuvier, 1832) (=''Neurhermes'') * '' Protohermes montanus'' (McLachlan, 1869) * '' Protohermes motuoensis'' X.-y. Liu & D. Yang, 2006 * '' Protohermes niger'' C.-k. Yang & D. Yang, 1988 * ''

Protohermes nigerescens ''Protohermes'' is a genus of dobsonflies in the family Corydalidae. ''Protohermes'' is the most speciose and widely distributed genus within Megaloptera, but up to 85% of species are restricted to small endemic areas in Asia. This endemism may ...

'' (X.-y. Liu et al., 2015) (=''Neurhermes'') * ''

Protohermes ohli ''Protohermes'' is a genus of dobsonflies in the family Corydalidae. ''Protohermes'' is the most speciose and widely distributed genus within Megaloptera, but up to 85% of species are restricted to small endemic areas in Asia. This endemism may ...

'' X.-y. Liu et al., 2013 * '' Protohermes orientalis'' X.-y. Liu et al., 2007 * '' Protohermes owadai'' X.-y. Liu et al., 2007 * '' Protohermes parcus'' C.-k. Yang & D. Yang, 1988 * '' Protohermes pennyi'' X.-y. Liu et al., 2009 * '' Protohermes piaoacanus'' X.-y. Liu et al., 2008 * '' Protohermes sabahensis'' X.-y. Liu et al., 2008 * ''

Protohermes selysi ''Protohermes'' is a genus of dobsonflies in the family Corydalidae. ''Protohermes'' is the most speciose and widely distributed genus within Megaloptera, but up to 85% of species are restricted to small endemic areas in Asia. This endemism may ...

'' (van der Weele, 1909) (=''Neurhermes'') * '' Protohermes similis'' C.-k. Yang & D. Yang, 1988 * '' Protohermes sinensis'' D. Yang & C.-k. Yang, 1992 * '' Protohermes sinuolatus'' X.-y. Liu et al., 2009 * '' Protohermes sonus'' X.-y. Liu et al., 2013 * '' Protohermes spectabilis'' X.-y. Liu et al., 2008 * '' Protohermes stangei'' X.-y. Liu & Dobosz, 2019 * '' Protohermes stigmosus'' X.-y. Liu et al., 2007 * '' Protohermes striatulus'' Navás, 1926 * '' Protohermes sublunatus'' X.-y. Liu et al., 2013 * '' Protohermes subnubilus'' Kimmins, 1949 * '' Protohermes subparcus'' X.-y. Liu & D. Yang, 2006 * ''

Protohermes sumatrensis ''Protohermes'' is a genus of dobsonflies in the family Corydalidae. ''Protohermes'' is the most speciose and widely distributed genus within Megaloptera, but up to 85% of species are restricted to small endemic areas in Asia. This endemism may ...

'' (van der Weele, 1909) (=''Neurhermes'') * '' Protohermes tenellus'' X.-y. Liu et al., 2007 * ''

Protohermes tonkinensis ''Protohermes'' is a genus of dobsonflies in the family Corydalidae. ''Protohermes'' is the most speciose and widely distributed genus within Megaloptera, but up to 85% of species are restricted to small endemic areas in Asia. This endemism may ...

'' (van der Weele, 1909) (=''Neurhermes'') * '' Protohermes tortuosus'' X.-y. Liu et al., 2008 * ''

Protohermes trapezius ''Protohermes'' is a genus of dobsonflies in the family Corydalidae. ''Protohermes'' is the most speciose and widely distributed genus within Megaloptera, but up to 85% of species are restricted to small endemic areas in Asia. This endemism may ...

'' Li & X.-y. Liu, 2021 * '' Protohermes triangulatus'' X.-y. Liu et al., 2007 * '' Protohermes uniformis'' Banks, 1931 * '' Protohermes vitalisi'' Navás, 1919 * '' Protohermes walkeri'' Navás, 1929 * '' Protohermes weelei'' Navás, 1925 * ''

Protohermes wuyishanicus ''Protohermes'' is a genus of dobsonflies in the family Corydalidae. ''Protohermes'' is the most speciose and widely distributed genus within Megaloptera, but up to 85% of species are restricted to small endemic areas in Asia. This endemism may ...

'' Li & X.-y. Liu, 2021 * '' Protohermes xanthodes'' Navás, 1914 * '' Protohermes xingshanensis'' X.-y. Liu & D. Yang, 2005 * ''

Protohermes yangi ''Protohermes'' is a genus of dobsonflies in the family Corydalidae. ''Protohermes'' is the most speciose and widely distributed genus within Megaloptera, but up to 85% of species are restricted to small endemic areas in Asia. This endemism may ...

'' X.-y. Liu et al., 2007 * '' Protohermes yunnanensis'' C.-k. Yang & D. Yang, 1988 * '' Protohermes zhuae'' X.-y. Liu et al., 2008 Some authors recognize species-group assemblages within the genus (e.g., ), and other authors treat the genus '' Neurhermes'' as valid (these species are marked above), but are generally treated as ''Protohermes''.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q11847177 Corydalidae Insects of Vietnam Insects described in 1907