Proeme Martins, 1978

Proeme Martins, 1978 View in CoL

Proeme Martins, 1978: 118 View in CoL .

Proeme ( Latipenna) Özdikmen, 2025c: 2923 . Syn. nov.

Remarks. According to Santos-Silva et al. (2023): “These issues [elytral shape; eye divided or not; size of lower eye lobes; size of ommatidia; length of the area between eye lobes, etc.] make it difficult to separate species of Proeme from those of Temnopis (group I). Therefore, the inclusion of Proeme (at least some species) in Oemina or Methioidina would be questionable. Furthermore, Proeme includes species with elytra parallel-sided (e.g. P. bucki , Figures 43–48) or distinctly expanded towards the posterior area (e.g. Proeme latipennis (Lane, 1973)) . Therefore, Proeme is composed of more than one genus. A full revision of Proeme , Temnopis , and some other genera will be necessary to be sure about the correct allocation of their species, and the actual features that truly set them apart.”

Without any revision, Özdikmen (2025c), other than examining photographs of specimens on Bezark (2025), divided Proeme into P. ( Proeme ) and P. ( Latipenna). According to him, in a paper full of grammatical problems, and orthographic errors, nonsensical sentences, or sentences that do not belong to the work in question ( e.g. “Consequently, a total of 10 species of the genus Gnatholea can be presented as below”): “However, it is clear that the genus is still polyphyletic, and there are two distinctly different groups within this genus, and in this regard, the genus needs still revision. A few stable and distinct differential diagnostic characters easily distinguish these two groups, ignoring other common distinguishing characters of the genus;” “In first group [ Proeme ( Proeme) Martins, 1978: 118 ], elytra elongated, parallel laterally along their entire length, or sometimes elytra elongated, parallel laterally at most part, slightly expanded only apically ( Proeme bella , Proeme plagiata ), lateral margins of elytra do not see in dorsal view of these parts; elytral apex slightly acuminate (Figs. 1, 2). In second group, elytra not parallel laterally after the basal third because of clearly widened after the basal third, so clearly expanded laterally along their apical half, lateral margins of elytra can be see in dorsal view of these parts; elytral apex unarmed (Figs. 3, 4). This differential diagnostic characteristic does not resemble any of Nearctic and Neotropical species of the genera of Oemini tribe known so far. This group is unique in this respect. Therefore, I think that new subgenus is needed for the group 2.” The following species were included in Proeme ( Proeme) : P. bella Martins, 1978 ; P. bucki (Melzer, 1931) ; P. cyanescens (Aurivillius, 1910) ; P. plagiata (Buquet, 1860) ; P. rufoscapus (Aurivillius, 1910) , and P. seabrai Martins, 1978 . In Proeme ( Latipenna) were included: P. asimoni Touroult, Dalens & Tavakilian, 2010 ; P. latipennis (Lane, 1973) ; and P. lyciformis Martins, 1978 .

The only feature used to separate the genus into two subgenera may or may not allow the division of the genus into two subgenera. However, this may also mean that some species belong to other genera within Oemini . Nevertheless, the most incomprehensible part is that not even the feature indicated by him was correctly followed. This is because, of the species he kept in Proeme ( Proeme) , only some actually have truly parallel-sided elytra. Furthermore, comparing the elytral shape in P. latipennis and P. bella , it is evident that they have very similar elytra, which somewhat link the two extremes of elytral shape: subparallel-sided and widened from near base. Therefore, the only viable option is to treat Proeme ( Latipenna) as a synonym of Proeme , especially because the type species, Temnopis latipennis Lane, 1973 , has the elytra as in Proeme bella .

Regarding the etymology of the genus (“It is a compound name derived from the words “latus (large, wide, expanded) and pennus (elytra)”), it should be noted that “penna” actually the feminine form of “pennus,” which is an adjective meaning “sharp” or “pointed,” or a feminine noun meaning “wing” — and not elytron.