Melichrus hirsutus

Melichrus hirsutus View in CoL and Melichrus gibberagee

Melichrus hirsutus and M. gibberagee were collected for the first time several years after Paterson’s revision was published. The species were validly published in 2020 on the basis of qualitative morphology. The species status of both entities was strongly supported by both the morphological and genetic analyses. Similarities in the molecular analyses suggest the two species may be more closely related than would be expected based on strong morphological dissimilarity. Phylogenetic analyses should interrogate the relationship further.