Protohermes is a genus of dobsonflies in the family Corydalidae.[1] Protohermes is the most specious and widely distributed genus within Megaloptera, but up to 85% of species are restricted to small endemic areas in Asia.[2][3] This endemism may be a result of an association with high elevation and high slope streams in Northern Vietnam and China.
Adult Protohermes generally have yellow coloration with white spots on the wings.[2] The male genetalia region is diverse across the genus and can be useful for species-level identification, especially the shape and size of the tenth tergum and the subgenital plate at the ninth sternum. Nuptial gifts 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 again.[4]
The size and phenology of larvae is closely tied to the availability of different sizes of prey.[5] Dwarfism 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 variability. Larger larvae do not consume smaller prey, and they actively select prey as an ambush predator.[6] Larvae are motionless 90% of the time during the day, but do change position on the stream bed during the night.[7]
Protohermes contains the following species:
Protohermes is a genus of dobsonflies in the family Corydalidae. Protohermes is the most specious and widely distributed genus within Megaloptera, but up to 85% of species are restricted to small endemic areas in Asia. This endemism may be a result of an association with high elevation and high slope streams in Northern Vietnam and China.
