Libitioides
Roewer, 1912
Species Guides
3- Libitioides albolineata
- Libitioides ornata(Ornate Harvestman)
- Libitioides sayi(Say's Armored Harvestman)
Libitioides is a of harvestmen (Opiliones: Cosmetidae) revalidated from synonymy with Vonones in 2023. It comprises five distributed across the southeastern, central-southern, and eastern United States, plus Cuba and Mexico. The genus was previously obscured by taxonomic confusion caused by Roewer's classifications and subsequent synonymies by Goodnight & Goodnight. Species now assigned to Libitioides include L. ornatum, L. sayi, L. albolineatus, L. modestus, and L. scabrissima.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Libitioides: /lɪˌbɪtiˈɔɪdiːz/
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Distribution
Southeastern, central-southern, and eastern United States; Cuba; Mexico. Occurrence appears linked to regions lacking a dry season and having hot summers rather than directly to temperature.
Similar Taxa
- VononesLibitioides was historically synonymized under Vonones; distinguished by phylogenetic analysis and taxonomic revision
- PlatycynortaProposed as junior synonym of Libitioides; previously treated as distinct
- DenticynortaProposed as junior synonym of Libitioides; previously treated as distinct
More Details
Taxonomic history
The suffered from extensive misidentification due to Roewer's classifications and groundless synonymies by Goodnight & Goodnight, which obscured boundaries for decades. A 2023 phylogenetic analysis reestablished Libitioides as valid and resolved multiple synonymies.
Species composition
Five : L. ornatum (southeastern USA), L. sayi (central-southern USA), L. albolineatus (eastern USA), L. modestus (Cuba), and L. scabrissima (Mexico). Two species were revalidated from synonymy: Vonones modestus (now L. modestus) and Libitioides scabrissima (restored from Vonones combination).