Episcapha is a genus of pleasing fungus beetles (family Erotylidae). Historically placed in subfamily Dacninae (or tribe Dacinini in subfamily Erotylinae),Chûjô, Michio & Chûjô, Michitaka (1988): A catalog of the Erotylidae (Insecta, Coleoptera) from the old world (excl. the Ethiopian region) I. Esakia 26: 139-185. PDF fulltext. it is one of the genera which have more recently been moved into a distinct subfamily Megalodacninae (or tribe Megalodacnini).Chansri, Kittipum; Somsiri, Kanoktip; Quicke, Donald L.J. & Butcher, Buntika A. (2023): First confirmed parasitism of pleasing fungus beetles (Coleoptera, Erotylidae) by a tropical rhyssine ichneumonid, and first record for Cyrtorhyssa moellerii Bingham (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) from Thailand. J. Hymenopt. Res. 96: 783–804.
The species of this genus are found in eastern Asia, from easternmost Siberia to Bhutan, India and Sri Lanka, in Southeast Asia and on the Sunda Shelf. They range out to Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines; a few reach the Wallacea and beyond, but scattered records further away, e.g. Australia, may refer to human-introduced individuals. Still, some beetles e.g. from Africa, traditionally placed in other genera (such als the large and controversial Episcaphula assemblage), may actually belong in Episcapha, making the genus more far-ranging than generally assumed.
Systematics The 40-50 named species in this genus (with new ones still being described occasionally) have long been divided among three subgenera. However, the distinctness of this genus from its close relative Megalodacne has long been controversial, and the delimitation versus other relatives such as Episcaphula is still not robust.tcriley: iNaturalist Forum "Subgenus question (Type species)" discussion. 2025-02-25, retrieved 2026-07-02.
Episcapha (Ephicaspa) Chûjô, 1969 – East Asian restricted-range endemics: Japan, Ryukyu Islands, Chinese mountain ranges. Episcapha asahinai (Chûjô, 1936) (= E.yakushimensis) Episcapha lewisi (Nakane, 1950) Episcapha lushuiensis Li & Ren, 2012 Episcapha quadriconcava Li & Ren, 2012 Episcapha yunnanensis Li & Ren, 2006 (tentatively placed here)
Episcapha (Episcapha) Lacordaire, 1842 – Lower Amur/Ussuri basin in Russian Far East south through East Asia including Japan and Taiwan to Bhutan and along Bay of Bengal shores to Sri Lanka and into inland India, through Southeast Asia to the Sunda Shelf islands and the Philippines; barely into Wallacea (Lombok, Sulawesi). Episcapha amuntaia Heller, 1918 (1920) Episcapha antennata Desmarest in Eydoux & Souleyet, 1841 Episcapha confusa Heller, 1918 (1920) Episcapha crotchi Heller, 1918 (1920) (= E.antennata Crotch, 1876 nec Desmarest in Eydoux & Souleyet, 1841, E.obliquata Crotch nec Lacordaire; tentatively placed here) Episcapha curvicrus Bedel, 1918 Episcapha estriata Heller, 1918 (1920) Episcapha flavofasciata (Reitter, 1879) (= E.hamata) Episcapha fortunii Crotch, 1873 (= E.bellula (Miwa, 1931 nec Lewis, 1883), E.consanguinea, E.fortunei, E.tapferi) Episcapha gorhami Lewis, 1879 Episcapha intermedia Crotch, 1876 Episcapha latiuscula Heller, 1918 (1920) Episcapha macrocera Heller, 1918 (1920) Episcapha maculifrons Heller, 1918 (1920) Episcapha oculata Lacordaire, 1842 (= E.annulata (sensu auct. nec MacLeay, 1825)) Episcapha pavo Arrow, 1909 Episcapha psiloides Bedel, 1918 Episcapha quadrimacula (Wiedemann, 1823) Episcapha reichei Desmarest in Eydoux & Souleyet, 1841 Episcapha septentrionis Heller, 1918 (1920) (= E.quadrimacula Deelder, 1942 nec Wiedemann, 1823, E.hainanensis) Episcapha sericea Arrow, 1928 Episcapha tetracycla Bedel, 1918 Episcapha tuberculicollis Gorham, 1896 Episcapha vestita Lacordaire, 1842 Episcapha xanthopustulata Gorham, 1890
Episcapha (Psiloscapha) Heller, 1918 (1920) – distribution almost like Episcapha (Episcapha), but does not extend around Bay of Bengal; instead, reported beyond Wallacea from Mamberamo River,"Irian Barat (Mamberao Riv.)" in Chûjô & Chûjô (1988) is lapsus. New Guinea. E.glabra seems to form a trans-Java Sea cryptic species complex with E.hypocrita and E.javanica. Episcapha ambigua Arrow, 1921 (1922) Episcapha glabra (Wiedemann, 1823) (= E.decorata, "E.quadrimaculata" Dejean, 1837 (nomen nudum)) Episcapha hypocrita Heller, 1918 (1920) Episcapha indica Crotch, 1876 (= E.chapuisi) Episcapha insignita Bedel, 1918 Episcapha javanica Deelder, 1942 Episcapha leviuscula Heller, 1918 (1920) Episcapha longicornis Lacordaire, 1842 Episcapha lugubris Bedel, 1918 Episcapha mausonica Heller, 1918 (1920) Episcapha morawitzi (Solsky, 1871) (= E.taishoensis) Episcapha opaca Heller, 1918 (1920) Episcapha satoi Chûjô, 1974 Episcapha takasagona Chûjô, 1941 Episcapha ustulata Arrow, 1924
Historically, Episcapha was often included in Megalodacne. In addition, the huge genus Episcaphula contains some species – namely the disputed type species of subgenus Lanugodacne, E.trifasciata – which may be misidentified Episcapha. Proposed members of Episcaphus with unclear validity are: Episcapha cordata Gorham (Episcaphula?) Episcapha invenusta Episcapha nocteWikispecies: Episcapha Episcapha ophthalmica DelkeskampDelkeskamp, Kurt (1943): Aus Afrikas Erotyliden-Fauna (Col.) 9. Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Erotyliden. ["From the erotylid fauna of Africa. 9th contribution to the knowledge of erotylids." Article in German.] Dt. entomol. Z. 1943: 28-55. PDF fulltext. Episcapha overlaeti Delkeskamp Episcapha pubescens Episcapha propinqua Delkeskamp, 1953Delkeskamp, Kurt (1953): Dacninæ (Coleoptera Clavicornia) Fam. Erotylidæ. In: de Witte, G.F.; Adam, W.; Janssens, A.; van Meel, L. & Verheyen, R.: Exploration du Parc National de l'Upemba (Mission G.F. de Witte) / Exploratie van het Nationaal Upemba Park (Zending G.F. de Witte) 17(4): 59-82. PDF fulltext Episcapha subcostata Schenkling (Scaphodacne?)
"E. (Psiloscapha)" semperi is now in Micrencaustes.
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