Lamellipalpus pacholatkoi, Brancucci, Michel & Geiser, Michael, 2009

Brancucci, Michel & Geiser, Michael, 2009, A revision of the genus Lamellipalpus Maulik, 1921 (Coleoptera, Lampyridae), Zootaxa 2080, pp. 1-20 : 8-10

Lamellipalpus pacholatkoi sp. nov.

( Fig. 7 )

Type locality: NE India, Assam, Bhalukpong.

Description. 3. Habitus: Oblong to elongate, testaceous, with the last 9 joints of the antennae and the elytra except for a large testaceous patch around shoulders dark brown. Underside completely testaceous.

Head: Slightly depressed, transverse, testaceous; distance from eye to pronotum about 0.5–0.9 times diameter of an eye. Interocular space large, 2.7 times as large as eye diameter. Anterior margin of frons straight, only slightly curved; head slightly depressed on antero-median part. Surface shining, covered with fine punctures and very fine and long yellow setae. Mandibles long, slender, slightly curved. Last segment of maxillary palpi testaceous, only 3.1 times as long as broad, narrowly rounded posteriorly, flattened and about 1/3 the length of the mandibles, with a fine and dense pubescence; labial palpi broad, somewhat shorter, broadly rounded posteriorly. Antennae short, 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th joints elongate, 2.2 times as long as broad, 2nd joint very small, globose, 7th–10th joints subequal, about 1.4 times as long as broad, 11th joint 3 times as long as broad.

Pronotum: Testaceous, slightly transverse, strongly depressed posteriorly before angles; sides almost straight. Posterior angles protruding and obliquely carinate. Entire surface shining with small punctures, each with a long and very fine yellow seta. Scutellum broad, triangular and testaceous.

Elytra: Dark brown, testaceous yellow on base around shoulders and narrowly so along margin on whole length. Sides slightly dilated, almost parallel, broadest behind middle, with 3 distinct costae and coarsely punctured. Punctures very large, individually visible, deeply impressed, partly confluent and much closer together than their own diameter, except at extreme base where they are smaller and more distant. Pubescence dense; setae short, very fine and brown. Elytral margins distinctly bordered.

Underside: Completely testaceous, finely and densely pubescent.

Aedeagus: Lateral lobes narrow, rounded posteriorly, ending in a short and sharp point dorsally. Median lobe with a sharp ridge dorsally.

Female: Unknown.

Measurements: TL: 5.8–7.2 mm (6.56 mm, n= 13); TL-H: 5.1–6.4 mm (5.75 mm, n= 13); HL: 0.7–1.1 mm (0.85 mm, n= 13); HW: 1.5 – 1.9 mm (1.68 mm, n= 13); LP: 1.2–1.8 mm (1.63 mm, n = 13).

Type material: Holotype 3 ( NHML): “NE India, Assam, Bhalukpong, 26.V.–3.VI.2006, 27°02’N, 92°35’E, 150 m, P. Pacholátko leg. / L. Dembicky & P. Pacholátko, NHML (E), 2006-48 ”; “ Holotype Lamellipalpus pacholatkoi pacholatkoi n.ssp. Brancucci & Geiser 08” [red printed label]. 93 paratypes (8 ex., NHML; 1 ex., NHMB): same data as holotype. 13 paratype ( NHMB): “NE India, Meghalaya, SW of Cherrapunjee, 25°13–14’N 91°40’E, 900 m, P. Pacholátko, 23–25.VI.07 ”. 13 paratype ( NHMB): “Assam, Kaziranga, nördl. Mikir-Hills, Brahmaputra V. 1961, leg. G. Scherer / Museum Frey Tutzing, / Lamellipalpus nigripennis Pascoe , det. W. Wittmer”. 13 paratype ( NHMB): “Ghoom-Jorbanla, 5.5.1976 / Darjeeling Distr., W. Wittmer”. 13 paratype ( NHML): “N. India, G.Z. Brunner, 1931.96”. 13 paratype (CMB, later NMP): "NE India, Arunachalpr., 8 km S Jamiri, Sessa env., 27.08N 97.34E, 350 m, 30.May 2005, P. Pacholatko". All paratypes have a red printed paratype label with the data: “ Paratype Lamellipalpus pacholatkoi pacholatkoi n.ssp. Brancucci & Geiser 08”.

Etymology: The species is dedicated to our friend and colleague Petr Pacholátko who collected this beautiful species together with many other interesting insects in this region which is so difficult to reach.

Affinities: This species is closely related to L. manipurensis Maulik but can be easily distinguished by its larger size and by the distinctly longer and more developed last joints of the palpi.

Distribution: NE India (Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Darjeeling Distr.)

Figures

FIGURES 7 – 10. Habitus of: 7, Lamellipalpus pacholatkoi sp. nov.; 8, L. p. turaensis ssp. nov.; 9, L. kubani sp. nov.; 10, L. brendelli Wittmer.