Epuraea imperialis ( Reitter, 1877 )

Jelínek, Josef, Leschen, Richard A. B. & Hájek, Jiří, 2017, Revision of Epuraea of New Zealand (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae (Acta. Ent. Mus. Natl. Pragae) 57 (2), pp. 617-644 : 630-632

Epuraea imperialis ( Reitter, 1877)

( Figs 5–6 , 25–30 )

Haptoncura imperialis Reitter, 1877: 128 (original description). Epuraea imperialis: GROUVELLE (1905) : 242 (new combination).

Type locality. Australia.

Type material. National Museum of Natural History, Paris; not studied.

Additional material examined. Material from New Zealand and elsewhere was published in a recent paper by JELÍNEK et al. (2016), and here we list additional specimens not previously mentioned: NORTH ISLAND: AK: Takapuha , under garden refuse, xii.1942, A.E. Brookes coll., 3 spec. ( NZAC) ; Auckland, decaying rock melon, 26.iii.1941, D. Spiller lgt., 1 spec. ( NZAC). BP: Lottin Pt Rd, Waenga Bush, litter, 24.xi.1992, G. Hall lgt., 1 spec. ( NZAC). CL: Little Barrier Isl. , Pahutakawa Flat , litter, 6.xii.1978, B.M. May lgt., 7 spec. ( NZAC). HB: Hastings , Malaise trap, iii–iv.2001, P. Lo lgt., 5 spec. ( NZAC). ND: Whangarei , 12.iv.1929, E. Fairburn coll., 4 spec. ( NZAC) ; Puketi Forest, 100 m, Waipapa River Track, 18.ii.1997, R. Schuh lgt., 2 spec. ( RSCW). RI: Taihape, litter, 2.xii.[19]65, L.P. Marchant lgt., 1 spec. ( NZAC). WA: SH 53/ Kahutara Rd Junction, in litter of bush remnant, 29.vii.1995, J. Nunn lgt., 1 spec. ( NZAC). WN: Tinakori Hill, Wellington, in lawn clippings. 21.x.1991, J. Nunn lgt., 1 spec. ( NZAC). SOUTH ISLAND: DN: Owaka, 15.i.[19]59, E.S. Gourlay lgt., 1 spec. ( NZAC). MB: Onamalutu, Domain, litter, 12.v.[19]65, N.R.Walker lgt., 1 spec. ( NZAC). MC: Christchurch, 16.–18.xii.[19]59, E.S. Gourlay lgt., 1 spec. ( NZAC) ; Appleby Res.Orchard., ex fermenting apples, 6.x.[19]71, W. Thomas & J.C. Watt lgt., 1 spec. ( NZAC) ; Christchurch, Riccarton Bush, 15.iv.[19]36, E.S. Gourlay lgt., 1 spec. ( NZAC) ; Canterbury, Mt.Algidus , moss, 1219 m, 17.iii.[19]65, G.W. Ramsay & J.I. Townsend lgt., 1 spec. ( NZAC) ; Banks Peninsula, 4 km E of Little River, Okuti Valley , 43°47.2′S, 172°49.7′E, 85 m, compost sifting, 20.ii.2016, M. Fikáček, J. Hájek & P. Hlaváč lgt., 2 spec. ( NMPC). NN: Nelson, 29.xi.[19]67,6 spec. ( NZAC) ; Nelson, ii.1943, E.E. Walker lgt., 1 spec. ( NZAC) ; Nelson, 17.iii.[19]21, 1 spec. ( NZAC) ; Ruby Bay , 15.vi.[19]68, G. Kuschel lgt., 1 spec. ( NZAC) ; Wakefield, litter, 19.ix.[19]64, J.I. Townsend lgt., 1 spec. ( NZAC) ; Wakefield, leaf litter, 27.v.[19]65, J.I. Townsend lgt., 2 spec. ( NZAC) ; Riwaka, 7.i.[19]42, A. Hamilton lgt., 1 spec. ( NZAC). OL: South Mavora Lake, in moss on Nothofagus log, 17.xii.2013, J. Nunn lgt., 1 spec. ( NZAC). OFFSHORE ISLAND: KE: Raoul Isl. , in fermenting oranges, 10.xii.[19]66, J.C. Watt lgt., 4 spec. ( NZAC) ; Raoul Isl., Denham Bay track, baited pittrap, 1350 ft., 23.xii.[19]66, J.C. Watt lgt., 2 spec. ( NZAC) ; Raoul Isl., Denham Bay track, baited pittrap, 1200 ft., 23.xii.[19]66, J.C. Watt lgt., 4 spec. ( NZAC) ; Kermadec Isl., Mt. Moumoukai , litter under Rhopalostylis cheesemanii, 1400 ft., 23.i.[19]67, J.C. Watt lgt., 3 spec. ( NZAC) ; Raoul Isl. , baited pitfall trap, 8.xii.[19]66, J.C. Watt lgt., 1 spec. ( NZAC) .

Redescription. Male. Body ovate, moderately convex ( Fig. 5 ). Yellow-brown, pronotal disc as a rule black, each elytron sometimes with oblong oval spot embracing yellow-brown center, sometimes more or less interrupted at outer side, antennae beginning from distal end of antennomere III gradually infuscate, antennal club or antennomeres VIII–IX black-brown. Pubescence golden, sparse and recumbent, some setae barely reaching bases of following ones.

Frons almost flat with pair of shallow impressions near antennal insertions, temples flatly convex, converging posteriorly, not angulate behind eyes. Punctures of frons nearly equal in size to eye facets, separated by one diameter, becoming gradually smaller on clypeus; interspaces more or less dull, without distinct microsculpture. Antennae somewhat shorter than width of head, antennal club oblong oval, occupying one third of antenna length ( Fig. 25 ).

Pronotum widest behind midlength, distinctly narrowed both anteriorly and posteriorly, twice as wide as long (LEPR/WPR2: 0.50); anterior margin with trapezoidal emargination nearly as deep as eye width, nor bordered; anterior angles obtuse, almost rounded; lateral margins arcuate, narrowly explanate, explanate sides anteriorly nearly as wide as length of pedicellus, becoming gradually wider posteriad; posterior angles obtuse, not projecting posteriad. Punctures of pronotum slightly larger than eye facets, shallow, separated by one diameter or less, interspaces dull, without distinct microsculpture. Setae inconspicuous, recumbent, reaching base of following ones.

Elytra nearly as long as their combined width, widest at basal fifth, twice as long as and slightly wider than pronotum, gradually narrowed posteriad, reaching maximum length at suture. Distinctly explanate sides nearly as wide as length of antennomere II in basal portion, gradually narrowed posteriad. Punctures smaller and shallower than those on pronotum, separated by 1.0–1.5 diameters, becoming closer along suture and at apex of each elytron; interspaces smooth, moderately shining. Vestiture similar to pronotum, rather sparse, yellow, recumbent.

Pygidium densely finely punctate, subtruncate apically, tergite VIII exposed, rounded.

Ventral part. Postmentum flat, distinctly punctate, punctures smaller than eye-facets, separated by less than one diameter, sometimes almost confluent, interspaces smooth and shining. Antennal furrows converging posteriad, at their apex interconnected by transverse impression, at bottom with few widely spaced indistinct punctures, interspaces with dense microscopic punctures.

Prosternum bluntly roof-shaped, finely rugosely punctate. Hypomera isodiamerically reticulate with widely spaced, shallow and indistinct punctures. Prosternal process longitudinally arcuate (in lateral view) and finely bordered between procoxae, posterior to procoxae depressed and broadly rounded ( Fig. 26 ). Mesoventrite broadly convex, bluntly medio-longitudinally carinulate, microscopically isodiametrically reticulate, in front of mesocoxae broadly arcuately canaliculate; posterior intercoxal process between mesocoxae broadly shallowly concave. Metaventrite in middle flattened, faint discrimen present, punctures smaller than eye-facets, shallow, but well defined, separated by l–2 diameters; interspaces in middle smooth, at sides reticulate. Abdominal ventrites finely punctate, punctures finer than on metaventrite, becoming finer laterally; interspaces smooth in middle, reticulate at sides. Pygidium densely finely punctate, subtruncate apically, tergite VIII exposed, rounded.

Mesotibia strongly arcuate along entire length, with inner subapical angle extended inwards, obtusely rounded ( Fig. 27 ). Protarsomeres I–III strongly dilated, reaching approximately 2/3 of tibia width. Metatarsi narrow, simple.

Male genitalia. Lateral lobes of tegmen curved inwards, bluntly pointed apically ( Fig. 28 ). Median lobe approximately 2.5× longer than wide, subparallel-sided, broadly truncate apically ( Fig. 29 ).

Female. Habitus as in male ( Fig. 6 ). Pro- and mesotibiae somewhat curved at base, otherwise simple. Tarsi narrower than in male. Pygidium simple, narrowly rounded apically. Ovipositor as in Fig. 30 .

Measurements. Body length 2.4–2.8 mm, width 1.0– 1.2 mm.

Notes. Epuraea imperialis is an invasive species introduced to New Zealand in the 1920ʼs ( KUSCHEL 1990), and subsequently introduced in Europe after 2000. A more detailed redescription and additional distributional information is given by JELÍNEK et al. (2016). This widespread species has been collected by sifting leaf litter, using window, light, and pitfall traps, and occasionally also from rotten fruit and mushrooms on the forest floor. Though it may be taken in rotten wood, fallen nīkau palm leaves ( Rhopalostylis sapida ), may be one of its preferred habitats ( WATT 1960, 1962).

Geographic distribution. North Island: AK, BP, CL, HB, ND, RI, WA, WN. South Island: DN, MB, MC, NN, OL. Offshore Island: KE. Native to Australia; introduced also to Europe: Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain ( JELÍNEK et al. 2016).

Figures

Figs 5–8. Dorsal habitus of New Zealand Epuraea species. 5 – E. imperialis (Reitter, 1877) J, Auckland (2.3 mm); 6 – E. imperialis ♀, Auckland (2.2 mm); 7 – E. mayendorfii (Reitter, 1873) J, Mt. Earnslaw (3.3 mm); 8 – E. mayendorfii ♀, Three Kings (3.2 mm).

Figs 25–30. Details of Epuraea imperialis (Reitter, 1877). 25 – antenna; 26 – prosternal process; 27 – male mesotibia; 28 – tegmen; 29 – median lobe of aedeagus; 30 – ovipositor. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.