Schizotrichalus Kleine, 1926

Bocek, Matej & Adamkova, Kristyna, 2019, New species of Moluccan trichaline net-winged beetles, with remarks on the phylogenetic position and distribution of Schizotrichalus (Coleoptera: Lycidae: Metriorrhynchinae), Zootaxa 4623 (2), pp. 341-350 : 343-344

Schizotrichalus Kleine, 1926

Schizotrichalus Kleine, 1926: 183 .

Type species. Trichalus nigrescens Waterhouse, 1879: 70 (by original designation).

Diagnosis. Schizotrichalus shares the similar shortened elytral primary costa 1 with other trichaline net-winged beetles (i.e., Diatrichalus , Flabellotrichalus , Trichalus , Eniclases , Lobatang and Microtrichalus ; general morphological description of all trichaline genera was published by Bocak (2002) and Bocek & Bocak (2017)). Schizotrichalus differs from other trichalines in having five well-developed pronotal areoles unlike other trichalines ( Figs 6–7 ). Similar to Eniclases , the males of Schizotrichalus have either acutely serrate or flabellate antennae. Male genitalia of Schizotrichalus have a long, slender phallus with a cup-like apex and pigmented dorsal line ( Fig. 10 ). The phallobase is small and without an extensive membranous sac.

Redescription. Body 6.5–11.5 mm long, coloration variable from orange to brown and black; dark colored or pronotum and humeral part of elytra orange and apical part of elytra brown to black ( Figs 2–3 ). Head small, mostly covered by pronotum; without rostrum, hypognathous; eyes hemispherically prominent. Mouthparts welldeveloped, maxillary palpi slender, four-segmented, apical palpomere widest, mandibles short and robust. Antennae compressed, acutely serrate or flabellate with long lamellae in males, always serrate in females. Pronotum trapezoidal, wider than long, with one median areola apically reaching two third of pronotal length and frontally attached to pronotal margin by robust carina, two lateral carinae well-developed, attached to frontal pronotal margin ( Figs 6–7 ). Elytral primary costa 1 shortened, secondary costae well-developed with regular transverse costae. Legs compressed, moderately long. Male genitalia without parameres, phallus long, subtle, mostly membranous, only basally well-sclerotized, with dorsal strengthened pigmented keel ( Fig. 10 ).

Distribution and diversity. Until now, Schizotrichalus has been recorded only from New Guinea. For the first time, we record Schizotrichalus from Halmahera.

Remark. The phylogenetic placement in trichalines and close relationships of Schizotrichalus and Eniclases have been supported by the shape of male genitalia. The specimens properly fixed for the isolation of DNA have not been available and no DNA-based validation of proposed relationships was possible ( Bocek & Bocak 2017, 2019). The current analysis confirms the sister relationships between Eniclases and Schizotrichalus . Morphological traits are sometimes insufficient to resolve genus-level phylogeny and the presence of multiple pronotal areolae could be considered as a plesiomorphic state of character. Based on this trait, Schizotrichalus could be a sister to other trichalines, which share the characteristic pronotum with a single areola ( Bocak 2002). The combination of molecular and morphological data suggests the placement of Schizotrichalus in a close relationships to Eniclases .

Figures

FIGURES 2–16. General appearance and diagnostic characters used for the species delimitation. (2–5) General appearance. (2) Schizotrichalus halmaherensis sp. nov., male; (3) ditto, female; (4) Eniclases kusyi sp. nov., male; (5) E. moluccanus, male. (6–9) Pronota (6) S. halmaherensis sp. nov., male; (7) ditto, female; (8) E. moluccanus, male; (9) E. kusyi sp. nov., male. (10–12) Male genitalia (10) S. halmaherensis sp. nov.; (11) E. kusyi sp. nov.; (12) E. moluccanus; (13–16) Basal antennomeres (13) S. halmaherensis sp. nov., male; (14) ditto, female; (15) E. kusyi sp. nov., male; (16) E. moluccanus, male. Scale bars (2–5) 2 mm; (6–16) 0.5 mm.