Miridiba scutata ( Reitter, 1902 ) Gao & Coca-Abia, 2021

Gao, Chuan-bu & Coca-Abia, María Milagro, 2021, Revision of the genus Miridiba Reitter, 1902 (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Melolonthinae): genital morphotypes and new taxonomic data, European Journal of Taxonomy 749, pp. 1-94 : 74-77

Miridiba scutata ( Reitter, 1902) comb. nov.

Figs 20–22 , 94

Holotrichia scutata Reitter, 1902: 175 (type loc.: Hong Kong, China).

Holotrichia scutata Moser, 1909: 471 (primary homonym of H. scutata Reitter, 1902 ). syn. nov. Holotrichia scutulata Dalla Torre, 1912: 206 (new name of Holotrichia scutata Moser, 1909 ). syn. nov. Miridiba lassallei Keith, 2010: 237 , figs 9–11 (type loc.: Nghia Lo, Vietnam). syn. nov.

Holotrichia scutata Reitter – Chang 1964: 149 (species list; in key).

Holotrichia scutata Moser – Smetana & Král 2006: 220 (catalogue).

Holotrichia scutulata Dalla Torre – Chang 1964: 149 (species list; in key). — Smetana & Král 2006: 220 (catalogue).

Diagnosis

External morphology of adult ( Fig. 94 ). Body size 14.0–16.0 mm. Dorsal surface glabrous. Clypeus rounded laterally, with conspicuous punctures, anterior edge emarginate at middle. Frons with carina moderately developed and blunt. Pronotal surface shiny, regularly punctate, with punctures closer together just behind anterior margin, glabrous, at most with a tiny seta on each puncture, anterior pronotal margin flanged, glabrous; posterior margin glabrous; lateral margins serrated and pubescent; anterior angles almost right not projected forward, posterior angles obtuse and marked. Scutellum without punctures and glabrous. Elytral surface glabrous, at most with a tiny seta on each puncture, with striations weakly defined, punctures distributed between striae; epipleuron glabrous, at most with few setae at base. Foretibia with dorsal carina moderately developed; insertion of inner spur closer third outer tooth than second one. Meso- and metatibia with transverse carina complete, inner margin of dorsal surface without spines. Pygidium with deep punctuation, surface with inconspicuous pubescence, margin pubescent. Ventrites with conspicuous punctures; ventrites 2, 3 and 4 glabrous, at most with a tiny seta in each puncture; ventrite 5 with long pubescence irregularly distributed at posterior half; ventrite 6 moderately bulging at anterior margin, with long pubescence on posterior margin. Male genitalia: parameres ( Fig. 20 ) with dorsal and ventral branches joined laterally. Dorsal branches fused with apex asymmetrical, elevated and twisted. Ventral branches reduced, lightly sclerotized and fused by a ventral membrane. Endophallus ( Fig. 21 ) with a raspula with soft setae and spines at distal end; with spines isolated at middle. Apophysis of temones ( Fig. 21 ) long and separated from each other. Female genitalia ( Fig. 22 ) as described above (morphotype VIII “ Scutata ”).

Material examined

Lectotype of M. scutata (Reitter) (here designated)

CHINA • ♂; “Hong Kong”; “ scutata Rtt ”; “? SYNTYPE Holotrichia scutata Reitter, 1902 labelled by MFNB 2018”; “ Lectotype Miridiba scutata ( Reitter, 1902) Chuan-bu Gao & Coca-Abia det. 2019”; MFNB.

Lectotype of M. scutata (Moser) (here designated)

CHINA • ♂; “ Hong Kong ”; “Coll Brenske ”; “ H. scutata Type Mos”, “ scutata ” [label in pink]; “Lectotype Miridiba scutulata ( Dalla Torre, 1912) Chuan-bu Gao & Coca-Abia det. 2019”; MFNB .

Holotype of M. lassallei

VIETNAM • ♂; “ Nghia Lo ouest de Yen Bai ” [Nghia Lo, west of Yen Bai]; “ May 2004; Lassalle leg. Vietnam ”; “ D. Keith det. 2009”; DKC.

Other material

CHINA • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Pipitz leg.; Coll. Brenske; MFNB .

Remarks

Nonfried (1892) cited Holotrichia scutata Reitter, 1892 collected in Nienghali (Guangxi province of China), mentioning a publication, which, supposedly, contained the original species description. Unfortunately, we have not found this paper. Reitter (1902) described this species from Hong Kong without specifying the origin or number of specimens described. Later, Moser (1909), ignoring the existence of Brenske’s species and Reitter’s description, published another taxon named Holotrichia scutata Moser, 1909 ,also from Hong Kong.Soon after, Dalla Torre (1912) realized the primary homonymy and proposed the name Holotrichia scutulata for H. scutata of Moser (1909). We have studied one type specimen of H. scutata Reitter, 1902 (MFNB), which shows external features that characterize the genus Miridiba . Hence, we transfer H. scutata Reitter, 1902 to Miridiba and establish the genital morphotype VIII “ Scutata ”. Besides, we have studied a type specimen of Holotrichia scutulata Dalla Torre, 1912 (MFNB), verifying the similarities of external morphology and male genitalia (parameres shape, sclerotized structures and sensillae in the endophallus) between both taxa, which confirm the synonymy of H. scutulata with H. scutata . On the other hand, Keith (2010) described Miridiba lassallei based on a male specimen. According to the original description and illustrations (Keith 2010: figs 9–11), the characteristic shape of aedeagus, its asymmetry, the fusion and twist of dorsal branches, and fusion of ventral ones, distinguish it from other known Miridiba species. Nevertheless, after studying the holotype of M. lassallei (DKC) , we have noted that the features of the external morphology and male genitalia that characterize M. scutata ( Reitter, 1902) are also present in M. lassallei . Therefore, we established the synonymy of M. lassallei with M. scutata .

Distribution

China (Guangxi, Hongkong), Vietnam (Nghia Lo).

Figures

Figs 20–22. Morphotype VIII “Scutata”. 20. Male genitalia of M. scutata (Reitter, 1902), lectotype (MFNB), parameres in dorsal (A), ventral (B) and lateral (C) views. 21. Endophallus and temones of M. lassallei Keith, 2010, holotype (DKC) in lateral view. 22. Female genitalia of M. scutata, non-type (MFNB) in dorsal view. Scale bars = 1.0 mm.

Figs 94–97. 94. Miridiba scutata (Reitter, 1902), lectotype, ♂ (MFNB). Habitus in drosal view. 95– 97. M. schoolmeesteri Keith, 2010, holotype, ♂ (DKC). 95. Habitus in dorsal view. 96. Parameres in dorsal (A) and lateral (B) views. 97. Endophallus and temones in lateral view. Scale bars: 94–95 = 5.0 mm; 96–97 = 1.0 mm.