Zorion angustifasciatum Schnitzler

Schnitzler, Franz-Rudolf & Wang, Qiao, 2005, Revision of Zorion Pascoe (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), an endemic genus of New Zealand, Zootaxa 1066, pp. 1-42 : 13-16

Zorion angustifasciatum Schnitzler , sp. nov.

(Figs. 13, 24)

Diagnosis

Zorion angustifasciatum can be distinguished from other Zorion species by the combination of a narrow ivory spot transversely located, a pointed elytra, a dark ringed femur as in Fig. 2 and a glossy body surface. The elytral spot of Zorion opacum and Z. minutum may be similar in shape, but Z. minutum is without a dark ringed femur as in Fig. 3 and the colour of the spot is more yellowish or golden in comparison to the ivory spot of Z. angustifasciatum . Zorion angustifasciatum has a glossy body surface, whereas Z. opacum has a silky dull body surface dorsally. Zorion dugdalei also has a pointed elytra but has a silky dull pronotum.

Description

Body length: Male 3.8–5.45 mm, female 3.6–6.8 mm.

Colour: Body creamy golden brown throughout, translucent, with an ivory spot on each elytron (Fig. 13). Elytral spot at least 1.5 wider than long and transversely located, not touching suture and margin, and central axis through spot at right angle in relation to suture; distance between spot and suture 1.5–2 distance between spot and margin; distance between central axis of spot and elytral shoulder 0.37–0.5 elytral length. Scape creamy golden brown sometimes with darker apex; pedicel dark brown; antennal segments 3–7 or 3–8 whitish at base but gradually becoming dark brown towards apex; antennal segments 8–11 or 9–11 dark brown. Pro­ and mesocoxal cavity bounded by dark edge; trochanter and apex of coxa dark; base of femur whitish with dark ring at beginning of creamy golden brown club as in Fig. 2 ; tibia dark brown throughout; tarsi creamy golden brown at base, darkening towards apex. Abdominal segments creamy golden brown.

Structure: Body surface glabrous, glossy. Elytral apex pointed. Females with a row of hairs on epipleural fold not reaching beyond anterior edge of spots; males without such hairs on epipleural fold.

Ovipositor and spermatheca: Ratio between dorsal and ventral baculi being 1:1.1. Spermatheca sclerotised but transparent, U­shaped widest halfway between base and apex, gradually tapering towards apex. Spermathecal gland arising halfway between base and apex.

FIGURES 13–22, Zorion species. 13, Z. angustifasciatum ; 14, Z. australe ; 15, Z. batesi ; 16, Z. dugdalei ; 17, Z. guttigerum ; 18, Z. kaikouraiensis ; 19, Z. nonmaculatum ; 20, Z. minutum ; 21, Z. opacum ; 22, Z. taranakiensis . Scale bars 1 mm.

Var ia t io n: Body may become darkened gradually towards head, translucent cuticle sometimes appears interspersed with dark grain particularly in the pronotum. Spot on elytral disc may be with or without or partially surrounded by darker area. Tibia may have creamy golden brown base and section in the middle.

Biology

Adults were collected from Cordyline (Agavaceae) flowers and from Litsea (Lauraceae) . Adults were raised from Myoporum laetum (Myoporaceae) wood. Specimens were collected in October, November and January.

Distribution

Great and South West Island approx. 4 km south west of Great Island of the Three Kings Islands ( Manawa Tawhi ), which are approx. 80 km north west of Cape Reinga (Te Rerengawairua) ( Fig. 24 ).

Etymology

The name is derived from the narrow elongate spots on the elytra.

Material examined

Holotype: Ψ, Great Island, Three Kings Islands, on Cordyline kaspar flowers, 27 xi. 1997, R. E. Beever ( NZAC).

Paratypes: 22 Ψ, 26 ɗ. TH: 15 ɗ, 13 Ψ, Tasman Valley, Great Island, Three Kings Islands, Cordyline flowers, 1 xi. 1970, J. C. Watt, ( NZAC m– 270600 –2/2, m– 240500 –6/8, f– 230500 –5/8, f– 230500 –6/8, f– 260600 –1/2); 2 Ψ, 4 ɗ, Tasman Valley, Great Island, Three Kings Islands, 1 xi. 1970, ( NZAC m– 240500 –5/8, f– 260600 –2/2); 1 ɗ, Tasman Valley, Great Island, Three Kings Islands, Coprosma macrocarpa , 1 xi. 1970, J. C. Watt ( NZAC); 1 ɗ, Tasman Valley, Great Island, Three Kings Islands, on Cordyline , 30 xi. 1983, C. F. Butcher ( NZAC); 1 ɗ, Great Island, Three Kings Islands, beating, 30 xi. 1983, C. F. Butcher ( NZAC); 2 ɗ, Great Island, Three Kings Islands, on Cordyline kaspar flowers, 29 xi. 1997, R. E. Beever ( NZAC); 1 Ψ, Great Island, Three Kings Islands, 3 i. 1963, E. S. Gourlay, ( NZAC f– 230500 –4/8); 1 Ψ, Great Island, Three Kings Islands, beating, 28–29 xi. 1983, J. C. Watt ( NZAC); 2 Ψ, Great Island, Three Kings Islands, on Cordyline kaspar flowers, 27 & 29 xi. 1997, R. E. Beever ( NZAC); 1 Ψ, Castaway Camp, Great Island, Three Kings Islands, 1 xi. 1970, G. Ramsay ( NZAC); 2 Ψ, 1 ɗ, Castaway Camp, Great Island, Three Kings Islands, ex. Myoporum laetum , & on Litsea , 1 xi. 1970, G. Kuschel,. ( NZAC m– 270600 –1/2); 1, Great Island, 6 x., L. C. Bell ( AMNZ 18834); 1 ɗ, South West Island, Three Kings Islands, 1 xi. 1970, J. C. Watt ( NZAC).

Figures

FIGURE 24. Known distribution of: Z. angustifasciatum; Z. batesi; Z. dugdalei; Z. kaikouraiensis; Z. minutum; Z. nonmaculatum; Z. taranakiensis; Z. opacum. The Z. batesi record on Kermadec Island is not shown here. (Map with permission from Ian Henderson, Massey University).

FIGURES 1 – 3. Ventral view of hind femora representing features of: 1, dark coloured femur; 2, light coloured femur with dark ring; 3, light coloured femur without ring.