Zorion kaikouraiensis Schnitzler

Schnitzler, Franz-Rudolf & Wang, Qiao, 2005, Revision of Zorion Pascoe (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), an endemic genus of New Zealand, Zootaxa 1066, pp. 1-42 : 30-31

Zorion kaikouraiensis Schnitzler , sp. nov.

(Figs. 18, 24)

Diagnosis

Zorion kaikouraiensis has much lighter legs in comparison to a darker pronotum. In all other Zorion species the legs and body are of the same colour.

Description

Body length: Male 3.78–5.45 mm, female 3.93–5.45 mm.

Colour: Head, thorax, elytra and abdomen dark orange purple, with a yellow golden spot on each elytron (Fig.18). Elytral spot as wide as long and pear­shaped, not reaching elytral suture but reaching margin; spot not surrounded by distinct darker area. Central axis of spot at a slight backward angle in relation to suture. Mandibles and labrum orangebrown. Scape and pedicel light orange­brown; antennal segments 3–10 light orange­brown at base, but gradually becoming dark brown towards apex. Coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia and tarsal segments light orange­brown; femur without dark ring as in Fig. 3 . Pro­ and mesocoxal cavity bounded by dark edge.

Structure: Surface of body glabrous, glossy. Elytra with rounded apex. Female with a few hairs above epipleural fold and a row of hairs on anterior epipleural fold not reaching beyond transverse centre line of spots; male without such hairs.

Ovipositor and spermatheca: Ratio of dorsal to ventral baculi being 1:1.4. Spermatheca sclerotised, hook­shaped widest near base and gradually narrowing towards apex, apex more sclerotised. Spermathecal gland arising between 0.33 and 0.5 spermathecal length from base.

Var ia t io n: Body may appear purple­brown. Elytra may be light orange­brown posteriorly, medium orange­brown anteriorly with dark orange­brown pronotum, or elytra may be the same colour as pronotum throughout. Sometimes only antennal segments 3–8 are light orange­brown at base and segments 9–11 dark brown, scape may be dark purple brown. Central axis through spot may be at right angle in relation to suture, spot may appear almost round or square­shaped.

Biology

Specimens were collected between 12 Nov. and 11 Apr., and were found on rhubarb flowers, on Himalayan buddleja ( Buddlejaceae ), in a Malaise trap, and at light.

Distribution

Restricted to the Kaikoura region along the east coast of the South Island ( Fig. 24 ).

Etymology

The name refers to the species’ restricted distribution in the Kaikoura region.

Material examined

Holotype: Ψ, Puhi Puhi Res., South Island, 3–6 xii. 1957, M. J. Esson ( NZAC).

Paratypes: 19 ɗ, 17 Ψ. KA: 1 ɗ, Clarence River, 15 xi. 1932, G. V. Hudson, 19448– 525 ( BMNH); 2 Ψ, Half Moon Bay, Ohau Stream Walk, at light, RL495, 41°15' S, 173°50'E, 17 xi. 1999, R. Leschen & R. Hoare ( NZAC); 9 ɗ, 8 Ψ, Puhi Puhi Res., South Island, 3–6 Dec. 1957, M. J. Esson ( NZAC); 1 ɗ, 1 Ψ, Puhi Puhi Res., South Island, 3–6 Dec. 1957, E. S. Gourlay, ( NZAC m– 140800 –5/6, f– 140800 –6/6); 5 ɗ, 2 Ψ, Kaikoura, Marlborough, South Island, 11 i. 1953, E. Fairburn ( WMNZ m– 140800 –4/6); 1 ɗ, Oaro, Malaise trap, 21–27 iii. 1983, J. W. Early ( LUNZ); 1 Ψ, Oaro, 11–13 xi. 1968, Entom. Staff Field Trip ( LUNZ); 1 Ψ, Oaro, 10 iii. 1984, P. Darragh ( LUNZ); 1 Ψ, Oaro, 11 iv. 1984, P. Elliott ( LUNZ); 2 ɗ, Conway Flats, South Island, rhubarb flowers, 12 xi. 1969, R. Macfarlane ( NZAC); 1 Ψ, Ngaroma, Parnassus, Nth. Canterbury, ex Himalayan buddleja, xi. 1966, R. Macfarlane ( 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.