Zorion dugdalei Schnitzler

Schnitzler, Franz-Rudolf & Wang, Qiao, 2005, Revision of Zorion Pascoe (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), an endemic genus of New Zealand, Zootaxa 1066, pp. 1-42 : 24-25

Zorion dugdalei Schnitzler , sp. nov.

(Figs. 16, 24)

Diagnosis

Zorion dugdalei can be distinguished from all other Zorion species by the combination of the dull pronotum and shiny elytra. Zorion opacum has a dull pronotum and elytra, whereas all remaining Zorion species have a shiny pronotum and elytra.

Description

Body length: Male 4.24–5.15 mm, female 5 mm.

Colour: Body orange­brown. Each elytron with a large, oval, ivory spot, 1.2 and 1.4 wider than long and transversely located, not touching suture and margin (Fig. 16); central axis through spot at right angle in relation to suture; spot surrounded by dark brown area; distance between spot and suture 1–1.5 distance between spot and margin; distance between central axis of spot and elytral shoulder 0.38–0.41 elytral length. Scape and pedicel orange­brown; antennal segments 3–7 orange­brown at base but gradually becoming dark brown towards apex; antennal segments 8–11 dark brown. Elytra orangebrown, becoming slightly darker anteriorly. Pronotum and head orange­brown. Ventral side of meso­, metathorax, as well as coxa and trochanter slightly darker than remainder of body. Base of femur whitish, club orange­brown with a faint dark ring as in Fig. 2 ; tibia and tarsi orange­brown throughout. First two abdominal segments dark brown, remaining visible three abdominal segments orange­brown.

Structure: Dorsal surface of pronotum silky dull, remainder of body shiny. Anterior surface of elytra slightly wrinkled, gradually turning smooth centrally and posteriorly. Apex of elytra pointed. Females with hairs on anterior epipleural fold; males without such hairs.

Ovipositor and spermatheca: Ratio of dorsal to ventral baculi being 1:1.75.

Spermatheca sclerotised, strongly curved, widest at middle section tapering into a stronger sclerotised point apex, with a similar shaped sclerotised structure inside. Spermathecal gland arising at about 1/3 of spermathecal length from base.

Var ia t io n: Overall appearance of body may vary from darker orange­brown to brown.

Biology

Adults were collected from an unspecified flower and from a Malaise trap in a Beilschmiedia tarairi (Laraceae) site. One specimen was attracted to light. All specimens were collected between 10 and 16 Nov.

Distribution

Aorangi Island, Poor Knights Islands ( Fig. 24 ).

Comments

This species needs further investigation to establish flowers visited and host plants on Poor Knights Island.

One male was attracted to light, which could suggest some night activity or the specimen was resting close by the light.

Etymology

This new species is named in honour of Dr. J. S. Dugdale, who collected the types.

Material examined

Holotype: ɗ, Aorangi Island, Poor Knights Islands, attracted to light, 10 Nov. 1981, J. S. Dugdale ( NZAC).

Paratypes: Z. dugdalei . 1 ɗ, 1 Ψ. ND: 1 Ψ, Aorangi Island, Crater Bay, Poor Knights Islands, of flowers, 16 xi. 1981, J. S. Dugdale, ( NZAC f– 130301 –1/2); 1 ɗ, Aorangi Island, Puweto V. 80 m, Poor Knight Islands, Malaise trap in Beilschmiedia tarairi site, 11–16 xi. 1981, J. S. Dugdale, ( NZAC m– 130301 –2/2).

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.