Himalapyrochroa nitidicollis ( Pic, 1955 ) Young, Daniel K., 2015

Young, Daniel K., 2015, Nomenclatural Changes in Pyrochroinae: Three Maurice Pic Types ofPseudodendroidesBlair (Coleoptera: Pyrochroidae), The Coleopterists Bulletin (mo 14) 69, pp. 191-195 : 192

Himalapyrochroa nitidicollis ( Pic, 1955) , new combination

( Figs. 1–2 )

Pseudodendroides nitidicollis Pic, 1955

Two females bearing this name are found in the Pic material. Each bears an identical first label: [1st ♀]: Sikkim // de Padamtsin // à Lingtou // Juillet 1901; {2 nd label} [handwritten, presumably in Pic’ s hand]: type; {3 rd label} [small, red label]: TYPE; {4 th label} [handwritten, presumably in Pic’ s hand]: nitidicollis // n sp.; {5 th label}[handwritten, presumably in Pic’ s hand]: Voisin de // niponensis Lewis ; {6 th label} [label I added]: SYNTYPE: ♀ // Pseudodendroides // nitidicollis // Pic // fide D. K. Young // 2014. [2nd ♀]: Sikkim // de Padamtsin // à Lingtou // Juillet 1901; {2 nd label} [handwritten – not entirely legible, looks like]: ex Col // de doubleour; {3 rd label} [handwritten, presumably in Pic’ s hand]: Pseudodendroides // nitidicollis n sp.; {4 th label} [label I added]: SYNTYPE: ♀ // Pseudodendroides // nitidicollis // Pic // fide D. K. Young // 2014.

Although the original description does not indicate how many specimens Pic had before him, it does infer at least two: “L. 16– 18 m. Sikkim (coll. Oberthur et Pic)”. Given the identical locality labels and [Pic’ s] handwriting indicating “n sp.” on both specimens (first specimen, fourth label; second specimen, third label), I believe both specimens must be treated as syntypes, and I have so noted on the specimens. Examination of the single female sent to me (first specimen) clearly shows that this species belongs to Himalapyrochroa . The cranium ( Fig. 2 ) has well-developed, subtruncate tempora and relatively smaller, more widely separated compound eyes. From these observations, I propose to transfer P. nitidicollis from Pseudodendroides to Himalapyrochroa .

Himalapyrochroa nitidicollis appears to be very similar to H. gibbosa ( Fig. 3 ), and the latter may eventually fall as a junior synonym. However, given the paucity of specimens seen to date, it is prudent to retain both names for present.

Figures

Figs. 1–4. 1) Himalapyrochroa nitidicollis, adult female, syntype of Pseudodendroides nitidicollis, habitus, dorsal view; 2) H. nitidicollis, head, dorsal view; 3) Himalapyrochroa gibbosa, adult female head, dorsal view; 4) Pseudodendroides niponensis, adult female head, dorsal view.