Xenorthrius loricus Gerstmeier & Eberle, 2010

Gerstmeier, Roland & Eberle, Jonas, 2010, Revision of the Indo-Australian checkered beetle genus Xenorthrius Gorham, 1892 (Coleoptera: Cleridae, Clerinae) 2584, Zootaxa 2584 (1), pp. 1-121 : 56

Xenorthrius loricus Gerstmeier & Eberle, 2010 n. sp.

( Figures 5, 8 , 35 and 66E )

Specimens examined: Holotype: China: China, E-Hubei, 7.–10.V.2004, Dabie Shan, 31.1 N 115.8 E, Wujiashan forest park, Jaroslav Turna leg. (♂, RGCM).

Paratypes: China, E-Hubei, 7.–10.V.2004, Dabie Shan, 31.1 N 115.8 E, Wujiashan forest park, Jaroslaw Tuma leg. (2ex., RGCM) .

Measurements: (3 specimens measured) Average total length: 9.6mm, range: 9.3–9.8mm, average elytral length: 6.5mm, average elytral width: 2.6mm, average pronotal length: 1.8mm, average pronotal width: 1.8mm, average head width: 1.8mm.

Head: Dark red-brown, cranium vested with short setae, punctation distinct, interstices smaller than one diameter of punctures; posterior part of clypeus dark red-brown, with large punctation and a few long setae laterally, smooth centrally; ventral part wrinkled, smooth centrally; antennae dark red-brown like head capsule, A4 slightly longer than A3, antennomeres gradually decreasing in length from A4 towards A8, A9 to A11 forming a distinct club, male antennae reaching base of pronotum when laid back; gular sutures parallel, gular process broad.

Thorax: Average pronotal length:width ratio 1.0:1; pronotum dark red-brown, vested with short yellowish setae, pronotal arch narrow, with distinct punctation, interstices smaller than one diameter of punctures, punctation of pronotum proper slightly stronger, interstices smaller than one diameter of punctures; prosternum dark red-brown, smooth; mesosternum dark red-brown to black, margins darkened, sparsely vested with yellowish setae; metasternum dark red-brown to black, densely vested with fine setae centrally, sparser laterally, interstices among punctation two to three diameters of punctures; scutellum oval, colored like elytra, anteriorly flattened.

Elytra: Average length:width ratio 2.5:1; uniformly dark red-brown to black, lighter dorsally, shiny, vested with short decumbent and few longer erect setae, punctation small, punctation differs in intensity, striae 1 to 3 shorter than other striae, striae 4 to 8 are longest, striae 9 and especially 10 weaker, interstices between striae one to two diameter of punctures, interstices within striae about one half diameter of punctures, punctation never rasp-like, carination absent.

Legs: Red-brown, tarsal pulvilli yellowish pale; metatibiae distally curved, tibial carination absent.

Abdomen: Ventrites dark red-brown, interstices one to two diameters of punctures; male pygidium ovate; male ventrite 5 with broad U-shaped slight emargination; male ventrite 6 with distinct U-shaped emargination. Male genitalia ( Fig. 35 ): Tegmen slightly dilated apically, parameres relatively narrow apically, sinus deeply U-shaped; phallic plates narrow in basal two thirds becoming broad in apical third, tip distinctly narrower; spicular fork dividing into two branches after one half of length.

Distribution: China (Hubei).

Seasonal occurrence: Collected in May.

Etymology: The specific epithet, lorica, a Latin adjective meaning armour mostly made from leather, refers to the color and structure of the elytra that reminds of leather.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Xenorthrius loricus: Wing venation. AA = anal anterior, CuA = cubitus anterior, MP = media posterior, Rc = radial cell, Sc = subcosta.

FIGURE 35. Xenorthrius loricus: (A) Tegmen in ventral view, (B) phallus in ventral view, (C) tip of aedeagus in lateral view, (D) spicular fork, (E) male pygidium, (F) male ventrite 6 and distribution map.

FIGURE 66. Habitus photographs: Xenorthrius hoerrmanni n. sp. (A), Xenorthrius incarinipes (B), Xenorthrius lanatus n. sp. (C), Xenorthrius lineatipes (D), Xenorthrius loricus n. sp. (E) and Xenorthrius lugubris n. sp. (F). Scale bars = 4mm.