Tillicera fortis, Murakami & Gerstmeier & Sakai, 2022

Murakami, Hiroyuki, Gerstmeier, Roland & Sakai, Kaoru, 2022, Description of two new species of the genus Tillicera Spinola (Coleoptera, Cleridae, Clerinae), with new synonyms, new distributional records, and an updated key, ZooKeys 1095, pp. 123-142 : 123

Tillicera fortis sp. nov.

Figs 23 , 24 , 41-45

Types.

Holotype. Laos: "E. Phonsavan, 25 km,/ Xiang Khouang/ 19.VI.2005/ J. Yamasako leg.", (EUMJ, 1 male) Paratype. Thailand: "Doi Pui/ Chiang Mai Prov./ N. Thailand/ 13-14. VI. 1979/ W. Suzuki leg", (EUMJ, 1 female).

Diagnosis.

This species is similar to T. auratofasciata , but can be distinguished by the following characteristics: male antennomere X as wide as long; punctation of pronotum sparse; tegmen with deep sinus at apical 1/4; denticles of phallic plates extending to apex (vs. T. auratofasciata : male antennomere X wider than long; punctation of pronotum dense; tegmen with sinus at apical 1/6; denticles of phallus not extending to apex).

Description.

Male. Head black; antennomeres V-XI, apex of profemora, meso- and metafemora except for base, tibiae, and tarsi brownish black; pronotum and profemora except for apex and base of meso- and metafemora reddish; elytra reddish at basal 1/3, remainder black, with three yellow maculations extending from lateral margin of basal 1/4 interrupted before suture, outwardly curved from suture of basal 1/3, and transversely at apical 1/4, confluent with suture.

Head including eyes slightly narrower than pronotum; labrum incised medially; maxillary terminal palpomeres digitiform; labial terminal palpomeres widely triangular; postgular plate narrow. Antennomere I claviform; II compact; III twice as long as II; IV-X triangular, becoming gradually widened; IX as long as wide; X slightly wider than long; V-X with an area vested with sensilla basiconica at apical margin in ventral view; XI with a pit-like sensillum.

Pronotum slightly longer than wide, widest at middle, with fine dense punctures. Mesoventrite with short anterior process.

Elytra oblong, parallel sided, covered with ten striae; striae I-III absent before basal oblique yellow fascia; IV-VI extending after middle; VII and VIII weakly punctured after base of lateral yellow fascia; IX and X obscuse.

Tibiae stout, with longitudinal carina; tibial spur formula 1-2-2; tarsal pulvillar formula 4-4-4; pro- and mesotarsomeres I and II with large lobed pulvilli; III and IV with large bilobed pulvilli; metatarsomeres I with vestigial minute pulvillus; II with small lobed pulvillus; III and IV with large bilobed pulvilli; claws with basal denticles.

Abdominal sternite V deeply, marginated at apical margin. Pygidium (Fig. 41 ) almost transverse at apical margin; ventrite VI (Fig. 42 ) broadly emarginated at apical margin; spicular fork (Fig. 43 ) long, without intraspicular plate.

Tegmen (Fig. 44a-c ) with dorsal and ventral sinus at apical 1/4; parameroid lobes tapered posteriorly at apex in lateral view, flattened at apex; tegminal arms short, extending middle to basal 1/4 of total length. Median lobe (Fig. 45a-c ) slightly shorter than tegmen; plates with rows of denticles on apex of dorsal and ventral sides, on left side in ventral view these are positioned at apical 1/5, on right side in ventral view they are very short.

Female. Similar to male but distinguished by the following characteristics: antennomere XI without pit-like sensillum; sternite V with shallower emargination at apical margin. Elytral striae VI to VIII weakly punctured posterior to base of lateral yellow fascia.

Measurements and ratios.

Male (N = 1). BL 8.80 mm; PL 2.60 mm; PW 2.25 mm; EL 6.20 mm; EW 2.80 mm; EyW 0.50 mm; EyD 0.95 mm; PL/PW 1.16; EL/EW 2.21; EL/PL 2.38; EW/PW 1.24; EyD/EyW 1.90. Female (N = 1). BL 8.65 mm; PL 2.45 mm; PW 2.25 mm; EL 6.20 mm; EW 2.90 mm; EyW 0.55 mm; EyD 1.05 mm; PL/PW 1.09; EL/EW 2.14; EL/PL 2.53; EW/PW 1.29; EyD/EyW 1.91.

Etymology.

This specific name is derived from the Latin Tillicera fortis (sturdy), referring to the stout tibiae.

Distribution.

Laos, Thailand.

Figures

Figures 23 - 27. Habitus of Tillicera 23 Tillicera fortis sp. nov., Holotype, male 24 ditto, paratype, female 25 T. spinosa sp. nov., Holotype, male 26 ditto, paratype, male 27 ditto, paratype, female. Scale bars 2 mm.

Figures 41 - 50. Male terminal parts and aedeagus 41 - 45 Tillicera fortis sp. nov. 46 - 50 T. spinosa sp. nov. 41, 46 pygidium 42, 47 ventrite VI 43, 48 spicular fork 44, 49 tegmen in lateral (a), ventral (b) and dorsal (c) views 45, 50 median lobe in lateral (a), ventral (b), and dorsal (c) views.