Lycocerus evangelium Hsiao & Okushima, 2016

Hsiao, Yun, Okushima, Yûichi, Yang, Ping-Shih & Ko, Chium-Cheng, 2016, Taxonomic revision of the Lycocerus hanatanii species group (Coleoptera, Cantharidae), with the description of new species from Taiwan, European Journal of Taxonomy 170, pp. 1-33 : 25-28

Lycocerus evangelium Hsiao & Okushima sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:4AF4EFCB-BB70-44A3-BDD4-5C00B06747AE

Figs 2 P–Q, 5A–C, 6I–J, 8

Diagnosis

This species resembles L. araticollis and the nearly black form of L. nigripennis ; the differential diagnosis is given in Table 3 .

Etymology

The specific epithet is derived from the Latin evangelium (“good news”), referring to fact that its discovery was good news for the team; the specific name is also in memory of the anime “Neon Genesis Evangelion”, which is one of the greatest animes in Japanese history and had a strong impact on Japanese popular culture.

Material examined

Holotype

TAIWAN: ♂, Meifeng , Nantou, 26 Apr. 2015, Y. Hsiao leg ( NMNS).

Paratypes

TAIWAN: 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, same data as for holotype ( NMNS); 10 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, Tsuifeng, Nantou Hsien, 18 Jun. 1989, M. Satô leg. (2 ♂♂, 1 ♀ in EUMJ; 8 ♂♂, 1 ♀ in KURA); 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, Tsuifeng, Nantou Hsien, 24 Jun. 1989, M. Satô leg. ( KURA); 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀, Yuanfeng, Nantou Hsien, 24 Jun. 1989, M. Owada leg. ( KURA); 5 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, Hohuanshan, Nantou Hsien, 25 Jun. 1989, M. Satô leg. (1 ♂, 1 ♀ in EUMJ; 4 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀ in KURA); 1 ♂, Piluchi, Nantou Hsien, 26 Jun. 1989, M. Satô leg. ( KURA); 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Anmashan, 2600 m, Taichung Hsien, 29 Jul. 1997, B. Tanaka leg. ( KURA); 2 ♀♀, Dalu Forest Trail, Hsinchu, 21 Jun. 2008, L.- P. Hsu leg. ( NMNS); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Sungkang, Natou , 31 Mar. 2012, Y.- T. Wang leg. ( YHC); 1 ♀, Liyuan, Haiduan, Taitung, 19 Apr. 2014, W.- J. Huang ( NMNS); 5 ♀♀, Jianchin Historical Trail, Ilan , 1900 m, 26 Apr. 2014, Y. Hsiao leg. (3 ♀♀ in TARI; 2 ♀♀ in YHC); 2 ♀♀, Walami Trail, 23.344679° N, 121.201454° E, 862 m, Huangma, Zhuoxi County, Hualian, 28 Feb. 2015, Y.- M. Weng leg. ( YHC); 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Dabaishan, Ilan , 14 Apr. 2015, L. Huang leg. ( TARI); 1 ♀, Chiarouhu, Ilan , 25 Apr. 2015, F.- C. Hsu leg. ( NMNS) .

Other material

TAIWAN: 1 ♀, Alishan, Chiayi Hsien, 17 May 1968, Y. Watanabe leg. ( KURA); 2 ♀♀, Mt. Yushan, Nantou Hsien, 20 May 1968, Y. Watanabe leg. ( KURA); 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀, Mt. Alishan , 27 Jul. 1970, M. Chujo leg. (1 ♂ in NHMB; 3 ♀♀ in KURA); 1 ♂, Mt. Alishan , 28 Jul. 1970, M. Chujo leg. ( NHMB); 9 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, Meifeng , Nantou Hsien, 15 Jun. 1976, T. Matsumoto leg. ( KURA); 2 ♀♀, Sungkang-Meifeng, Nantou Hsien, 2 May 1977, W. Suzuki leg. ( KURA); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Tsuifen, Nantou Hsien, 4 May 1979, S. Tsuyuki leg. ( KURA); 1 ♂, Nanfanshan, Kaoshun [= Kaohsiung], 28 Apr. 1981, S. Tsuyuki leg. ( KURA); 1 ♂, Lake Yenyanfu, Ilan Hsien, 29 Apr. 1982, N. Ohbayashi leg. ( KURA); 1 ♀, Kengting Park, Pingtung Hsien, 4 May 1982, N. Ohbayashi leg. ( KURA); 1 ♀, Shyk Shan, near Liu Kui, S Taiwan, 12 Jun. 1986, K. Baba leg. ( KURA); 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Shyk Shan, near Liu Kui, S Taiwan, 28 Jun. 1986, K. Baba leg. ( KURA); 4 ♀♀, Shi Nan Shan, near Liu Kui, S Taiwan, 23 Jul. 1986, K. Baba leg. ( KURA); 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Thu Yun Shan, near Liu Kui, S Taiwan, 28 Jun. 1986, K. Baba leg. ( KURA); 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, Hohuanshan, Nan Tow Hsien, M Taiwan, 6 Aug. 1986, K. Baba leg. ( KURA); 1 ♀, Twolin, Ilan Hsien, 29 Apr. 1987, N. Ohbayashi leg. ( KURA); 2 ♂♂, Meifeng , 2150 m, M Taiwan, 15 Mar. 1989, K. Baba leg. ( KURA); 6 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, 1 ex, Yuanfeng, Nantou Hsien, 24 Jun. 1989, M. Owada leg. ( KURA); 17 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, 369 Cottage, Hsueshantungfeng, Taichung Hsien, 30 Jun. 1989, M. Satô leg. ( KURA); 8 ♂♂, 9 ♀♀, 369 Cottage, Hsueshantungfeng, Taichung Hsien, 2 Jul. 1989, M. Satô leg. (2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀ in EUMJ; 6 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀ in KURA); 1 ♂, Patungkuan, Hsini, Nantou, 20–22 Jun. 1990, J.- T. Yang ( NMNS); 1 ♀, 230 Forest trail, Anmashan, Taichung, 3 May 1990, C.- C. Chiang ( NMNS); 1 ♂, Yu-shan West peak, Chiayi, 15 May 1991, C.- C. Chiang ( NMNS); 1 ♀, Mt. Anmashan, Taichung, 2 May 1991, A. Shinohara leg. ( KURA); 1 ♂, Chung-hsueh Shan (Erh-san-ling Lin-tao [=230 Forest trail]), 2450–2500 m, Tai-an Hsiang, Miao-li Hsien, 24 May 1991, A. Saito leg. ( CBM); 1 ♂, An-ma Shan, 2160–2300 m, Ho-p’ing, T’aichung Hsien, 25 May 1991, K.- F. Shih leg. ( CBM); 2 ♂♂, Chia-li Shan, 2600–2850 m, Tai-an Hsiang, Miao-li Hsien, 27 May 1991, A. Saito leg. ( CBM); 1 ♀, Sungkang, Nantou Hsien, 1 Jul. 1995, C. Lou leg. ( KURA); 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Guandoushan, Nantou Hsien, 15 Apr. 1996, C. Lou leg. ( KURA); 1 ♂, Tatachia, Nantou, 5 May 1998, M.- M. Yang & S. - Y. Yang ( NMNS); 1 ♂, Tengchih, 1400 m, Taoyuan, Kaohsiung Hsien, 24 Mar. 2002, B. Tanaka leg. ( KURA); 11 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀, 369 Cottage, 3100 m, Hoping, Taichung, 7 Jun. 2008, W.- T. Yang leg. ( NMNS); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Yakou Country Inn, 23°16.063' N, 120°58.419' E, 2582 m, Taitung County, 11 Aug. 2008, H. Mendel & MVL Barclay leg. ( BMNH).

Description

Coloration

Body and legs nearly black. Antennae dark brown to black. Mandibles yellowish brown. Body closely covered with pale pubescence; anterior margin of clypeus, antennae, elytra and legs fringed with pale bristles.

Male ( Fig. 2P )

HEAD. Nearly as long as wide; vertex faintly hollowed, depressed along apical margin of clypeus and in lateral areas before eyes; surface densely and finely punctate and semilustrous; anterior margin of clypeus arcuate and faintly indented in middle; eyes not so large, globular and slightly prominent, ratio of eye diameter to interocular space 1:5.3; terminal labial palpomeres rounded ax-shaped; terminal maxillary palpomeres rounded ax-shaped; antennae filiform, extending to elytral midlength; antennomere I clavate, II short and a little expanded apicad, III to XI subcylindrical, all antennomeres without groove, ratio of antennomere lengths: 16: 10: 15.5:20.5: 20.5: 20.5: 20.5: 20: 20:18.5: 23.

PRONOTUM. Subquadrate, about 0.90 times as wide as head, nearly as long as wide; anterior and posterior margins moderately arcuate; lateral margins feebly arcuate; anterior angles rounded; posterior angles obtuse; dorsum convex in postero-lateral and hollowed in antero-lateral areas; medio-longitudinal groove distinct in posterior half; surface smooth and semilustrous. Scutellum triangular with rounded apex.

ELYTRA. Conjointly about 1.6 times as wide as pronotum, about 2.6 times as long as wide, sides subparallel; surface densely and finely punctate and moderately lustrous.

LEGS. Moderately slender; femora mostly straight; tibiae mostly straight, with basal part feebly arcuate; claws simple.

AEDEAGUS ( Fig. 5 A–C). Ventral process expanded and rounded apically, apex curved inwards, basal part broad and extending inwards onto ventral side; dorsal plate of each paramere as long as ventral process, broad and slightly narrowed apically, apical margin rounded, with some hairs on it, concave on inner margin. Laterophyse very short, with truncated apex, invisible in lateral view. Inner sac swollen, lengthened behind, and somewhat shorter than tegmen.

Body length 4.50–5.75 mm (holotype: 5.50 mm); width 0.80–1.25 mm (1.25).

Female ( Fig. 2Q )

Similar to male. Body wider than in male. Eyes smaller than in male, ratio of eye diameter to interocular space 1:6.4. Antennae distinctly shorter than in male, barely exceeding humeri, ratio of antennomere lengths: 13: 10: 14: 16:15: 16: 14: 16: 14: 13:16.5.

PRONOTUM. About 0.95 times as wide as head, about 0.95 times as long as wide. Elytra conjointly about 1.6 times as wide as pronotum, about 2.6 times as long as wide. Claws simple. Abdominal ventrite VII widely emarginate on each side of terminal margin, forming subtriangular lateral lobes, median lobe indistinct in some specimens ( Fig. 6I ).

FEMALE GENITALIA ( Fig. 6J ). Vagina stout and rounded, abruptly extended apically as long and thick duct; diverticulum and spermathecal duct arising from apex of long duct of vagina; diverticulum moderately thin and spiral, longer than spermathecal duct; spermatheca provided with thin spiral tube, tube slightly longer than diverticulum; accessory gland thin, shorter than spermatheca.

Body length 4.75–6.50 mm; width 1.50–2.25 mm.

Variation

Lateral sides of pronotum somewhat converging or diverging posteriorly; body lusterless.

Remarks

This species is widely distributed in the Central Mountain Range at mid to high altitude except one specimen collected from the Kenting Park, which is at low altitude. It appears mainly from spring to summer according to label data.

Distribution ( Fig. 8 )

Taiwan (endemic).

Figures

Fig. 2. Habitus, dorsal view. A–B. Lycocerus pictus (Wittmer, 1983). C–E. L. yitingi Hsiao & Okushima sp. nov. F–G. L. araticollis (Fairmaire, 1897). H–I. L. griseopubens (Pic, 1928). J–M. L. nigripennis (Pic, 1938). N–O. L. aurantiacus Hsiao & Okushima sp. nov. P–Q. L. evangelium Hsiao & Okushima sp. nov. R. L. kintaroi Hsiao & Okushima sp. nov. C, F, H, J, N, P, R. Name-bearing types. D, O, Q. Paratypes. A–B, E, G, I, K–M. Non-type specimens. A, C, F–G, I, K–L, N, P, R. Male. B, D–E, H, J, M, O, Q. Female. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

Fig. 5. Aedeagus. A–C. Lycocerus evangelium Hsiao & Okushima sp. nov. D–F. L. kintaroi Hsiao & Okushima sp. nov. A, D. Ventral view. B, E. Lateral view. C, F. Dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

Fig. 6. A–B. Lycocerus pictus (Wittmer, 1983). C–D. L. yitingi Hsiao & Okushima sp. nov. E–F. L. nigripennis (Pic, 1938). G–H. L. aurantiacus Hsiao & Okushima sp. nov. I–J. L. evangelium Hsiao & Okushima sp. nov. A, C, E, G, I. Abdominal ventrite VII of female. B, D, F, H, J. Female genitalia, lateral view. Scale bars: A, C, E, G, I = 1.0 mm; B, D, F, H, J = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 8. Distribution map of L. nigripennis (Pic, 1938), L. evangelium Hsiao & Okushima sp. nov., L. aurantiacus Hsiao & Okushima sp. nov. and L. kintaroi Hsiao & Okushima sp. nov. from Taiwan.