Longitarsus nigripennis (Motschulsky)

Prathapan, K. D. & Viraktamath, C. A., 2008, The flea beetle genus Lanka (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in India with descriptions of three new species and notes on the identity of the pollu beetle infesting black pepper, Piper nigrum, Zootaxa 1681 (1), pp. 1-30 : 20

Longitarsus nigripennis (Motschulsky)

Teinodactyla nigripennis Motschulsky, 1866: 418 .

Longitarsus nigripennis: Maulik, 1926: 335 , 338. – Scherer, 1969: 55, 59. – Medvedev, 1992: 23. – Sprecher-Uebersax, 1996: 86. – Medvedev & Sprecher-Uebersax, 1999: 333. – Medvedev, 2000a: 179. – Medvedev, 2000b: 18.

Comments. The following characters suggest that this is unlikely to be a member of the cosmopolitan Longitarsus : antennal calli almost nonexistent, all sulci surrounding antennal calli except weak midfrontal sulcus absent; frontal ridge flat, wide, short; anterofrontal ridge flat. As the metatarsomeres of the badly damaged type specimen are missing, it is impossible to reach an unequivocal decision regarding its generic placement at present. This species does not belong to Lanka as it has a short, broad frontal ridge and the antennal calli are not depressed. Further studies are needed to ascertain its correct place among Oriental alticine genera. For stability of the application of name, a lectotype is designated here.

Type material examined. Lectotype (here designated) Labels : 1) Teinodactyla nigripennis Mots. Ind. or (= India Orient) 2 ) Lectotype Longitarsus nigripennis (Motschulsky) des. K. D. Prathapan, 2005 (specimen on card, head and pronotum separated from rest of body; antennae broken, glued on card; one tarsus glued on card; all legs broken and missing except left fore leg that lacks tarsomere 3 rd onwards, left mesofemur, one of the metafemora and tibia glued beneath metathorax) ( Zoological Museum of Moscow University, Russia) .