Primulavorus Konstantinov and Ruan, 2017

Ruan, Yong-Ying, Konstantinov, Alexander S., Prathapan, K. D. & Yang, Xing-Ke, 2017, New contributions to the knowledge of Chinese flea beetle fauna (I): Gansuapteris new genus and Primulavorus new genus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae), Zootaxa 4282 (1), pp. 111-122 : 116-117

Primulavorus Konstantinov and Ruan , new genus

( Figs 4–7 )

Type species. Primulavorus maculata Konstantinov and Ruan , new species.

Etymology. This new genus is named after its host plant ( Primula sp.). The name is masculine.

Distribution. China.

Host plant. Primula sp. ( Primulaceae ) ( Fig. 7 ).

Description. Body small, oblong, somewhat oval in dorsal view, slightly convex in lateral view. Dorsum glabrous, brown to dark brown.

Frontal ridge moderately wide between antennal sockets. Antennal calli triangular, with acute angles, separated from each other by top of frontal ridge that enters deeply between antennal calli and reaches vertex. Width of frontal ridge about 1.5 times as that of antennal sockets. Frontal ridge in lateral view weakly convex.

Supraorbital pore moderately developed. Supraorbital sulcus and orbital sulcus well developed. Supraantennal sulcus weak. Supracallinal sulci deep. Frontolateral sulcus poorly developed.

Orbit wide, about 1.5 times diameter of antennal socket. Distance between eyes (just above antennal sockets) approximately 4 times transverse diameter of eye. Sides of head below eyes converging ventrally. Labrum flat, without projections in middle, with 6 setiferous pores, anterior margin slightly emarginated. Apical maxillary palpomere conical. Clypeus band like. Antennal sockets situated nearly at middle level of eye.

Antenna with 11 antennomeres, filiform, not reaching middle of elytra over pronotum. First antennomere as long as next two combined. Distal antennomeres robust, wider than middle ones.

Pronotum glabrous, evenly convex, with deep, curved, longitudinal impressions at either side. Antebasal transverse impression absent. Pronotal punctures shallow, minute, about 3–4 times smaller than distance between them. Anterolateral callosity of pronotum well developed, truncate, elongate, facing anterolaterally, forming obtuse denticle at pore. Setiferous pore situated at posterior face of callosity, near the middle of lateral margin. Lateral margins of pronotum convex, slightly converging anteriorly. Pronotal base evenly curved but slightly more convex at middle. Lateral margin of pronotum complete, slightly explanated. Posterolateral setiferous pore of pronotum not protruding laterally beyond lateral margin.

Procoxal cavities closed. Lateral sides of intercoxal prosternal process concave in middle. Intercoxal prosternal process normally wide, slightly extending beyond procoxae, broadened apically, with straight apical margin.

Scutellum semicircular. Elytra at base wider than base of pronotum, with moderately developed humeral callus, without impressions or ridges, apex rounded, covering entire abdomen. Hind wings present. Elytral punctures arranged in regular rows, including scutellar rows. Elytra with slightly and evenly convex sides. Epipleura oblique outwardly, gradually narrowing from base to apex, reaching end of elytron, maximum width subequal to that of profemur.

Mesosternum more or less flat. Meso- and metasternum without elevated projection in middle. Abdominal ventrites 1 and 2 not fused, ventrite 1 much longer than ventrites 2–4 combined. Ventrite 5 about as long as ventrites 4 and 3 together. First abdominal ventrite between coxae without longitudinal ridges. Anterior end of first abdominal ventrite normally wide and rounded.

Metafemoral spring present. Apical spur of metatibia weak, slender. Apical part of hind and middle tibia without excavation in lateral view. Metatibia generally straight, more or less cylindrical in cross-section around its middle. Dorsal side of metatibia smooth, without minute sharp denticles. First metatarsomere attached to apex of metatibia. Tarsomere 3 moderately incised, slightly longer than wide. First metatarsomere much shorter than half of metatibia. Claw simple.

Aedeagus robust, oval in cross section, slightly curved in lateral view. Receptacle of spermatheca more or less cylindrical. Spermathecal duct highly distorted. Vaginal palpi proximally fused, weakly sclerotized, narrowing toward apex. Spermatheca with distinct pump, receptacle and long, twisted duct. Tignum slightly curved, grooved along middle, proximal end spoon shaped, distal membranous portion unsclerotized.

Discussion. General body shape of Primulavorus resembles that of Bimala and Sinocrepis . Primulavorus can be differentiated from Sinocrepis by the absence of the transverse part of the antebasal impression on pronotum. Primulavorus may be separated from Bimala by the structure of the head, especially the distantly placed antennal calli (in Bimala antennal calli are poorly developed and are not separated by the frontal ridge)

Primulavorus also resembles Neocrepidodera , Crepidodera , and Hippuriphila by the general body shape and the presence of longitudinal impressions on the base of pronotum. Primulavorus can be easily differentiated from these genera by the absence of transverse antebasal impression on the pronotum. Primulavorus is also similar to Yetialtica (another flea beetle genus collected on Primula sp. in Asia) from which it may be differentiated based on the structure of the pronotum (in Yetialtica , antebasal transverse impression is complete, while in Primulavorus , it is absent) and the elytra (in Yetialtica , elytra lacks humeral calli, but the same is present in Primulavorus ).

Figures

FIGURE 4. Primulavorus maculata n. sp. (habitus, hand drawing).

FIGURE 5. Primulavorus maculata n. sp. A: habitus (Holotype, male). B: prothorax, dorsal view. C: head, frontal view. D: aedeagus, ventral view. E: aedeagus, lateral view. F: apical part of aedeagus, dorsal view. G: vaginal palpi. H: spermatheca. I: tignum. J: claws.

FIGURE 6. Primulavorus maculata n. sp. A: ventral view of Holotype. B: lateral view of Holotype. C: metaleg. D: last visible tergite of female. E: ventral view of head, indicating maxillary palpi and labial palpi. F: prosternum. G: last ventrite of male. H: last ventrite of female.

FIGURE 7. Primula sp. China. Yunnan, env. of Lijang 2885 m 28. V. 2002 N 27 ° 03 ' 09 " E 100 ° 15 ' 29 ".