Blaiseus laoensis Douglas

Douglas, Hume, 2009, Revision of Blaiseus Fleutiaux, a Genus Now Known from Asia, Africa and North America (Coleoptera, Elateridae, Cardiophorinae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 63 (1), pp. 86-100 : 95

Blaiseus laoensis Douglas , new species

( Fig. 22 )

Material examined. Holotype: Male labelled: ‘‘ LAOS:/ Sedone province / Paksong / 16.V.1965 ’’; ‘‘Native Collector/ BISHOP MUS’’; [red] ‘‘ HOLOTYPE / Blaiseus / laoensis/ Douglas 2006’’ ( BPBM) . Paratypes: 1 male labelled: ‘‘ LAOS: Wapik-/ hamthong Prov./ Khong Sedone / 30.IV.1965 ’’; ‘‘ Native Collector / BISHOP’’; [partly handwritten] ‘‘ Blaiseus / Det. P.J.Johnson 1991’’; [yellow] ‘‘ PARATYPE / Blaiseus / laoensis/ Douglas 2006’’ ( BPBM) .

Type locality: Laos, Champasak Province, Paksong District (elevation 1,000– 1,500 m, 15.1 ° N, 106.2 ° E) .

Diagnosis. Pterothorax: Elytra with apices not upturned ( Fig. 11 ). Legs: Protibiae with posterior tooth at midlength (Fig. 5). Aedeagus: Free portion of median lobe with basal 2/3 concave laterally in dorsal profile.

Description. Male: Length 5.3–6.2 mm. Integument red-brown to brown, without lighter patches on elytra, habitus similar to B. daklakensis new species ( Figs. 10, 11 ). Head: Antennae reaching metacoxae; labrum concave in lateral profile, nasale with ovoid pits antero-mesad of antennal fossae similar in size to largest punctures on disk of pronotum. Prothorax: Posterior edge of pronotum with 2 apices mesally; hypomeron with hind edge sinuate immediately mesoventrad of hind angles ( Fig. 1 ). Prosternum with ventral surface of prosternal process surface not carinate laterally. Pterothorax: Scutellum with posterior apex pointed (Fig. 3). Elytra not upturned at apex ( Fig. 11 ); intervals not costate; epipleurae irregularly serrate. Hind wings with CuA1 not forked at junction with MP3+4. Legs: Femora and tibiae expanded (fossorial); protibiae with strong posterior tooth at apex and midlength (Fig. 5); tarsomere 4 weakly lobed. Male

genitalia: Aedeagus with median lobe broadest near apex, sides concave throughout basal 2/3 of free portion, not concave at apex ( Fig. 22 ); parameres with ventral apices about equal in length to dorsal (setose) lobes.

Comments. This species can be distinguished from the other Asian species by the presence of the tooth at the midlength of the protibia.

This species is known from Champasak and Salavanh provinces in Laos, and is the only species known from Laos. The paratype locality is in or near Khôngxédôn (elevation 100–700 m, 15.5 ° N, 105.8 ° E), about 60 km north of the type locality .

Figures

Figs. 17–26. Dorsal view of aedeagi of Blaiseus spp. 17) B. bedeli Fleutiaux; 18) B. chiapasensis new species; 19) B. daklakensis new species; 20) B. fujianus new species; 21) B. guatemalensis new species; 22) B. laoensis new species; 23) B. malayensis new species; 24) B. mexicanus new species; 25) B. nothoafricanus new species; 26) B. zamoranoensis new species. d 5 dorsal apex of parameres; i 5 inner apex; v 5 ventral apex. Scale bar 5 1.0 mm.

Figs. 8–16. Dorsal habitus of Blaiseus spp. 8) B. bedeli Fleutiaux; 9) B. chiapasensis new species; 10) B. daklakensis new species; 11) B. daklakensis new species, side view; 12) B. malayensis new species; 13) B. mexicanus new species; 14) B. nothoafricanus new species; 15) B. zamoranoensis new species female; 16) B. zamoranoensis new species female, side view. Scale bar 5 1.0 mm. All photos are dorsal view of male specimens unless specified otherwise.

Figs. 1–2. Lateral view of pronotum of Blaiseus spp. 1) B. malayensis new species; 2) B. nothoafricanus new species. Arrows indicate concavity of hypomeron immediately mesoventrad of hind angles. Scale bar 5 1 mm. Figs. 3–4. Dorsal view of scutellum of Blaiseus spp. 3) B. mexicanus new species; 4) B. bedeli Fleutiaux. Scale bar 5 1 mm. Figs. 5– 6. Dorsal view of protibia of Blaiseus spp. 5) B. mexicanus new species; 6) B. guatemalensis new species. m 5 tooth at midlength; a 5 apical tooth. Scale bar 5 1 mm. Fig. 7. Wing of Blaiseus bedeli Fleutiaux. Arrows indicate forked vein CuA1. Scale bar 5 2 mm.