Calochromus samuelsoni, Ramsdale, Alistair S., 2007

Ramsdale, Alistair S., 2007, A new species of Calochromus Guérin-Méneville (Coleoptera: Lycidae) from Fiji, Zootaxa 1625, pp. 43-46 : 43-44

Calochromus samuelsoni sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–5 )

Type material. Holotype ɗ – FIJI, Viti Levu, Naitasiri Prov., 4 km WSW Colo-i-Suva Village, Mt. Nakobalevu, 325m, Malaise 0 2, 12.X–12.XI.2004, leg. Timoci, 18.056 S, 178.422 E, FBA _501126 ( BPBM). Paratypes (14): FIJI: Viti Levu: 1 Ψ – Naitasiri Prov., Nakobalevu Peak, Radio towers nr. Suva, FJ-5, 22.IX– 9.X.02., malaise, M. Irwin, E. Schlinger, M. Tokota'a, 178°25' E, 18°03' S, 460m, FBA 008177 ( ASRC). 1 ɗ – Vuda Prov., 1 km E. Abaca Vlg. Koroyanitu Ntl. Pk., 800m, Savuione Trail, 17°40'S, 177°33'E, 7–12.X.02, malaise, E. Schlinger, Tokota'a, FJVL 01_M01_M02, FBA 0 80835 ( BPBM). 2 ɗɗ – Nandarivatu, Tholo North, 0 5 Oct 1937, J. M. Vallentine leg. ( BPBM). 2 ɗɗ – Nandarivatu, Tholo North, 24 Oct 1937, J. M. Vallentine leg. ( BPBM, LMBC). 1 ɗ – Nandarivatu, 3700 ft., 0 3 Sept 1938, beating, E. C. Zimmerman leg." ( BPBM). 1 ɗ – Nandarivatu, 3000 ft., 10 Sept 1938, E. C. Zimmerman leg. ( ASRC). 1 ɗ – Nandarivatu, Tholo North, 0 5 Oct 1937, J. M. Vallentine leg. ( ASRC). 2 ɗɗ – Navai Mill, nr. Nandarivatu, 2300 ft., 15 Sept 1938, Y. Kondo leg. ( BPBM). 1 Ψ – Navai Mill, nr. Nandarivatu, 2300 ft., 15 Sept 1938, Y. Kondo leg. ( BPBM). 1 Ψ – Tholo-i-suva, 27 July 1938, beating, E. C. Zimmerman leg. ( BPBM). 1 ɗ – Lami, May 1951, N. L. H. Krauss leg. ( BPBM). 1 ɗ – Mba, 6 mi. W Nandarivatu, 16 Sept 1938, Y. Kondo leg. ( BPBM).

Diagnosis. Pronotum predominantly yellow, with the anterior margin and a narrow transverse band on anterior portion of disk black; elytra bicolored, basal fourth yellow, apical three fourths black with metallic blue luster; femora bicolored, basally yellow and apically black.

Description. Habitus as in Fig. 1 . Possessing all the characters of Calochrominae (sensu Bocák & Bocákova 1990: 653) and Calochromus (sensu Bocáková 1992: 301).

Coloration: Head metallic blue-black. Antennae predominantly metallic blue-black, except lighter colored along longitudinal lines at bases of antennomere 3–6 and small lighter colored spot at apex of antennomere 11. Pronotum yellow, except anterior margin and narrow transverse band on anterior portion of disk metallic blue-black. Thoracic sterna and ventrites yellow. Legs bicolored; coxae, trochanters and most of femora yellow; apices of femora, tibiae and tarsi metallic blue-black. Abdomen metallic blue-black. Metallic aspect of coloration strongest on elytra.

Vestiture: Head, abdomen and thorax with sparse, short, weak, deflexed pubescence. Antennae with more dense, short, erect pubescence. Coxae with tufts of more dense, more elongate, suberect erect setae. Elytra with extremely sparse pubescence.

Male: Head with antennal tubercles well developed, projecting. Antennae filiform, elongate, extending to apical fourth of elytra, scape enlarged and with basal flagellomeres moderately flattened; vertical sensory grooves present on antennomeres 3–6 ( Fig. 2 ). Clypeus robust, produced anteriorly, with median anterior margin more or less evenly arcuate ( Fig. 3 ), largely concealing labrum. Labrum deeply bilobed. Terminally maxillary palpomeres not swollen, without enlarged sensory area at apex. Pronotum transverse; anterior angles weakly rounded; lateral margins weakly arcuate; disc with a strong swelling in each lateral area of posterior third; areas of disk near anterior and posterior corner and just to the interior along posterior margin impressed; posterior margin with a distinct, raised, transverse lip. Scutellum large, apically truncate, laterally arcuate. Elytra approximately 3.5 times as long as wide, weakly expanded towards the apex; primary elytral costae virtually absent, only evident as faint traces; secondary costae absent. Abdominal ventrite 7 about as wide as preceding ventrite, with a deep median, arcuate emargination. Aedeagus as in Figs. 4–5 ; parameres widened near mid-length; parameres with apices truncate and with a median v-shaped dorsal notch; penis extending distinctly beyond apex of the parameres. Length 7.2–12.8 mm. Width 1.6–3.1 mm.

Female: Differing from the male in the following respects: Antennae shorter, extending to about half the length of the elytra, scape not enlarged and basal flagellomeres less flattened; with lighter colored lines present on antennomeres 3–6 but with grooves apparently absent. Clypeus less robust, usually exposing much of labrum. Terminal maxillary palpomeres distinctly swollen, with enlarged, lighter colored sensory area at apex. Pronotum with anterior angles more acute; lateral margins less arcuate; disc with a weak swelling in each lateral area of posterior third. Abdominal ventrite 7 approximately two-thirds as wide as preceding ventrite, more or less trapezoidal, posterior margin with a shallow median emargination. Length 8.4–9.8 mm. Width 1.9 –2.4 mm.

Distribution. Known only from the island of Viti Levu, Fiji

Etymology. The specific epithet was chosen to honor my good friend G. Allen Samuelson, who has spent a lifetime studying the Coleoptera of the Pacific region.

Remarks. The holotype, which was preserved in 95% ethanol, experienced some distortion after being dry mounted, as is commonplace for soft-bodied Coleoptera , and this is evident in the habitus photograph.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 5. 1. Calochromus samuelsoni, holotype, habitus, dorsal. 2. Calochromus samuelsoni, holotype, base of right antenna, dorsal. 3. Calochromus samuelsoni, holotype, clypeus, dorsal. 4. Calochromus samuelsoni, holotype, aedeagus, ventral. 5. Calochromus samuelsoni, holotype, aedeagus, dorsal.