Gnaptorina himalaya Shi, Ren & Merkl, 2007

Ji, Bao-Yue, Guo, Tong-Yang, Gu, Mei-Chang, Ren, Guo-Dong & Li, Xiu-Min, 2024, Description of five larvae of the genus Gnaptorina Reitter, 1887 from Xizang, China (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Blaptinae), with molecular species delimitation and diagnoses, ZooKeys 1209, pp. 295-314 : 295-314

Gnaptorina himalaya Shi, Ren & Merkl, 2007

Examined materials.

Larvae. 2 exx. ( MHBU): Garyü Countyside , Qusum County, Xizang / 28 ° 50.25 ’ N, 91 ° 59.90 ’ E / Alt. 4790 m / 2019 - VII- 31 / Xiu-Min Li leg. ; 4 exx. ( MHBU): Zag La, Comai County , Xizang / 2019 - VII- 31 / Guo-Dong Ren leg.

Description.

Body (Fig. 6 A – C ). Larvae length 16.8–22.0 mm, width 2.1–2.3 mm, thick. Body yellowish brown, shiny, body wall ossified; median line obvious on thorax dorsally and abdominal tergite I.

Head (Fig. 6 B, D – G ). Labrum transverse; apical part with six setae; anterior margin with two discal and six slender lateral marginal setae; epipharynx with sparse setae on lateral margin, with two basal spines on central area, between the basal spines with four mastoids, with three pairs of mastoids above the basal spines; mandible left-right unsymmetrical, membranous elevation with two setae (Fig. 6 D, F, G ). Epicranial stem Y or V-shaped; frons convex, with sparse setae on lateral margins, with four pairs of setae at apex (a pair on anterior margin, a pair on middle margin, two pairs on posterior margin) (Fig. 6 D, F ). Ocelli evident, three parallel rows arranged transversely (Fig. 6 B ). Maxillary palpi (Fig. 6 E ) three-segmented, cylindrical, and conical at apex; I widest, II longest. Labial palps two-segmented, short; II conical; prementum shorter than mentum, with two setae on anterior margin, apex with two long setae; mentum convex, trapezoidal, base of mentum straight; mentum wide and short, posterior margin with 4–6 long setae; submentum with nine setae on middle margin. Antennae three-segmented, cylindrical at apex; I nearly as long as II; III shortest and narrowest (Fig. 6 B, D – G ).

Thorax (Fig. 6 A ). Pronotum with four pairs of setae (two pairs of setae on anterior margin, a pair of setae on middle margin, a pair of setae on posterior margin); mesonotum with three pairs of long setae, a pair on anterior margin, two pairs on middle; metanotum with four pairs of setae, two pairs on anterior margin, two pairs on middle. Anterior and posterior borders of pronotum with brown longitudinal stripes, and a pair of pale brown irregular spots; posterior border of mesonotum and metanotum with a brown longitudinal stripe. Pronotum longest, 2.80 × as long as mesonotum, 2.06 × as long as metanotum, mesonotum shortest.

Legs (Fig. 6 H ). Protarsungulus with a strong, long seta on inner side and a strong, short spine on outer side at base. Profemora and protibiae gradually narrowing towards apex; inner margin setal formula of prothoracic leg 5 (4): 6 (2–3): 2 (2); outer margin of tibiae with one strong seta and one short spine; outer margin of femora with two setae; trochanter with three setae. Mesotarsus with a strong, long seta on inner side and a strong, short spine on outer side at base; inner margin setal formula of mesothoracic leg 2–4 (2–3): 5 (2–3): 2 (2); outer margin of tibiae with two spines; outer margin of femora with two spines; outer margin of trochanters with one spine and two setae. Metatarsus with two strong, short spines at base; inner margin setal formula of metathoracic leg 3 (2–3): 4 (2): 2 (2), outer margin of tibiae with two spines, outer margin of femora with two spines, outer margin of trochanters with one spine and two setae.

Abdomen (Fig. 6 A, C ). Not constricted between VIII and IX segments. Approximately 3.91 × as long as thorax; abdominal segments I – VIII subcylindrical, with transverses plicae; ventral side of abdominal segment I with 11 setae on anterior margin and 5–7 on each side, with two pairs of setae on posterior margin; ventral side of abdominal segment II with six pairs of setae (four pairs of setae on lateral margin, two pairs of setae on posterior margin); ventral side of abdominal segments III – VIII with four pairs of setae on lateral margin (two pairs of setae on mid-lateral margin, two pairs of setae on posterior margin). Last segment conical, 0.87 × as long as VIII, distinctly narrower than VIII; last segment surface of convex disc with sparse long setae in ventral view, with a row of short spines each side (five spines on left, five spines on right); last segment dorsally flattened, urogomphi inconspicuous, with one short spines (Fig. 6 I – K ).

Spiracles (Fig. 6 C ). Lateral margins of abdominal segments I – VIII and mesothorax each with a pair of oval spiracles, mesothorax spiracles much larger than abdominal spiracles, abdominal segments I – VIII spiracles gradually shrinking.

Figures

Figure 6. Larva of Gnaptorina himalaya Shi, Ren & Merkl, 2007 A habitus, dorsal view B habitus, lateral view C habitus, ventral view D head, dorsal view E head, ventral view F head, vertex view G epipharynx H legs I pygopods, dorsal view J pygopods, ventral view K pygopods, lateral view. Scale bars: 2 mm (A – C); 1 mm (D – F, H – K); 0.5 mm (G).