Chlaenius (Parachlaenites) pretiosus Chaudoir, 1856

(Fig. 8d)

Chlaenius pretiosus Chaudoir, 1856: 288 .

Material examined. PAKISTAN — Punjab • 1 ♀; Rawalpindi, PMAS Arid Agriculture University students Collection; 2015; Mishkat leg.; PMNH • 1 ♀, without locality and date label; PMNH • 1 specimen; Rawalpindi (Zoological Survey of India); Jun.–Aug. 1917; Hodgart leg.; Chlaenius pretiosus Chadoir by H.E. Andrewes det.; Ex Coll. Indian Mus. Calcutta; NHMUK (H.E. Andrewes collection 1945–97).

Measurements. Male (n=5): TL= 14.85 mm, HW= 3.00 mm, PL= 3.35 mm, PW= 4.05 mm, EL= 8.50 mm, EW= 2.45 mm. Ratios PL/PW= 0.82, HW/PW= 0.74 and EL/EW= 3.46. Female (n=2): TL= 15.65 mm, HW= 3.03 mm, PL= 3.51 mm, PW= 4.49 mm, EL= 9.07 mm, EW= 2.84 mm. Ratios PL/PW= 0.77, HW/PW= 0.67 and EL/EW= 3.19

Diagnosis. Head dark metallic blue having reddish green luster with moderately spaced punctures, antenna black, labrum emarginate at apex, mentum median tooth bifid, palpi terminal article sub-cylindrical and coniform. Pronotum dark metallic blue having reddish green luster with moderately spaced setiferous punctures. Pronotum quadrate with anterior border slightly convex. Elytra dark metallic blue without marks, elytral intervals smooth with few setiferous punctures. Legs black.

Comments. C. (A.) pretiosus appears similar to Ch. (R.) janthinusis Kollar & L. Redtenbacher, 1844 . It differs on the basis of head and pronotum colouration with metallic reddish green tinge in pretiosus whereas head and pronotum without metallic luster in janthinus; maxillary and labial palpi terminal article sub-cylindrical and coniform where as maxillary palpi and labial palpi bulb or club shaped in janthinus . This species was only collected from Rawalpindi although museum records indicate its distribution throughout India and Sri Lanka.

Distribution. India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan (Lorenz 2018; Kirschenhofer 2017; Azadbakhsh & Rafi 2017).