Elmomorphus nepalensis Satô, 1981

Selnekovič, Dávid, Jäch, Manfred A. & Kodada, Ján, 2024, Taxonomic revision of the genus Elmomorphus Sharp, 1888. II. Redescription of the genus and review of the species from India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, China, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam (Coleoptera: Dryopidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 957, pp. 1-229 : 119-123

Elmomorphus nepalensis Satô, 1981

Figs 56–57 , 60A , 112B

Elmomorphus nepalensis Satô, 1981: 52 (original description).

Elmomorphus nepalensis – Jäch & Sharma 1998: 599. — Kodada & Jäch 2006b: 442; 2016: 606.

Differential diagnosis

Elmomorphus nepalensis ( Fig. 56 ) belongs to a group of species characterised by the presence of a dorsal plastron on the anterior portions of the head and on the posterolateral portions of the elytra. Elytral punctures are scattered over the entire surface, striae absent. Within this group, E. nepalensis and E. punctulatus sp. nov. may be recognised by the absence of long and erect setae on the labrum and by the absence of setal clusters on the prosternal process and the median part of the metaventrite. The median part of the metaventrite is weakly convex in males, whereas in other species of the group, it is depressed. The tibiae are simple in both sexes, not expanded and without teeth.

Elmomorphus nepalensis differs from E. punctulatus sp. nov. in the pronotum being less convex with straight lateral sides ( Fig. 56 ) versus strongly convex with rounded lateral sides in E. punctulatus ; furthermore, in the sparser punctation of the dorsal surface, and the parameres compared to phallobase being distinctly shorter and less narrowed apically (PhL/PrL in E. nepalensis : 1.70–2.19 (1.92± 0.15, n= 8), in E. punctulatus : 1.35–1.48 (n=3)) with broad, rounded apex ( Fig. 57 , lateral aspect). The bursa copulatrix ( Fig. 60A ) possesses sizeable sclerites with spines.

Material examined

BHUTAN • 9 ex.; Punakha Prov., 6 km NNW of Punakha Lakhu (18), 27°37′31″ N, 89°49′31″ E; alt. ca 1300 m; 24 Nov. 2005; M.A. Jäch leg.; CKB, NMW • 3 ex.; Punakha Prov., 11 km NW of Punakha N Lakhu (19); 27°38′44″ N, 89°46′32″ E; alt. ca 1360 m; 24 Nov. 2005; M.A. Jäch leg.; CKB, NMW • 7 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Wangdi Phodrang Prov., 40 km SSE of Wangdi Phodrang Puna Tsang Valley (21); 27°12′38″ N, 90°3′5″ E; 25 Nov. 2005; alt. ca 790 m; M.A. Jäch leg.; NMW • 1 ex.; Wangdi Phodrang Prov., 48 km SSE of Wangdi Phodrang Neychey Chhu (N23); 27°8′26″ N, 90°4′14″ E; alt. ca 550 m; 25 Nov. 2005; M.A. Jäch leg.; NMW .

NEPAL • 2 ♂♂; Lamosangu (N5); 5 Feb. 1980; M.A. Jäch leg; CKB, NMW • 5 ♂♂, 10 ♀♀; Bagmati Zone, Tatopani near Kodari, at Tibetan border (N30); alt. ca 1600 m; 28 Feb.–1 Mar. 1981; M.A. Jäch leg; CKB, NMW • 1 ex.; Bagmati Zone, Indrawati River basin, Talla Gau, left trib. of Nuhar Stream , water mill ( NU02 ); 27°51′11′′ N, 85°31′43′′ E; alt. 1280 m; 19 Nov. 2009; R.D. Tachamo leg.; NMW • 1 ex.; Bagmati Zone, Indrawati River basin, Gamde Stream (GA01); 27°42′19′′ N, 85°33′12′′ E; alt. 1410 m; 18 Nov. 2009; R.D. Tachamo leg.; NMW • 7 ex.; Bagmati Zone, Indrawati River basin, Jakeshwori Stream, Mahadevsthan (JA01); 27°49′27′′ N, 85°33′32′′ E; alt. 1340 m; 15 Nov. 2009; R.D. Tachamo leg.; NMW • 2 ex.; Bagmati Zone, Indrawati River basin, right trib. of Gyalthun Stream ( GY01 ); 27°52′53′′ N, 85°30′24′′ E; alt. 1286 m; 16 Nov. 2009; R.D. Tachamo leg.; NMW • 3 ex.; Bagmati Zone, Indrawati River basin, right trib. of Nuhar Stream ( NU01 ); 27°51′1′′ N, 85°31′45′′ E; alt. 1250 m; 19 Nov. 2009; R.D. Tachamo leg.; NMW • 2 ex.; Bagmati Zone, Indrawati River basin, Majhi Stream (MJ01); 27°42′43′′ N, 85°39′3′′ E; alt. 860 m; 26 Nov. 2009; R.D. Tachamo leg.; NMW • 4 ex.; Bagmati Zone, Indrawati River basin, Sano Khahare Stream ( SA01 ); 27°41′55′′ N, 85°41′16′′ E; alt. 780 m; 25 Nov. 2009; R.D. Tachamo leg.; NMW • 1 ex.; “ NEPAL P: Bagmati, D: Chitwan, Sauraha, Hotel Sweet Home , 27°35′10″N, 84°29′29″E, 190mNN, 05.-07.VII.2022, leg. A. Kopetz LFF #22-29”; NMW • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Bagmati Zone, Bhaise, N of Hetauda, small tributary of Rapti River (N23); alt. ca 600 m; 19 Feb. 1981; M.A. Jäch leg.; NMW .

Type locality

Nepal, Kathmandu Valley, Godawari.

Redescription

Measurements (mm): TL: ♂♂ 2.41–2.70 (2.59 ±0.10, n=8), ♀♀ 2.65–3.06 (2.86 ± 0.12, n =11); PL: ♂♂ 0.59–0.65 (0.62 ±0.02, n =8), ♀♀ 0.60–0.72 (0.67± 0.03, n =11); PW: ♂♂ 1.06–1.15 (1.11 ± 0.03, n= 8), ♀♀ 1.12–1.29 (1.22 ±0.05, n=11); EL: ♂♂ 1.82–2.06 (1.97± 0.08, n=8), ♀♀ 2.01–2.34 (2.18 ± 0.08, n= 11); EW: ♂♂ 1.23–1.40 (1.34 ±0.05, n=8), ♀♀ 1.36–1.56 (1.46 ±0.06, n=11); PhL: 0.52–0.59 (0.56± 0.02, n =8); PrL: 0.27–0.31 (0.29 ±0.01, n =8).

Body ( Fig. 56 ) oblong oval, convex. Integument dark brown to black; trochanters, tarsi, antennae, and mouthparts reddish brown. Pubescence consists of sparse short yellowish setae. Dorsal plastron covering anterior portions of head and apicolateral parts of elytra. Ventral plastron absent on prosternal process, median part of metaventrite, and middle of ventrites 1–2.

Head surface smooth, round setiferous punctures slightly smaller than eye facets, punctures separated by 1–2× puncture diameters. Plastron present on frontoclypeus and anterolateral portions of vertex. Labrum transverse, microreticulate, with small setiferous punctures; setae equal in length in both sexes. Anterior margin of clypeus straight. Antennae 9-segmented. Eyes oval, interfacetal setae short, ID: ♂♂ 0.38–0.43 mm (0.41 ± 0.02, n =8), ♀♀ 0.42–0.49 mm (0.44± 0.02, n=11); APD/ID: ♂♂ 1.65–1.77 (1.72 ± 0.03, n=8), ♀♀ 1.60–1.81 (1.70± 0.07, n=11).

Pronotum wider than long, widest at base, disc moderately convex, PW/PL: ♂♂ 1.69–1.89 (1.80± 0.05, n= 8), ♀♀ 1.77–1.88 (1.82± 0.03, n=11); surface smooth, with round setiferous punctures; plastron absent; rim of anterior margin as wide as two eye facets, interrupted in middle; anterior angles deflexed, acute; lateral pronotal sides convergent, straight. Prosternal process with lateral edges divergent, straight; apical edge broadly V-shaped; lateral portions raised, without clusters of long setae; median keel slightly arcuate. Scutellum slightly longer than wide, smooth, with small round punctures. Metaventrite with moderately convex, posteriorly widened median part; clusters of long setae absent; lateral margins of metaventral process raised, medially with ridges. Elytra elongate oval, widest before middle, EL/EW: ♂♂ 1.44–1.50 (1.47± 0.02, n=8), ♀♀ 1.45–1.52 (1.49± 0.02, n=11); surface finely microreticulate, with scattered round setiferous punctures; plastron covering apicolateral portions. Tibiae slightly curved, not expanded, without teeth; PrTL/PL: ♂♂ 1.00–1.08 (1.03± 0.03, n=8), ♀♀ 0.96–1.13 (1.01 ± 0.05, n= 11). Terminal protarsomere almost as long as all preceding tarsomeres combined.

Ventrites covered with plastron, except middle of ventrites 1–2. Ventrite 5 with short longitudinal keel at apex; apical margin in females with small triangular excision. Aedeagus ( Fig. 57 ): phallobase rather long and slender, slightly expanded proximally, PhL/PrL: 1.70–2.19 (1.92 ±0.15, n= 8); parameres evenly narrowed to apices, moderately curved ventrad, slightly asymmetrical basally; apices narrowly rounded; penis narrowly rounded apically (lateral aspect); sclerotised fibula rather slender. Ovipositor: valvifers long and flattened; coxites asymmetrical, right one longer than left one. Bursa copulatrix with one dorsal and two lateral sclerites bearing small spines ( Fig. 60A ); spermatheca tubular.

Secondary sexual dimorphism

Females are generally larger than males; ventrite 5 in females with small triangular excision at the apex.

Distribution

Bhutan (first record), Nepal ( Fig. 112B ).

Figures

Fig. 56. Elmomorphus nepalensis Satô, 1981, male from Nepal (NMW), TL: 2.60 mm.

Fig. 57. Elmomorphus nepalensis Satô, 1981, male from Nepal (NMW), aedeagus. A. Lateral aspect. B. Ventral aspect. Scale bar: 0.1 mm.

Fig. 60. Bursa copulatrix and vagina.A. Elmomorphus nepalensis Satô, 1981, female from Nepal (NMW). B. E. punctulatus sp. nov., paratype from China, locality CWBS 367 (NMW). Scale bar: 0.1 mm.

Fig. 112. Distribution maps. A. Elmomorphus bispinosus sp. nov. B. E. nepalensis Satô, 1981. C. E. punctulatus sp. nov. D. E. simplipes sp. nov. E. E. donatus Kodada, Selnekovič & Jäch sp. nov. F. E. paradonatus sp. nov.