Blaiseus hainanensis Qiu et Douglas, 2017

Qiu, L. & Douglas, H., 2017, A new species of the genus Blaiseus Fleutiaux (Coleoptera: Elateridae, Cardiophorinae) from Hainan, China, Far Eastern Entomologist 343 (343), pp. 1-8 : 2-7

Blaiseus hainanensis Qiu et Douglas , sp. n.

Figs. 1, 2 , 4–27

MATERIAL EXAMINED. Holotype – male, China: Hainan: Mingfenggu , Mt.

Jianfengling, Ledong County, 990–1000m, 24.IV 2015, leg. Lu Qiu. Paratype: 1

male, same data as the holotype.

DIAGNOSIS. This species has similar male genitalia to Blaiseus daklakensis

Douglas but can be easily distinguished by the following characteristics: 1) body dark brown, with yellow-brown antennae and legs, elytra with elongate yellowbrown patches ( Figs 1, 2 ), while B. daklakensis has body pale red-brown, with pale legs and abdomen, elytral colour uniform ( Fig. 3 ); 2) punctures on pronotal disk separated by less than their diameter ( Fig. 12 ); separated by more than their diameter in B. daklakensis; 3) antennae reaching beyond metacoxae, while antennae only reaching metacoxae in B. daklakensis; 4) dorsal apex of parameres with shallow pits ( Fig. 27 , arrows), while dorsal apex protruded in H. daklakensis ( Figs 28, 29 ,

arrow).

view; 2 – ventral view; 3 – B. daklakensis, male holotype, dorsal view (kept in Bernice P.

Bishop Museum, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A.).

DESCRIPTION. Male. Body length 7.8–8.1 mm, elytra length 5.7–5.8 mm,

pronotum length 1.7–1.8 mm, pronotum width 2.0– 2.2 mm, antenna length 6.0–6.1

mm.

Body with yellow-brown pubescence, elytra with weak metallic reflection, dark brown with elongate yellow stripes at humeri, along suture and the 6th interval on apical half; head, thorax and abdomen dark brown, antennae and legs yellow-brown

( Figs 1, 2 ).

Head sparsely pubescent ( Figs 4, 6 ), densely covered with large punctures, midanterior surface slightly depressed ( Fig. 11 ). Antennae ( Fig. 17 ) exceeding metacoxae by length of antennomere 11 ( Figs 1, 2 ); labrum small ( Fig. 7 ), flat in lateral profile, nasale with round pits antero-mesad of antennal fossae.

Prothorax: pronotum sparsely with pubescence except mid-anterior area ( Figs 6 ,

15 ), punctures on pronotal disk separated by less than their diameter ( Fig. 12 ). Posterior edge of pronotum with 2 apices mesally; hypomeron with hind edge sinuate immediately meso-ventrad of hind angles ( Figs 5, 8 ). Prosternum with ventral surface of prosternal process surface not carinate laterally ( Fig. 9 , arrow).

ventral view; 6 – head and pronotum, anterolateral view; 7 – head, anterior view; 8 – prothorax,

lateral view; 9 – prosternal process (arrow), ventral view; 10 – metacoxal plate (outlined); 11 –

punctures of frons; 12 – punctures on pronotal disc; 13 – punctures of elytral disk; 14 – side of elytron.

Pterothorax: scutellar shield with posterior apex pointed ( Fig. 16 ). Elytra not upturned at apex; punctures unequal-sized, round or elongate ( Fig. 13 ); interval 5

costate on apical third; epipleurae irregularly serrate ( Fig. 14 ). Hind wings with

4

antennomeres 3 to 11; 18 – protibia and tarsus; 19 – mesotibia and tarsus; 20 – metatibia and tarsus. ( Figs 18, 19, 20 under the same scale).

Legs ( Figs. 18–20 ): femora and tibiae expanded (fossorial); protibiae with posterior tooth at apex but not at midlength; tarsomere 4 weakly lobed; metacoxa sudden narrowed at basal third ( Fig. 10 ).

ventral view; 26 – dorsal view; 27 – close-up, ventral view; 28, 29 – B. daklakensis: 28 –

original figure in Douglas (2009) , from the paratype, dorsal view; 29 – holotype, dorsal view.

( Figs 25, 26, 28 under the same scale, 29 not to scale).

Abdomen: abdominal segment 8 with tergite normal ( Fig. 21 ), and ventrite non-

lobed ( Fig. 22 ); segment 9 with tergite and ventrite fused anterad, ventrite with apex round, tergite well sclerited laterally ( Figs 23, 24 ).

Male genitalia ( Figs 25–27 ): median lobe broadest near apex, apex slightly protruded, sides concave throughout basal 3/4 of free portion; parameres with ventral apices slightly shorter than dorsal (setose) lobes; inner parameres sclerotized; apex of dorsal lobes with shallow pits ( Fig. 27 , arrows).

Female unknown.

DISTRIBUTION. China: Hainan ( Fig. 31 ).

NATURAL HISTORY. Specimens were observed lying on leaves of shrubs at night in the rainforest of Mt. Jianfengling ( Fig. 30 ).

ETYMOLOGY. The species epithet derives from the type locality Hainan Island ,

in China.

31 – map of Hainan Island (red circle indicates the type locality of the new species) .

Figures

Figs 1–3. Habitus of Blaiseus spp. 1, 2 – B. hainanensis sp. n., male holotype: 1 – dorsal

Figs 4–14. Male Blaiseus hainanensis sp. n. 4 – head, dorsal view; 5 – head and prothorax,

Figs 15–20. Male Blaiseus hainanensis sp. n. 15 – pronotum; 16 – scutellar shield; 17 –

Figs 21–24. Male Blaiseus hainanensis sp. n. 21 – tergite VIII, dorsal view; 22 – ventrite VIII, ventral view; 23 – ventrite and tergite IX, ventral view; 24 – tergite and ventrite IX, dorsal view.

Figs 25–29. Male genitalia of Blaiseus spp. 25–27. B. hainanensis sp. n., holotype: 25 –

Figs 30–31. Type locality of Blaiseus hainanensis sp. n. 30 – Mt. Jianfengling forest;