Ithyphenes Murray, 1864

Kirejtshuk, Alexander G. & Kovalev, Alexey V., 2022, Monograph on the Cillaeinae (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) from the Australian Region with comments on the taxonomy of the subfamily, Zootaxa 5103 (1), pp. 1-133 : 89-93

35. Genus Ithyphenes Murray, 1864

Ithyphenes Murray, 1864: 316

Type species: Ithyphenes gnatho Murray, 1864: 317 ; recent, New Guinea, “Saylu”, by monotypy ;

= Orthogramma Murray, 1864: 318 , nec R.L., 1817: 285 et Guenée, 1852: 347;

Type species: Orthogramma fuscipennis Murray, 1864: 321 ; recent, New Guinea, Dorey (designated by by Jelínek & Audisio, 2007: 478);

= Platynema Ritsema, 1885: 29 , syn. nov.;

Type species: Platynema Olliffi Ritsema, 1885: 29 ; recent, India, Andaman Islands (by monotypy) .

Diagnosis. This genus is distinct from all other cillaeines in the characters mentioned in the above key to genera and subgenera (particularly, structure frons, lateral sides of pronotum, more or less reduced antennal grooves, serrate posterior edge of the male anal sclerite and serrate posterior edge of the female pygidium, and also the unusual structure of tarsi). Besides, the rather peculiar feature of it is also the characteristic shape of abdominal laterosternites which are comparatively narrow and usually only slightly widened posteriorly (in comparison with many other genera having the at least abdominal laterosternites V and VI very clearly widened posteriorly) or rarely subparallelsided or narrow but clearly widened to apex. The anterior edge of frons in the majority of cases is distinctly and uniformly modified in both sexes, sometimes apparently with weak sexual dimorphism (however, the anterior part of the frons in the males of Adocimus (Belanotus) bartenevi sp. nov. is slightly modified, while that in the females has no trace of modification of the anterior edge (which is transversely truncate)—see above). The prothoracic sides and their lateral carina of Ithyphenes also show some similarity to those in Adocimus s. lato, although the species of Adocimus s. str. have only trace of lateral prothoracic carinae and those of Belanotus subgen. nov. demonstrate folding pronotal sides with distinct carina along the entire length.

Unfortunately, the species characters of Ithyphenes seem to give a mosaic which almost does not allow at the moment to split members of the genus into some groups of closer relatives, although few congeners show more or less evident closer relationship. Because of absence of distinct groups of relatives the elaboration of each species diagnosis has an additional unusual comparison of species.

Notes on synonymy. The representatives of this generic group with three names show a wide scope of structural variability and distribution (see below). The generic name Ithyphenes is valid and it was initially proposed for the single species. Its author ( Murray, 1864) also proposed in the same monograph another generic group ( Orthogramma ) for eight species and name of this group defined only by the original descripton of the genus. Ritsema (1885) pointed out that the name Orthogramma was preoccupied before the publication by Murray in moths (R.L. 1817: 285 et Guenée 1852: 347) and, therefore, he proposed the new name Platynema . The authors of this publication had a possibility to examine almost all type series of the species included in these taxa by Murray (1864) and other researchers ( Reitter 1880b; Grouvelle 1907, 1917; Hisamatsu, 1985), except Ithyphenes ustipennis Fairmaire, 1883 with unknown deposition (the latter was analyzed after the original description by Fairmaire (1883) and key by Grouvelle (1907)). Many additional specimens of this group were taken by the authors of this publication from different collections for a further revision. All characters mentioned by Murray (1964) are rather variable and shows a mosaic in distribution among members of the genus in a new interpretation making impossible any regular partition of species into groups which could be treated as isolate supraspecific taxa.

The generic diagnostic characters which can be taken from the original descriptions of Ithyphenes and Orthogramma Murray , non R.L., et non Guenée (body shape, particularly shape of head and pronotum, and also length of elytra) also show a great variability and, indeed, cannot be used for separation of genera or subgenera. Murray wrote also about the antennal grooves in both “genera” ( Murray, 1864: 317: “convergent” and 318: “short, indistinct, and slightly converging”), however, indeed, these “grooves” are presented in members of the group under consideration as weak depressions without clear outlines along the inner edge of eyes and sometimes they are becoming distally wider and shallower looking somehow like “convergent” (only few congeners have distinct antennal grooves, f. e. Ithyphenes australiaensis sp. nov. and I. rectifrons sp. nov.). Even it pertains to the outline of the posterior edge of the metaventrite between metacoxae, i. e. to the character which usually can be enough stable and diagnostic in many other groups of nitidulids.

Redescription (taking into consideration described and undescribed species available for study). Body comparatively small to medium-sized (4.0– 17.3 mm), rather narrow to moderately narrow and elongate, subparallel-sided to elongate oval, subflattened dorsally and somewhat convex ventrally. Integument usually finely and moderately sparsely punctured to very coarsely and very densely or decreasingly and shallowly punctured (to completely impunctate), interspaces between punctures smooth or smoothly microreticulate; elytral punctation diffuse to more or less seriate; head, thorax and elytra in most cases without pubescence, abdomen usually finely and shortly pubescent, sometimes pronotal, elytral and abdominal sides sometimes with sparse, very long and thin hairs, apices of ultimate abdominal segment and appendages finely pubescent.

Head subflattened and slightly to scarcely narrowed or even somewhat widened to base, moderately projecting anteriorly; with moderately small and finely faceted eyes located in anterior third (with elongate outline dorsally and ventrally), anterior part of frons more or less modified (frequently medially emarginate to excised and usually without clear sexual dimorphism) and sometimes asymmetric. Labrum very variable in shape and not infrequently with expressed median excision or suture divided it into lobes. Mandibles stout and usually long, and with tridentate or bidentate apices, sometimes turned downwards (particularly in males). Antennal grooves usually not distinctly outlined and expressed as weak elongate depressions without distinct outlines along eye edge, although sometimes they distinctly outlined along inner edge. Mentum very wide and with anterior lateral angles slightly projecting anteriorly; pregenal process at hypostomal sinuses moderately wide and slightly curved. Terminal labial palpomere short and various in shape; terminal maxillary palpomere moderately long and subconical. Antennae with 11 antennomeres, bearing club composed of three antennomeres and somewhat oviform to elongate oval, frequently two terminal antennomeres strongly consolidated and slightly isolated from antennomere 9.

Pronotum variable in shape transverse to elongate, subquadrangular to subtrapezoid or cordiform, usually widest at anterior edge, subflattened on disc and gently sloping along bordered sides; anterior and posterior angles more or less rounded; anterior edge subrectilinear; posterior edge usually gently convex to almost straight. Scutellar shield rather transverse, subtriangular to subpentagonal. Elytra more than 1.5 × and less than 2.0 × as long as combined width, with subtruncate apices and widely rounded at outer apical angles, leaving last three abdominal segments completely exposed, sides steeply sloping at base and more or less flattened at anterior edge. Abdominal laterosternites V and VI moderately narrow and usually very slightly widened posteriorly. Three last tergites uniformly convex or medially convex and widely depressed at sides. Male pygidium transverse to slightly elongate, with subtruncate or emarginate apex and without clear serration. Female pygidium transverse or slightly longer than wide, widely rounded and serrate at apex.

Prosternum with flat and wide or gently convex along median portion and with subflattened process (not curved along procoxae); process strongly widened before transverse apex. All coxae comparatively narrowly separated (usually meso- and metacoxae comparably separated and about 2.0–3.0 × as separated as procoxae, or metacoxae somewhat more narrowly separated mesocoxae). Lateral prothoracic surface swollen (not folding) and with carinae distinct at base and anteriorly turning below and sometimes disappearing. Lower surface of mesothorax medially subflattened (not excavate), but at sides with distinct isolated depressions for mesofemora. Metaventrite with distinct median suture (discrimen) in posterior half to two thirds and with not expressed submesocoxal lines, posterior edge straight or slightly angularly excised. Metepisterna very narrow or subtriangular (widened anteriorly), with inner edge straight or more or less emarginate at anterior end. Male hypopygidium with subtruncate or emarginate posterior edge. Female hypopygidium very widely rounded or subtruncate at apex.

Legs comparatively short. Tibiae usually moderately stout, narrow and subparallel-sided in distal two thirds, or anterior tibia subtriangular, frequently comparable in width with antennal club, spurs variable in development; outer side of protibia with one rows of small teeth, and that of meso- and metatibiae with one-two rows of usually small spines (species with larger body usually with complete upper row and more or less reduced lower one, while species with smaller body only with one upper row). Femora very stout and short, usually with straight to slightly concave anterior edge of profemur and posterior edge of meso- and metafemora, while anterior edge of meso- and metafemora very convex. Tarsi with very narrowly lobed (almost subcylindrical) tarsomeres 1–3, protarsi wider than meso- and metatarsi.

Male anal sclerite well exposed from pygidium, along subtruncate or widely rounded apex with distinct serration. Aedeagus moderately to heavily sclerotized and of structure characteristic of many cillaeines. Ovipositor moderately sclerotized, of structure chacteristic of many cillaeines, sometimes inner lobes of gonocoxites transversely separated at level of posterior end of their outer lobes (if they expressed), but frequently outer and inner lobes not divided and gonocoxites without transverse separation; styli usually at greater or lesser distance from apex.

Composition and distribution. This genus includes 22 described species and at least ten species distributed from the Himalayan areas of Indian subcontinent, Japanese Amami-Ohshima, Taiwan, insular systems of the Indo-Malayan Region, islands closely located nearby eastern shore of New Guinea and Australian Queensland. It seems that most recent species diversity of this genus is in New Guinea and surrounding islands. At present there have been described the following species of the genus Ithyphenes :

1. I. angustus ( Grouvelle, 1917: 336) , comb. nov. ( Philippines, Luzon) [ Platynema ]; according to the holotype, female ( NMHN)—“ Mt.Makling , Luzon, Baker”, “ TYPE ”, “ Platynema angusta Grouv. ” (handwritten by Grouvelle), “ Coll. A. Grouvelle ” ;

2. I. australiaensis sp. nov. ( Australia, Queensland); according to the specimens of the type series listed below;

3. I. bakeri Grouvelle, 1917: 334 ( Philippines, Luzon ); according to the holotype, female (MNHN)—“Malinao, Tayabas, Baker”, “TYPE”, “ Ithyphenes bakeri Grouv. ” (handwritten by Grouvelle), “coll. Grouvelle ”;

4. I. bouchardi Grouvelle, 1907: 110 (Sumatra) ; after the lectotype, male (MNHN) here designated—“ Sumatra, Palembang”(handwritten by Grouvelle), “ Ithyphenes bouchardi ty. Grouv.” (handwritten by Grouvelle), “coll. Grouvelle ”; 15 paralectotypes (MNHN, MCNG)—“ Sumatra, Palembang” and some with label “ Ithyphenes bouchardi ty. Grouv.’ (handwritten by Grouvelle), “coll. Grouvelle ”;

5. I. breviceps ( Murray, 1864: 323) , comb. nov. ( India, Nicobar Islands) [ Orthogramma , Platynema ]; according to the lectotype, male (NHML) here designated—“[18]68 106”, round circle with printed word “ Syntype ”, “Malay, Nicobar”, “51818”, “ex Mus. Murray”, “Fry Coll. 1905 100”, “ breviceps ”;

6. I. cucujiformis Reitter, 1880b: 454 (? Papua New Guinea, Fly River ); according to the holotype, female (MCNG)—“Nuova Guinea, Fly River, L.M. D'Albertis, 1876-77”, “ Ithyphenes cucujiformis m.n.sp.” (handwritten by E. Reitter);

7. I. dentipes ( Murray, 1864: 322) , comb. nov. ( Singapore) [ Orthogramma , Platynema ]; according to the lectotype, male (NHML) here designated—“[18]68 106”, dark green ellipse with a word unclearly written, round circle with printed word “Type”, “ denticeps ”;

8. I. fissiceps ( Murray, 1864: 320) , comb. nov. (Papuan New Guinea, Dorey Island) [ Orthogramma , Platynema ]; according to the holotype, female (NHML)—round circle with word “Type”, dark green ellipse with a word unclearly written, “ fissiceps ”, “[18]68 106”, “ Holotype Orthogramma fissiceps Murray 1864 , det. R.G. Booth 2010”;

9. I. fuscipennis ( Murray, 1864: 321) , comb. nov. ( Malaysia, Sarawak) [ Orthogramma , Platynema ]; according to the lectotype, male (NHML) here designated—grey circle with “Borneo”, “ fuscipennis ”, “type”, red circle with word “Type”, “[18]68 106”;

10. I. gestroi Reitter, 1880a: 125 (? Papuan New Guinea, Fly River ); according to the lectotype, female (MCNG), here designated and 3 paralectotypes (females and 1 male)—"Nuova Guinea, Fly River, L.M.D'Albertis, 1876-77“, ” Ithyphenes Gestroi Reitt. " (written probably by E. Reitter); 5 paralectotypes (MNHN)—“Nuova Guinea, Fly River, M.L.D’Albertis, 1876-77”, “ Ithyphenes gestroi m.” (handwritten by Reitter), “Typ Reitter”, “coll. Oberthur ”;

11. I. gnatho Murray, 1864: 317 (New Guinea, Island “Saylu”); according to the holotype, female (NHML)— “ Saylu , New Guinea ” (in green ellipse), “ gnatho ”;

12. I. japonicus ( Hisamatsu, 1985: 178) , comb. nov. ( Japan, Ryukyu Islands ) [ Platynema ]; according to the picture of the holotype from above, sclerites of ultimate abdominal segment, male anal sclerite and aedeagus; the specimen is deposited in the collection of Ehime University;

13. I.longiceps ( Murray, 1864:319) , comb.nov. (Papuan New Guinea,Dorey Island)[ Orthogramma , Platynema ]; according to the holotype, male (NHML)—“[18]68 106”, round circle with word “Type” “ longiceps ”;

14. I. marinae sp. nov. ( Australia, Queensland); according to the specimens of the type series listed below;

15. I. olliffi ( Ritsema, 1885: 29) , comb. nov. ( India, Andaman Islands ) [ Platynema ]; according to the lectotype, male (RNHL) here designated—“Andaman”, “ Platynema olliffi Rits. type”, “ A. Lidney Olliff, Andaman isl.”; 1 paralectotype, female (NHML) “Andaman”, “ Syntype ”, “ Platynema olliffi Rits. ”;

16. I. planiceps ( Murray, 1864: 322) , comb. nov. (“Malayan Peninsula”) [ Orthogramma , Platynema ]; according to the holotype, male (NHML)—dark green ellipse with “Malay”, “[18]68 106”, round circle with “ Syntype ”, “ planiceps ”;

17. I. puncticeps ( Murray, 1864: 320) , comb. nov. (Sumatra) [ Orthogramma , Platynema ]; according to the holotype, male (NHML)—dark green ellipse with a word unclearly written, “[18]68 106”, round circle with word “Type”, “ puncticeps ”;

18. I. rectifrons sp. nov. ( Australia, Queensland); according to the specimens of the type series listed below;

19. I. ritsemai ( Grouvelle, 1897: 347) , comb. nov. ( Malaysia, Sarawak) [ Orthogramma , Platynema ]; according to the holotype, female—“Sumatra”, “TYPE”, “ Platynema Ritsemai ty. Grouv”(handwritten by Grouvelle), “Coll. Grouvelle”;

20. I. saundersii ( Murray, 1864: 323) , comb. nov. ( Malaysia, Sarawak) [ Orthogramma , Platynema ]; according to the holotype, female (NHML)—red circle with word “Type”, dark green ellipse, “[18]68 106”, “ saundersii ”;

21. I. sauteri Grouvelle, 1914b: 35 (“ Formosa ”, “ Kankau (Konshun)”); according to the holotype, male (ZMB)—“KanKau (Koshun), Formosa, H. Sauter, IV 1912 ”, “ Grouvelle det.”, “ Holotypus ”, “ Ithyphenes sauteri Grouv. ” (handwriting);

22. I. ustulatus Fairmaire, 1883: 8 (New Britain); according to the original description; depository unknown.

Notes. Murray (1864) wrote about depository of Ithyphenes breviceps comb. nov. “In the Hope collection at Oxford; also in the Copenhagen collection and in the British Museum”. Because no specimen of this species, which should be deposited in the Oxford collection (Natural History Museum at the Oxford University), is present at the moment, but the alone specimen of this species studied by A. Murray and available in the collection of NHML is designated as the lectotype of “ Platytnema ” breviceps .

Notes on bionomy. The species of this genus are associated with crevices and splits of arboraceous plants in areas with tropical climate, apparently very frequently with palms.