Miridiba obscura Itoh, 1995

Gao, Chuan-bu & Coca-Abia, María Milagro, 2021, Revision of the genus Miridiba Reitter, 1902 (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Melolonthinae): genital morphotypes and new taxonomic data, European Journal of Taxonomy 749, pp. 1-94 : 36-37

Miridiba obscura Itoh, 1995

Miridiba obscura Itoh, 1995: 199 .

Miridiba tuberculipennis obscura Itoh, 1995: 199 (type loc.: Doi Suthep, Thailand).

Miridiba obscura – Gao et al 2018: 14 , figs 5a–c, 6 (combination; type material); 2019: 461 (species list; in key).

Diagnosis

External morphology of adult ( Itoh 1995; Gao et al. 2018). Dorsal surface glabrous. Clypeus with anterior edge arcuate. Frontal carina sharp and developed. Pronotum densely punctate; anterior margin widely flanged; lateral margins smooth, elevated laterally at anterior third. Scutellum densely punctate. Elytral surface glabrous and punctate; epipleuron with setae at basal half. Meso- and metatibia with transverse carina interrupted at middle, inner margin of metatibial dorsal surface with spines. Pygidium irregularly punctate with scattered punctures dorsally, conspicuous setae on apex; apical margin moderately raised. Ventrite 5 depressed at posterior half. Male genitalia: parameres without pubescence, dorsal branches starting slightly below collum, long, thin and curved downwards; ventral branches widened, apices bent outwards ninety degrees.

Remarks

Itoh (1995) described the subspecies Miridiba tuberculipennis obscura base on a male holotype, a female allotype and thirteen paratypes (three males and ten females) from Thailand and Laos. According to Itoh (1995), the subspecies is distinguishable by robust and shorter parameres branches of male genitalia and variability in intensity of coloration of elytral tubercles. After studying two paratypes deposited in MFNB and additional non-type specimen from China, Gao et al. (2018) elevated this subspecies to species rank as Miridiba obscura according to parameres and clypeus shape ( Gao et al. 2018: fig. 5). Male genitalia indicates that this species is characteristic of the morphotype I “ Trichophora ”. Hence, this species is included in this genital morphotype.

Distribution

China (Yunnan), Thailand (Chiang Mai, Kanchanoburi, Chaiyaphum), Laos (Xiangkhouang).