Miridiba abdominalis ( Hope, 1831 )

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 : 18-19

Miridiba abdominalis ( Hope, 1831)

Figs 4 , 26

Melolontha abdominalis Hope, 1831: 23 (type loc.: Nepal).

Neodontocnema abdominalis – Arrow 1948: 51 (combination).

Miridiba abdominalis – Nomura 1977: 88 (combination). — Smetana & Král 2006: 222 (catalogue). — Coca-Abia 2008: 674. — Bezděk 2016: 271 (catalogue).

Diagnosis

External morphology of adult ( Fig. 26 ). Length 21.5 mm. Dorsal surface glabrous, at most, with tiny seta on each puncture hardly visible. Clypeus concave, with anterior edge broadly sinuate, oblique laterally. Frons strongly inclined in lateral view; frontal carina sharp and raised. Pronotal anterior margin with, at most, a few short setae and with a concavity at each lateral end; posterior margin not flanged, glabrous, with a row of punctures; lateral margins smooth, glabrous and gently sinuate at posterior half; anterior angles sharp, projected forward and elevated laterally. Prosternal process trapezoidal in shape. Scutellum glabrous, with punctures at middle, lateral margins without punctures. Epipleuron with short pubescence in basal half. Foretibia with strong dorsal carina; insertion of inner spur closer third outer tooth than second one. Meso- and metatibia with strong punctures; transverse carina interrupted at middle, with a dorsal and ventral prominence; inner margin of dorsal surface with strong spines. Prepygidium regularly punctate, glabrous, at most with a tiny seta on each puncture hardly visible. Pygidium irregularly punctate with thinner and denser punctures at apex; short pubescence on disc, longer toward apex; apical margin widened and gently raised. Ventrite 5 moderately depressed at posterior half. Ventrite 6 moderately bulging at anterior edge. Female genitalia ( Fig. 4 ) described in the morphotype I “ Trichophora ”. Genital chamber without vestigial sternites neither sensory setae; bursa copulatrix with epithelium of peduncle hardened. Male unknown.

Material examined

Lectotype (here designated) NEPAL • ♀; “Nepal 3983”; “ abdominalis Hope ”; “Type”; “Lectotype Miridiba abdominalis ( Hope, 1831) CH. Bu Gao & M. Coca-Abia det. 2017”; BMNH.

Remarks

Although the type specimens of M. abdominalis was never studied, this species was transferred to Miridiba ( Nomura 1977) and currently belongs to this genus ( Coca-Abia 2008; Bezděk 2016). The lectotype is designated herein based on a syntype deposited in the Natural History Museum, London (BMNH). Hope (1831) did not indicate how many specimens he studied, and in case other syntypes are found, the known syntype is herewith designated as the lectotype. According to the features of the female genitalia, we consider that this species belongs to genital morphotype I “ Trichophora ”.

Distribution

Nepal, India (Assam).

Figures

Figs 2–4. Morphotype I “Trichophora”. 2–3. Male genitalia of M. trichophora (Fairmaire, 1891), paralectotype (MNHN). 2. Parameres in dorsal (A), ventral (B) and lateral (C) views. 3. Endophallus in lateral view. 4. Female genitalia of M. abdominalis (Hope, 1831), lectotype (BMNH), in dorsal (A) and ventral (B) views. Scale bars = 1.0 mm.

Figs 26–28. Habitus in dorsal view. 26. Miridiba abdominalis (Hope, 1831), lectotype (BMNH). 27. M. bilobata (Moser, 1913), lectotype (BMNH). 28. M. castanea (Waterhouse, 1875), lectotype (BMNH). Scale bars = 5.0 mm.