Itagonia zayica, Shi, Ai-Min & Ren, Guo-Dong, 2007

Shi, Ai-Min & Ren, Guo-Dong, 2007, Two new species of Itagonia Reitter (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae: Blaptini) from Tibet, China, Zootaxa 1483, pp. 33-39 : 36-39

Itagonia zayica sp. nov.

( Figs 12–25 , 28–29 )

Type material. Holotype: male, CHINA: Tibet, Zayu, Menkong 28º31' N, 98º19' E, 2000–2400 m, 4 Jul. 2005, collected by Ai-min Shi ( MHBU). Paratypes: 4 females, same data as the holotype ( MHBU).

Diagnosis. The new species resembles Itagonia trisetosa Medvedev, 1998 , with the following differences: anterior margin of pronotum straight; less than anterior 1/2 and apical part of outer margin of epipleura visible from above; upper edge of inner surface of profemur with obtuse tooth near apex; ventral surface of protarsomeres 1 and 2 with small hair brushes; parameres with outer margins sinuate near the middle.

Etymology. Named after the type locality, Zayu.

Description. Body black, indistinctly shining.

Male ( Figs 12–22 ). Anterior margin of clypeus straight. Lateral margin of head with shallow obtuseangled incision above antennal base. Outer margins of genae parallel-sided before eyes. Eyes slightly protruding beyond lateral margin of head. Vertex weakly convex, punctures coarse and obscure. Frontoclypeal suture distinct. Antennae ( Fig. 12 ) long, when posteriorly extended, reaching pronotal base. Length (width) ratio of antennomeres 2 to 11 as follows: 8(9): 28(11): 13(9): 13(9): 13(9): 15(10): 13(13): 11(13): 11(13): 14(13).

Pronotum ( Fig. 13 ) slightly transverse, 1.16 times as wide as long, widest in the middle, 1.82 times as wide as head. Ratio of pronotal width at anterior margin to its maximum width and width at base 0.61: 1.00: 0.95. Lateral margins of pronotum weakly arcuately converging to anterior margin in anterior half; converging to base with almost straight sides in basal half; bordered along entire length. Anterior margin and base of pronotum straight, both bordered laterally. Anterior angles of pronotum slightly obtuse, rounded apically; posterior ones slightly obtuse. Pronotal surface between lateral margins convex, with dense fine punctures, median depression short and obscure. Propleura with dense fine granules and wrinkles. Prosternum in front of procoxae oblique to the horizontal plane; intercoxal process of prosternum with wide median depression, obliquely sloping behind procoxae.

Elytra elongate-oval, 1.56 times as long as wide, widest near the middle, 1.33 times as wide as pronotum. Less than anterior 1/2 and apical part of outer margin of epipleura visible from above. Elytral surface between outer margin of epipleura and sutural margin slightly convex, with very fine punctures and sparse wrinkles. Epipleura reaching apices of elytra, surface with wrinkles and very sparse granules. Visible abdominal sternites with punctures, brown setae and wrinkles.

Legs ( Figs 15–17 ) strong, length (width) ratio of pro-, meso- and metafemora 72.9(24.7): 90.6(20): 100(20); that of corresponding tibiae: 72.9(9.4): 74.1(10.6): 96.5(11.8). Upper edge of inner surface of profemur ( Fig. 14 ) with obtuse tooth near apex. Protibiae incurved near apical 1/3, with two pointed spurs at apical margin, the upper one larger than the lower one. Ventral surface of protarsomeres 1 and 2 and mesotarsomere 1 with small hair brushes. Metatibiae straight, gradually widening towards apex. Length (width) ratio of metatarsomeres 1 to 4 as follows: 40.1(10.1): 22.8(9.9): 20.2(8.9): 32.3(10.1).

Aedeagus ( Figs 18–20 ): length 2.71 mm, width 0.58 mm. Parameres 0.67 mm long and 0.41 mm wide, with outer margins sinuate near the middle. Spiculum gastrale as in Fig. 21 . Apical margin of abdominal sternite 8 sinuate ( Fig. 22 ).

Female ( Figs 23–25 ). Body longer and wider. Antennae short, when posteriorly extended, not reaching pronotal base. Upper spur of protibiae much larger than lower spur, but not very massive, and rounded apically. Ventral surface of pro- and mesotarsomeres without hair brushes or apical tuft of pale hairs. Ovipositor as in Figs 23–24 . Spiculum ventrale as in Fig. 25 .

Measurements. Male body length 11.7 mm, width 5.5 mm; female body length 12.6–12.8 mm, width 6.2–6.3 mm.

Distribution. China: Tibet (Zayu).

Figures

FIGURES 12 – 25. Itagonia zayica, sp. nov.. 12. antenna; 13. pronotum; 14. profemur; 15. protibiae and protarsomeres; 16. mesotibiae and mesotarsomeres; 17. metatibiae and metatarsomeres; 18 – 19. apical part of aedeagus in dorsal and ventral views; 20. aedeagus in lateral view; 21. spiculum gastrale; 22. abdominal sternite 8 of male; 23 – 24. ovipositor in dorsal and ventral views; 25. spiculum ventrale.

FIGURES 26 – 29. 26 – 27. Itagonia cordiformis, sp. nov.: 27. male, length 9.5 mm; 28. female, length 10.1 mm; 28 – 29. I. zayica, sp. nov.: 28. male, length 11.7 mm; 29. female, length 12.8 mm.