Eulichas birmanica Hájek, 2007

Hájek, Ji Ř Í, 2007, Revision of the genus Eulichas Jacobson, 1913 (Coleoptera: Eulichadidae) I. Introduction, morphology of adults, key to subgenera and species groups, and taxonomy of E. funebris species group, Zootaxa 1620, pp. 1-35 : 24-25

Eulichas birmanica Hájek , sp. nov.

( Figs. 27 , 43 , 65)

Type locality. Myanmar, Tenasserim, Pong Hang.

Type material. 5 specimens — Holotype ɗ ( NMPC), labelled: “ MYANMAR ( Burma) I.2001 / Tenasserim / PONG HANG / local collector leg. (viaG. Benzt) [printed] // Eulichadidae [handwritten] / det. C. Wurst 2003 [printed]”. Paratypes: 1 ɗ (no. 1), same label data as holotype ( NMPC); 3 ɗɗ (nos. 2–4), “ BURMA / Tenasserim / 29.4.1995 / leg.S.Steinke [printed]” ( NHMW, NMPC).

Description. Habitus elongate, fusiform. Body colouring brownish-red to brown-blackish. Pale part of setation consists of recumbent grey-yellowish setae forming typical ocellations on pronotum, elytra and abdominal sternites, where setae are darker and sparser (Fig. 65).

Measurements. Males: 16–19 mm (holotype 18 mm).

Head punctation consists of coarse setigerous punctures, larger and sparser on the frons, and smaller and denser on the vertex. Antenna relatively slender, last antennomere drop shaped, ca. 3.00–3.25 times as long as wide ( Fig. 43 ). Its ventral side with setigerous punctures, tubercles almost imperceptible.

Pronotum largely transverse, ca. 2.10–2.16 times as wide as long. Sides almost regularly rounded. Disc convex. Punctation consists of fine setigerous punctures, distributed sparsely on the disc, and somewhat densely laterally.

Elytra with numerous longitudinal rows of large setigerous punctures, and very fine interstitial punctures.

Ventral part with fine punctures, which are sparse medially and become larger and denser laterally. Last abdominal ventrite laterally regularly rounded to apex.

Male. Aedeagus with phallobase longer than parameres. Parameres relatively long and slender, simple. Subapical parameral hook well developed. The subbasal parameral hook is reduced to an indistinct swelling. Median lobe narrowly lanceolate with subbasal lateral processes indistinct, its subbasal spines turned dorsolaterally ( Fig. 27 ).

Female. Unknown.

Differential diagnosis. Eulichas birmanica sp. nov. is characterised by a relatively small body length, and last antennomere slender, drop shaped. Among the species of its species complex, E. birmanica sp. nov. is very similar to E. jaechi sp. nov., which it resembles in habitus, body length and colouration. These species can only be distinguished by the male genitalia. The median lobe of E. birmanica sp. nov. is narrowly lanceolate, without a distinct lateral processes.

Distribution. Known only from “Tenasserim”, southern Myanmar.

Etymology. The name is derived from “ Birmania ”, Latin name for Burma (currently Myanmar).

Figures

FIGURES 27 – 34. Aedeagus of Eulichas in dorsal view. 27 – E. birmanica sp. nov.; 28 – E. jaechi sp. nov.; 29 – E. strbai sp. nov.; 30 – E. tanahrata sp. nov.; 31 – E. janbezdeki sp. nov.; 32 – E. milleri; 33 – E. mediocris; 34 – E. minuta sp. nov. Scale bar 1.5 mm.

FIGURES 35 – 50. Male antennomeres IX – XI of Eulichas. 35 – E. funebris; 36 – E. meghalayensis sp. nov.; 37 – E. tenuicornis; 38 – E. tonkinensis; 39 – E. undulata; 40 – E. haucki sp. nov.; 41 – E. kubani sp. nov.; 42 – E. pacholatkoi; 43 – E. birmanica sp. nov.; 44 – E. jaechi sp. nov.; 45 – E. strbai sp. nov.; 46 – E. tanahrata sp. nov.; 47 – E. janbezdeki sp. nov.; 48 – E. milleri; 49 – E. mediocris; 50 – E. minuta sp. nov. Scale bar 1 mm.