Pediacus ater Grouvelle

Marris, John W. M. & Ślipiński, Adam, 2014, A revision of the Pediacus Shuckard 1839 (Coleoptera: Cucujidae) of Asia and Australasia, Zootaxa 3754 (1), pp. 32-58 : 35

Pediacus ater Grouvelle

Figs. 1 A–H.

Pediacus ater Grouvelle, 1897: 396 .

Diagnosis. Recognisable by the combination of the following characters: body form broad, surface highly glossy, pronotum strongly explanate with glabrous lateral margins, elytra with epipleura strongly explanate.

Description. Body length 3.1–4.7 mm (n=9), broad, 2.55× longer than wide; colour variable, ranging from black-brown to orange-brown, disc of pronotum occasionally darker, with head, antennae, lateral margins of pronotum and legs paler; pubescence short, pale, appressed and inconspicuous; surface highly glossy. Head strongly transverse, 1.86× wider than long; puncturation moderately impressed, broad and sparse medially, increasing in size and density laterally with punctures separated by distinctly less than their diameter; setae very short and appressed, inconspicuous; microsculpture absent, surface glossy; eyes large, very strongly projecting, ocular index 0.69, finely faceted, postocular denticle absent; antennae as in Figs. 1 E, F, antennomere VII larger than VI and VIII. Pronotum strongly transverse, 1.40× wider than long, widest at about midpoint, sides broadly curved; lateral margins strongly explanate, denticles ranging from broadly rounded to narrowly obtuse, anterior denticle almost obsolete in some specimens; disc planar to faintly impressed; puncturation as for head, with a narrow, impunctate median strip most prominent basally; setation and microsculpture as for head, lateral margins glabrous. Elytra broadly elongate, 1.70× longer than wide, sides subparallel; epipleura strongly explanate, reflexed; puncturation moderately dense, moderately impressed basally, becoming weakly impressed laterally and posteriorly; setation short and inconspicuous; microsculpture absent, surface glossy. Genitalia for male as in Figs. 1 G, H, parameres elongate, tapering apically; internal sac with strong tooth-like projections basally and a sclerotized apical section.

Type material. Syntype from Sumatra, Si-Rambe, E. Modigliani ( MNHN) was examined and photographed in 1997 by AS.

Other Specimens Examined. INDONESIA: Sumatra: SUMATRA (N. [North]), BRASTAGI [sic, =Berasatagi] G. Sibayak, 1450–1900m 19.–23.II. 1921 Bocák & Bocáková lgt. (10, NHMB). Borneo: BORNEO SABAH Mt. Kinabalu Nat. Pk. HQ at Liwagu Rv. 1500m 16.V.1987 A. Smetana (2, MHNG); BORNEO SABAH Mt. Kinabalu N. P. Headquarters 1558m IV–29–87, Large cut tree-Quercus sp. D.E. Bright collector (1, USNM) ; N.[North] BORNEO, BETTOTAN. Nr. SANDAKAN. 23–8–1927 [Following text on reverse] C. B. K. & H. M. P., F.M.S Museums (3, BMNH) ; BORNEO: Sabah km. 62, Lahad Datu To Danum Valley F. S. VIII–29–1988, Under bark D.E. Bright Collector (1, USNM) ; Mt Tibang 1,700 m., O. Borneo Mjöberg (1, USNM); Pajau River, O. Borneo Mjöberg (1, USNM); BRITISH N. BORNEO Tenompok 13.II.1959, T.C. Maa Collector (2, BPBM), BORNEO SABAH Mt. Kinabalu Nat. Pk. Poring Hot Spgs . 485m 24.VIII.88 A. Smetana [B142] (1, MHNG). MALAYSIA: PAHANG, F. M. S. [ Federated Malay States] Lubok Tamang 3500 ft. 7th June, 1923 H. M. Pendlebury. (1, BMNH); MALAYSIA: Pahang Tioman Island Umg. Kampung Tekek 15.– 24.7.1993 lg. Schuh (1, CRS); MALAYSIA: Selangor Fraser Hill, 1300m 14.8.1993 lg. Schuh (1, CRS). PHILIPPINES: PHILIPPINES, 1600m Mindanao, 30km W of Maramag, 28.–30.Dec 1990 Bolm lgt. (2, NHMB). THAILAND: THAILAND, Chiang MaiP [Chiang Mai Province] DoiSuthep, St. LouisChr. Camp, V.28.1999, CW&LB. O'Brien (4, FSCA); NW Thailand, 1991 Chiang Mai, 18.49N, 99.00E Doi Suthep to Doi Pui 19.–23.4., L. Dembický leg. (1, NHMB).

Distribution. Indonesia (Sumatra, Borneo), Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand.

Discussion. This species shows considerable colour variation, ranging from unicolorous black-brown to orange-brown. In some specimens the disc of the pronotum is significantly darker than the rest of the dorsum.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Pediacus ater Grouvelle (A, C, E, H) specimen from Borneo; (B, D, F, G) specimen from Sumatra. (A, B) Head and pronotum; (C, D) dorsal habitus; (E, F) antenna; (G, H) aedeagus.