Pediacus japonicus Reitter

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 : 45

Pediacus japonicus Reitter

Figs. 6 A–D.

Pediacus japonicus Reitter, 1874: 516 .

Diagnosis. Recognisable by the combination of the following characters: body form elongate, eyes small with weakly developed postocular swelling, antennomere VII distinctly wider than VI and VIII; pronotum with posteromedial denticle produced and narrowly obtuse. This species is very similar to P. japonicoides sp. nov., but can be distinguished from it by its darker pronotal disc and its less strongly developed lateral margins of the pronotum and less prominent pronotal denticles.

Description. Body length 3.6–4.1 mm (n=5), elongate, 3.07× longer than wide; colour red-brown, often with basal half of head and disc of pronotum distinctly darker; pubescence long, pale, appressed and moderately conspicuous; surface weakly glossy. Head transverse, 1.75× wider than long; puncturation moderately impressed and moderately dense medially, increasing in size and density laterally with punctures separated by less than their diameter; setae long, fine and appressed, conspicuous; microsculpture absent, surface glossy; eyes small, moderately projecting, ocular index 0.74, finely faceted, postocular denticle absent but with a weakly developed postocular swelling; antennae as in Fig. 6 D, antennomere VII distinctly wider than VI and VIII. Pronotum transverse, 1.26× wider than long, widest at about posterior 3/4, sides subparallel; lateral margins explanate and reflexed, anterior and antero-medial denticles small and broadly obtuse, postero-medial denticle produced and narrowly obtuse, posterior denticle small and obtuse; disc faintly impressed; puncturation as for head, with narrow, impunctate median strip faint to absent; setation as for head; microsculpture faintly reticulate. Elytra strongly elongate, 2.10× longer than wide, sides subparallel; epipleura strongly explanate; puncturation moderately dense but weakly impressed basally, becoming more dense and deeply impressed laterally, puncturation faint on disc; setation long, appressed and conspicuous; microsculpture coriaceous. Genitalia for male as in Fig. 6 C, parameres elongate, slender, narrowed basally and tapering apically; internal sac with tooth-like projections basally and a moderately sclerotized apical section.

Type material. Syntype (male): “[ Japan] Type, H.T. [Round label with red border] // Nagasaki // Japan, G. Lewis, 1910 – 320 [Yellow line below 'Japan'] // japonicus ms [handwritten]”. Specimen mounted on card ( BMNH).

Other Specimens Examined. JAPAN: JAPAN: (Sasago Pass) Yamato YAMANASHI, JAPAN 26.V. 1987 H. Yamazaki leg. (1, FSCA) ; JAPAN: KYUSHU Fukuoka Pref. Mt. Tachibana 11.ii.1994 T. Ueno leg. (3, FSCA); JAPAN, Honshu Nishitama, Mt. Mitake 17–V–1979 Col. C.W. Mills, III (1, BPBM); J [ Japan]; Honshu, Osaka-fu Iwawakiyama, 500 m 6 km W of Amami 17. Apr 2002, BOLM lgt. (5, SMNS).

Distribution. Japan.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Pediacus species: (A – D) P. japonicus Reitter; (E – G) P. kurosawai Sasaji, holotype. (A, E) Head and pronotum; (B, G) dorsal habitus; (C) aedeagus; (D, F) antenna.