Synchroa pangu Hsiao, Li, Liu & Pang

Hsiao, Yun, Li, Yun, Liu, Zhenhua & Pang, Hong, 2016, A new species of Synchroa Newman from China (Coleoptera: Synchroidae), Zootaxa 4093 (4), pp. 595-600 : 596-598

Synchroa pangu Hsiao, Li, Liu & Pang sp. nov. ( Figs 1–8 )

Type material. Holotype ♂, ‘ CHINA / Sichuan prov., Ya’an, Tianquan, Labahe, 1500 – 2500 m / 8–9. vii. 2012 / Living (Yun Li) & M.-C. Chen leg.’ (SYSBM). DNA sample, tube number: YL0811 (SYSBM).

Description. Coloration. Body and legs completely black.

Male ( Fig. 1 ). Body elongate, slightly flattened, elytra rather strongly narrowed posteriorly, covered with elongate yellowish, and slightly raised hairs. Eyes lateral, large, emarginate in front of antennal insertions, ratio of eye diameter to interocular space 1.0:1.9. Antennae filiform, when directed backwards exceeding the humeri of elytra. Scape cylindrical, wider than other antennomeres, pedicel short, antennomere III–XI somewhat clavate, XI longest, 3.5 times as long as wide ( Fig. 2 ). Length ratio of antennomeres as follows: 2.00:1.00:2.20:2.50:2.05:2.15:2.00:2.05:1.90:1.80:2.85. Apical maxillary palpomere securiform, apical margin moderately rounded, terminal angle somewhat obtuse ( Fig. 3 ). Surface lustrous, densely and coarsely punctate; interspaces slightly narrower than puncture diameter.

Pronotum truncate anteriorly, bisinuate posteriorly, with obtuse median lobe, 1.5 times as wide as long, 1.5 times as wide as head. Lateral sides rounded and narrowed in anterior two-thirds toward head, subparallel in posterior one-third, not margined. Anterior angle rounded; posterior angle rectangular and obtuse. Disc slightly flattened medially, surface lustrous, densely and coarsely punctate; spaces between punctures smaller than puncture diameter. Scutellum 1.4 times as wide as long.

Elytra elongate, narrowed posteriorly, apex rounded, 1.20 times as wide as pronotum at humeri, 3.05 times as long as wide, surface lustrous. Disc covered with oval punctures, denser in lateral and basal part; interspaces wider than puncture diameter. Three faint and sparse traces of striae in basal two-thirds of each elytron ( Fig. 4 ). Prosternum before coxae 0.70 times as long as longitudinal diameter of fore coxae. Prosternal process long, margined laterally, long oval, length behind fore coxae 1.25 times width between fore coxa. Width between fore coxae 4.38 times transverse coxa diameter. Mesoventrite with shallow, oval depression in which prosternal process fits, moderately punctate ( Fig. 5 ).

Legs slender. Fore legs of holotype missing. Tarsomeres simple, tarsal formula 5-5-4. The longest spur of hind tibiae 0.2 times as long as first tarsal segment; length ratio of tarsomeres as follows: 2.05:1.00:0.60:0.75 (measured without claws). Claws simple.

Aedeagus ( Figs 6–8 ): ensiform, lateral sides of basal piece constricted in middle. Parameres narrowly separated apically and with a groove in dorsal median part, lateral sides constricted at the basal one-third and tapered in apical half. Median lobe long, slender and clavate, extending from the tegmen in natural condition, the basal part moderately widened.

Length: 10.25 mm; width: 2.6 mm.

Female. Unknown.

Diagnosis. This species can be easily distinguished from the other members of Synchroa by the following combination of characters: body completely black and lustrous; prothorax narrower than the width of elytra at humeri; nearly parallel lateral sides in anterior half of elytra; three faint and sparse traces of striae in basal two-thirds of each elytron; the long oval apex of prosternal process; aedeagus with lateral sides constricted at the basal one-third of paramere and long, slender and clavate median lobe, extending from the tegmen in natural condition.

Notes. The holotype was collected by sweeping the lowest stratum of forest vegetation along the valley from Hetaoping to Luchi (Deer Lake) with typical deciduous and conifer ecosystem.

Etymology. The specific name honors the great mythical character in Chinese mythology, Pangu , who was the first living being at the beginning of the Universe and used his giant axe to make the Yin (=earth) and the Yang (=sky) separated from a formless chaos. After his death, his body became the elements and the creatures of the world. Distribution. China (Sichuan prov.).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Dorsal habitus of Synchroa pangu sp. nov. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 2 – 5. 2 — antennomeres IX – XI; 3 — apical maxillary palpomere; 4 — elytron; 5 — prosternal process and mesoventrite. Scale bars: 2, 3 — 0.5 mm; 4, 5 — 1.0 mm

FIGURES 6 – 8. Aedeagus. 6 — ventral view; 7 — lateral view; 8 — dorsal view. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.