Meloinae Gyllenhal, 1810

Pan, Zhao & Ren, Guodong, 2018, Taxonomic revision of the subfamily Meloinae (Coleoptera: Meloidae) from Xizang, China, with description of a new species, Zoological Systematics 43 (1), pp. 66-88 : 67-69

Subfamily Meloinae Gyllenhal, 1810

Melooides Gyllenhal, 1810: 481. Type genus: Meloe Linnaeus, 1758 .

Distribution. Worldwide (except Oceania).

Key to the species of the subfamily Meloinae from Xizang of China.

1. Dorsal blade of tarsal claws with two rows of teeth along ventral margin (fig. 89 in Bologna & Pinto, 2002) ( Denierella ) ................. ................................................................................................................................................................. Denierella minutiserra Tan Dorsal blade of tarsal claws smooth along ventral margin...................................................................................................................2

2. Profemora with apical half of ventral surface slightly excavated, excavation with a patch of appressed, transversely directed silky pubescence (fig. 79 in Bologna & Pinto, 2002) ( Epicauta )..................................................................................................................3 Profemora without excavation as above and lacking a patch of pubescence........................................................................................6

3. Head mostly reddish, but black on inner marginal area of eyes at least; male antennomeres IV–VII evidently widened on external side ( Fig. 4 ); male protibiae each with two spurs......................................................................................... Epicauta sibirica (Pallas) Head totally reddish except clypeus and labrum; male antennomeres IV–VII sub-filiform, not widened; male protibiae each with only one inner spur....................................................................................................................................................................................... 4

4. Pronotum usually with median line formed by short gray setation; usually with gray setation on exterior and apical margins of each elytrum ( Fig. 3 ); male protarsomere I modified, conspicuously sinuate on inner side, and concave smooth......................................... ......................................................................................................................................................... Epicauta interrupta (Fairmaire) Pronotum and elytra without gray setation on positions as above ( Figs 2, 5 ); male protarsomere I not modified ...............................5

5. Male antennomeres (except XI) with black long setae.......................................................... Epicauta hirticornis (Haag-Rutenberg) Male antennomeres without long setae ...................................................................................................... Epicauta wellmani Kaszab

6. Elytra reduced, and hindwing absent ................................................................................................................................................... 7 Elytra well developed, hindwing exist ............................................................................................................................................... 16

7. Elytra extremely reduced, widely separated immediately at base; ventral blade of claws setiformed ( Oreomeloe ) .............................. ...................................................................................................................................................................... Oreomeloe spinulus Tan Elytra not so reduced, not separated at very base ( Figs 14–16 ); ventral blade of claws normal shaped ( Meloe ) ................................. 8

8. Pronotum less than 2/3 as long as wide ( Fig. 14 ) .................................................................................................................................9 Pronotum at least 4/5 as long as wide ( Figs 15–16 ) ........................................................................................................................... 10

9. Frons with a pair of transverse sub-oval-shaped depression on sides of central; pronotum without sub-rounded depression on lateral side each............................................................................................................................................................... Meloe asperatus Tan Frons without depression on center; pronotum with one sub-rounded depression on lateral side each............... Meloe servulus Bates

10. Male antennomeres V–VII geniculate and distorted; female middle antennomeres thickened .......................................................... 11 Male antennomeres V–VII unmodified..............................................................................................................................................15

11. Punctuation on head and pronotum irregular and large, diameter more than distance among punctures ( Fig. 29 ) ............................12 Punctuation on head and pronotum small, diameter less than distance among punctures ..................................................................13

12. Frons only with few punctures on center, much sparser than other parts of head; pronotum slightly longer than width ( Fig. 29 ), with a shallow depression on center of disk, basal margin conspicuously sinuates in middle; mesonotum triangularly stretch out, clearly visible ( Fig. 29 ); male antennomere VII with similar width but longer than VI, VI positioned almost on center of V in dorsal view ( Figs 26–27 ); parameres of male genitalia with three sub-rounded yellow spots on center ( Fig. 30 ) ............... Meloe scabrus sp. nov. Frons with punctures similar than other parts of head; pronotum as long as wide (fig. 132d in Bologna, 1991), without depression, basal margin not conspicuously sinuate in middle; posterior margin of mesonotum almost straight, not triangularly stretched out, nearly invisible; male antennomere VII shorter and narrower than VI, VI positioned on external part of V in dorsal view (figs 132a, c in Bologna, 1991); parameres without yellow spots on ventral surface .................. Meloe proscarabaeus proscarabaeus Linnaeus

13. Pronotum without transverse depression at base; anterior half of pronotum conspicuously convex; body length usually less than 10 mm ......................................................................................................................................................... Meloe modestus Fairmaire Pronotum with a transverse depression at base; pronotum almost flat, slightly convex at most; body length usually more than 10 mm ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................14

14. Pronotum without wide depression on center; pronotal length similar to width; lateral sides of pronotum gradually narrowed from middle to base; parameres of male genitalia without any yellow spots on center; dorsal hooks of penis small ..................................... .......................................................................................................................................................... Meloe subcordicollis Fairmaire Pronotum with a sub-rounded shallow depression on center; pronotum conspicuously longer than wide; lateral sides of pronotum abruptly narrowed from middle to base; parameres with an irregular yellow spot on center; distal hooks of penis large...................... ................................................................................................................................................................. Meloe auriculatus Marseul

15. Body length 6–10 mm; pronotal disk without sub-rounded depression on center of basal half.............................................................. ............................................................................................................................................. Meloe elegantulus Semenov & Arnoldi Body length ca. 30 mm; pronotal disk with a sub-rounded depression on center of basal half (fig. 1 in Tan, 1988) .............................. ......................................................................................................................................................................... Meloe medogensis Tan

16. Antennae with segments slightly to distinctly widened to apex; mesosternum with a distinctly modified anterior “scutum” (figs 66– 69 in Bologna & Pinto, 2002) ............................................................................................................................................................17 Antennae not widened to apex; mesosternum uniform, without a differentiated anterior area ( Lytta ) ............................................... 28

17. Mesosternum with a longitudinal, furrowed carina, continuous anteriorly with mesepisterna (fig. 5 in Pan et al., 2013); pronotum subhexagonal with angulate sides (fig. 1 in Pan et al., 2013); male parameres with elongate setae apically (fig. 8 in Pan et al., 2013) ( Pseudabris )....................................................................................................................................................................................... 18 Mesosternum without such a carina; pronotum shape variable but not as above; male parameres usually without elongate setae apically...............................................................................................................................................................................................23

18. Elytral black lateral border which separates first yellow transverse fascia from external margin of elytra, very narrow (figs 6d–f in Pan et al., 2013); depression on vertex, posterior to red frontal spot, shallow; temples sub-rounded; longitudinal depression in middle of mesosternal carina narrow; external side of male protibia only with short setae ........................................................................... 19 Elytral black lateral border which separates first yellow transverse fascia from external margin of elytra, wide (figs 6a–c, g in Pan et al., 2013); depression on vertex deep; temples obliquely widened behind eyes; longitudinal depression in middle of mesosternal carina wide; external side of male protibial with some long setae mixed with short..........................................................................21

19. Frons with a wide and slightly deep depression in middle; fore margins of mesepisterna forming a median groove slightly wide, margins almost parallel along median groove and posteriorly diverging (fig. 5e in Pan et al., 2013); scutellum slightly depressed in middle; dorsal margin of parameres abruptly sinuate and narrowed in a short lobe in ventral view (fig. 8e in Pan et al., 2013)........... ............................................................................................................................................... Pseudabris przewalskyi (Dokhtouroff) Frons with a narrow, sub-longitudinal and deep depression in middle; median groove of mesepisterna wide, margins diverging almost from base (figs 5d, f in Pan et al., 2013); middle surface of scutellum with a deep, transverse ditch in middle of depression; dorsal margin of parameres abruptly sinuate and narrowed in a long lobe in ventral view (figs 8d, f in Pan et al., 2013) ...........................20

20. Elytra usually without black spots on first yellow-red fascia, middle and posterior yellow fasciae very reduced (fig. 6d in Pan et al., 2013); surface of pronotum with dense punctures; surface of dorsal blade of claws meshed (easily visible with a scanning electron microscope) (fig. 7c in Pan et al., 2013) ............................................................................................. Pseudabris longiventris (Blair) Elytra with numerous black spots on first yellow-red fascia, middle and posterior yellow fasciae very extended (fig. 6f in Pan et al., 2013); surface of pronotum with sparse and fine punctures; surface of dorsal blade of claws with smaller meshes not so clearly visible (fig. 7e in Pan et al., 2013)......................................................................................................... Pseudabris regularis Pan & Bologna

21. Setae on dorsal surface of head very long; depression between temples and middle of vertex moderately deep; length/width ratio of antennomere XI less than 2; pronotum with three small depressions in middle of disk; elytra almost covering tip of abdomen; setae on external side of male protarsomere I distinctly longer than those of inner side.................................. Pseudabris hingstoni (Blair) Setae on dorsal surface of head quite short; depression between temples and middle of vertex deep and evidently distinguishing two portions of head; length/width ratio of antennomere XI more than 2; pronotum with a wide depression in middle of disk; elytra not completely covering last two abdominal tergites; setae on external side of male protarsomere I as long as those of inner side........ 22

22. Setae on pronotum and base of elytra long; median groove of mesepisterna narrow, drop-shaped, margins sinuate and posteriorly diverging (fig. 5c in Pan et al., 2013); length of male metatarsus I versus IV more than 1.5; apical lobe of parameres progressively narrowed to a slender lobe in ventral view (fig. 8c in Pan et al., 2013) ............................... Pseudabris latimaculata Pan & Bologna Setae on pronotum and base of elytra short; median groove of mesepisterna slightly wide, margins almost parallel along median groove and afterwards diverging (fig. 5g in Pan et al., 2013); length of male metatarsus I versus IV less than 1.5; apical lobe of parameres suddenly sinuate and narrowed to a short lobe in ventral view (fig. 8g in Pan et al., 2013) ................................................. ......................................................................................................................................................... Pseudabris tigriodera Fairmaire

23. Mesepisterna with a relatively wide and distinctly furrowed anterior border area (figs 66–67 in Bologna & Pinto, 2002); pronotum with a very fine median furrow and depression at center of disk ( Hycleus )....................................................................................... 24 Mesepisterna with anterior edge sometimes narrowly grooved, without a wide and furrowed anterior border area; pronotum without a fine median furrow at center of disk ( Mylabris )..............................................................................................................................27

24. Elytral yellow-reddish fasciae with mixed yellow and black setae .......................................................... Hycleus cichorii (Linnaeus) Elytral yellow-reddish fasciae with black setae only, except axillary spot with yellow setae in some species ..................................25

25. Elytral axillary spot with black setae only ............................................................................. Hycleus phaleratus phaleratus (Pallas) Elytral axillary spot with few yellow setae mixed to black setae .......................................................................................................26

26. Pronotal anterior depression inconspicuous; setae on dorsum of male protarsi not distinctly longer than on other surfaces; protarsi and maxillary palpi black; proximal penial hook close to distal one (fig. 6J in Pan et al., 2011)........................................................... ............................................................................................................................................. Hycleus dorsetiferus Pan, Ren & Wang Pronotal anterior depression distinct; setae on dorsum of male protarsi longer than on other surfaces; protarsi and maxillary palpi usually yellow-brown, black only in few individuals from S China; proximal penial hook relatively far from distal one (fig. 8J in Pan et al., 2011) .......................................................................................................................................... Hycleus medioinsignatus (Pic)

27. Only one yellow-reddish sub-drop shaped spot on base of each elytron, axillary area without any spot or fascia; body with blue metallic reflections............................................................................................................................................ Mylabris bistillata Tan One yellow-reddish transverse narrow fascia on base of each elytron, reaching axillary area; body without blue reflections .............. ............................................................................................................................................................... Mylabris macilenta Marseul

28. Anterior angles of pronotum red, remains black ( Fig. 9 ) .................................................................................... Lytta rubrinotata Tan Pronotum unicolored, black or red..................................................................................................................................................... 29

29. Pronotum orange-red; head orange-red on basal half, but black on apical half ( Fig. 13 ); male mesotibiae each lacking inner spur; male protarsomeres I and II strongly distorted, modified for clasping........................................................................ Lytta taliana Pic Pronotum and head black; male mesotibiae each with two spurs or lacking outer spur; male protarsomere II not modified............. 30

30. Elytra red-brown, unicolor ( Fig. 6 ) ........................................................................................................... Lytta fissicollis (Fairmaire) Elytra bicolored, black with yellow-reddish longitudinal fascia, or yellow-red with black longitudinal fascia ( Figs 8–12 )..............31

31. Elytra yellow-red, with black longitudinal fascia, but not reaching base and apex of elytra ( Figs 8–9 ); male protibiae each with two spurs; male metatrochanters spined.................................................................................................................................................... 32 Elytra black, with yellow-reddish longitudinal fascia, wide or narrow, reaching both base and apex of elytra ( Figs 10–12 ); male protibiae each with only inner spur; male metatrochanters not modified...........................................................................................33

32. Punctation on head and pronotum very small and sparse, almost invisible, diameter far less than distance among punctures; pronotum with a deep transverse depression on subapical area........................................................................................ Lytta satiata Escherich Punctation on head and pronotum large and dense, diameter more than distance among punctures; pronotum flat, without subapical transverse depression ........................................................................................................................................... Lytta selanderi Saha

33. The median yellow-reddish longitudinal fascia conspicuously wider than black longitudinal fasciae on lateral sides ( Fig. 12 ); antennomere IV slightly longer than III ........................................................................................................... Lytta sifanica Semenov The median yellow-reddish fascia conspicuously narrower than black fasciae ( Figs 10–11 ); antennomere IV shorter than III ........ 34

34. Punctation on head and pronotum small, almost invisible on pronotum; pronotum with one deep sub-rounded depression on each lateral side ........................................................................................................................................................... Lytta battonii Kaszab Punctation on head and pronotum large and rough; pronotum usually without depressions on lateral sides ..................................... 35

35. Body without blue-green metallic shine; punctation on head and pronotum sparse and regular................ Lytta kryzhanoskyi Kaszab Body with blue-green metallic shine; punctation on head and pronotum very dense and irregular ................................................... 36

36. Pronotal width/length ratio more than 2; dorsal hooks of male penis different in shape (fig. 4 in Kaszab, 1962) ............................... ........................................................................................................................................................ Lytta roborowskyi (Dokhtouroff) Pronotal width/length ratio less than 2; dorsal hooks of male penis similar in shape (fig. 5 in Kaszab, 1962) ...... Lytta bieti Wellman

Figures

Figures 1–12. Habitus, dorsal view. 1. Denierella minutiserra Tan. 2. Epicauta hirticornis (Haag-Rutenberg). 3. Epicauta interrupta (Fairmaire). 4. Epicauta sibirica (Pallas). 5. Epicauta wellmani Kaszab. 6. Lytta fissicollis (Fairmaire). 7. Lytta satiata Escherich. 8. Lytta selanderi Saha. 9. Lytta rubrinotata Tan. 10. Lytta bieti Wellman. 11. Lytta roborowskyi (Dokhtouroff). 12. Lytta sifanica Semenov.

Figures 13–25. Habitus, dorsal view. 13. Lytta taliana Pic. 14. Meloe servulus Bates. 15. Meloe proscarabaeus proscarabaeus Linnaeus. 16. Meloe scabrus sp. nov. 17. Hycleus cichorii (Linnaeus). 18. Hycleus dorsetiferus Pan, Ren & Wang. 19. Hycleus medioinsignatus (Pic). 20. Hycleus phaleratus phaleratus (Pallas). 21. Pseudabris hingstoni (Blair). 22. Pseudabris latimaculata Pan & Bologna. 23. Pseudabris longiventris (Blair). 24. Pseudabris przewalskyi (Dokhtouroff). 25. Pseudabris regularis Pan & Bologna.

Figure 26–33. Meloe (Meloe) scabrus sp. nov. 26. Antenna, dorsal view, male. 27. Antennomeres V– VII, external lateral view. 28. Antenna, dorsal view, female. 29. Pronotum and mesonotum, dorsal view. 30. Tegmen, ventral view. 31. Tegmen, lateral view. 32. Penis, lateral view. 33. Spiculum gastrale, dorsal view. Scale bar: 1mm.