Xenorthrius rubris Gerstmeier & Eberle, 2010

Gerstmeier, Roland & Eberle, Jonas, 2010, Revision of the Indo-Australian checkered beetle genus Xenorthrius Gorham, 1892 (Coleoptera: Cleridae, Clerinae) 2584, Zootaxa 2584 (1), pp. 1-121 : 79-81

Xenorthrius rubris Gerstmeier & Eberle, 2010 n. sp.

( Figures 47 and 68F )

Specimens examined: Holotype: Mt. Tam Dao , Vinh Phu Prov., N. Vietnam, 10.V.1996 ( RGCM).

Paratypes: China: China, N Fujian, 26.–27.V.2005 Fengshui Guan , 27.9 N 117.85 E, 1700m, Jaroslav Turna leg. ( RGCM) . Vietnam: Tam Dao, N . Vietnam, VI.1999 ( KSCT) .

Measurements: (3 specimens measured) Average total length: 11.5mm, range: 9.6–13.5mm, average elytral length: 7.5mm, average elytral width: 3.0mm, average pronotal length: 2.8mm, average pronotal width: 2.2mm, average head width: 2.2mm.

Head: Black, cranium vested with shorter setae, with distinct punctation, interstices not exceeding one diameter of punctures; posterior part of clypeus black, with large punctation and a few long setae laterally, smooth centrally; ventral part wrinkled, smooth centrally; antennae red-brown, A4 longer than A3, antennomeres gradually decreasing in length from A4 towards A8, A9 to A11 forming an indistinct club, male A11 reaching beyond pronotal base when antennae laid back; gular sutures diverging apically, gular process relatively broad.

Thorax: Average pronotal length:width ratio 1.2:1; pronotum black, vested with short yellowish setae, pronotal arch with distinct punctation, interstices about one diameter of punctures, pronotum proper with denser punctation, interstices smaller than one diameter of punctures; prosternum dark red-brown to black, smooth; mesosternum dark red-brown to black, vested with yellowish setae; metasternum dark red-brown to black, vested with fine setae, punctation sparse, interstices irregular; two small edges on anterior metasternal process; scutellum subtriangular, colored like elytra.

Elytra: Average length:width ratio 2.5:1; elytra uniformly red, vested with relatively short decumbent setae, punctation relatively small, striae 1 obsolete behind one fifth of elytral length, striae 1 to 3 becoming constantly longer until striae 3 are nearly entirely present, striae 4 to 8 entirely present, striae 9 and 10 with weaker punctation, interstices between striae one to two diameters of punctures, interstices within striae smaller than one diameter of punctures; punctation not rasp-like, carination absent.

Legs: Coxa dark red-brown to black, trochanter, proximal half of femora and distal half of tibia yellow, distal half of femora and proximal half of tibia black, tarsi red-brown, tarsal pulvilli pale; metatibiae slightly curved distally, anterior and posterior face of each tibia carinate, carination red-brown, distinct, especially on metatibia.

Abdomen: Ventrites red-brown, with dense punctation; male pygidium broadest in basal third, lateral margins converging in apical two thirds, anterior margin slightly emarginate; male ventrite 6 with narrow Ushaped emargination. Male genitalia ( Fig. 47 ): Ventral tegminal sinus very deep; phallic plates broad; spicular fork dividing into two branches after one fifth to one quarter of length.

Distribution: China (Fujian), Vietnam.

Seasonal occurrence: Collected from May to June.

Etymology: The specific epithet, rubris , a Latin adjective meaning ruby, refers to the coloration of the elytra.

Figures

FIGURE 47. Xenorthrius rubris: (A) Tegmen in ventral view, (B) phallus in ventral view, (C) tip of aedeagus in lateral view, (D) spicular fork, (E) male pygidium, (F) male ventrite 6 and distribution map.

FIGURE 68. Habitus photographs: Xenorthrius penangis n. sp. (A), Xenorthrius procerus (B), Xenorthrius prolongatus (C), Xenorthrius robustus (D), Xenorthrius rubicollis n. sp. (E) and Xenorthrius rubris n. sp. (F). Scale bars = 4mm.