Aethina (Aethina) argus Grouvelle, 1890

Dasgupta, Jhikmik & Pal, Tarun Kumar, 2022, On Aethina Erichson of Northeast India (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae: Nitidulinae), Zootaxa 5124 (5), pp. 533-550 : 539

3. Aethina (Aethina) argus Grouvelle, 1890

Aethina (Aethina) argus Grouvelle, 1890: 125 ; Kirejtshuk, 1986: 61.

Description derived from earlier literature. Facies ( Fig. 40 ): Body colour entirely testaceous-ferrugineous, a little darkened with ten black punctate spots; four on the pronotum: the first in the middle of anterior margin, the second above the scutellar shield near posterior margin, and two postero-laterally placed; five on the elytra: one sutural, and two on each sides of elytron; one in the middle of last abdominal segment. Body rather broad, oval, subconvex, densely punctate. Cuticle covered with decumbent pubescence, more distinct than base of elytra. Antennae testaceous. Prothorax transverse, slightly narrowed anterad, anterior margin deeply emarginate, posterior corners of pronotum somewhat projecting posterad. Scutellar shield transverse, punctate. Elytra with truncate apex, exposing only the last abdominal segment. Abdomen and metaventrite finely punctate, a little near sides. Aedeagus ( Figs. 41, 42 ): Tegmen elongate, tongue-shaped, subparallel sides with rounded apex; row of setae present in the apical third at the sides. Median lobe bud shaped, slightly longer than broad with rounded apex.

Measurements (in mm.): Total length 3.8–6.6; total width 2.4–3.8.

Material examined: The material could not be examined due to non-availability of specimen.

Distribution: INDIA: Sikkim; MYANMAR; TAIWAN; VIETNAM.

Figures

FIGURES 40–50. Aethina (Aethina) argus Grouvelle, 1890: 40, Dorsal facies, line drawing (adapted from Grouvelle, 1890); 41, Tegmen, line drawing (adapted from Kirejtshuk, 1986); 42, Median lobe, line drawing (adapted from Kirejtshuk, 1986); 43. A. (A.) cyaneipennis Grouvelle, 1903: Dorsal facies (line drawing adapted from Kirejtshuk, 1986); 44–50. A. (A.) inconspicua Nakane, 1967 (adapted from Kirejtshuk, 1986): 44, Tegmen of specimen from Punjab; 45, 47, Median lobe and 48, Tegmen of specimen from S. China; 46, Median lobe of specimen from Punjab; 49, Dorsal facies of specimen from Fuji; 50, Dorsal facies of specimen from Punjab.