Wraseiellus Shi & Sciaky, 2013

Chen, Jia-Heng, Yin, Wen-Qi & Shi, Hong-Liang, 2024, On the Pterostichus subgenus Wraseiellus from China: descriptions of five new species and supplementary notes on taxonomy (Coleoptera: Carabidae), Zootaxa 5447 (4), pp. 451-472 : 452-454

Subgenus Wraseiellus Shi & Sciaky, 2013

Shi et al. 2013: 104.

Type-species: Pterostichus andrewesi Jedlička, 1931 , by original designation.

Diagnostic characters. The subgenus Wraseiellus was defined in Shi et al. (2013). Due to the five species newly described in the present paper, the diagnosis for the subgenus is slightly modified as below. Adults of subgenus Wraseiellus can be recognized among Asian Pterostichus by: medium sized pterostichine ground beetles with BL between 10.0–16.0 mm; dorsal surface dark brown to black, usually not metallic except males of one species that have a bluish-green metallic luster; elytra usually with granular microsculpture (formed by extraordinarily strong isodiametric meshes) in females, but microsculpture less strong than other species in females of P. idiopterus sp. n.; penultimate labial palpomere with two setae on inner side; terminal labial palpomere at most weakly expanded; pronotum with one or more (up to five) mid-lateral setae on each side; one basal-lateral seta near posterior angle, posterior angles distinct; both parascutellar stria and basal pore present; elytral interval 3 with two setigerous pores adjacent to stria 2; umbilicate series on interval 9 discontinuous, the middle group present; metaepisterna short, with length subequal to the width of anterior margin; mesofemora with two long setae on posterior margin; male mesotibiae with a triangular projection at the apex of inner margin; metacoxae with two setae; metatrochanters without seta; metatarsomeres 1–3 with outer-lateral ridge distinct, metatarsomere 4 with such ridge indistinct; setae on abdominal sternite VII distant from apical margin; male abdominal sternite VII without secondary sexual modification or with a faint transverse ridge or tubercle; male genitalia relatively slender, apical lamella of aedeagus usually more or less bent dorsally or thickened on apex, but simple in two species ( P. idiopterus sp. n., P. hemichlorus sp. n.); endophallus simple, ventrally bent, without any chitinized pieces, often with setose or scaled area near gonopore.

The infra-subgeneric taxonomy of Wraseiellus was proposed in Shi et al. (2013). Here we present supplementary differential characters: In Pterostichus andrewesi species group, endophallus with coarse setae on the dorsal-apical surface, two lobes present: ventral-right lobe (vr) and pre-apical lobe (pa). In Pterostichus diversus species group, endophallus without developed setae, ventral-right lobe (vr) absent.

Geographical notes. This subgenus includes 13 species and one subspecies. For the diversus -group, except one species that occurs in the Middle-Himalayas in Xizang, China, all other species of this species-group are distributed in the Northwest Yunnan or adjacent area ( Fig. 14 ). While the range of the andrewesi -group is further east and broader than that of the diversus -group: widely in the central-west China, recorded from Yunnan, Sichuan, Hubei, Guizhou, and Anhui Provinces, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chongqing Municipality.

Checklist of subgenus Wraseiellus Shi & Sciaky, 2013

Pterostichus andrewesi species group

P. (Wraseiellus) andrewesi Jedlička, 1931 [ṘKaeữfflm] CHINA: Chongqing (Mt. Jinfoshan); Sichuan ( Mt. Micangshan )

P. (Wraseiellus) meyeri Jedlička, 1934 [NJAEaeữfflm] CHINA: Yunnan (“Soling-ho”, “Pe Yen Tsin”)

P. (Wraseiellus) crassiapex Shi & Sciaky, 2013 [Ṟŵaeữfflm] CHINA: Hubei (Badong); Anhui (Jinzhai)

P. (Wraseiellus) comatus Shi & Sciaky, 2013 [Øfaeữfflm] CHINA: Guangxi (Mt. Maoershan)

P. (Wraseiellus) pseudandrewesi Chen, Yin & Shi , sp. n. [fDzaeữfflm] CHINA: Sichuan (Butuo)

P. (Wraseiellus) leishanensis Chen, Yin & Shi , sp. n. [DZƜaeữfflm] CHINA: Guizhou (Mt. Leigongshan)

P. (Wraseiellus) strumatus Chen, Yin & Shi , sp. n. [OiẸaeữfflm] CHINA: Sichuan (Mt. Emeishan)

Pterostichus diversus species group

P. (Wraseiellus) diversus ( Fairmaire, 1886) [ƂNjaeữfflm] CHINA: Yunnan (“Ta-pin-tze”, Mt. Yulongxueshan)

P. (Wraseiellus) pseudodiversus Shi & Sciaky, 2013 [ṃdzaeữfflm] CHINA: Yunnan (Deqin, Weixi, Ninglang, Zhongdian, Lanping); Sichuan (Muli)

P. (Wraseiellus) stictopleurus stictopleurus ( Fairmaire, 1888) [RUaeữfflmDzadzȅ] CHINA: Yunnan (“Ta-pin-tze”)

P. (Wraseiellus) stictopleurus cangshanensis Shi & Sciaky, 2013 [RUaeữfflmẼƜdzȅ] CHINA: Yunnan (Dali)

P. (Wraseiellus) kambaiti ( Andrewes, 1947) [ffpďaeữfflm] MYANMAR: Kambaiti

P. (Wraseiellus) idiopterus Chen, Yin & Shi , sp. n. [Ƃaeaeữfflm] CHINA: Yunnan (Weixi)

P. (Wraseiellus) hemichlorus Chen, Yin & Shi , sp. n. [fiffiaeữfflm] CHINA: Xizang (Gyirong)

An improved key to species and subspecies of Wraseiellus Shi & Sciaky, 2013

1. Area between outer basal foveal groove and lateral margin of pronotum strongly convex, forming a distinct ridge and tarsomere 5 setose beneath; males with a faint transverse ridge or tubercle on sternite VII ( Fig. 10 ); median lobe of male genitalia more or less thickened on extreme apex (andrewesi- group)........................................................ 2

– Area between outer basal foveal groove and lateral margin of pronotum slightly convex, not forming a distinct ridge or tarsomere 5 glabrous beneath; males without sexual structure on sternite VII; median lobe of male genitalia not thickened on extreme apex, sometimes laterally widened or bent upward ( diversus -group)............................................. 8

2. Pronotum with 3–5 mid-lateral setae on each side............................................................ 3

– Pronotum with only one mid-lateral seta on each side......................................................... 4

3. Tempora more developed (TL/EYL = 0.59–0.63); frontal furrows shorter, just reaching level of anterior margin of eyes; two supraorbital setae placed respectively near anterior and posterior margins of eyes; pronotal posterior angles rectangular, forming a prominent denticle ( Fig. 9A ); apical lamella of aedeagus short and wide (AL/AW=1.09), weakly bent to the left; Sichuan (Butuo).......................................................................... P. pseudandrewesi sp. n.

– Tempora less developed (TL/EYL = 0.31–0.38); frontal furrows longer, reaching level of middle of eyes; two supraorbital setae placed near middle of eyes and behind posterior margin of eyes; pronotal posterior angles a little obtuse angled, not forming prominent denticle; apical lamella of aedeagus narrow and long (AL/AW> 2), strongly twisted to the left; Guangxi (Maoershan)...................................................................... P. comatus Shi & Sciaky

4. Pronotum with posterior margin wider than anterior margin; area between inner and outer basal foveal grooves more or less convex ( Fig. 9B ); median lobe of aedeagus with ventral margin distinctly curved ventrally at apical fourth; apical lamella weakly bent dorsally when in lateral view, slightly inclined to the right when in dorsal view ( Fig. 3B ); Yunnan, Guizhou ... 5

– Pronotum with posterior margin narrower than anterior margin; area between inner and outer basal foveal grooves hardly convex ( Fig. 9C ); median lobe of aedeagus with ventral margin nearly straight, sometimes slightly sinuate near apical fourth; apical lamella strongly bent dorsally when in lateral view, more or less inclined to the left when in dorsal view ( Fig. 11B ); Sichuan, Chongqing, Hubei, Anhui ....................................................................... 6

5. Pronotum with dense punctures on mid-basal area, basal fovea strongly convex between inner and outer grooves (fig. 99 in Shi et al. 2013); lateral margins of elytra subparallel; apical lamella of aedeagus rounded-truncated on apex, hardly bent to the right; right paramere obtuse apically (fig. 69 in Shi et al. 2013); Yunnan (Dayao, Yuanmou)..................................................................................................................... P. meyeri Jedlička

– Pronotum with sparse punctures on mid-basal area, basal fovea slightly convex between inner and outer grooves ( Fig. 9B ); lateral margins of elytra distinctly arched near middle; apical lamella of aedeagus tapered to apex, more distinctly bent to the right; right paramere pointed apically ( Fig. 3C ); Guizhou (Leigongshan)......................... P. leishanensis sp. n.

6. Metaepisterna finely punctate; elytron with humeral teeth less prominent; apical lamella of aedeagus short (length a little less than basal width) ( Fig. 12C ); right paramere stout, apex rounded ( Fig. 12D ); Chongqing (Jinfoshan), Sichuan (Micangshan)................................................................................... P. andrewesi Jedlička

– Metaepisterna coarsely punctate; elytron with humeral teeth a little more prominent; apical lamella of aedeagus slender (length much greater than basal width) ( Figs 4C , 11C ); right paramere slender, acinaciform ( Figs 4D , 11D ).................... 7

7. Pronotum with posterior angle distinctly prominent, forming a small denticle; proepisterna densely and coarsely punctate; median lobe of aedeagus without ridge or tubercle on ventral margin; ventral surface of apical lamella shallowly concaved, without ridged border; in dorsal view, apical lamella more constricted at base; Hubei, Anhui ......................................................................................................... P. crassiapex Shi & Sciaky

– Pronotum with posterior angle not prominent ( Fig. 9C ); proepisterna finely and sparsely punctate; median lobe of aedeagus with a tubercle near base of ventral margin ( Fig. 4B ); ventral surface of apical lamella deeply concaved, the concavity with ridged apical border ( Fig. 10C ); in dorsal view, apical lamella less constricted at base; Sichuan (Emeishan).................................................................................................... P. strumatus sp. n.

8. Pronotum with outer basal foveal grooves obsolete ( Fig. 9E ); elytra with green metallic luster in males ( Fig. 7A ); median lobe of aedeagus distinctly curved ventrally before apex, apical lamella not bent dorsally; apical portion (area distal to the articulation) of right paramere strongly curved, not narrowed to apex ( Fig. 8C ); Xizang (Gyirong)............................................................................................................................................................................................................. P. hemichlorus sp. n.

– Pronotum with outer basal foveal grooves well-defined ( Fig. 9D ); elytra without metallic luster in males; median lobe of aedeagus with ventral margin straight before apex, apical lamella usually slightly bent dorsally; apical portion of right paramere straight and strongly narrowed to apex.................................................................... 9

9. Area between outer basal foveal groove and lateral margin of pronotum convex, forming a distinct ridge; lateral margins of pronotum faintly sinuate before posterior angles............................................................ 10

– Area between outer basal foveal groove and lateral margin of pronotum hardly convex, without a distinct ridge; lateral margins of pronotum straight before posterior angles............................................................... 12

10. Elytral odd intervals (Ⅰ, III, V and VII) much wider than (about twice width as) even ones ( Fig. 5A ); apical portion (area distal to the articulation) of right paramere very short, length subequal to greatest width; Yunnan (Weixi)....... P. idiopterus sp. n.

– Elytral intervals normal and regular; apical portion of right paramere relatively elongated, length at least one and a half time as greatest width....................................................................................... 11

11. Area between inner and outer basal foveal groove usually more convex; antennomere 3 usually glabrous except the apical ring; median lobe of aedeagus with apex of apical lamella distinctly widened (figs 41–42 in Shi et al. 2013); right paramere longer, apex truncate (figs 74B–77B in Shi et al. 2013); Yunnan (Dali, Lijiang)............................................................................................................................ P. diversus (Fairmaire)

– Area between inner and outer basal foveal groove usually less convex; antennomere 3 usually with few additional setae; median lobe of aedeagus with apex of apical lamella not widened, narrow or slightly truncate (figs 45–56 in Shi et al. 2013); right paramere shorter, apex round or slightly pointed (figs 79B–84B in Shi et al. 2013); Yunnan (Deqin, Weixi, Ninglang, Zhongdian, Lanping), Sichuan (Muli)............................................ P. pseudodiversus Shi & Sciaky

12. Proepisterna and metaepisterna impunctate; right paramere with apex wide and obtuse (fig. 78B in Shi et al. 2013); Myanmar (Kambaiti)......................................................................... P. kambaiti (Andrewes)

– Proepisterna and metaepisterna distinctly punctate; right paramere with apex narrow and sharp (fig. 72B in Shi et al. 2013); Yunnan ( P. stictopleurus ).............................................................................. 13

13. Punctures on proepisterna less fine and sparse; tarsomere 5 glabrous beneath; in lateral view, median lobe of aedeagus slightly sinuate before apical lamella and then strongly bent dorsally at apex; Yunnan (Jizushan).. P. stictopleurus s. str. (Fairmaire)

– Punctures on proepisterna much finer and sparser; tarsomere 5 distinctly setose beneath; in lateral view, median lobe of aedeagus straight before apical lamella, and slightly bent dorsally at apex; Yunnan (Cangshan)................................................................................................ P. stictopleurus cangshanensis Shi & Sciaky

Figures

FIGURE 3. Male genitalia of Pterostichus leishanensis sp. nov., holotype. (A) median lobe of aedeagus, left lateral view; (B) median lobe of aedeagus, dorsal view; (C) right paramere; (D) endophallus, right lateral view; (E) endophallus, left lateral view. Scale bars = 1.0 mm. Abbreviations: vr ventral-right lobe; pa pre-apical lobe; gp gonopore; gpl gonopore lobe.

FIGURE 4. Holotype of Pterostichus strumatus sp. nov. (A) habitus; (B) median lobe of aedeagus, left lateral view; (C) median lobe of aedeagus, dorsal view; (D) right paramere. Scale bars = 5.0 mm for A; = 1.0 mm for B–D. Abbreviations: t tubercle on ventral margin of aedeagus.

FIGURE 5. Habitus of Pterostichus idiopterus sp. nov. (A) holotype; (B) Paratype, female. Scale bar = 5.0 mm.

FIGURE 7. Habitus of Pterostichus hemichlorus sp. nov. (A) holotype; (B) Paratype, female. Scale bar = 5.0 mm.

FIGURE 8. Male genitalia of Pterostichus hemichlorus sp. nov., holotype. (A) median lobe of aedeagus, left lateral view; (B) median lobe of aedeagus, dorsal view; (C) right paramere; (D) endophallus, right lateral view; (E) endophallus, left lateral view. Scale bars = 1.0 mm. Abbreviations: pa pre-apical lobe; gp gonopore.

FIGURE 9. Pronotum posterior angle and basal area of Pterostichus (Wraseiellus) spp. (A) P. pseudandrewesi sp. nov.; (B) P. leishanensis sp. nov.; (C) P. strumatus sp. nov.; (D) P. idiopterus sp. nov.; (E) P. hemichlorus sp. nov..

FIGURE 10. Apical portion of aedeagus of Pterostichus (Wraseiellus) spp., left lateral view and ventral view. (A) P. pseudandrewesi sp. nov.; (B) P. leishanensis sp. nov.; (C) P. strumatus sp. nov.; (D) P. andrewesi Jedlička.

FIGURE 11. Pterostichus crassiapex Shi & Sciaky from Tianma, Anhui. (A) habitus, male; (B) median lobe of aedeagus, left lateral view; (C) median lobe of aedeagus, dorsal view; (D) right paramere. Scale bars = 5.0 mm for A; = 1.0 mm for B–D.

FIGURE 12. Pterostichus andrewesi Jedlička from Mt. Micangshan, Sichuan. (A) habitus, male; (B) median lobe of aedeagus, left lateral view; (C) median lobe of aedeagus, dorsal view; (D) right paramere. Scale bars = 5.0 mm for A; = 1.0 mm for B–D.

FIGURE 14. Distribution maps for species of subgenus Pterostichus (Wraseiellus).