Ctenoplus cateianus, Fuller & Platia, 2006

Fuller, E. & Platia, G., 2006, A revision of the click beetle genus Ctenoplus Candèze, 1863 (Coleoptera: Elateridae, Synaptina), Zootaxa 1217 (1), pp. 1-76 : 69-71

Ctenoplus cateianus n. sp.

Figures 29 , 42 , 84 , 105 , 111 , 113

Diagnosis

Large­sized Ctenoplus with bicoloured black and yellowish­brown elytra, and black pronotum ( Fig. 113 ). C. cateianus is externally indistinguishable from C. deceptus n. sp., but can be distinguished by the male and female genitalia. In C. cateianus , the parameres of the male genitalia are more or less straight from the base to the apex and the median lobe is subparallel almost to the apex ( Fig. 84 ), and the tubular extension of the female genitalia bears a broad band of spines at least proximally and distally ( Fig. 105 ). In C. deceptus , the parameres are angulate subapically and the median lobe is evenly tapered to the apex ( Fig. 85 ), and the tubular extension bears two narrow bands of spines for most of its length ( Fig. 106 ).

Description

Head and ventral surface black; pronotum black in most specimens, but margins and hind angles variably blackish­red; elytra yellowish­brown to reddish brown in basal 1/2, variably grading to black in apical 1/2; antennae, legs and palpi yellowish­brown; setae opaque pale yellowish­white. Length: 11.0–12.0 mm; width: 2.0– 2.5 mm.

Head. Punctures relatively shallow, varying from almost contiguous to separated by about own diameters. Antenna, Fig. 29 ; male antennomeres 4–11 with fine, moderately long erect setae along anterior margin; antennomeres 2 and 3 subglobular, elongate or subtriangular, antennomeres 2 and 3 subequal in size or antennomere 3 longer than 2; antenna extending from about 0.5–3 distal antennomeres posterad apex of pronotal hind angles in male, extending less than length of antennomere 11 in female.

Prothorax. Pronotum ( Fig. 42 ): carina of hind angles about 1/3 pronotal length in lateral aspect, variable; lateral pronotal carina visible at base of hind angles in dorsal aspect; punctures grading from subequal to head punctures anteriorly to 1/2 that size posteriorly, grading from almost contiguous anteriorly to separated by about 1/2 own diameters posteriorly, variable in absolute size, shallow, simple; setae long, those on disk orientated transversely and overlapping along midline, grading to posteriorly directed adjacent to scutellum. Hypomeron: punctures shallow, simple, almost contiguous; mesal border bearing linear row of about 16 setae. Prosternum: punctures becoming separated posteriorly by about own diameters and grading to about 1/2 size of anterior punctures; setae finer than dorsal setae; prosternal spine: elongate in lateral aspect, about 2X as long as width at ventral apex; ventrolateral carinae joining about 1/2 way between posterior margin of procoxae and ventral apex, carinae not extending anterad anterior border of procoxal cavities.

Mesothorax. Scutellum flat, anterior margin convex; surface densely covered with setae. Mesosternum: posterior margin slightly raised above mesocoxae, horizontal in lateral aspect, declivous beaded margin sloping at ca. 45°. Mesepisternum glabrous on posterior 1/2; anterior groove punctate. Elytral punctures surrounded by subquadrate to subrectangular patch of darker cuticle; intervals finely punctured; apices dehiscent, sutural interval produced into tooth of variable size but up to as long as basal width; length of elytron asymmetrical in many specimens.

Metathorax. Metasternum densely punctured, punctures shallow, almost contiguous throughout; without carina posterad mesocoxa.

Legs. Profemur with black microspines anteriorly; claws robust, apical tine 1.5–2X as long as subapical tines; tarsomere 4 lobed.

Abdomen. Terga relatively heavily sclerotized, spiracles enclosed on terga 2–6. Ventrites with punctures and setae as on metasternum. Ventrite 5 about as long as basal width, dorsal submarginal carina U­shaped. Male genitalia, Fig. 84 ; parameres about 1.5X as long as median lobe, converging anteriorly in ventral aspect, separated anteriorly by about width of ejaculatory duct; ventral membrane between parameres with 1 or 2 elongate dark sclerites. Female genitalia, Fig. 105 ; spermatophore present in specimen illustrated; bursa copulatrix twisted and coiled posteriorly (not shown); bursal plates subreniform, symmetrical in individuals, variable in shape; tubular extension: relatively short; with band of spines along whole length, spines same length and thickness as free bursal spines, density variable; spermatheca absent.

Variation. The genitalia of two females have been examined, one from Nepal and one from Sikkim. The specimen from Nepal is illustrated. The bursal plates of the specimen from Sikkim have the posterior margin straight rather than concave, giving the plate a semicircular shape. The tubular extension of the specimen from Sikkim has about the proximal third and the most distal portion densely spined with a single band of spines, but the intervening portion of the extension bears a pair of narrow bands of spines like C. deceptus . These narrow bands of spines rather abruptly merge into the wide single band proximally and distally.

Material examined and range

14♂, 2♀. NEPAL: Holotype male, paratype female, “ Lamobagar Gola , 1400m, 8–14.vi.1983 "/ E. Nepal, Arun V., M. Brancucci” [ NHMB]; paratypes : 1♂, “ Nepal, Arun Valley, Chichila­Tumlingtar , 2000– 1000m [sic], 9.6.1988, leg. Lebisch & Probst ” ; 2♂, “ Nepal, Arun Valley, Khandbari­Bhotebas , 1000–1750m, 5.6.1988, leg. Lebisch & Probst ” ; 1♂, “Nepal, Arun Valley, Hille­Dholikhorka , 1750– 1250 m [sic], 31.5.1988, leg. Lebisch & Probst ” [ NHMB, CPG, CSV, CCW, ERFC]. INDIA: Paratypes : 4♂, “ Gurubathan , 350m 15–19.v.1986 "/ “ Indien, Darjeeling D., B. Bhakta ” ; 1♂, “ Rangpo 680m, 3.ix.1981 "/ “ Sikkim, Bhakta B.” ; 1♀, “ Kalimpong, Nunsung 700 m, 7.v.1987 "/ “ Indien, Darjeeling D., Ch.J.Rai ” ; 1♂, “N. India, Darjeeling, Kalimpong , 1.8.1984, leg. Holzschuh ” [ CCW] ; 3♂, “N. INDIA. West Bengal, Darjeeling, Kurseong, Mana Village , 1500m, leg. N. Dangal, 19.3.1987 " [ CCW]. C. cateianus is known from eastern Nepal and northeastern India ( Fig. 111 ) .

Etymology The species is named in honour of Dr. Peter C. Cate, elateridologist, Vienna.

Natural history

This species has been collected between 19 March and 3 September, and between 350 and 2000 m in elevation.

Figures

FIGURE 111. Distribution of Ctenoplus species.

FIGURES 15–30. Antenna of Ctenoplus species. 15, C. javanensis Cand.; 16, C. sumatrensis n. sp.; 17, C. sanguinolentus (Cand.); 18, C. sanguinolentoides n. sp.; 19, C. nitidipennis Schwarz; 20, C. indicus n. sp.; 21, C. neosiamensis n. sp.; 22, C. siamensis n. sp.; 23, C. rufoantennatus n. sp.; 24, C. castaneus (Fleut.); 25, C. coomani Fleut.; 26, C. divergens n. sp.; 27, C. alutaceus n. sp.; 28, C. semialutaceus n. sp.; 29, C. cateianus n. sp.; 30, C. dorsalis n. sp. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 31–43. Pronotal outline of Ctenoplus species, dorsal. 31, C. javanensis Cand.; 32, C. sumatrensis n. sp.; 33, C. sanguinolentoides n. sp.; 34, C. indicus n. sp.; 35, C. rufoantennatus n. sp.; 36, C. castaneus (Fleut.); 37, C. coomani Fleut.; 38, C. divergens n. sp., a: male, b: female; 39, C. alutaceus n. sp.; 40, C. semialutaceus n. sp.; 41, C. gigas n. sp.; 42, C. cateianus n. sp.; 43, C. dorsalis n. sp. Abbreviation: bf, sublateral longitudinal incision. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 66–85. Male genitalia of Ctenoplus species, dorsal aspect unless otherwise specified. 66, C. javanensis Cand.; 67, C. sumatrensis n. sp.; 68, C. sanguinolentoides n. sp.; 69, C. nitidipennis Schwarz; 70, C. indicus n. sp.; 71, C. collaris Cand., a, dorsal, b, ventral; 72, C. pseudocollaris n. sp.; 73, C. neosiamensis n. sp.; 74, C. siamensis n. sp.; 75, C. rufoantennatus n. sp.; 76, C. castaneus (Fleut.), a, dorsal, b, lateral; 77, C. coomani Fleut.; 78, C. divergens n. sp.; 79, C. alutaceus n. sp., a, dorsal, b, lateral; 80, C. semialutaceus n. sp.; 81, C. balli n. sp.; 82, C. girardianus n. sp.; 83, C. gigas n. sp.; 84, C. cateianus n. sp.; 85, C. deceptus n. sp. Abbreviations: st, median struts; pa, parameres; ph, phallobase. Scale bar = 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 98–106. Female genitalia of Ctenoplus species. 98, C. coomani Fleut.; 99, C. brunneus Fleut.; 100, C. divergens n. sp.; 101, C. alutaceus n. sp.; 102, C. balli n. sp.; 103, C. girardianus n. sp.; 104, C. gigas n. sp.; 105, C. cateianus n. sp.; 106, C. deceptus n. sp. Abbreviations: sd, tubular extension. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 113–116. Ctenoplus species, habitus. 113, C. cateianus, n. sp.; 114, C. gigas n. sp.; 115, C. neosiamensis n. sp.; 116, C. sanguinolentoides n. sp.