Elestora Pascoe, 1868

Kolibac, Jiri, 2013, Trogossitidae: A review of the beetle family, with a catalogue and keys, ZooKeys 366, pp. 1-194 : 47-48

Genus Elestora Pascoe, 1868 Fig. 6 ; Map 5

Elestora Pascoe, F. P. 1868: XI.

Type species.

Elestora fulgurata Pascoe, 1868 [by monotypy]

Léveillé, A. 1910: 20. Kolibáč, J. 2005: 55. Kolibáč, J. 2006: 116 (phylogeny). Reitter, E. 1876: 30

Remarks.

The phylogeny of the genus is unclear and in need of revision, together with Melambia . Elestora could be related to some species of the latter genus (see “Remarks” on Melambia ). I presume a classification of Elestora within the trogossitins rather than with the gymnochilins.

Description.

Body size: 15.0 mm. Body shape flat. Gular sutures wide, convergent at apex. Frontoclypeal suture absent. Frons: longitudinal groove or depression absent. Cranium ventrally: tufts of long setae at sides absent. Submentum of males: ctenidium present. Antennal groove present. Eyes: size flat. Eyes number: two. Mandibular apical teeth number: one. Labrum-Cranium not fused. Antenna 11-segmented. Antennal club asymmetrical, sensorial fields present. Front coxal cavities externally closed, internally open. Pronotum transverse. Prepectus absent. Middle coxal cavities open. Elytra: long hairs absent. Epipleuron moderate. Elytral interlocking mechanism present, carinae conspicuous. Elytral punctation regular, scales absent. Wing: radial cell oblong (or reduced), wedge cell present, cross vein MP3-4 present, cross vein AA1+2-3+4 present. Front tibiae: spines along side moderate. Hooked spur absent in middle and hind tibiae. Claws: denticle absent.

Biology.

Probably predatory. A specimen was observed on a smouldering log at the margin of a tropical forest clearing in Laos. Its light orange spots on the elytra (much duller in a few museum specimens) perfectly imitate wood embers. Very rapid flier.

Distribution.

Distributed from Malaysia to northern Laos but perhaps very rare.

Species:

Elestora fulgurata Pascoe, 1868; Malaysia: Penang, Laos (varA)

Léveillé, A. 1910: 20. Kolibáč, J. 2005: 55. Kolibáč, J. 2006: 152. Reitter, E. 1876: 30

Figures

Map 5. A distribution of the tribe Trogossitini.

Figure 6. A Alindria spectabilis B Alindria elongata C Alindria sp., Thailand D Airora cylindrica E Airora (syn. Temnochilodes) dugesi F Corticotomus (syn. Colydobius) divisus G Elestora fulgurata.