Itagonia litangensis, Shi, Ai-min, 2013

Shi, Ai-min, 2013, Two new species of Itagonia Reitter (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Blaptini) from China, ZooKeys 309, pp. 1-12 : 8-11

Itagonia litangensis sp. n. Figs 30-43, 46-47

Type material.

Holotype male: China, Sichuan, Litang, 30°18'N, 100°16'E, 3410 m, 2 Aug. 2012, A. M. Shi leg. (MCWNU). Paratypes: 5 males and 4 females, same data as the holotype (MCWNU).

Diagnosis.

The new species resembles Itagonia medvedevi Shi et al., 2010 and Itagonia cordiformis Shi & Ren, 2007 by less than anterior 1/2 of outer margin of epipleura visible from above and apicale of aedeagus with outer margins sinuate, apical part rather sharply narrowing apicad (Figs 12, 15, 36). Itagonia litangensis sp. n. differs from Itagonia medvedevi and Itagonia cordiformis in having the prosternum in front of procoxae steeply sloping; upper spur of protibiae not massive, shorter than protarsomere 1; plantar surface of mesotarsomeres 1 to 2 with hair brushes; apical margin of abdominal sternite 8 weakly sinuate. Also, the new species can be distinguished from Itagonia medvedevi by apical part of outer margin of epipleura invisible from above, and from Itagonia cordiformis by lateral margins of pronotum weakly arcuately protruding.

Etymology.

Named after the type locality, Litang.

Description.

Body black, weakly shining.

Male (Figs 30, 32-40). Anterior margin of clypeus nearly straight. Lateral margin of head with obtuse-angled shallow incision above antennal base. Genal margin arcuately converging to clypeal base. Eyes not protruding beyond contour of head. Vertex slightly convex, with moderately dense punctures. Frontoclypeal suture shallow. Antennae (Fig. 30) reaching posterior 1/4 of pronotum. Length (width) ratio of antennomeres 2 to 11 as follows: 16(13): 33(14): 18(14): 18(14): 18(14): 20(14): 18(17): 18(19): 18(20): 25(19).

Pronotum (Fig. 32) transverse, 1.25-1.35 (1.28 on average, n=6) times as wide as long, maximum width before middle, 1.77-1.86 (1.84 on average, n=6) times as wide as head. Ratio of pronotal width at anterior margin to its maximum width and width at base (n=6) 0.67: 1.00: 0.91 on average. Lateral margins of pronotum more sharply arcuately narrowing to anterior margin than to base, entirely bordered. Anterior margin of pronotum nearly straight; base straight, both bordered laterally. Anterior angles of pronotum obtuse, rounded apically; posterior ones weakly obtuse. Pronotal surface between lateral margins convex, with short median depression at disc; punctures as large as those on head, fine at disc center and larger laterally. Propleura slightly concave, with wrinkles and very sparse granules. Prosternum in front of procoxae steeply sloping; intercoxal process with shallow median depression, steeply sloping behind procoxae.

Elytra elongate-oval, 1.35-1.42 (1.39 on average, n=6) times as long as wide, maximum width before middle, 1.21-1.31 (1.25 on average, n=6) times as wide as pronotum. Less than anterior 1/2 of outer margin of epipleura visible from above. Elytral surface between outer margin of epipleura and sutural margin convex, sparsely covered with irregular fine wrinkles and fine punctures. Epipleural surface with sparse wrinkles. Abdominal ventrites with punctures and brown setae, abdominal ventrites 1 to 3 with longitudinal wrinkles.

Legs (Figs 33-35) robust, length (width) ratio of pro-, meso- and metafemora 78(22): 82(20): 100(21); tibiae: 74(11): 71(12): 94(16). Upper spur of protibiae not massive, shorter than protarsomere 1, lower spur fine and pointed. Plantar surface of protarsomeres 1 to 3 and mesotarsomeres 1 to 2 with hair brushes. Metatibiae weakly incurved. Length (width) ratio of metatarsomeres 1 to 4 as follows: 24(8.0): 13(7.5): 12(6.7): 25(6.7).

Aedeagus (Figs 36-38): length 2.24 mm, width 0.71 mm. Apicale 0.69 mm long and 0.48 mm wide, with outer margins slightly sinuate in basal 1/3. Spiculum gastrale as in Fig. 39. Apical margin of abdominal ventrite 8 weakly sinuate (Fig. 40).

Female (Figs 31, 41-43). Body wider. Antennae (Fig. 31) shorter than in male. Pronotum 1.27-1.35 (1.32 on average, n=4) times as wide as long. Elytra 1.27-1.35 (1.31 on average, n=4) times as long as wide. Less than anterior 1/3 of outer margin of epipleura visible from above. Upper spur of protibiae massive and rounded apically; lower spur missing. Plantar surface of protarsomeres and mesotarsomeres without brush. Ovipositor as in Figs 41-42. Spiculum ventrale as in Fig. 43.

Measurements.

Male body length 11.0-12.2 mm, width 5.2-5.8 mm; female body length 11.4-12.1 mm, width 5.6-6.1 mm.