Anthelephila ruficollis Saunders, 1834

Kejval, Zbyněk, 2015, Studies of the genus Anthelephila (Coleoptera: Anthicidae) 13. The species described by W. W. Saunders from India, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 55 (1), pp. 249-260 : 254-258

Anthelephila ruficollis Saunders, 1834

( Figs 8–11 , 17 )

Anthelephila ruficollis Saunders, 1834: 65 , Pl. 7, Fig. 8 ; SAKAI (1989): 412 (catalogue); LAFER (1996): 37 (male characters, key, rec. Japan, Vietnam); TELNOV (2001): 184 (rec. Indonesia); CHANDLER et al. (2008): 423 (catalogue, distribution).

Anthelephilus ruficollis : LAFERTÉ- SÉNECTÈRE (1849a): 3 (redescription, rec. Myanmar); UHMANN (1983): 194 (rec. Vietnam, Laos, India), UHMANN (1985): 125 (rec. Vietnam), UHMANN (1994a): 670 (rec. Thailand, Vietnam), UHMANN (1994b): 409 (rec. Malaysia), UHMANN (1996): 27 (rec. Malaysia, Thailand); TELNOV (1997): 63 (distribution, rec. Vietnam), TELNOV (1998a): 87 (distribution, rec. Vietnam), TELNOV (1998b): 90 (rec. Indonesia), TELNOV (1999b): 76 (rec. Thailand); UHMANN (2000): 157 (rec. Malaysia); KEJVAL (2003): 382 (note).

Antelophilus ruficollis (incorrect subsequent spelling): PIC (1899b): 758 (rec. Indonesia).

Formicomus ruficollis: PIC (1907) : 339 (rec. Myanmar); BONADONA (1978): 72 (rec. Bangladesh).

Formicomus ruficollis var. annamitus Pic, 1903a: 56 , syn. nov.

Formicomus uncinatus Desbrochers, 1875: 42 ; DESBROCHERS DES LOGES (1881): 152 (note on identity); PIC (1895): 19 (note on identity, rec. Syria); PIC (1898): 20 (note); UHMANN et al. (2005): 11 (note); syn. nov.

Anthelephila uncinata: CHANDLER et al. (2008) : 424 (catalogue, distribution).

Formicomus (Anthelephilus) inhumeralis Pic, 1903b: 644 , syn. nov.

Anthelephilus inhumeralis : KREKICH- STRASSOLDO (1929):475 (rec. Philippines); UHMANN (1985):127 (rec. Indonesia), UHMANN (1990): 583 (rec. Indonesia), UHMANN (1996): 27 (rec. Indonesia).

Anthelephilus cyanochrous Nomura, 1962: 2 , Pl. 1, Figs 3–5. NOMURA (1970): 104 (as synonym of A. ruficollis ).

Type localities. Anthelephila ruficollis : India, West Bengal, S of Calcutta , banks of Hooghly River . Anthelephilus cyanochrous : Japan, Ryukyu Islands. Formicomus (Anthelephilus) inhumeralis : Philippines, Manila. F. ruficollis var. annamitus : Central Vietnam, Phuc-Son. F. uncinatus : Syria.

Type material. Anthelephila ruficollis : SYNTYPE: ♂, ‘W [h] // W. S Saunders East Ind [h; somewhat illegible] // Putative syntype Anthelephila ruficollis Saunders, W. W., 1834 Trans Ent Soc. Lon. 1: 65, pl. 7 fig. 8 Removed to type coll. Teste D.J. Mann, viii.2003 [p] // TYPE COLE 2138 Anthelephila ruficollis Saunders, W. W., 1834 HOPE ENT COLL., OUMNH [p]’ ( OXUM).

Formicomus ruficollis var. annamitus : SYNTYPES: 1 ♀, ‘Annam Phuc-Son Nov. Dez. H. Fruhstorfer [p; black frame] // type [h; yellowish label] // TYPE [p; red label] // v. annamitus Pic [h]’ ( MNHN) ; 2 ♂♂ 2 ♀♀, bearing only identical 1st label ( MNHN).

Formicomus inhumeralis : SYNTYPES: 1 ♂, ‘ Manille Baer [p] // type [h; yellowish label] // TYPE [p; red label] // inhumeralis Pic [h]’ ( MNHN); 1 ♂, ‘ Manile’ [h; partly illegible] ( MNHN); 1 ♂ 1 ♀, ‘ Manile [h] // inhumeralis [h]’ ( MNHN).

Additional material. AFGHANISTAN: KUNDUZ PROVINCE: 1 ♀, Kunduz, 7.vii.1964, Nurolhak [lgt.] ( NMPC). BANGLADESH: DHAKA DIVISION: 1 ♂ 3 ♀♀, Dhaka, 8.v.–18.ix.1945 [different dates], D. Leston lgt. ( BMNH); RANGPUR DIVISION: 1♂, Dhanjuri,near Dinajpur, vi.1963 [no collector] ( MNHN, coll.Bonadona); RAJSHAHI DIVISION: 1 ♂, Rajshahi, 6.iv.1993 [no collector] ( BMNH); 1♂, Sripur, viii.–xii.1990 [no collector] ( BMNH). BHUTAN: 1♂, Samchi, 300 m, 7.–11.v.1972 [no collector, Basel Museum expedition] ( MNHN, coll. Bonadona); 1 ♂, Gayligphu, 21.viii.1989 [no collector] ( BMNH). CHINA: MACAO: 1 ♀, Macao, 1906, F. Muir lgt. ( DCDC). GUANGDONG: 2 ♂♂ 1 ♀, Guangzhou [= Canton], 1.–30.x.1916, H. Weigold lgt. ( ZKDC); 1 ♀, same locality, 3.x.1963 [no collector] ( NMPC); 1 ♂, same locality, vi.1983, Bouček lgt. ( BMNH). INDIA: 1 ♂, Andaman Island, 10 km of Port Blair, lowland forest, vi.1991, S. Jakl lgt. ( ZKDC). INDONESIA: JAVA: 2 ♂♂, Batavia, viii.1947 and 1949, C. v. Nidek lgt. ( ZKDC); 2 ♂♂ 1 ♀, Jakarta, 6.v.1959, B. Pisarski & J. Proszynski lgt. ( ZKDC). EAST JAVA PROVINCE: 1 ♂, Sempolan, 400–500 m, i.1998, local collector ( ZKDC). BALI PROVINCE: 1♂, Bali, Margarana, 15 km E of Gilimanuk, 23.ii.1994, Bolm lgt. ( ZKDC). CENTRAL JAVA PROVINCE: 1♀, Pekalongan, iii.1907, F. Muir lgt.( DCDC). EAST NUSA TENGGARA PROVINCE: 1♂, Sumba, Tarimbang env., 0–100 m, 2.–3.ii.2001, P.Votruba lgt.( ZKDC). SOUTH SULAWESI PROVINCE: 1 ♂, 20.– 35 km NW of Palopo, 1000–1400 m, 4.–5.iv.1999, Bečvář & J. Zábranský lgt. ( ZKDC). SOUTH EAST SULAWESI PROVINCE: 1 ♂, Buton Island, Wakarumba, 3.–7.ii.1994, M. Štrba & I. Jeniš lgt. ( ZKDC). WEST NUSA TENGGARA PROVINCE: 2 ♂♂, Lombok, Senaro, N slope of Rinjani, 1100 m, 2.–5.ii.1994, Bolm lgt. ( ZKDC). JAPAN: 1 ♂, Okinawa, Shimabuku, 20.v.–1.vi.1945, C. T. Parsons & F. G. Werner lgt. ( ZKDC); 3 ♂♂, Okinawa, Iwa, vii.–viii.1945, C. T. Parsons & F. G. Werner lgt. ( ZKDC). MALAYSIA: JOHOR: 1 ♂, Batu Pahat, Baum [lgt., no date] ( NMPC); 1 ♀, Lombong, 15 km N of Kota Tinggi, 27.–30.vii.1992, R. Schuh lgt. ( ZKDC). KELANTAN: 1 ♀, sawmill near Dabong , 05°18′20′′N 101°59′30′′E (WGS84), 23.vii.2001, R. Fouque & H. Bartlová lgt. ( ZKDC); PAHANG: 2 ♂♂ 1 ♀, Benom Mountains, 15 km E of Kampong Dong , 3°53′N 102°01′E, 700 m, 1.iv.1998, D. Hauck lgt. ( ZKDC); 1 ♀, Banjaran Benom Mountains, 20 km S of Kampong Ulu Dong, 1500–1900 m, 17.–23.iv.1997, P. Čechovský lgt. ( ZKDC); 1 ♂ 10 ♀♀, Tioman Island, Kampong Tekek – K. Juara , 2°48′N 104°11′E, 5–295 m, 7.–25.ii.2000, M. Štrba lgt. ( ZKDC) ; 1 ♂ 2 ♀♀, same data, except: R. Hergovits lgt. ( ZKDC); 1 ♂, Raub env., 23.–24.ii.1995, M. Štrba & R. Hergovits lgt. ( ZKDC); SABAH: 1 ♀, Banjaran Crocker Mountains, Gunung Alab Peak, 1650–1800 m, 30.iv.–27.v.1996, M. Štrba & R. Hergovits lgt. ( ZKDC). MYANMAR: TANINTHARYI REGION: 4 ♂♂ 8 ♀♀, ‘MUSEUM PRAG HINTER-JNDIEN [sic!] Tenasserim // coll. Helfer // ruficollis det. v. Krekich’ ( NMPC); 2 ♂♂ 3 ♀♀, ‘Ind. or. // Helfer [lgt.]’ ( NMPC). BAGO REGION: 1 ♂, Chanthakwin, ii.1997, M. Klícha lgt. ( ZKDC). YANGON REGION: 6 ♂♂ 4 ♀♀, Yangon [= Rangoon], 12.–18.i.1981, de Rougemont lgt. ( MNHN, coll. Bonadona). NEPAL: KOSHI ZONE: 1 ♂, Morang Distr., Biratnagar, 140 m, 21.v.1980, C. Holzschuh lgt. ( ZKDC). PHILIPPINES: 12 ♂♂ 3 ♀♀, Luzon, Los Baños, W. H. Weston lgt. ( DCDC, ZKDC). SYRIA: 1 ♂ 1 ♀, ‘Syria // coll. Lethierry // Formicomus uncinatus Dsbr. ’ (coll. Pic, MNHN). THAILAND: AYUTTHAYA PROVINCE: 5 ♀♀, Ayutthaya, 26.i.1995, A. Weigel lgt. ( NKME). CHONBURI PROVINCE: 8 ♂♂ 3 ♀♀, Pattaya, Jomtien, Pinnacle Resort & Club, KLS, 30.ix.1999, M. Hartmann lgt. ( NKME). CHUMPHON PROVINCE: 1 ♂ 1 ♀, Pha To env. , 9°48′N 98°47′E, 1.–12.iii.1996, P. Průdek lgt. ( ZKDC); 3 ♂♂ 7 ♀♀, same locality, 1.–20.iii.1996, K. Majer lgt. ( ZKDC); 39 ♂♂ 32 ♀♀, same locality, 1.–11.v.1998, P. Průdek & R. Šigut lgt. ( ZKDC). MAE HONG SON PROVINCE: 5 ♂♂ 3 ♀♀, Ban Si Lang, 1200 m, 1.–8.v.1992, J. Horák lgt. ( ZKDC). PATTANI PROVINCE: 1 ♀, Sai Buri, 23.–28.iv.1993, J. Horák lgt. ( ZKDC); 1 ♀, Gappoa Panat Nikhom, 3.xi.1981, G. A. Shook lgt. ( ZKDC). RANONG PROVINCE: 7 ♂♂ 3 ♀♀, Ban Na env. , 9°34′N 98°42′E, 22.–26.iii.1996, K. Majer lgt. ( ZKDC). RAYONG PROVINCE: 2 ♂♂ 1 ♀, 5 km W of Rayong Centre, 27.ix.1999, M. Hartmann lgt. ( NKME); 2 ♀♀, Rayong Prov., Klaeng, 21.i.1995, A. Weigel lgt. ( NKME). TRAT PROVINCE: 1 ♂ 2 ♀♀, Ko Chang Island, 25.–31.v.2003, O. Šafránek lgt. ( ZKDC). YALA PROVINCE: 3 ♂♂ 2 ♀♀, Betong, 23.–25.iv.1992, J. Horák lgt. ( ZKDC); 2 ♂♂ 3 ♀♀, Betong, Guning Cang dun vill., 25.iii.–22. iv.1993, J. Horák lgt. ( ZKDC). VIETNAM: DA NANG PROVINCE: 5 ♀♀, Da Nang, Red Beach, 2.–3.xi.1970, A. R. Gillogly lgt. ( ZKDC, ZSMC). HA NOI PROVINCE: 2 ♂♂ 2 ♀♀, Hanoi, 3.v.1966, R. Bielawski & B. Pisarski lgt. ( ZKDC, ZSMC); 1 ♂ 1 ♀, Hanoi, Hotel Kim-lien, 1.–2.v.1966, G. Topál lgt. ( ZKDC); 1 ♀, Mai lam, NE of Hanoi, 12.–14.iv.1966, G. Topál lgt. ( ZKDC); 1 ♀, Phuc-Son [no date], Fruhstorfer lgt. ( ZKDC). HA NAM PROVINCE: 2 ♂♂ 2 ♀♀, Tuong linh, near Phu ly, 19.–23.v.1966, G. Topál lgt. ( ZKDC, ZSMC). HA TINH PROVINCE: 2 ♂♂ 3 ♀♀, Ky Thuong , 18°01’N 106°08’E, 100 m, vii.1997, T. Ziegler lgt. ( ZKDC, ZSMC).

Redescription (male, Biratnagar, ZKDC). Body length 4.2 mm. Head black, pronotum dark reddish, elytra black; antennae and legs black, base of femora reddish.

Head 1.2 times as long as wide, including eyes; base rather widely rounded, its outline moderately convex medially in dorsal view, tempora moderately narrowing posteriorly, posterior temporal angles indistinct. Eyes small, moderately convex. Surface glossy, distinctly punctate dorsally; punctures mostly dense but well-spaced, distinctly sparser near base. Setation short, decumbent, with scattered long, erect tactile setae.Antennae moderately long, distinctly enlarged in distal third; antennomere X 1.5 times, XI 2.5 times as long as wide.

Pronotum robust, 1.4 times as long as wide, slightly narrower than head including eyes, nearly evenly rounded anteriorly, distinctly impressed laterally in posterior half; pronotal disc evenly shaped, its outline nearly evenly convex in lateral view. Surface glossy, distinctly punctate; punctures unevenly spaced, pronotal disc somewhat sparsely punctured postero-medially (glossy, unwrinkled), and dorso-laterally in posterior half with paired longitudinal strip of fine wrinkles and dense punctures; lateral surface largely impunctate and glossy, including latero-basal impressions. Setation similar to that of head, subdecumbent, with scattered long tactile setae.

Meso- and metaventrite simple.

Elytra 1.7 times as long as wide, convex, subtruncate apically; humeri slightly marked, omoplates and postbasal impression absent. Surface distinctly and rather evenly punctate, glossy. Setation conspicuous, mostly decumbent to suberect, with numerous, moderately longer erect tactile setae.

Legs robust; profemora with strong lobe-like process; protibiae with distinct, blunt protrusion in distal half; penultimate tarsomere widened and flattened distally, with terminal tarsomere articulated dorsally in all tarsi.

Abdominal characters as in Figs 9–13 ; prongs of sternite VIII lobed dorso-medially at about mid-length and densely setose medially and ventrally; apical portion of tegmen 0.6 times as long as basal piece.

Variation. Body length 3.2–4.6 mm. Pronotum usually reddish ( Fig. 17 ), sometimes more or less darkened anteriorly (SE Asia). Specimens from the Philippines and Indonesia are nearly entirely black. The base of the head more or less evenly rounded.

Female sternum VII simple, slightly produced postero-medially; female tergum VII subtriangular, rounded apically.

Differential diagnosis. Anthelephila ruficollis resembles A. limaria Kejval, 2006 from Nepal and Northern India in body form and colouration, but differs in lack of a distinct bluish reflection of the elytra, the semicircular to somewhat widely rounded head base, the simple mesoventrite (lacking any median edge and /or protrusion in both sexes), and the apically simply-rounded female tergum VII (strongly narrowed, with obtuse to slightly incised apex in A. limaria ). Male characters of these two species are quite dissimilar.

Distribution. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China (SE provinces), India (West Bengal, Andaman Islands), Indonesia (Bali, Lombok, Java, Sumatra, Sumba, Sulawesi), Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Syria, Thailand, Vietnam.

Remarks. PIC (1903a,b) described Formicomus ruficollis var. annamitus from Vietnam and Formicomus (Anthelephilus) inhumeralis from the Philippines (Luzon). Having examined the relevant types and numerous additional specimens from SE Asia, including the Philippines and Indonesia, I failed to find any substantial differences in male characters from Anthelephila ruficollis . Consequently both taxa are regarded as junior synonyms of this species.

DESBROCHERS DES LOGES (1881) described Formicomus uncinatus from an unstated number of specimens originating from Syria. This species is known only from Syria ( PIC 1895, 1898; CHANDLER et al. 2008), and its type material has never been examined. I failed to find any type specimens in MNHN and other major collections; nevertheless, the original description comprises several remarkable morphological characters revealing, in my opinion, its species identity: elytral humeri absent (‘épaules nulles’), elytral apices truncate (‘sommet des élytres largement trongué’), and male profemoral process robust and apically hooked (‘une trés-grande dent terminée par un crochet’). Combination of these three characters is rarely present within the genus; however, they are all shared by Anthelephila ruficollis , including the very similar colouration. Moreover, the record of F. uncinatus from Syria by PIC (1895) was found to be based on specimens of A. ruficollis , therefore F. uncinatus is regarded as a junior synonym of the latter species.

As already stated by LAFERTÉ- SÉNECTÈRE (1849a), Anthelephila bengalensis (Wiedemann, 1823) is very probably conspecific with A. ruficollis . It was described from the same region, probably Bangladesh (‘Bengalia’), and later recorded from Japan and Vietnam ( MARSEUL 1876; UHMANN 1983, 1985; CHANDLER et al. 2008). At least some of the Uhmann’s records of A. bengalensis from Vietnam ( UHMANN 1983) surely belong to this species.

Anthelephila ruficollis appears to be common and widespread species. Based on label data, part of the examined specimens were collected on beaches, from a rat carcass, by sifting litter, by treading mud next to water, or by means of attraction to cantharidin bait ( Thailand, G. A. Shook lgt.).

Figures

Figs 8–13. Anthelephila ruficollis Saunders, 1834 (Biratnagar, male): 8 – profemur and protibia; 9 – sternum VII; 10 – tergum VII; 11 – sternite VIII (half) in dorsal view; 12 – tergite VIII; 13 – apical portion of aedeagus. Scales (0.5 mm): A – Fig. 13; B – Fig. 11; C – Figs 8, 9, 12; D – Fig. 10.

Figs 14–17. Body in dorsal view. 14 – Anthelephila mutillaria Saunders, 1834 (male), Chitwan NP; 15 – same species (male), Soppong; 16 – same species (female), Yuanxian; 17 – A. ruficollis Saunders, 1834 (male), Betong.

Figs 1–7. Anthelephila mutillaria Saunders, 1834 (Kottipale, male): 1 – profemur and protibia; 2 – sternum VII; 3 – tergum VII; 4 – sternite VIII (half) in dorsal view; 5 – prong of sternite VIII in lateral view; 6 – tergite VIII; 7 – apical portion of aedeagus. Scales (0.5 mm): A – Fig. 2; B – Figs 4, 5; C – Figs 1, 6; D – Fig. 3; E – Fig. 7.