Emeia pulchra Zhu & Zhen, 2022

Zhu, Cheng-Qi, Xu, Xiao-Dong & Zhen, Ying, 2022, Systematic review of the firefly genus Emeia Fu, Ballantyne & Lambkin, 2012 (Coleoptera, Lampyridae) from China, ZooKeys 1113, pp. 153-166 : 153

Emeia pulchra Zhu & Zhen sp. nov.

Figs 3-4 , 5 , 6

Diagnosis

(based on adult male). The new species can be differentiated from E. pseudosauteri Fu, Ballantyne & Lambkinby the elytron, hindwing venation and aedeagus. In fresh specimens, the elytral apices are black in E. pulchra (Fig. 3 ), but with a narrow orange stripe in E. pseudosauteri (Fig. 8 ). In the male hindwing, the upper vein of the MP3+4 venation in E. pulchra reaches the margin of the hind wings without forks (n=2) (Fig. 4 ). In E. pseudosauteri , the upper vein of MP3+4 forks and reaches the margin of the hind wings (n=2) (Fig. 10 ). The aedeagus in E. pulchra is approx. 3 times as long as wide (length 1.77 mm: width 0.58 mm) (Fig. 6A ), versus approx. 2 times as long as wide (length 1.66 mm: width 0.84 mm) in E. pseudosauteri (Fig. 12A ).

Description.

Male: BL 10.0-10.4 mm; BW 3.5-3.7 mm (three individuals).

Head. Antennae filiform, black, almost 2/3 as long as body length; antennomere 1 cone-shaped; 2 short and cylindrical; 3 to 10 compressed, not bifurcate; 11th antennomere almost 1.5 times longer than 10th, slightly dilated from base to apex. Concave between eyes dorsally in cross section, both eyes occupying about 2/3 width of whole head in ventral view. Eyes spherical, so that head cannot fully contract into pronotum. Mouthparts fully developed, clypeolabral suture flexible, outer edges of labrum reaching inner edges of closed mandibles.

Thorax. Scutellum black and slightly emarginate distally. Elytra elongated, dark brown to black, apices not deflexed in dorsal view, sides slightly convex. Hind wing well developed, r3 half the length of r4 (Fig. 4 ). Legs long and straight, without swelling on any part, dark brown to black, with dense white hairs.

Abdomen. Dark brown, ventrites gradually diminishing in length posterad. Light organs yellow-white, occupying almost all of V6 and half of V7, not reaching to posterior edges of V7. V6 and V7 rounded laterally (Fig. 5 ), posterior half of V7 not arched in dorsal view, abruptly narrowed to truncate posterior apex, apex emarginate (Fig. 5C ). T7 rounded, without anterolateral corners (Fig. 5A ); T8 symmetrical with concealed anterolateral arms, widest across middle with lateral margins subparallel-sided in anterior half, tapering evenly in posterior half to a rounded and partly truncate posterior margin (Fig. 5B ). Abdominal spiracles on lateral edges of each abdominal segments. EL/EW = 4.7-4.8; EL/PL= 4.7-5.0 (n=3).

Male genitalia (Fig. 6 ): Aedeagal sheath (T9, T10, S9) (Fig. 6D, E ) 3.15 mm long; anterior half of sternite broad, apically rounded; tergite without protrusion along posterior margin of T9. Aedeagus (Fig. 6A-C ) 1.61 mm long. Phallus short (~1.2 mm) and thick, broadest at midlength, becoming thinner at apex and base, parameres (lateral lobes) extending about 0.14 mm beyond phallus. Parameres robust, subparallel-sided, symmetrical, with blunt preapical lateral expansion.

Etymology.

The specific name Emeia pulchra refers to the bright pronotum coloration.

Holotype.

China • 1♂; Zhejiang, Lishui; 28°37.56'N, 119°49.7'E; H: 60 m, 2. IV. 2020; Chengqi Zhu leg.; 'HOLOTYPE (red), ♂, Emeia pulchra sp. nov., det. Zhu, Zhen, 2021' (Westlake University).

Paratype.

China • 1♂; Zhejiang, Lishui; 28°37.56'N, 119°49.7'E; H: 60 m, 2. IV. 2020; Chengqi Zhu leg.; 'PARATYPE (yellow), ♂, Emeia pulchra sp. nov., det. Zhu, Zhen, 2021' (Westlake University).

Distribution.

China: Zhejiang Province.

Habitat and occurrence.

The males were found in an open forest of mainly Chinese wingnut, of the family Juglandaceae [ Pterocarya stenoptera C. DC.] (Fig. 7 ). The floor of the Emeia pulchra habitat was covered with a lush herbaceous layer 20-30 cm high.

There are many terrestrial snails and slugs in this habitat, which may be potential food for Emeia pulchra larvae. Combining descriptions from local people and our field observations, adult fireflies are usually observed mid-March. The protection of fireflies has been supported by the Lishui government and Jiulong National Wetland Park management departments, and this area has been protected as Jiulong National Wetland Park (Fig. 7 ). Fan (2019) reported that the population size of E. pulchra has increased from 2014 to 2019 with the protection efforts.

Behavioral remarks.

There are two obvious luminous bands at the terminal end of the adult male abdomen. The two bands both emit intermittent bright light during courtship. The male courtship behavior usually starts at 19:00 (approximately 1h after sunset), and peaks at about 20:30. Adult males rest on higher herbs and emit yellow and green flashing light. Males are reluctant flyers; the distance of each flight ranges from 0.5 to 5 m.

Figures

Figure 5. Male abdominal ventrites (V) and tergites (T) of Emeia pulchra Zhu & Zhen, sp. nov. A T 7 B T 8 C V 7. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Figure 6. Aedeagusof Emeia pulchra Zhu & Zhen sp. nov. A dorsal view B ventral view C lateral view. Aedeagal sheath of E. pulchra D dorsal view E ventral view. Scale bar: 1 mm.

Figure 7. Habitat of Emeia pulchra Zhu & Zhen sp. nov. in Jiulong National Wetland Park.

Figure 12. Aedeagus of Emeia pseudosauteri. A dorsal view B ventral view C lateral view. Male aedeagal sheath of E. pseudosauteri D dorsal view E ventral view. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figures 3 - 4. Emeia pulchra Zhu & Zhen sp. nov., male 3 habitus of holotype A dorsal view B ventral view 4 right wing, dorsal view. Scale bars: 5 mm (3); 2 mm (4).

Figures 8 - 11. Emeia pseudosauteri Fu, Ballantyne & Lambkin, 2012. Male and female 8 habitus of male A dorsal view. Arrow highlights narrow orange stripe on elytral apices. The color appears darker in this photo, but it is orange and easily seen in both dried and fresh samples B ventral view 9 habitus of female. A dorsal view B ventral view 10 right wing of male. Dorsal view. Arrow points to wing venation, which differs between the two Emeia species 11 right wing of female. Dorsal view. Scale bars: 5 mm (8, 9); 2 mm (10); 0.5 mm (11).