Morphostenophanes cuproviridis Gao & Ren, 2009

Zhou, De-Yao, 2020, A revision of the genus Morphostenophanes Pic, 1925 (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Stenochiinae, Cnodalonini), Zootaxa 4769 (1), pp. 1-81 : 14-15

Morphostenophanes cuproviridis Gao & Ren, 2009 ḒLJẎȐAEƤ

( Figs. 6 A–D; 16B, G; 17A, F; 18B, O–Q; 19Q; 20B, M)

Morphostenophanes cuproviridis Gao & Ren, 2009: 314 (type locality: Leigong Mountain , Guizhou, China), 23–30, 39.

Material examined. (8♂♂, 6♀♀). CHINA: Guizhou : 1♀ ( CZDY, a sample of muscle tissue was preserved in 99.7% ethanol at –18 °C), Leishan County, Mount Leigong , 1610 m, 2018.vii.9, Tian-Yong Yang ; 2♂♂ ( CZDY), Leishan County, Mount Leigong , 2015.vii.12, Bo-Yan Li ; 2♀♀ ( CZDY), Leishan County, Mount Leigong , light trap, 2018.v.25, Bo-Yan Li ; 1♂ ( MYNU), Leishan County, Mount Leigong , 2016.viii.12, collector unknown ; 1♂ ( CZDY), Leishan County, Lianhuaping , 1572 m, 26°22’25.18’’N, 108°11’55.72’’E, 2017.vii. 22, Min-Zhi Zhao ; 1♂ ( MYNU), Leishan County, Mount Leigong, Lianhuaping , 1000 m, Hao Xu & Jian-Yue Qiu ; 1♂, 2♀♀ ( MYNU), Leishan County, Fangxiang Country, Queniao Village , 1600 m, 2013.vii.28, Hao Xu & Jian-Yue Qiu ; 1♂ ( CQL), Leishan County, Mount Leigong , 1600 m, 2017.vii.30. Zi-Hao Yang ; 1♂ ( CZDY, a sample of muscle tissue was preserved in 99.7% ethanol at –18 °C), Guiyang City, Lindai Village , 26°39’36.55’’N, 106°22’20.88’’E, 2018.viii, Min-Zhi Zhao ; 1♀ ( GFGY), Kaiyang County, 1978.xii.9, Wang .

Description of female. Female ( Fig. 6B, D ). Stouter than male, length 17.8–19.3 mm. Distance between eyes longer than male, OI = 53.1–56.0. PW/PL = 1.14–1.21. Elytra more convex, highest near middle, EL/EW = 1.59– 1.69; abdomen straight in lateral view; without impressions on sternites. Ovipositor shortened, abruptly narrowing terminally from apical third.

Variability. Females from the type locality, Leigong Mountain, have shortened elytra with aspect ratio ranging from 1.59–1.62, but the only female from Kaiyang County City shows longer elytra with aspect ratio of 1.69.

Comparative notes. Morphostenophanes cuproviridis was described in details by Gao & Ren (2009). It is the most brightly-coloured species of the genus, with green shining body, slightly bronze; pronotum colored pink, with an annular green band; area along elytral suture, areas of encircled segments of striae and epipleura, middle parts of pro-, meso- and metafemora, both sides of abdomen with pinkish luster.

Morphostenophanes cuproviridis is similar to M. iridescens , which has almost the same bright-coloured body as M. cuproviridis . The two species seems to be closely related, but M. cuproviridis can be clearly distinguished from the new species by more shiny body surface, male pronotum distinctly constricted before the base, less convex elytra in male, more distinct pinkish luster on elytral impressions, less widened male protarsi, different aedeagus, and shorter female elytra (at least for those from the type locality). M. cuproviridis also resembles M. aenescens yelang by sharing extremely similar male habitus, but can be distinguished from the latter by different body color, genae more strongly protruding, much longer antennae, less coarsely punctate pronotum and head, much curved male protibiae (almost straight in the latter), less rounded sternite VII in male, and shorter female elytra.

Distribution. ( Map 1 ) CHINA: Guizhou.

Figures

Map 1. Distribution of the Morphostenophanes species. A. Enlargement of Central and Western Yunnan Province.

FIGURE 6. Habitus of Morphostenophanes cuproviridis Gao & Ren. Male (A, C), and female (B, D); in dorsal (A, B), and lateral view (C, D). Scale bars = 5 mm.