Heptodonta eugenia Chaudoir, 1865

Görn, Sebastian, 2020, Revision of the Oriental tiger beetle genus Heptodonta Hope, 1838 (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae), Zootaxa 4875 (1), pp. 1-62 : 32-33

Heptodonta eugenia Chaudoir, 1865

Figs. 78–87

Heptodonta eugenia Chaudoir, 1865: 20 .

Heptadonta eugenia. Chaudoir, 1865: 56 .

Cicindela eugenia . Gestro, 1889: 87.

Heptadonta Engenia. Fleutiaux, 1892: 128 .

Heptadonta Eugenia. Gestro, 1893: 367 .

Odontochila (“group” Heptodonta ) Eugenia. W. Horn, 1910: 204.

Odontochila (Heptodonta) Eugenia. W. Horn, 1926: 124 .

Syn. Heptodonta Thong-Dii Fleutiaux, 1919: 128 .

Odontochila (Heptodonta) Eugenia Thong-Dii. W. Horn, 1922: 103 .

Heptodonta thongdii . Mandl, 1969: 152.

Heptodonta eugenia syn. thongdii . Naviaux, 1991: 240.

Type locality. Cochinchine [southern Vietnam] .

Type material. Holotype of H. eugenia (by monotypy): ♀ in MNHN, labelled: “eugenia / Chaud.” [handwrit- ten] // “Eugenia / Chaud. / Cochinchine / A. Deyrolle” [with black frame, handwritten] // “TYPE” [red, printed].

Type material. Lectotype of H. thongdii (designated here): ♀ in SDEI, labelled: “ LAOS / Vientiane / le 29/5 1915 / R. Vitalis de Salvaza ” [printed/handwritten] // “3024” [handwritten] // “ Heptadonta / Eugenia Chd. / n. sp. Thong dii / Fleutiaux” [handwritten] // “Cotype” [handwritten] // “ Syntypus ” [red, printed] // “ Coll. W. Horn / DEI Eberswalde” [printed] // “SDEI Coleoptera / # 301570” [printed] // “ LECTOTYPE / Heptodonta / Thong-Dii / Fleu- tiaux, 1919 / design. Sebastian Görn 2020” [red, printed] // “ Heptodonta / eugenia / Chaudoir, 1865 / det. Sebastian Görn 2020” [printed] .

Diagnosis. Usually this species is easily distinguished by the shiny violet colouration, but specimens can also be coloured dark violet or metallic bluish-green. Bluish-green specimens may resemble H. arrowi and H. horii sp. nov. but are clearly distinguishable by labral shape (rather triangular-trapezoidal in males and semicircular in females) and deeper, less dense elytral punctation. This species is unique in the genus due to the lack of elytral microsculpture. Similar to the Philippines species H. nigrosericea , it is the only Heptodonta species with dark-brown to black female labrum, but in some females the labrum is lightened. It also is the only Heptodonta species with a large crescentic sclerite in the center of the aedeagus.

Redescription. Body size: Length 9.4–13.2 mm (without labrum), width 2.9–4.2 mm ( Figs. 78–82 ).

Dorsal surface of head iridescent violet, often with large blue or bluish-green iridescent areas, which sometimes cover the entire dorsal side of the head. Frons transversely grooved. Vertex with longitudinal striation, wrinkling anteromedian and posterior and straight converging in transition to orbital plates. Orbital plates with shallow parallel striae, and with two setae on each side. Occiput with irregular transverse grooves. Genae glabrous and grooved, iridescent violet posterior and bluish-green anterior. Clypeus glabrous, coloured blue, green, and violet. Labrum with four setae, five apical teeth, and one lateral tooth on each side, three median teeth acute, in males third apical teeth often reduced, shape variable, male labrum triangular-trapezoidal and short (0.58–0.70 mm long, 1.18–1.43 mm wide, Fig. 83 ), testaceous with dark margin, in few males mainly dark-brown, female labrum semicircular (0.75–1.05 mm long, 1.23–1.60 mm wide, Fig. 84 ), dark-brown to black, often with lightened center. Mandibles rufous-brown to black, laterally testaceous. Labial and maxillary palpi testaceous with anteriorly or completely black terminal palpomeres in males, and entirely black terminal palpomeres in females. Antennae slender, extending back over the first half of the elytra, metallic black, in some specimens pedicel testaceous at basal and apical tip, pedicel shape variable, but usually elongated, scape with a single apical seta, antennomeres 3–4 with few scattered setae, antennomeres 5–11 finely and evenly pubescent.

Thorax entirely glabrous. Pronotum shiny violet, usually anterior and posterior, and sometimes also entire median lobe with blue to bluish-green lustre, median line moderately pronounced, proportions variable, usually slightly shorter (1.70–2.45 mm) than wide (1.75–2.68 mm), transverse grooves pronounced to almost smooth, pronounced anterior and posterior sulci, anterior lobe wider than or rarely almost as wide as posterior, median lobe globular, lateral margins of the median lobe rather convex. Episterna, sterna, and epimera metallic violet with some iridescent bluish-green lustre, pro- and mesepisternum occasionally with yellowish shine.

Elytra elongate, length 5.9–8.5 mm, slightly dilated laterally, maximal width at the middle, iridescent violet with golden, blue, or bluish-green lustre, lacking microsculpture, juxtahumeral and apical impression moderate, discal impression and basodiscal convexity slightly to moderately pronounced; anterior and median punctures fused to deep transverse grooves, at least along the sutures, anteapical punctures substantially reduced in size.

Coxae dark-testaceous with iridescent violet to yellowish-green lustre and testaceous apices, pro- and mesocoxae anterior, metacoxae laterally densely covered with long white setae, mesocoxae posteriorly with few white setae. Trochanters and femora testaceous. Distal femoral apices with short black colouration, almost lacking on profemora. Tibiae and tarsi metallic-black. Proximal apices of pro- and mesotibiae testaceous, that of metatibia lightened. Testaceous claws generally with black base.

Abdominal sternites glabrous (apart from few long setae at posterior margins), with iridescent violet-blue lustre, which is reduced on the dark-brown to black anal sternite ( Fig. 85 ).

Aedeagus angled, length 2.10–2.60 mm, ventral straight with a gentle median convexity, ventrally acute apex straight or slightly pointing to the ventral side, moderate dorsal curvature peaked slightly posterior to medioventral convexity; short aedeagal base rather steeply sloping. Inner sac in left lateral aspect median with typical large crescent sclerite, which is more or less broadened ventrally ( Figs. 86–87 ).

Variability. Specimens from Malaysia differ slightly from the main population by the bluish-green colouration, rather pronounced pronotal striation, less globular pronotal shape, and slightly smaller size. However, specimens from southern Vietnam and Laos tend to a more bluish-green colouration, and size and pronotal characters also can be variable in the main population.

Distribution. Western and central CAMBODIA, southern CHINA (SE Tibet, Yunnan), throughout LAOS, most northwestern peninsular MALAYSIA (Kedah, Penang), northern, central and eastern THAILAND, southern VIETNAM.

Additional material examined. 203 specimens. CHINA : Tibet, Cha Yu County, Xia-Cha-Yu, 1900–2600 m, 22.–28.VI.2006 ( JWCW) ; Yunnan, Xishangbana , VII.1994 ( JWCW) ; Yunnan, Dali ( SDEI) ; LAOS: Oudomxay, La , 1.–27.VI.2007 ( JWCW) ; Luang Namtha, N 21°09.2, E 101°18.7, 900± 100 m, 5.–11.V.1997, 24.–30.V.1997 ( JWCW) ; Xieng Khouang, 17.V.1994 ( JWCW) ; Attapeu, Bolaven Plateau, 15 km SE Ban Houaykong, Nong Lom env., N 15°02’ E 106°35’, 800 m, 18.–30.IV.1999 ( JWCW) ; Luang Namtha, N 21°07.5, E 101°21.0, 750± 100 m, 13.–24.V.1997 ( JWCW) ; Bolikhamsai, Ban Phabat env., 150 m, N 18°16.1, E 103°10.9, 27.IV.–1.V.1997 ( JWCW) ; Bolikhamsai, Nam Leuk, Tad Leuk env., Phou Khao Khouay Nationalpark, 200 m, 1.–8.VI.1996 ( JWCW) ; Bolikhamsai, Pakkading , 300 m, N 18°20’ E 104°00’, 26.–27.V.2003 ( JWCW) ; Khammouane, Nakai env., N 17°43’, E 105°09’, 500–600 m, 22.V.–8.VI.2001 ( JWCW) ; Khammouane, Ban Khoun Ngeun, N 18°07’ E 104°29’, 200m, 24.–29.IV.2001 ( JWCW) ; Bolikhamsai, Ban Nok env., N 18°08.7’, E 104°28.1’, 220± 50 m, 9.–14.V.1998 ( JWCW, SGCH) ; Luang Namtha, N 21°00.3, E 101°24.6, 31.V.1997 ( JWCW) ; Luang Prabang, Ban Song Cha, N 20°33 –4’ E 102°14’, 1200 m, 24.IV.–16.V.1999 ( JWCW) ; Khammouane, Ban Khoun Ngeun, 300 m, 17.V.–6.VI.2007 ( SMNS) ; Luang Namtha, Namtha -> Muang Sing, N 21°09’ E 101°19’, 900–1200 m , Champasak, Pakxong , N 15°11.863’ E 106°14.894’, 27.IV.2005 ( ZSM) ; Vientiane env., III.–VI.1963 ( ZSM) ; Bokeo, Ban Houayxay env., 3.V.2003 ( ZSM) ; Vientiane, 25.V.1915 ( SDEI) ; Pang Hai , 7.V.1920 ( SDEI) ; Khouang , 1928 ( SDEI) ; MALAYSIA: Kedah, Langkawi Is., 23.IV.1928 ( SDEI) ; Penang, 1896 ( SDEI) ; THAILAND: Chiang Mai, Samoeng, V.1988 ( JWCW, ZSM) ; Chiang Mai, Mae Sa , 13.V.1987 ( JWCW), 14.V.1986 ( ZSM) ; Chiang Mai, Chiang Dao , 21.V.–4.VI.1995 ( JWCW) ; Mukdahan, Phu Pan, 1989 ( JWCW) ; Chiang Mai, Sansai , 12.–31.V.1988 ( JWCW, SMNS, ZSM), V.1989 ( PSCH), VI.1992 ( MNB) ; Nan, Pha Khab , 15.–20.V.1992, 11.–15.V.1993 ( ZSM) ; Mae Hong Son, Ban Huai Po, N 19.19, E 97.59, 1600–2000 m, 9.–16.V.1991 ( ZSM) ; Kamphaeng Phet, VI.2001 ( ZSM) ; Nan, V.2001 ( ZSM) ; Mae Hong Son, Ban Huai Po, 1600–2000 m, 17.–23.V.1991 ( ZSM) ; VIETNAM: Lam Dong, Bao Loc , V.–VI.1994 ( JWCW) ; Lam Dong, 14 km SW of Bao Loc , 16.–29.V.1994 ( ZSM) .

Biology. Occurs in forest on road cuts and vertical slopes ( Naviaux 1991; Shook & Wu 2007).

Remarks. Remarkable is the broad elevational occurrence of this species from lowlands up to 1,600 –2,000 m in Mae Hong Son ( Thailand) and even 1.900 –2.800 m in southeastern Tibet.

Heptodonta eugenia is widespread in Thailand as well as in Laos, present in several nearby regions of Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, and probably Myanmar ( Chaudoir 1865; Gestro 1889; Fleutiaux 1892, 1893, 1919; Horn 1910, 1922, 1926; Fowler 1912; Naviaux 1991; Wiesner 1992, 2008; Sawada & Wiesner 1999b, 1999c, 1999d, 2000a, 2002a, 2004, 2006b; Cassola & Klícha 2002; Naviaux & Pinratana 2004; Cassola 2005; Shook & Wiesner 2006; Shook & Wu 2007; Matalin 2015; Wiesner & Geiser 2016; Putchkov & Matalin 2017; Wiesner et al. 2017; Wiesner & Constant 2019). The distribution in Myanmar needs to be verified as only old records are known from this country ( Gestro 1889; Fowler 1912; Heynes-Wood & Dover 1928), and at least Fowler (1912) probably had a wrong concept of H. eugenia , confusing it with specimens of H. arrowi . Strong evidence for this assumption is a specimen of H. arrowi in the BMNH from Tharawaddy (Corbett) labelled erroneously as H. eugenia , which was incorrectly cited by Fowler (1912) as H. eugenia from Burma.

Figures

FIGURES 75–80. 75–76, 78–80—habitus: 75–76—Heptodonta vermifera W. Horn, 1908, China, Yunnan, Lijiang (CKCE): 75—♂; 76—♀. 78–80—H. eugenia Chaudoir, 1865: 78—♀, holotype, Cochinchine [southern Vietnam] (MNHN); 79—♀, lec- totype of syn. H. thongdii Fleutiaux, 1919, Laos, Vientiane (SDEI); 80—♀, Siam (SDEI). 77—aedeagus in left lateral aspect, H. vermifera W. Horn, 1908, ♂, China, Yunnan, Lijiang (CKCE). Scales: 75–76, 78–80 = 1 mm, 77 = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 81–87. Heptodonta eugenia Chaudoir, 1865: 81, 83, 85–87—♂, Laos, Oudomxay, La (JWCW): 81—habitus, 83— head, 85—lateral body, 86—aedeagus in left lateral aspect, 87—aedeagus in right lateral aspect; 82, 84—♀, Khammouane, Nakai (JWCW): 82—habitus, 84—head. Scales: 81–85 = 1 mm, 86–87 = 0.5 mm.