Gnaptorina compressa, Shi & Ren & Merkl, 2007

Shi, A-M., Ren, G-D. & Merkl, O., 2007, Six New Species Of Gnaptorina Reitter, 1887 (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae: Blaptini) From The Tibet Plateau, Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 53 (3), pp. 219-238 : 222-224

Gnaptorina compressa sp. n.

( Figs 13–24 , 75–76, 86)

Description – Body black, shining; antennae and legs brownish black. Male body length 9.4–10.7 mm, width 5.0– 5.9 mm; female body length 10.0– 11.3 mm, width 5.7–6.2 mm.

Male (Fig. 75). Anterior margin of clypeus sinuate. Outer margin of head with obtuse-angled incision above antennal base. Outer genal margin arcuately converging to clypeal base. Eyes slightly protruding beyond outer margin of head. Dorsal surface of head densely covered with well-defined punctures. Antennae, when posteriorly extended, reaching posterior 1/4 of pronotum. Length (width) ratio of 2nd to 11th antennomeres 10 (12): 25(10): 11(10): 11(10): 11(10): 11(10): 11(14): 11(14): 11(14): 16(15).

Pronotum ( Fig. 13 ) transverse, 1.24–1.32 (1.26 on average, n = 10) times as wide as long, widest in the middle, 1.72–1.77 (1.74 on average, n = 10) times as wide as head. Ratio of pronotal width at anterior margin to its maximum width and width at base (n = 10) 0.60: 1.00: 0.87 on average. Outer margins of pronotum distinctly arcuately narrowing to anterior margin in anterior 1/3; in basal half converging to base with almost straight sides, bordered along entire length. Anterior margin straight, bordered laterally; basal margin straight, not bordered. Anterior angles of pronotum nearly rounded; posterior angles almost rectangular. Pronotal surface between outer margins regularly convex, with shallow median depression not reaching anterior margin and base; punctures slightly larger than those on head; a shallow elongate impression on each side of pronotal base; disc sometimes bearing a smooth spot on each side of median depression. Prothoracic hypomeron covered with wrinkles and granules. Middle part of prosternum in front of procoxae sharply concave. Intercoxal process of prosternum with wide median depression, steeply sloping behind procoxae.

Elytra oval, 1.26–1.34 (1.30 on average, n = 10) times as long as wide, widest before the middle, 1.33–1.40 (1.37 on average, n = 10) times as wide as pronotum. Epipleural carina visible from above in anterior 1/3. Elytral surface between outer margin of epipleura and sutural margin weakly convex, with punctures and irregular fine wrinkles. Epipleural surface covered with irregular wrinkles and very sparse granules. Visible abdominal ventrites with punctures and brown setae, 1st to 3rd ventrites with wrinkles.

Legs ( Figs 15–17 ) rather strong, length (width) ratio of fore, middle and hind femora 78(24): 86(23): 100(24); that of corresponding tibiae: 68(10): 66(15): 90(17). Fore tibiae weakly incurved, with massive upper spur at apical margin longer than 1st protarsomere, lower spur missing. Only 1st protarsomere with a tuft of light setae at apical margin of plantar surface. Hind tibiae straight, gradually widening toward apex. Length (width) ratio of 1st to 4th metatarsomeres 21(7.0): 11(6.5): 10(6.5): 23(6.0).

Aedeagus ( Figs 18–20 ): length 2.23 mm, width 0.49 mm. Parameres 0.61 mm long and 0.40 mm wide, with outer margin slightly sinuate. Spiculum gastrale as in Fig. 21 . Apical margin of abdominal sternite 8 shallowly sinuate ( Fig. 22 ).

Female (Fig. 76). Body longer and broader. Antennae short, when posteriorly extended, reaching posterior 1/3 of pronotum. Upper spur of fore tibiae massive, gradually widening toward apex, and apex reaching anterior margin of 3rd protarsomere. Plantar surface of 1st protarsomeres without tuft of light setae. Ovipositor as in Figs 23–24 .

Type material – Holotype, male, CHINA: Tibet, Nyalam , 3700 m, N 28°12’, E 85°54’, 5 July 2004, Yi-Bin Ba and Ai-Min Shi leg. ( MHBU). First label of the holotype (written with Chinese characters) see Fig. 86 . Paratypes: 22 males (1, HNHM, 21, MHBU) and 20 females (1, HNHM, 19, MHBU), same data as holotype .

Etymology – Named after sharply concave middle part of prosternum in front of procoxae.

Diagnosis – This new species resembles Gnaptorina brucei BLAIR, 1923 , with the following differences: pronotum transverse, 1.26 times as wide as long;

same, ventral view middle part of prosternum in front of procoxae sharply concave; elytra widest before the middle; epipleural carina visible from above in anterior 1/3.

Distribution – China: Tibet.

Figures

Figs 13–24. Gnaptorina compressum sp. n.: 13 = pronotum, 14 = antenna, 15 = fore leg, 16 = middle leg, 17 = hind leg, 18 = apical part of aedeagus in dorsal view, 19 = same, ventral view, 20 = aedeagus in lateral view, 21 = spiculum gastrale, 22 = abdominal sternite 8, 23 = ovipositor in dorsal view, 24 =

Figs 85–90. First labels of the holotypes: 85 = Gnaptorina pilifera sp. n., 86 = G. compressa sp. n., 87 = G.kangmar sp.n., 88 = G.himalayana sp.n.,89 =G. globithoracalis sp.n.,90 =G. nigra sp. n.