Eulichas (Eulichas) pantherina, Hájek, 2008

Hájek, Jiří, 2008, A new species of Eulichas (Coleoptera: Eulichadidae) from Laos, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 48 (1), pp. 67-72 : 68-69

Eulichas (Eulichas) pantherina sp. nov.

( Figs. 1-3 )

Type locality. Laos , Champasak province, Bolovens plateau, Ban Itou, ca. 15°10.4’N 106°05.8’E, ca. 800 m a.s.l. Type material. HOLOTYPE: J, ‘ LAOS SOUTH / BOLAVEN PLATEAU / BAN ITOU / 23.- 27.5.2007 / B.MAKOVSKÝ Lgt. [printed]’ // ‘ HOLOTYPE / EULICHAS (s. str.) J / pantherina sp. nov. / Jiří Hájek det. 2007 [red label, printed]’ ( NMPC). PARATYPES: 16 JJ (nos. 1-16) 2 ♀♀ (nos. 17-18), same label data as holotype (1 J BMNH, 1 J HNHM, 1 J NHMW, 1 J NKME, rest in NMPC) ; 3 JJ (nos. 19-21), labelled: ‘LAO-NE, Hua Phan prov., / ~ 20°12‘N 104°01‘E, / PHU PHAN Mt., 1500- / 1900 m, 17.v.-3.vi.2007, / M. Brancucci leg. [printed]’ // ‘ NHMB Basel, / expedition to / Laos, 2007 [printed]’ (2 JJ NHMB, 1 J NMPC). Each paratype is provided with a red label similar to that of the holotype, except ‛PARATYPE’ instead of ‛HOLOTYPE’, the respective sex symbol, and a collection number .

Description. Habitus elongate, fusiform. Body coloration dark brown. Setation consisting of dominant recumbent light brown setae, covering most of dorsal surface (body thus appearing paler than integument), and grey setae forming ocellations on pronotum and elytra ( Fig. 1 ). Grey setae predominating over brown ones on abdominal sternites.

Measurements. Body length. Males: 20-27 mm (holotype 21 mm); females: 23-24 mm.

Head punctation consisting of sparse and moderately large setigerous punctures. Antenna robust, last antennomere ca. 1.85-2.00 times as long as wide ( Fig. 3 ), its ventral side smooth with numerous small tubercles.

Pronotum strongly transverse, ca. 2.18-2.31 times as wide as long. Sides of variable shape, in some specimens almost regularly rounded, in others rather subparallel basally. Disc with two rounded shallow depressions. Punctation consisting of fine and sparse setigerous punctures on disc, becoming slightly coarser and denser laterally.

Elytra with numerous longitudinal rows of large punctures, and very fine interstitial setigerous punctures.

Venter finely punctate, punctures sparse medially and becoming larger and denser laterally. Last abdominal ventrite evenly rounded towards apex.

Male.Aedeagus with phallobase longer than parameres. Parameres simple, apically slightly widened, their subapical hook very small, almost indistinct, moved basally to midlength of paramere. Median lobe narrowly lanceolate ( Fig. 2 ).

Female. Similar to male in habitus. Antenna shorter and more slender.

Differential diagnosis. Given the long and slender phallobase, which is distinctly longer than the parameres, and the long basal parameral apophysis, the new species belongs clearly to the E. funebris species group sensu JÄCH (1995) and HÁJEK (2007). Furthermore, the enlargement of the parameres behind their midlength and the almost indistinct subapical parameral hook place this species in the E. pacholatkoi species complex sensu HÁJEK (2007). The new species resembles E. haucki in habitus, especially by the bicoloured, light brown and grey body setation. However E. pantherina sp. nov. differs from all other species in the complex by the small subapical parameral hook moved to the midlength of paramere, and the narrowly lanceolate median lobe.

Etymology. The species epithet refers to the characteristic elytral ocellation, which is reminiscent of the colour pattern on a panther’s body.

Distribution. So far known only from two localities in southern and north-eastern Laos.

Figures

Figs. 1-3. Eulichas pantherina sp. nov. (holotype). 1 – habitus; 2 – aedeagus in dorsal view; 3 – male antennomeres IX-XI. Scale bar: 1 mm (Figs. 2-3).