Medeopteryx clipeata, Ballantyne & Lambkin, 2013

Ballantyne, Lesley A. & Lambkin, Christine L., 2013, Systematics and Phylogenetics of Indo-Pacific Luciolinae Fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) and the Description of new Genera, Zootaxa 3653 (1), pp. 1-162 : 85

Medeopteryx clipeata sp. nov.

[ Figs 147–153 ]

Holotype. Male. NEW GUINEA: Ruka , 9 m, 12.viii.1964, H. Clissold, light trap ( BPBM).

Paratypes (42). Same locality as holotype, 18 males. 8.51S, 143.11E , Western District , Oriomo River, 3 m, light trap, H. Clissold , 1.viii.1964, 6 males; 4.viii.1964, 2 males; 6.viii.1964, 14 males; 16.viii.1964, 2 males ( BPBM) .

Diagnosis. Pronotum orange, elytra dark brown; distinguished from all other Medeopteryx by the loss of the anteromedian area of LO in V7 ( Fig. 147 ). Female and larva unknown.

Male. 6.5–7.0 mm long. Colour: pronotum, MS and MN orange; elytra dark brown (under direct microscopic examination the illumination makes the elytral pubescence appear golden thus masking the base elytral colour); head dark brown with a median triangular area on vertex dingy orange; labrum orange; antennae and palpi dark brown; ventral aspect of thorax and abdominal V2–4 and basal fourth of V5 light brown (ventral surface of metathorax sometimes dingy orange); legs orange except tibiae 1, and tarsi of all legs dark brown; V6 and 7 pale cream in area of LO, yellowish elsewhere; all tergites pale brown; dorsally reflexed margins of Vs cream. Pronotum: 1.0– 1.2 mm long; 1.4–1.6 mm wide; subparallel sided; punctures small, shallow, separated by their width. Head: moderately depressed between eyes; GHW 1.2–1.3 mm; SIW 0.3 mm; ASD subequal to ASW. Antennae elongate, slender, FS 7–9 not obviously shorter than remaining FS. Elytron ( Fig. 153 ): apex rounded. LO ( Figs 147, 149, 151 ): retracted from anteromedian area of V7 (the cuticular area extending from the MPP of V7 attaches in this area, as do longitudinal muscles visible through cuticle; Fig. 150 ). Abdomen: MPP projecting posteriorly a little beyond PLP and projecting ventrally ( Fig. 147, 149, 151 ), terminating in fine paired projections. T8: ventral surface with lateral ridges and finely pointed, forwardly projecting flanges. Aedeagus: ( Fig. 152 ) with apex of median lobe pointed, and bearing an acute ridge on dorsal surface level with the incurved tips of LL.

Remarks. The specific name clipeata (clipeatus, a um, Latin = bearing a shield) refers to the shield shaped area in V7 devoid of LO. This new species superficially resembles M. antennata . The functional significance of the modifications to V7 and the reduction in LO area are discussed subsequently.

Figures

FIGURES 147–153. Medeopteryx clipeata sp. nov. holotype male (BPBM). 147–151 abdomen, ventral (147), dorsal (148), from behind with ventral surface uppermost (149), dorsal V7 (150), left lateral (151); 152 aedeagus left lateral; 153 ventral apex right elytron. Figure legends: CS cuticular strips; MPP median posterior projection of V7; PLP posterolateral projections of V7; SPI spiracle; T8 tergite 8. These figures share scale lines: 147–151.