Arosteomela nigrita, Ge, Si-Qin, Yang, Xing-Ke, Wang, Shu-Yong & Li, Wen-Zhu, 2004

Ge, Si-Qin, Yang, Xing-Ke, Wang, Shu-Yong & Li, Wen-Zhu, 2004, Revision of the Genus Agrosteomela Gistl (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Chrysomelinae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 58 (2), pp. 273-284 : 282

Arosteomela nigrita , new species

( Figs. 12 , 21–22 )

Type. Holotype male: China, Sichuan, Markam (31.9 8 N, 102.2 8 E), 2,500 m, 17 Aug 1983, Wang. Deposited in the Institute of Zoology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences , P. R. China.

Description. Form: Body robust, rather elongate ( Fig. 12 ); Length: 11.0 mm (measured from the apex of the clypeus to the apex of the elytra); width: 6.0 mm (measured at base of the elytra) ( Fig. 11 ). Color: Pronotum, scutellum, and legs black; Clypeus, antennae, head and underside of body deep-brown; three apical segments of abdomen brown. Head: Deeply inserted in prothorax, without punctures. Clypeus short. Eyes elliptical; dorso-ventral eye length ¼ 0.24 mm; interocular distance (at dorso-mesal margins) ¼ 1.92 mm; Outer surface of mandible with coarse and sparse punctures and sparse pubescence. Coronal suture distinct. Antennae slender, segment (1–11) length in millimeters 0.40, 0.16, 0.56, 0.32, 0.32, 0.32, 0.40, 0.32, 0.40, 0.32, 0.48. Pronotum: Length at middle ¼ 5.0 mm, width at middle ¼ 3.0 mm; posterior angles acute, almost without punctures; lateral margin depressed, with a shallow longitudinal depression on each side, from basal margin not extending to middle and with sparse deep punctures in these depressions. Scutellum: Impunctate , triangular with apex rounded. Elytra: Length ¼ 10.0 mm, width (at middle) ¼ 6.5 mm. Convex, with five rows of punctures, more distinct basally than apically; epipleuron bearing a row of sparse setae, decreasing in number from apex to base. Underside: Shiny, almost impunctate and finely pubescent; meta-episternum with dense and coarse punctures. Epipleural inner margin with line of setae. Median lobe: Truncate apically in ventral view, in lateral view long and slender, thinned towards apex ( Figs. 21, 22 ).

Diagnosis. This new species is similar to Agrosteomela impressiuscula (Fairmaire) , but it can be distinguished by the depression of the pronotum, punctures of the elytra, and shape of aedeagus.

Distribution. Sichuan.

Etymology. From the Latin, nigrita , meaning black.

Figures

Fig. 12. Agrosteomela nigrita new species, dorsal habitus, holotype male.

Figs. 13–22. Ventral and lateral views of median lobe of Agrosteomela spp. 13–14) A. indica (Hope); 15–16) A. chinensis (Weise); 17–18) A. impressiuscula (Fairmaire); 19–20) A. flavipennis new species; 21–22) A. nigrita new species.

Fig. 11. Agrostoemela flavipennis new species, dorsal habitus, holotype male.