Abscondita jerangau Nada, 2019

Ho, - Z., 2019, The Luciolinae of S. E. Asia and the Australopacific region: a revisionary checklist (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) including description of three new genera and 13 new species, Zootaxa 4687 (1), pp. 1-174 : 33

Abscondita jerangau Nada sp. nov.

Figs 114−119

Types. Holotype and 2 paratype males. MALAYSIA. Terengganu: Jerangau Forest Reserve, Compt. 31, 22.vi. 2016, B. Nada, ♂ ( JU 31 N [7]) ( FRIM). Pasir Raja Selatan Forest Reserve , Compt. 26, 25.v. 2016, B. Nada, 2 ♂ ( PS26 [5]) ( FRIM). # = killed fixed and preserved in 70% ethanol. Nada’s collection in various forest reserves has compartment numbers and transect number following in [].

Diagnosis. Very similar to Abs. pallescens in dorsal colouration (the creamy yellow pronotum has median darker markings and the semitransparent elytra have pale apices), and convex sided shape; distinguished by the smaller size (9.0–9.5 mm long; Abs. pallescens is 10.0–13.0 mm long), almost black abdominal T 7, 8 (in Abs. pallescens the tergites are either yellowish orange or mid brown), and the tip of the aedeagal sheath sternite which terminates in a single medially emarginated lobe which is pointed laterally and is similar to that Abs. anceyi (in Abs. pallescens the sheath sternite is terminated by separate elongated and apically pointed lobes). Three other species of Abscondita having black T7, 8 have black tipped elytra (see key to males). Larva not associated.

Description of male. 9.0–9.5 mm long. Colour ( Figs 114−116 ): pronotum pale yellowish with a brown median marking attaining both anterior and posterior margins and in the form of an inverted ‘T’, with the broad apex of the T across the posterior margin, and the narrower base across the anterior margin; MN and MS mid brown; elytra semitransparent, very pale brown with inner edge of epipleuron pale brown (visible from above through the semitransparent elytron) and humeral edge brown (brown thoracic terga visible confuse interpretation of colour here); very small patches of fat body are irregularly scattered through the elytra with a small aggregation at the tips; head, antennae, palpi very dark brown almost black; venter of thorax mid brown; legs 1, 2 with pale orange yellow coxae trochanters and femora, mid brown tibiae and almost black tarsi; legs 3 all orange yellow except for black tarsi; abdominal colour differing in the two specimens: JU31N has V3−5 pale brown in median area and darker brown lateral areas; PS26 has V3−6 brown with V3 blotchily marked, V4, 5 slightly darker brown than V3, with V5 very dark brown at lateral margins; all abdominal terga brown, with T6−8 very dark brown almost black; JU31 has T8 narrowly pale and semitransparent across the posterior margin. Pronotum: width subequal to humeral width. Elytron: slightly convex sided. Head: GHW 4xSIW; ASD <ASW (sockets are close but not contiguous). Abdomen: T8 ( Fig. 117 ) with evenly rounded posterior margin. Aedeagal sheath ( Figs 117, 118 ): sternite terminated by an entire lobe which is medially emarginated with lateral corners acute; tergite bearing lateral pieces attached to a transverse band running across posterior area of tergite just behind the evenly rounded emargination ( Fig. 118 ). Aedeagus: ( Fig. 119 ).

Etymology. The name of the forest reserve type locality is used as a noun in apposition.

Remarks. These three specimens were recognised in a large collection of Abs. pallescens made by B. Nada in Malaysia, by the darker abdominal ventrites and very dark coloured terminal tergites. Dissection revealed their distinctiveness. The wide range of females assigned herein to Abs. pallescens was investigated further, but nothing about their external morphology, or reproductive anatomy, suggested they were anything other than a homogeneous group, and we were unable to find any females that might belong to this new species.

Figures

FIGURES 114–119. Abscondita jerangau Nada sp. nov. types. 114, 115 habitus dorsal (114) and ventral; 116 dorsal abdomen; 117 aedeagal sheath and tergite 8 ventral; 118 aedeagal sheath dorsal; 119 aedeagus ventral. Scale lines are 1 mm.