Clavicornaltica doeberli, Damaška & Aston, 2019

Damaška, Albert F. & Aston, Paul, 2019, Leaf litter and moss-inhabiting flea beetles of Hong Kong (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticini), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae (Acta. Ent. Mus. Natl. Pragae) 59 (1), pp. 151-161 : 155-156

Clavicornaltica doeberli sp. nov.

( Figs 3 A–H, 5A, D)

Type locality. China, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Island, HK University Campus.

Type material. HOLOTYPE: ♁, ‘ China: Hong Kong – Hong Kong isl., HK University Campus , disturbed secondary forest, sifting; 13. xi. 2014, B. Guénard lgt.’ ( NMPC) . PARATYPES: 2 ♁♁ 5 ♀♀, same labels as holotype (1 ♁ 1 ♀ AFCD, 1♁ 1 ♀ SYSU, 1 ♀ NMPC, 1 ♀ ADPC, 1 ♀ PCPA); 1 ♁, ‘ China: Hong Kong – Hong Kong isl., HK University Campus, disturbed secondary forest, sifting; 12. xi. 2014, B. Guénard lgt.’ ( ADPC); 1 ♀, ‘ China: Hong Kong – Hong Kong isl., Lung Fu Shan 19. xi. 2014, Winkler, B. Guénard leg.’ ( UABG); 4 ♀♀, ‘ China: Hong Kong – Hong Kong isl. Lung Fu Shan 18. xii. 2014, B. Guénard leg.’ (1 ♀ NMPC, 1 ♀ PCPA, 1 ♀ SYSU, 1 ♀ AFCD):

Differential diagnosis. This species is very similar to two species described from Vietnam – C. longsheng Konstantinov & Duckett, 2005 and C. vietnamensis Konstantinov & Duckett, 2005 in having an unusual shape of spermatheca with a long, slender receptacle. From C. longsheng , it differs by following characters: (1) posterior process of the metaventrite only slightly convex in the middle (in C. longsheng , the metaventrite has a high ridge in its middle part); (2) long receptacle and pump of spermatheca with spermathecal duct directed to the pump (in C. longsheng , the pump is wider, the receptacle shorter and the duct is initially directed downwards and after running length of the receptacle, it is curved back to its base); (3) long vaginal palpi with three apical setae (in C. longsheng , vaginal palpi have four apical setae). From C. vietnamensis , the new species differs in following characters: (1) base of the spermathecal duct situated before the apex of the receptacle (in C. vietnamensis , the duct base is situated directly on the apex of the receptacle); (2) slender, not widening apices of vaginal palpi (in C. vietnamensis , apices of vaginal palpi are somewhat widened); (3) body very convex dorsoventrally (in C. vietnamensis , the body is less convex dorsoventrally, especially the elytra); (4) aedeagus robust, basal opening wide, basal part of the median lobe slender, apex of the aedeagus flat (in C. vietnamensis , orificium basale is slender and the shape of the median lobe gradually narrows from the base to apex, apex of aedeagus is pointed). In the shape of the body, the species is very similar to sympatric C. longipenis sp. nov., but differs in having (1) metaventral process slightly convex with deep punctures on basal margins of the process ( Fig. 3C ), while in C. longipenis , metaventrite is very flat, wide and nearly impunctate ( Fig. 4C ); (2) wide and short aedeagus with flat apex (in C. longipenis , aedeagus is extremely slender with very elongate orificium basale and pointed apex); (3) C-shaped spermatheca with slender receptacle and voluminous pump (in C. longipenis , spermatheca has bulbose receptacle and a small, slender pump); (4) male macropterous (in C. longipenis , male is brachypterous); (5) intercoxal abdominal process arrow-like, nearly pointed ( Fig. 5A ), while in C. longipenis , intercoxal abdominal process has flat apex ( Fig. 5B ); (6) antennomere XI nearly rectangular ( Fig. 5D ), while in C. longipenis , antennomere 11 has elongated posterior edge ( Fig. 5E ).

Description. Habitus ( Figs 3 A–C). Body round, strongly convex in lateral view, 1.1 mm long in maximum, 0.9 mm wide in maximum, 0.5 mm high in maximum. Color of all dorsal surfaces dark reddish brown, ventral parts of thorax darkened, appendages yellowish to reddish brown.

Head hypognathous, triangular. Vertex and frons impunctate, frons with extremely feebly visible small frontal calli. Eyes big, eye diameter equal to interantennal distance or greater. Eyes connected with long frontal groove, distally surrounding frontal calli and proximally touching antennal insertions. Clypeus wide with groups of some setae between antennal insertions and margin of clypeus. Labrum feebly incised, with two pairs of long setae and one short seta placed between each pair. Antennae forming club, yellowish brown. Antennomere I long, triangular, bulbose, antennomere II bulbose, narrowing apically, antennomere III slightly longer than II, slender, slightly curved, antennomere IV extremely short and nearly reduced, antennomeres V and VI extremely short and small, rounded to triangular, antennomere VII slightly broader than VI, antennomeres VIII and IX short and strongly broadening gradually, antennomere X broad, but shorter than IX, antennomere XI nearly rectangular.Antennomeres VII–XI forming antennal club.Antennomeres I–III covered with few scattered setae, antennal club densely pilose by white setae. Clypeus wide with groups of some setae between antennal insertions and margin of clypeus. Labrum feebly incised, with two pairs of long setae with one short seta placed between setae in each pair.

Thorax. Pronotum covex, 1.9× as wide as long. Elytra convex, with feeble punctation. Punctures shallow, arranged in 11 regular rows, punctures decreasing in size towards elytral apex. Epipleuron wide, reaching 4/5 of elytral length. Tibiae slightly curved, widened apically. Metatibia with apical spur having three wide teeth. Metasternum slightly convex. Metasternal process long, rounded, wide, reaching beyond mesocoxae and covering entire mesocoxal area, moderately convex with deep marginal row of deep punctures and well developed margin, surface shining with two converging rows of feeble punctures and scattered setae. Males with developed hind wings, females wingless.

Abdomen with five ventrites ( Fig. 5A ). Intercoxal process of ventrite I with long, narrow apex.Anterior margins of ventrite I with row of deep punctures. Carina of ventrite I surrounded by deep punctures, which are also present at base of intercoxal process.

Genitalia. Aedeagus ( Figs 3 G–H) short, not projecting to thorax, median lobe bent dorsally in lateral view, orificium basale forming 60% of aedeagus length, wide, forming spine-like basal incision of median lobe. Median lobe rhomboid with dull, flat apex. Spermatheca ( Fig. 3D ) big, pump slender to bulbose, receptacle long and slender, duct L shaped, base of the duct situated before the apex of the receptacle. Vaginal palpi ( Fig. 3E ) connected basally, long, slender, bearing 3 long setae apically. Tignum ( Fig. 3F ) simple, long.

Etymology. The species is named in honor of Manfred Döberl, a memorable German entomologist and contributor to flea beetle research, who passed away in 2016.

Figures

Fig. 3. Morphology of Clavicornaltica doeberli sp. nov.. A – habitus in dorsal view; B – habitus in lateral view; C – habitus in ventral view; D – spermatheca; E – vaginal palpi; F – tignum; G – aedeagus in dorsal view; H – aedeagus in lateral view.

Fig. 4. Morphology of Clavicornaltica longipenis sp. nov.. A – habitus in dorsal view; B – habitus in lateral view; C – habitus in ventral view; D – spermatheca; E – tignum; F – vaginal palpi; G –aedeagus in dorsal view; H – aedeagus in lateral view.

Fig. 5. Morphological differences between Clavicornaltica doeberli sp. nov. and C. longipenis sp. nov. A – abdomen of C. doeberli in ventral view; B – abdomen of C; longipenis in ventral view; C – reduced wing of C. longipenis; D – antenna of C. doeberli; E – antenna of C. longipenis.