Elmomorphus jii, Selnekovič & Jäch & Kodada, 2024

Selnekovič, Dávid, Jäch, Manfred A. & Kodada, Ján, 2024, Taxonomic revision of the genus Elmomorphus Sharp, 1888. II. Redescription of the genus and review of the species from India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, China, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam (Coleoptera: Dryopidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 957, pp. 1-229 : 178-182

Elmomorphus jii sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:D5449363-B9DB-4DAB-B91D-672C7A5E207B

Figs 87–88 , 114D

Differential diagnosis

Elmomorphus jii sp. nov. ( Fig. 87 ) is characterised by having the dorsal plastron confined to small areas around the antennal insertions. Large and deeply impressed punctures on the elytra are arranged in distinct longitudinal rows. The surface of the pronotum is smooth, without microreticulation, which separates this species from E. schillhammeri sp. nov. and E. globosus sp. nov. Males lack long erect setae on the labrum, prosternal process, and metaventrite which distinguishes E. jii from E. schillhammeri , E. ovalis sp. nov., and E. minutus sp. nov. The surface of the vertex is distinctly microreticulate, while in E. schoenmanni sp. nov. and E. vietnamensis sp. nov. it is smooth. The microreticulation of the elytra is formed by irregular polygonal meshes, while in E. schoenmanni , it is formed by transverse lines. The phallobase is, in relation to the parameres, distinctly shorter than in all other species mentioned (PhL/ PrL: 1.32 (n=1), ( Fig. 88 )).

Etymology

The epithet is a proper noun in the genitive case honouring Prof. Lanzhu Ji, a Chinese entomologist (IAECAS) who collected the holotype.

Type material

Holotype

CHINA – Hunan Province • ♂; “CHINA, NW-Hunan 1993, Wulingyuan , N Dayong Zangjiajie [ Zhangjiajie ], 29.10., 650m, leg. L. JI (1) [CWBS 20]”; IAECAS.

Paratypes

CHINA – Hunan Province • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; NMW • 2 ♀♀; “ CHINA, NW-Hunan 1993 Wulingyuan , N Dayong Zangjiajie [ Zhangjiajie ], 29.10. | 650m, leg. Schönmann et Schillhammer (2) [CWBS 21]”; NMW .

Type locality

China, Hunan Province, Xiangxi Prefecture, Dayong County, Zhangjiajie Forest National Park, Suoxiyu Nature Reserve, Wulingyuan section (ca 30 km north of Dayong City); Pipa Xi (= “Chinese Lute” River), ca 2–3 m wide, shaded, very shallow, ca 650 m a.s.l. (CWBS 20; Jäch & Ji 1995).

Description

Measurements (mm): TL: ♂ 3.72 (n =1), ♀♀ 4.05–4.13 (n=2); PL: ♂ 0.96 (n =1), ♀♀ 0.96–0.98 (n=2); PW: ♂ 1.90 (n =1), ♀♀ 1.96–1.98 (n =2); EL: ♂ 2.76 (n=1), ♀♀ 3.09–3.15 (n=2); EW: ♂ 2.19 (n=1), ♀♀ 2.28–2.31 (n= 2); PhL: 0.58 (n =1); PrL: 0.44 (n=1).

Body oval, moderately convex dorsally ( Fig. 87 ). Integument black; mouthparts, antennae, and legs reddish brown. Pubescence consisting of short yellowish setae. Plastron covering small anterolateral portions of frontoclypeus and entire ventral surface, except prosternal process and median part of metaventrite.

Head distinctly microreticulate on dorsal surface, without microgranules, with round punctures smaller than an eye facet, distance subequal to puncture diameter. Labrum transverse, anterior margin broadly emarginate, exposed portion microreticulate, with small round setiferous punctures; setae equal in length in both sexes. Anterior margin of clypeus straight. Eyes oval, interfacetal setae short, ID: ♂ 0.66 mm (n=1), ♀♀ 0.67 mm (n= 2), APD/ID: ♂ 1.62 (n= 1), ♀♀ 1.57–1.66 (n=2). Antennae 11-segmented, densely setose.

Pronotum convex, PW/PL: ♂ 1.98 (n=1), ♀♀ 2.02–2.04 (n= 2); rim of anterior margin as wide as two eye facets, interrupted in middle; anterior angles prominent, acute; lateral pronotal sides convergent, rounded; surface smooth, with round punctures, microgranules present in posterolateral portions. Prosternal process wider than long, lateral edges divergent, straight, posterior edge rounded; lateral portions narrow, moderately raised, long setae absent in both sexes; median keel rather flat. Scutellum as long as wide, with round punctures. Median part of metaventrite flat, posteriorly widened; long setae absent in both sexes. Elytra elongate oval, moderately convex, widest at base of second third, EL/EW: ♂ 1.26 (n =1), ♀♀ 1.36–1.37 (n= 2); surface distinctly microreticulate, with small, scattered punctures and large deep punctures arranged in nine striae; large punctures separated by 0.5–1.0 × puncture diameter. Tibiae slightly curved; protibia ca 1.5 × as long as protarsus, PrTL/PL: ♂ 0.95 (n=1), ♀♀ 0.99 (n= 2). Terminal protarsomere as long as three preceding tarsomeres combined.

Ventrites covered with plastron on entire surface. Ventrite 1 with two longitudinal keels medially. Apex of ventrite 5 truncate in males; rounded in females with short longitudinal keel. Aedeagus ( Fig. 88 ): phallobase short, PhL/PrL: 1.32 (n =1); parameres slender, rather long in relation to phallobase, curved ventrad, apices narrowly rounded (lateral aspect); penis apically narrowly rounded; sclerotised fibula rather long.

Secondary sexual dimorphism

Ventrite 5 in males slightly truncate at apex, in females rounded with short longitudinal keel.

Distribution

China (Hunan) ( Fig. 114D ).

Figures

Fig. 87. Elmomorphus jii sp. nov., holotype (IAECAS), TL: 3.72 mm.

Fig. 88. Elmomorphus jii sp. nov., holotype (IAECAS), aedeagus. A. Lateral aspect. B. Ventral aspect. Scale bar: 0.1 mm.

Fig. 114. Distribution maps. A. Elmomorphus globosus sp. nov. B. E. ovalis Kodada, Selnekovič & Jäch sp. nov. C. E. minutus sp. nov. D. E. jii sp. nov. E. E. schoenmanni sp. nov. F. E. vietnamensis sp. nov.