Paratrichius marmoreus (Moser, 1902)

Ricchiardi, Enrico, Lu, Yuanyuan, Li, Sha & Ming, Bai, 2022, Notes on Paratrichius Janson, 1881 inhabiting Hainan Island, with description of a new species and the definition of two new junior synonyms (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Cetoniinae), Fragmenta entomologica 54 (1), pp. 133-142 : 136-139

Paratrichius marmoreus (Moser, 1902)

Studied material

Paratrichius marmoreus (Moser, 1902) type series. HT ♂ MNHUB, Vietnam, Lang Son, Montes Mauson (Mau Son, Long San Prov, 21°51’N, 106°54’E) .

Other taxon placed in synonymy with P. marmoreus by Krajcik (2008): Trichius bicolor Moser, 1902 : HT ♀ MN- HUB, Montes Mauson (Mao Son, 21°51’N, 106°54’E), 2000-3000’, Apr-May, H. Fruhstorfer legit.

Other studied material of Paratrichius marmoreus (Moser, 1902) . China: Yunnan. S.E. Yunnan, Vietnam border, Xichou vinc., BMNH(E)2015-37 (ex M. Krajcik collection), 29 May 1995. Vietnam: 3♂ 4♀ ERPC, Nghe An, May 2021, Dang Ngoc Van legit . 1♂ 1♀ ERPC, Vinh Phuc, Tam Dao, 26 May / 3 June 1986, Jan Strnad legit . 1♂ NHM (ex M. Krajcik collection) Vinh Phuc, 70 Km NW of Hanoi, Tam Dao , 21°27’N 105°39’E, BMNH(E) 2015-37, 900-1200 m, 11/ 17 May 1996, P. Spáčil legit . 1♀ NHM (ex M. Krajcik collection) Vinh Phuc, Tonkin, Tam Dao , BMNH(E) 2015-37, 900-1200 m, 12/ 24 May 1989, Pacholatko legit .

Paratrichius papilionaceus Ma, 1990 type series. HT ♂ IZAS, China: Hainan, Jianfeng (Jianfèng Ling): 18°43’16»N, 108°52’45»E), 900 m, 27 Apr 1982, (IOZ(E)109606), Gu Maobin legit .

Other studied material previously attributed to P. papilionaceus : 1♂ 1♀ IZAS, China: Hainan, Mt. Diaoluoshan, Lingshui , 6/ 7 May 2011, IOZ(E)1945054-55, Lin Wenxin legit . 1♂, ERPC, China: Hainan, Mt. Wuzhishan, Diyfeng , 9/ 11 Jun 2010, ex IOZ(E)1945742, Zhou Wenyi legit .

Diagnosis. P. marmoreus and P. papilionaceus belong to a conspicuous but rarely collected species of notable size.

The Hainan species was described by Ma (1990) as Par- atrichius papilionaceus , based on a single holotype male. Subsequently two males and one female were collected (see list above) allowing a more accurate study of the tax- on. Comparing these types and specimens with Paratrichi- us marmoreus (Moser, 1902) – see list above – we found that the parameres are of identical shape, thus P. papilion- aceus Ma, 1990 must be considered a new junior synonym of Paratrichius marmoreus (Moser, 1902) (n. syn.), but it is remarkable that there are a few differences, mainly in the colour of the integument between the Vietnamese and Hainan’s specimens:

- while the Vietnamese males exhibit a fulvous clypeus, sometimes this colour reduced to the anterior part, the males from Hainan have a completely black clypeus ( Figs 2E and 3A )

- similarly, the males inhabiting Vietnam have a long narrow longitudinal fulvous spot in the posterior quarter of the fourth interstriae of the elytron and more-or-less conspicuous fulvous integument under the anterior chalky spots, while the males from Hainan have completely black elytra ( Figs 2A and 3A ).

- the females are completely black but have different

shaped chalky spots in the anterior third of the elytron

( Figs 2H and 3D ). The females inhabiting the continent

show a constant chalky pattern on the elytron, but it

may be yellowish or whitish.

The above reported morphological/chromatic differences among the insular (Hainan) and continental (N Vietnam) populations of Paratrichius marmoreus suggest that their level of genetic differentiation (if any) should be estimated by molecular methods as soon as possible.

Figures

Fig. 2 – Paratrichius marmoreus (Moser, 1902), material collected in Hainan: ♂ ERPC: A, dorsal habitus; B, ventral habitus; C, lateral habitus; D, pygidium; E, head; F, parameres, frontal view; G, parameres lateral view. Photographs made by Sha Li. P. marmoreus (= papilionaceus): ♀ IZAS: H, dorsal habitus; I, ventral habitus; J, lateral habitus; K, pygidium; L, head. Photographs by Yuanyuan Lu.

Fig. 3 – Paratrichius marmoreus (Moser, 1902). ♂ NHM (ex Krajcik collection) from southernmost Yunnan (Xichou, Vietnam border): A, dorsal habitus; B, parameres, frontal view; C, parameres, lateral view; D, ♀ NHM (ex Krajcik) from Tam Dao, northern Vietnam, dorsal habitus. Phoptographs by Sha Li.