Parena (Parena) plagiata Motschulsky, 1864

Shi, Hongliang & Liang, Hongbin, 2023, Taxonomic revision of the genus Parena Motschulsky, 1860 (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Lebiini, Metallicina), Zootaxa 5286 (1), pp. 1-144 : 136-137

[45] Parena (Parena) plagiata Motschulsky, 1864

Habitus: Fig. 80B . Male genitalia: Fig. 81 .

Motschulsky, 1864: 224 (type locality: Cap de Bonne-Esperance ; syntype in ZMUM: Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia); Peringuey, 1896: 242 ( Pazena ); Basilewsky, 1961: 213.

Umgenia formidulosa Peringuey, 1898: 324 (type locality: Natal; syntype in SAMC: South African Museum , Cape Town, Republic of South Africa); Basilewsky, 1961: 213 (synonymized with Parena plagiata ).

Non-type material examined. 1 female (NHML), "Verulam, Natal 7-97, 8155.", "Verulam, Natal, G.A.K. Marshall. 1917-55", " formidulosa, Per. ". 1 male (NHML), "Durban, Grebelt, 7.3.03", "Et. Mus. Durban", "H.E. Andrewes Coll., B.M. 1945.-97.", " Metallica formidulosa, Per. " < Figs 80B , 81 >.

Comparisons. P. plagiata is distinguished among the African species of Parena by its unique elytra pattern: elytra with a very narrow red apical margin, inner intervals somewhat reddish at the middle, forming a vague central patch.

This species is most similar to the dark individuals of P. africana in elytra pattern and the shape of elytral apices; but it differs from the latter species in: (1) elytral red apical margin much narrower; (2) elytral discal depressions more elongated; (3) lateral margins of pronotum less sinuate before posterior angles; and (4) median lobe of aedeagus stout, much stouter than in P. africana .

Description. Body length 7.3–7.5 mm. Dorsum reddish brown, moderately polished; elytra mainly black, apices with very narrow red margin, less than one-twentieth of elytral length; inner four or five intervals slightly reddish, forming a vague central patch; antennae distinctly bicolor: basal four antennomeres reddish yellow, apical ones nearly black; scutellum reddish brown; venter reddish brown; legs uniformly reddish brown. Vertex with sparse fine punctures; postgenae without suborbital setae; mentum with a pair of median setae which shorter than terminal labial palpomere; antennae extended just beyond pronotal base. Pronotum trapezoidal, PW/PL = 1.39–1.41, subequal width as head, PW/HW = 0.98–1.00; widest at anterior third, lateral margins evenly rounded before middle, slightly sinuate before posterior angles; posterior angles rounded-obtuse, not prominent; lateral explanations slightly wide; disc finely wrinkled and punctate aside median line. Elytra slightly dilated to apex; with distinct isodiametric microsculpture; striae shallowly incised, with fine puncture rows; intervals slightly convex, with fine punctures; discal depressions elongate, occupying intervals 3 to 6, near half of elytra length; apices well rounded, sutural angles not pointed. Males with biseriate adhesive setae on full length of mesotarsomeres 2 and 3. Apex of abdominal sternite VII straight, with two setae on each side in both sexes. Median lobe of aedeagus stout (AL/AW= 4.0), ventral margin slightly inflated near middle; apical lamella slightly thick, LW slightly greater than LL, apex rounded; in lateral view, apical lamella slightly bent upward. Endophallus with very wide flared basal expansion of primary sclerite; flagellum extending beyond middle of median lobe; apical sclerite widely V-shaped, well-defined, basal core distinct, small and strongly scaled; basal sheath coarsely scaled, apical sheath finely scaled, smaller than basal sheath; squamate sac divided, dorsal to squamate sheath; proximal sac large and dorsal-ventrally compressed, distal sac much smaller than proximal sac, closer to apex. Gonocoxite II of ovipositor nearly quadrate, length slightly less than basal width, apex strongly concave, inner apical angle pointed; with two ensiform setae on outer apical angle, two or three on inner apical angle.

Distribution ( Map 14 , red). Known only from the Republic of South African.

Figures

MAP 14. Distributions for species in the Parena (Parena) plagiata group

FIGURE 80. Habitus of Parena (Parena) plagiata species group. A Holotype of Parena ferruginea (Chaudoir). B P. plagiata Motschulsky, male from The Republic of South Africa (Durban). C Lectotype of Parena africana (Alluaud). D P. africana (Alluaud), male from Senegal, the pale form. E P. africana (Alluaud), male from Cameroon, the dark form. F P. africana (Alluaud), female from the Central Africa Republic, the dark form. Scale bars = 2 mm.

FIGURE 81. Median lobe of male genitalia for Parena (Parena) plagiata Motschulsky, right-lateral (r), ventral (v), left-lateral (l), and dorsal (d) views, the Republic of South Africa (Durban). Scale bar = 0.5 mm.