Platymetopus flavilabris flavilabris ( Fabricius, 1798 )

Kataev, Boris M., 2023, A review of Asian species of the genus Platymetopus (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Harpalini), Zootaxa 5306 (5), pp. 501-536 : 509-510

Platymetopus flavilabris flavilabris ( Fabricius, 1798)

( Figs. 1–5, 7–12 , 41 )

Carabus flavilabris Fabricius, 1798: 59 . Type locality: “ India orientalis”.

Harpalus (Ophonus) senilis Nietner, 1857: 372 . Type locality: “Prope Colombo”, Sri Lanka.

Platymetopus keiseri Louwerens, 1956: 43 , syn. n. Type locality: “ Uva: Inginiyagala ”, Sri Lanka.

Type material examined. Syntype of Carabus flavilabris : male, with bottom labels “flavilabris. 736.” and “flavilabris” ( ZMUC: now in ZMK).

Syntypes of Platymetopus punctulicollis : 1 male, with labels “ Rangoon ”, “ϐ”, “ Platymetopus puncticollis [sic] Bates ” ( MNHN); 2 males, 1 female, with labels “Rangoon, Birmania, Fea, 1886”, “ P. puncticollis [sic] Bates ”, and “ Platymetopus ” ( ZIN) (see remarks under P. flavipes thunbergi below) .

Additional material examined. Sri Lanka. 1 male, Vilpattu Nature Park, Tala Vila , 17 km WNW of office, 7.X.1982, V. Zaitzev leg. ( ZIN) ; 1 male, Vilpattu, Talawila , 8.X.1982, G. Medvedev ( ZIN) ; 1 male, 1 female, Dambyla , 25.XI.1984, P. Beron & St. Andreev leg. ( NMNHS) ; 2 males, Polonaruwa , 23.XI.1984, P. Beron & St. Andreev leg. ( NMNHS, ZIN) . India. Tamil Nadu: 1 male, Madras [= Chennai] env., Manapakham , 10– 20.VIII.1999,? leg. ( MPU) . Karnataka: 1 male, Bandipur [Tiger] Reserve , 26.IX.1963, Stolmakova leg. ( ZIN) ; 3 females, Mysuru , 21.IX.1963, Stolmakova leg. ( ZIN) ; 1 female, W Gats Mts, Jog Falls , 530 m, at light, 14°13.240′N 74°48.471′E, 2–5.XI.2013, S. Saluk leg. ( ZIN) ; 1 female, Shimoga Distr. , W Gats, 20 km NE Sringeri, ca 685 m, at light, 13°25.707′N 75°15.343′E, XI.2013, S. Saluk leg. ( ZIN) . Gujarat: 1 female, Mandvi, Kutch , 12.IX.1963, Stolmakova leg. ( ZIN) . Punjab : 1 male, Chandigarh, VIII.1986, K. Werner leg. ( NME) . Uttarakhand: 1 male, 2 females, Uttarkashi Distr., Gangani , 1300 m, 14–19.VI.1981, C. Holzschuh leg. ( NME) ; 3 females, Rishikesh env., 450 m, VII.1989, W. Heinz leg. ( NME) . Uttar Pradesh: 1 male, “Unit. Prov., Fyzabad [= Faizabad;], R.W.G. Hingston, B.M. 1923-293” ( ZIN) . Delhi: 1 male, 1 female, Delhi, airport, at light, 4.X.1976, Turchaninova leg. ( ZIN) ; 1 female, Delhi, 240 m, 22.VIII.1981, P. Beron leg. ( NMNHS) . Assam: 2 females, Kaziranga Nat. Park , 9.–11.V.1961, Korovin leg. ( ZIN) . Nepal. Mahakali: 1 male, Darchula, Latinath , 29°44′01″N 80°46′00″E, 1030 m, creek shore, GSB, 31.V.–1.VI.2005, A. Weigel leg. ( NME) ; 1 female, Darchula Distr., Ghampa to Latinath , 29°43.44′N 80°43.46′E, 900–1000 m, river valley, 31.V.2005, A. Weigel leg. ( NME) ; 2 females, Darchula Distr., Gopte, Chamaliya Khola , 1100 m, riverside, fields, 29°44′45″N 80°48′04″E, 2.VI.2005, M. Hartmann leg. ( NME) ; 1 male, 2 females, Darchula, Ghamna env., Chamliya Khola , 29°41′N 80°41′E, 800–850 m, KL/HF, 30.V.2005, A. Weigel leg. ( NME) ; 2 males, 3 females, Darchula, Makarighar env., 29°47′N 80°50′E, 1200–1400 m, 3.VI.2005, A. Weigel leg. ( NME) ; 1 male, Kanchanpur Distr., Mahendranagar, Hotel Sweet Dream , 28°58′13′N 81°11′01″E, 210 m, LF, #60, 2.VII.2009, A. Kopetz leg. ( NME) ; 1 male, Kanchanpur, vic. Mahendranagar, Hotel Suda Farm Sanctum , 230 m, 28°57′41″N 80°12′51″E, 30.VI.–2.VII.2017, A. Kopetz leg. #17–02a ( NME) ; 3 males, same data, but 2.VII.2017, A. Weigel leg. #17–02a ( NME) . Seti: 1 male, Bajhang Distr., vic. Chainpur , 29°33′04″N 81°11′44″E, 1200–1300 m, #07, 14.VI.2009, A. Kopetz leg. ( NME) . Karnali: 1 male, Humla Distr. , 5 km SE of Simikot, NE Chupra, Humla Karnali— Chuwa Khola , 29°56′33″N 81°51′24″E, 2200 m, riverbank, 9.VII.2001, E. Grill leg. ( NME) . Bheri: 3 males, 1 female, Banke Distr., Nepalgunj, Hotel Sneha , 28°02′41″N 81°37′17″E, 140 m, LF, 14–15.VI.2007, M. Hartmann leg. ( NME) ; 3 males, 2 females, same data, but 28°02′53″N 81°36′54″E, 125 m, 5.VII.2009, D. Mattern leg. ( NME) ; 2 males, 3 females, same data, but LF, #64, M. Hartmann leg. ( NME, ZIN) ; 2 males, 6 females, Nepalganj, Dunna Khola , 28°05′51″N 81°41′13″E, 140 m, riverside [#63] 4.VII.2009, A. Kopetz leg. ( NME) ; 1 male, 2 females, Nepalgunj , 200 m, 17.VI.1995, Ahrens & Pommeranz leg. (cJS) ; 1 male, Nepalganj City, Hotel Batika , 200 m, LF, 30.V.1997, M. Hartmann leg. ( NME) ; 1 female, Nepalgunj, Hotel Batika , 28°02′36″N 81°36′35″E, 180 m, townside, LF/HF, 11–12.VII.2001, E. Grill leg. ( NME) ; 1 male, 2 females, Nepalganj, Hotel Kitchen Hut , 28°04′97″N 81°38′56″E, on light, 23–25.VI.2011, M. Hartmann leg. [#02] ( NME); 2 males, same data, but J. Küssner leg. ( NME); 1 male, Nepalganj, Hotel Sneha, 28°02′53″N, 81°36′54″E, 125 m, 5.VII.2009, at light, A. Weigel leg. ( NME). Gandaki: 2 males, 2 females, Dhaulagiri Mts., Myagdi Khola, 1000 m, Babi Choar, 15.III.1994, Ahrens leg. (cJS); 1 male, 1 female, Annapurna Mts., below Sikles, N Pokhara, ca 1700 m, 14.V.1993, J. Schmidt leg. (cJS); 2 males, 1 female, Annapurna Mts., Lake Pokhara, Mündung flow, 850 m, 10.V.1993, J. Schmidt leg. (cJS, ZIN); 3 males, 2 females, Manang, Manaslu Mts., Darondi Khola Vall., 450–650 m, 28°04.08′N 84°39.41′E, 14–16.2006, J. Schmidt leg. (cJS, ZIN). Bagmati: 1 male, Kathmandu, Bagmati riverbank, near Pashpatinath, 27°42′39″N 85°21′26″E, 1395 m, HF, 29.V.1997, E. Grill leg. ( NME); 7 males, 4 females, same data, but J. Weipert leg. ( NME, ZIN); 1 male, Kathmandu city, at light, 1300 m, 24.VIII.1997, Ahrens leg. (cJS); 6 males, Kathmandu, flow near Gorkhana Park, 27°43.2′N 85°23.0′E, 1300 m, 15.VI.2001, J. Weipert leg. ( NME, ZIN); 1 male, Kathmandu Valley, Lalitpur, Sundarijal, wooded slope, 1425 m, 27°45′46″N 85°25′68″, 11.VI.2011, J. Küssner leg. [#67] ( NME) . Narayani: 3 males, Chitwan Distr., Sauraha, Rapti River near Hotel Riverside , 27°34′29″N 84°29′55″E, 190 m, 2.VII.2011, J. Küssner leg. [#55] ( NME) ; 8 males, 5 females, same data, but 160 m, 7.VII.2009, A. Weigel leg. [#66] ( NME) ; 1 male, Chitwan, Gunganagar , 5 km W Rampur, light trap, IX.2004, Y. Gc leg. (IAAS/SSMP-WG) (cWR) ; 1 male, Sauraha, Chitwan Nat. Park , Rapti riverside, 27°34′80″N 84°29′49″E, 180 m, LF, 18.IV.2000, A. Weigel leg. ( NME) ; 8 males, 19 females, Chitwan , 2 km W of Sauraha, small forest with fruit trees, 27°34′48″N 84°28′10″E, 180 m, 5.VII.2017, A. Kopetz leg. [#17–22a] ( NME, ZIN) ; 9 males, 11 females, same data, but A. Weigel leg. ( NME, ZIN) ; 2 males, 5 females, Chitvan Distr., Gunganagar , 27°39′N 84°19′E, 12.VII.2006, D. Ahrens leg. (cJS, ZIN) . Myanmar. Shan: 1 male, Pindaya env., 20.92033°N 96.64942°E, 1330 m, 15–16.VI.2015, W. Grosser leg. Bago: 1 female, 100 km N Yangon , 17.46634 N 96.45258 E, 82 m, 7.VI.2015, W. Grosser leg. (cZM) . Yangon: 1 male, “Rangoon [= Yangon], 1933–34, Prof. F.J. Meggit ”, “Press. by Imp. Inst. Ent. B.M. 1935–40” ( ZIN) . China . Yunnan: 2 females, W Yunnan, Mangshi [= Luxi Xian], 900 m, 16.V.1955, O. Kryzhanovskij leg. ( ZIN).

Description. Body length: [6.7]7.5–9.4 (m 8.4) mm. Body proportions in Table 2 . Habitus as in Figs. 1 and 2 .

Head finely punctate on frons and vertex, with or without microsculpture between punctures. Antennae long, surpassing pronotal basal margin, infuscate from apical half of antennomere 3 or 4 (very rarely antennomere 2 slightly infuscate apically). Pronotum finely punctate on disc, with more or less distinct fine microsculpture between punctures, usually not forming meshes (very rarely microsculpture highly obliterate and recognized along lateral margins). Proepisternum indistinctly and sparsely punctate. Femora and tibiae yellow or yellowish brown, femora not darker than tibiae, tarsi slightly infuscate. Male genitalia as in Figs. 7–12 , female genitalia as in Figs. 4 and 5 .

Distribution ( Fig. 41 ). Based on the examined material listed above, the nominotypical subspecies is widely distributed from Sri Lanka and India (Punjab, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Assam) through Nepal and Myanmar (Shan State, Bago and Yangon regions) to West Yunnan ( China). The following additional records should also be attributed to this subspecies: Pakistan, without more detail data ( Hashmi & Tashfeen 1992), the Indian states of Odisha (Barkuda Island) (Andrewes 1921b), Himachal Pradesh (Bajaura) (Andrewes 1924) and Sikkim ( Schauberger 1933), also Kachin State of Myanmar: Bhamo and “Teinzo” [=Teinthaw] ( Bates 1892, as P. punctulicollis , see below) and Myitkyina ( Andrewes 1947, Landin 1955).

Remarks. Platymetopus flavilabris was originally described from “ India orientalis”, meaning Southeast Asia in that time. Andrewes (1921) re-described the male syntype of this species, housed at ZMUC. My re-examination of this syntype confirmed the modern interpretation of this taxon. The synonymy of P. flavilabris and P. senilis , which was described from many specimens collected near Colombo ( Sri Lanka), was first proposed by Andrewes (1921a) and then confirmed by him ( Andrewes 1927) after studying of the type material of the later species and is not in doubt.

The description of P. keiseri is based on one female from Sri Lanka and there are no additional information and records. According to the original description ( Louwerens 1956: 44), this species is “bigger than flavilabris and related forms …, the pronotum much more narrowed to base, the intervals of the elytra finer punctured, and the striae with stronger, more closely placed punctures”. However, all distinctive characters listed in the original description, including body size (8.5 mm), yellowish three basal antennomeres, femora and tibiae, and finely and densely punctate head and pronotum, completely agree with the characteristics of P. f. flavilabris which is fairly common in Sri Lanka. One pair of marginal setae on the last abdominal sternite of P. kaiseri is apparently indicated erroneously, as all species of Platymetopus have two such pairs in both sexes ( Basilewsky 1950, author’s data). Since Louwerens (1956) mainly worked with the fauna of the Malay Archipelago, his comparison of the new species was probably made with the specimens of P. flavilabris from this region well known to him, which belong to other subspecies. Thus, although I have not examined the type, I consider P. kaiseri to be a synonym of P. flavilabris , namely its nominotypical subspecies.

Figures

FIGURE 41. Platymetopus flavilabris (Fabricius, 1798), distribution. Shaded area: populations with intermediate characteristics of P. f. thunbergi Quensel, 1806 and P. f. laticeps Dejean, 1829.

FIGURES 1–2. Platymetopus flavilabris flavilabris (Fabricius, 1798), habitus. 1, South India; 2, Nepal. Scale bar = 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 3–12. Platymetopus flavilabris (Fabricius, 1798): P. f. flavilabris (3, 5, 7–12), P. f. laticeps Dejean, 1829 (6). 3–5, 9, 10, Nepal; 6, China (Fujian); 7, 8, Sri Lanka; 11, 12, Myanmar (Yangon). 3, labium; 4, gonocoxite; 5, 6, laterotergite, gonosubcoxite, and gonocoxite; 7–12, median lobe of aedeagus. Lateral (4, 8, 10, 12), ventral (3, 5, 6) and dorsal (7, 9, 11) views. Scale bar = 1.0 mm.