Pediacus japonicoides Marris & Ślipiński, 2014

Marris, John W. M. & Ślipiński, Adam, 2014, A revision of the Pediacus Shuckard 1839 (Coleoptera: Cucujidae) of Asia and Australasia, Zootaxa 3754 (1), pp. 32-58 : 43-45

Pediacus japonicoides Marris & Ślipiński , sp. nov.

Figs. 5 E–H.

Diagnosis. Recognisable by the combination of the following characters: eyes small with weakly developed postocular swelling, antennomere VII distinctly larger than VI and VIII, pronotum with lateral margins explanate especially in anterior half and reflexed. This species is very similar to P. japonicus but can be distinguished from it by its uniform pronotal colouration and the more strongly explanate lateral margins of the pronotum and more prominent pronotal denticles.

Description. Body length 3.7–4.5 mm (n=5), elongate, 3.07× longer than wide; colour red-brown, head slightly darker; pubescence moderately long, pale, appressed and moderately conspicuous; surface weakly glossy. Head transverse, 1.80× wider than long; puncturation moderately impressed and moderately dense medially, increasing in size and density laterally with punctures separated by about their diameter; setae long and appressed, conspicuous; microsculpture absent, surface moderately glossy; eyes small, moderately projecting, ocular index 0.75, finely faceted, postocular denticle absent but with a weakly developed postocular swelling; antennae as in Fig. 5 E, antennomere VII distinctly larger than VI and VIII. Pronotum transverse, 1.25× wider than long, widest at about posterior 1/3, sides weakly convergent anteriorly; lateral margins explanate especially in anterior half, reflexed, anterior and antero-medial denticles small, broadly obtuse, postero-medial more strongly projecting and broadly obtuse, posterior denticle small and acute; disc moderately impressed; puncturation as for head with an indistinct, narrow, impunctate median strip; setation as for head; microsculpture finely reticulate. Elytra elongate, 2.07× longer than wide, sides subparallel, epipleura moderately explanate; puncturation moderately dense but weakly impressed basally, becoming more dense and deeply impressed laterally, puncturation weakly impressed on disc; setation long, appressed and conspicuous; microsculpture granulate. Genitalia for male as in Fig. 5 G, parameres elongate, narrowed basally and tapering apically; internal sac with tooth-like projections basally and a moderately sclerotized apical section.

Type material. Holotype (male): “C. [Central] TAIWAN: Tai Chung Co. 40km., 200 Logging Road (200 ª ϔ ffi) alt. ca. 2000m by FIT 26–27/VI/2002 collr. C. L. Li // HOLOTYPE Pediacus japonicoides Marris & Ślipiński 2013 ”. Specimen on card point with genitalia mounted in DHMF on card below; deposited in TARI.

Paratypes. TAIWAN: TAIWAN (SC.) Arisan. 2000 m VI–3–32 Gressitt (1, BPBM), TAIWAN: Yilan Co. 7km mark on Taipingshan/Tsu-ifeng Lake Rd., 17–V–1999, S. Halbert, C&L O'Brien, * [A] ae%⋏-NJffi (1, FSCA); TAIWAN: Nantau County Meifeng. 3–V–1983 Henry K. Townes; insect flight trap (1, FSCA); Formosa Arisan 27.V.1934, J.L. Gressitt Collector (1, BPBM).

Distribution. Taiwan.

Etymology. The species epithet refers to this species’ close resemblance to Pediacus japonicus Reitter 1874 .

Figures

FIGURE 5. Pediacus species: (A – D) P. f us c us Erichson; (E – H) P. japonicoides sp. nov. (A, E) Head and pronotum; (B, E) antenna; (C, H) dorsal habitus; (D, G) aedeagus.