Anthelephila wanika, Kejval, 2017

Kejval, Zbyněk, 2017, Studies of the genus Anthelephila Hope (Coleoptera: Anthicidae) 14. Twenty-four new species from Asia and new records of A. fossicollis Kejval, Zootaxa 4306 (1), pp. 1-52 : 49

Anthelephila wanika sp. nov.

Figs 102–106

Description. Male (holotype). Body length 5.1 mm. Head and pronotum dark reddish-brown; elytra brownishblack, with slight bluish reflection; legs largely brownish-black, femora partly with reddish tinge, tarsi reddish distally; antennae dark reddish to brownish-black, antennomeres more or less distinctly paler basally.

Head 1.2 times as long as wide, nearly smoothly merging with longer neck; tempora strongly narrowing posteriad, posterior angles slightly indicated. Eyes large and rather convex. Dorsal surface glossy, punctate and largely distinctly corrugated, especially medially to eyes, with indication of smooth median line posteriorly; punctures distinctly separated. Setation subdecumbent; numerous longer, more raised setae. Antennae slightly enlarged in terminal third; antennomere X 1.8 times, XI 2.7 times as long as wide.

Pronotum 1.6 times as long as wide, distinctly narrower than head including eyes, nearly evenly rounded anteriorly, strongly narrowed and moderately impressed (constricted) postero-laterally in dorsal view; pronotal disc evenly convex in lateral view. Surface rather glossy; antero-lateral sides minutely and sparsely punctate, nearly impunctate near procoxal cavities; disc more densely punctate, especially posteriorly, with several transverse wrinkles shortly before base; postero-lateral impressions rather coarsely, longitudinally wrinkled, and adjacent dorso-lateral area rugose. Setation as on head.

Mesosternum with narrow, rounded median longitudinal bulge, passing into median carina posteriorly, its outline nearly straight in lateral view. Metasternum moderately impressed, posteriorly with pair of long, submedian, moderately divergent carinae.

Elytra 1.7 times as long as wide, conjointly rounded apically; humeri distinct; postscutellar impression absent. Surface glossy, distinctly punctate; punctation double, setiferous punctures rather widely separated. Setation nearly evenly developed, sparser in basal third/fourth, generally longer and more raised than on head, decumbent; numerous long tactile setae.

Metathoracic wings fully developed.

Fore legs modified ( Fig. 102 ); profemora with conspicuous, apically rounded process, somewhat coarsely setose on/near margins; protibiae nearly simple, moderately swollen and with slight carina-like protrusion on inner side distally; penultimate tarsomere widened/flattened distally, with terminal tarsomere articulated dorsally near base for all tarsi. Setation normally developed; tibiae with two equal terminal spurs.

Abdominal sternum VII ( Fig. 103 ); median process flattened, projecting from dorsal (inner) side, just anterior to margin. Tergum VII simple. Sternite VIII ( Figs 104, 105 ); paired prongs robust, each composed of four simple projections/lobes. Tergite VIII with paired sclerites simply rounded apically, narrowly connected medially. Terminal sclerite of segment IX (spiculum) membranous, strongly narrowed and produced apically, distinctly setose. Aedeagus ( Fig. 106 ); apical portion of tegmen 0.6 times as long as basal-piece, trilobed apically.

Female. Externally differing from male as follows: fore legs and abdominal sternum VII simple; tergum VII subtrinagular, rounded apically.

Variation. Body length (♂♀) 5.1–5.6 mm.

Type material. Holotype, ♂: LAOS centr., Khammouan prov., 4–16.XI., 25–30.XI.2000 BAN KHOUN NGEUN env. N 18°07′, E 104°29′, alt. 250m E. Jendek & P. Pacholátko leg. [p] ( NMPC).

Paratypes: 3 ♀♀, same data as holotype ( ZKDC) ; 2 ♀♀, LAOS, Khammouan Prov., Ban Khoun Ngeun env., 18°07′ N 104°29′ E, alt. 250 m, 20.–29.v.2004, E. Jendek & O. Šauša leg. [p] ( ZKDC) ; 1 ♂ 1 ♀, LAOS centr., Bolikhamsai prov., BAN NOK env . , 9– 14.5.1998, Route No 8, alt. 220± 50 m, N 18°08.7, E 104°28.1 (GPS), E. Jendek & O. Šauša leg. [p] ( ZKDC) .

Differential diagnosis. Anthelephila wanika sp. nov. may resemble members of the A. fossicollis speciesgroup, but differs by its larger size, longer neck, distinct median longitudinal bulge of the mesosternum, and the paired submedian carinae of the metasternum. It shares these characters with the externally similar A. akela sp. nov., differing by shape of the median process of male sternum VII, and by the morphology of male sternite VIII (cf. Figs 104 versus 14).

Etymology. Species name is Laotian girl name Wanika (God’s gracious gift). Noun in apposition.

Distribution. Laos.

Figures

FIGURES 102 – 106. Anthelephila wanika sp. nov. (holotype ♂). Profemur and tibia (102); abdominal sternum VII (103); sternite VIII, dorsal view (104); prong of sternite VIII, lateral view (105); apical portion of aedeagus (106). Scale (0.5 mm): A—Fig. 102; (0.3 mm): B—Fig. 103, C—Figs 105, 106, D—Fig. 104.