Platyscelis (Platyscelis) densipunctata, Bai & Ren, 2019

Bai, Xing-Long & Ren, Guo-Dong, 2019, Revision of the genus Platyscelis Latreille, 1818 from China (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Platyscelidini), Zootaxa 4609 (1), pp. 101-126 : 113-116

Platyscelis (Platyscelis) densipunctata sp. nov.

( Figs. 3, 19–20, 52–53)

Diagnosis. This new species is similar to Platyscelis (Platyscelis) bogatshevi Egorov, 1989 , but can be distinguished from the latter by the following characters: (1) elytra apically round, not emarginate at sutural angle, surface with sparse punctures (wide and straight, emarginate, dense and deep in P. bogatshevi ); (2) parameres wide at base, and narrowing from middle to apex, apex curved to ventral side in lateral view (parameres wide, dorsal side in P. bogatshevi ).

Description. Body black with weakly shining, pronotum brightly, tarsus, antennae and palpus brown.

Male ( Figs. 3, 19–20, 52). Anterior margin of frontoclypeus straight, frons and genae weakly convex, with punctures dense and coarse. Eyes transverse, with shallowly emarginate anterior margin. Antennae ( Fig. 3: B) reaching base of pronotum, 2nd to 8th antennomeres cylindrical and thicker at apex, 9th to 10th almost spherical, and 11th sharped-oval. Length (width) ratio of 2nd to 11th antennal segments 16 (16): 69 (17): 37 (17): 33 (16): 32 (16): 32 (16): 33 (16): 27 (17): 27 (18): 31 (16).

Pronotum ( Fig. 3: A) transverse and convex, widest after middle, 1.8 times as wide as long, 2.6 times as wide as head. Lateral margins weakly narrowing from the widest toward base and arcuately narrowing toward apex. Ratio of width at anterior margin to widest and basal 19: 44: 33. Anterior margin emarginate and posterior one almost straight at middle. Anterior angles obtuse and posterior ones rounded obtuse. Lateral margins edged in anterior and posterior margins, entire lateral margins edged. Punctures fine and dense on disc but elongated at sides. Prothoracic hypomera with obviously longitudinal wrinkles and sparse yellow setae. Prosternum before procoxae with yellow setae, prosternal process projecting beyond level of procoxae, sharp at apex in lateral view. Mesoventrite with punctures and yellow setae.

Elytra oval and convex, base wider than pronotum and widest at middle, 1.4 times as long as wide and 1.1 times as wide as pronotum. Surface with regularly sparse and fine punctures and thin wrinkles. Lateral carina visible only anterior part dorsally and not reaching sutural angle.

Abdomen with short sparse yellow setae, depressed or flattened at middle of 1st and 2nd ventrites.

Profemora with sparse punctures and yellow setae. Protibiae ( Fig. 3: D) gradually widened towards apex and curved at inner side, underside concave at apex and apical margin foliate extended, inner side with dense yellow hairbrush from middle to apex. Protarsi ( Fig. 3: C) strongly widened but narrower than apex of protibiae. Meso- and metafemora longer than profemora. Mesotibiae ( Fig. 3: E) gradually widened toward apex, with long rufous strong setae. Mesotarsi ( Fig. 3: F) strongly widened and equal to apex of mesotibiae. Metatibiae ( Fig. 3: G) straight, with long rufous strong setae. Length (width) ratio of pro-, meso- and metafemora 22 (6): 23 (6): 28 (6), that of corresponding tibiae 20 (6): 22 (5): 32 (5), and protarsi 25 (21): 35 (48): 24 (45): 14 (30): 49 (19), mesotarsi 32 (28): 39 (40): 25 (31): 18 (22): 60 (21), metatarsi ( Fig. 3: H) 78 (25): 41 (23): 32 (21): 64 (19).

Aedeagus ( Figs. 3: I–K, 19–20) 4.7 mm long and 1.2 mm wide. Parameres 1.5 mm long and 0.8 mm wide, basal wide and narrowing from middle to apex, outer margins with long and sharp hooks at apex, apex curved to ventral side in lateral view.

Female ( Fig. 53). Body wider and more convex, antennae not reaching base of pronotum, neither depressed nor flattened at middle of 1st and 2nd ventrites, pro- and mesotarsi not widened, other characters similar to male.

Measurements. Body length: ♂ 13.4–14.0 mm, ♀ 13.2–14.5 mm and width: ♂ 7.3–7.9 mm, ♀ 7.6–8.1 mm.

Type material. Holotype: ♂ (MHBU), CHINA: Gansu: Liangshui, Wudu , 33°28.375′ N, 104°44.707′ E, 1106 m, 16.VII.2012, Guo-Dong Ren et al. leg. Paratypes: 10♂♂, 7♀♀ ( MHBU), same data as holotype ; 1♂ ( IZCAS), Lianghe, Wudu , 1100 m, 13.V.1998, Guo-Qing Zhang leg.

Distribution. China: Gansu.

Etymology. This species is named derived from dense punctures on pronotum.