Taumaceroides sinicus Lopatin

Lopatin, I. K. & Konstantinov, A. S., 2009, New genera and species of leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) from China and South Korea, Zootaxa 2083 (1), pp. 1-18 : 7

Taumaceroides sinicus Lopatin , new species

( Figs 17–20 )

Holotype male, China, Yunnan, Rd to Bichuan , 1500 m, N 25°51'00" E 100°34'00", 8.VI.2002, leg. A. Konstantinov & M. Volkovitsh ( IZAS) ; Paratype male with the same data as holotype; male, Xiaguan- Dacang, 19 k , 08.VI .2002 , 1900 m, river side, N 25°28'53" E 100°15'42" leg. A. Konstantinov & M. Volkovitsh (USNM); female, Xiaguan-Kunming Rd, 150 km, 10.VI .2002 , 1600 m, N 24°59'06" E 101°43'43", leg. A. Konstantinov & M. Volkovitsh (ZMAS).

Body length 4.5 –5.3 mm, width at humeral calli 1.7–1.9 mm. Ventral and dorsal sides metallic bluishviolet, shiny, antennae and legs blackish-blue, cavities on antennomeres five and six orange.

Frons and vertex convex, smooth. Antennal calli shiny, smooth, separated by thin furrow, poorly separated from vertex. Frontal ridge shaped as inverted “T”, convex with groups of thin, long hairs on sides of its widest part. Labrum convex with straight anterior margin. Antenna thick with antennomeres five and six modified ( Fig. 17 ). Antennomere two short, ball-like. Antennomere three longer than two, widening apically. Antennomeres five and six greatly enlarged, convex in middle. Antennomere seven fat, cylindrical. Antennomere eight longer and thinner than seven. Antennomeres nine and 10 of same length, shorter than eight. Antennomere 11 longer than 10, acute at apex.

Pronotum nearly quadrate. Pronotal surface with deep transverse impression posteriorly of middle, smooth, shiny, with anterior margin lacking border. Lateral margins narrowly explanate. Sides rounded, nearly straight from posterior margin to middle, posterior angles blunt, anterior angles thick, rounded.

Elytra wider than pronotum as base, nearly parallel-sided at anterior one third, posteriorly widening. Elytral surface covered with very small dense punctures. Lateral sides with very short, sparse, erected, poorly visible hairs.

Profemur with deep incision before apex. Protibia also with deep incision ventrally ( Fig.18 ). Claws with denticle. Aedeagus ( Figs 19, 20 ) slender.

Sexual dimorphism: Profemur and protibia of female without incisions and their antennomeres not modified.

Comments: Superficially similar to Pseudoscelida biru Mohamedsaid from Malaysia, but can be easily differentiated by a variety of features including the shape of the aedeagus.

Etymology: The species name refers to the country in which this species was collected.

Figures

FIGURES 17–20. Taumaceroides sinicus. 17, antenna; 18, profemora and protibia; 19, aedeagus, ventral view; 20, aedeagus, lateral view.