Iresia (Palaeoiresia) petrovi Matalin, 2023

Matalin, A. V., 2023, New species and new records of South and North American tiger beetles (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae), Russian Entomological Journal 32 (2), pp. 149-154 : 152-153

Iresia (Palaeoiresia) petrovi Matalin , sp.n.

Figs 6–10 .

TYPE MATERIAL. Holotype, ♀ (without 6–11 left and 4–11 right antennomeres, both left and right fore-tibia and fore-tarsi, apical third of left tibia, and left tarsus) — Peru, Junin Reg., Rio Perene, Santa Cruz vill., h = 1200 m, 1– 11.01.2006, leg. A. Petrov ( ZIN).

DIAGNOSIS. This new species is related to I. surinamensis Chaudoir, 1862 , I. psyche Sumlin, 1994 , I. phaedra Sumlin, 1999 , and I. opalescens Sumlin, 1999 , but recognised by the following features. Iresia petrovi sp.n. has transverse labrum (LW/LL = 1.17) and slightly transverse pronotum (PW/PL = 1.05) vs. in all mentioned above species both labrum and pronotum are approximately as long as wide [ Sumlin, 1994, 1999]. On the colouration this new species is similar with I. surinamensis . However, in I. petrovi sp.n. head blue–bluish-green, pronotum and elytra blue-violet ( Fig. 6 ) vs. green head and green with bluish lateral margin of elytra in I. surinamensis [ Chaudoir, 1862; Fig. 5 ]. Moreover, the main proportions are also different: OW/HW = 0.63 and PW/HW = 0.74 in new species vs. OW/HW = 0.50–0.52 and PW/HW = 0.60–0.65 in I. surinamensis (Table). In I. psyche and I. phaedra antennomeres 5–11 black vs. yellow in I. petrovi sp.n. (at least antennomere 5). Additionally, in I. psyche and I. opalescens frons pale, and pronotum black vs.

Table. Size (in mm) and selected body ratios in five Iresia species. Таблица. РаЗмеры (в мм) и пропорции тела видов Iresia .

* — after Sumlin [1994]; ** — after Sumlin [1999].

* — по Sumlin [1994]; ** — по Sumlin [1999].

metallic blue – bluish-green frons and blue pronotum in I. petrovi sp.n. Moreover, in I. psyche and I. phaedra elytra lacking brownish basal area vs. elytra with light brown basal area in a new species. Finally, I. petrovi sp.n. is distinguished from the mentioned above species by the size and/or by the body ratios (Table).

DESCRIPTION. TL = 10.2 mm. Head smooth and glabrous, metallic blue with light golden lustre, varying the colour on bluish-green with the angle of the light; clypeus, area directly above antennae, as well as gula and anterior two thirds of genae pale; clypeus with two long setae; genae smooth and glabrous; frons with deep and wide cavity posteriorly thus anterior edge of occiput clearly elevated; mentum with small tooth. Eyes medium-sized, globose, HW = 2.7 mm, OW = 1.7 mm, each supra-orbital plate with six indistinct striae and long seta in anterior third; interocular grooves very deep and semi-circular ( Fig. 6 ). Labrum completely pale, transverse, LL = 1.2 mm, LW = 1.4 mm, with eight teeth and seven marginal setae ( Figs 8–9 ). Mandibles light brown with brown inner teeth and apical molar. Labial and maxillary palpi pale, except slightly dark apical palpomeres. Scape testaceous on anterior surface, brown on posterior one, with a single long subapical seta; pedicel brown with lighter apex; left antennomeres 3 and 4 as well as right antennomere 3 brown along anterior surface in basal two thirds, dark brown in other portions; left antennomere 5 completely pale, densely covered by numerous, short yellow hairs in apical half ( Figs 6–7 ).

Pronotum smooth and glabrous, slightly transverse, PL = 1.9 mm, PW = 2.0 mm, metallic blue-violet, posterior lobe with distinct greenish reflection; anterior and posterior transverse grooves very deep; midline very thin and shallow ( Figs 6, 10 ). Proepisternum glabrous, metallic violet with greenish lustre along top margin; thoracic segments pale except dark violet mesepisternum and light brown metepisternum. Legs pale, except light brown apices of hind tarsomeres 5 and apices of claws; fore- and mid-trochanters with a single apical seta; hind coxae with one basal and one apical seta.

Elytra elongate, indistinctly dilated towards apex; EL = 6.4 mm, EW = 3.2 mm; blue-violet with light greenish reflection in humeral portion, and small brownish triangular subsutural area under pale scutellum; epipleura dark violet; apical margins gradually rounded, with short straight apices; sutural spine very small. Elytral sculpture presented by medium-sized, deep dense-placed pits in basal third, deep transverse, irregular coarse rugae in middle part, and numerous, shallow pits in apical third ( Fig. 6 ).

Abdominal sternites pale, sternites 3–5 with two setae near anterior margin; sternite 6 densely haired along anterior margin.

Male unknown.

ETYMOLOGY.The new species honours my good friend, the Russian entomologist, Alexander Petrov who collected the holotype.

NOTES. At present time Iresia Dejean, 1831 contains 14 arboreal species distributed in the Central and South America [ Sumlin, 1994, 1999; Erwin, Pearson, 2008; Wiesner, 2020]. Among them ten species belong to subgenus Palaeoiresia Sumlin, 1994 , and a half of them are known only by a type specimen or by the brief series in two– three specimens, in most cases by the females [ Sumlin, 1994, 1999]. Thus, the ranges of variability in the size and body ratios in these species are still unclear.

Figures

Figs 5–10. Iresia (Palaeoiresia) spp., females. 5 — I. surinamensis [after Cassola, 2011]; 6–10 — I. petrovi sp.n., holotype; 5–6 — habitus, dorsal view; 7 — head and pronotum, left lateral view; 8 — head, frontal view; 9 — labrum; 10 — pronotum. Рис. 5–10. Iresia (Palaeoiresia) spp., самки. 5 — I. surinamensis [по Cassola, 2011]; 6–10 — I. petrovi sp.n., голотип; 5–6 — внеШний вид, сверху; 7 — голова и переднеспинка, слева; 8 — голова, спереди; 9 — верхнЯЯ губа; 10 — переднеспинка.