Merarius Fairmaire, 1889

Trýzna, Miloš & Baňař, Petr, 2021, Review of the genus Merarius Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Anthribidae), with description of two new species from China, Zootaxa 5020 (2), pp. 367-383 : 368

Merarius Fairmaire, 1889

Wolfrum 1929: 53 (Catalogue), Wolfrum 1953: 25 (Catalogue). Frieser 2008: 21 (Key), 98 ( Fig. 15a, M . quadrituberculatus (Hope)). Rheinheimer 2004: 61 (Catalogue), 224 (Fig. 129, Merarius davidis Fairmaire [misidentification, M. korinae ]). Trýzna & Valentine 2011: 100 (Catalogue). Trýzna 2017: 26 (Catalogue).

Type species: Merarius davidis Fairmaire, 1889: 56 , gender masculine.

Redescription. Medium sized species, 6.5–9.5 mm. Body elongate. Head comparatively long, longer than length of pronotum. Rostrum longer, extended apically in distal third, without depression in middle, with one central longitudinal carina, sometimes also with two indistinct or lateral carinae. Antennal scrobes sulciform, situated in distal half of rostrum, considerably distant from anterior margin of eyes. Lower side of scrobes wide open posteriorly. Eyes large, spherical or elliptical, not emarginate, situated dorso-laterally, not projecting from outline of head in dorsal view. Antennae of males of similar length as those of females, usually barely reaching posterior margin of pronotum. Funicle thin, antennal club 3-segmented, slightly compressed, ca. 2x as broad as width of antennomere IX. Prothorax conical, gradually narrowing from dorsal transverse carina to apex. Dorsal transverse carina of pronotum well developed, sub-basal to antebasal. Lateral carinae of pronotum short, in contact with dorsal transverse carina widely rounded or forming protruding lateral lobes. Basal longitudinal carinulae of pronotum (sensu Jordan 1928: 151) (= two carinulae on lateral sides of pronotum, between dorsal transverse carina and posterior margin of pronotum, more visible from lateral or dorso-lateral view) only weakly indicated or absent. Disc of pronotum with distinct deeper transverse groove or disc completely flat without any imprint. Humeri well developed, elytra widest in this area. Elytra rectangular, sides parallel or slightly narrowed posteriorly. Each elytron with one very conspicuous wide, protruding tubercle with blunt or sharp top on elytral interval II in sub-basal part. Elytron also with one blunt tubercle in post median part or with two pointed tubercles protruding backwards in preapical part. Elytral declivity evident posteriorly immediately from distal margins of tubercles. Abdomen shorter than broad, sternites forming concave arch in lateral view in both sexes, less noticeable in females. Legs relatively robust, tarsomere I longer than II, inner tooth of claw present.

Figures

FIGURES 11–15. Merarius korinae Trýzna & Baňař sp. nov., terminalia. 11–14, male paratype; 15, female allotype. 11, tegmen, dorsal view; 12, apex of tegmen; 13, segment VIII, ventral view; 14, sternite IX = spiculum gastrale, ventral view; 15, ovipositor, dorsal view. Scale bars in mm.