Abscondita anceyi (Olivier) Olivier, 2013

Ballantyne, Lesley, Fu, Xinhua, Lambkin, Christine, Jeng, Ming-Luen, Faust, Lynn, Wijekoon, W. M. C. D., Li, Daiqin & Zhu, Tengfui, 2013, Studies on South-east Asian fireflies: Abscondita, a new genus with details of life history, flashing patterns and behaviour of Abs. chinensis (L.) and Abs. terminalis (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Lampyridae: Luciolinae), Zootaxa 3721 (1), pp. 1-48 : 9-15

Abscondita anceyi (Olivier) comb. nov.

Figs 2 , 3 , 4 , 5

Luciola anceyi Olivier, 1883:330 . Bourgeois, 1890:185. McDermott, 1966:99. Chen,1999:31; 2003:173. Luciola Anceyi Olivier. Olivier, 1888:430 ; 1902:74; 1913:271. Synonymy.

Holotype. Female. CHINA. (MNHN) (examined by Jeng).

Specimens examined. CHINA. Collector is XH Fu. Hubei Province: 31.37N, 110.25E Shennongjia Nature Reserve 13.viii.2011 3 males, 23 females; 6.viii.2011 2 males, 5 females. 31.11N, 111.64E Yuanan County, Yichang City 15.vii.2009 female. 31.17N, 115.78E Tiantangzhai, Mountain Dabie, 03.vii.2011 female. 30.66N, 111.07E Chexi, Yichang City, 15.vii.2012 male, 2 females. 30.40N, 111.45E Yidu County, Yichang City, 15.vii.2008 male, female; vii.2005 5 females; 13.vi.2012 4 males, 2 females. 29.85N, 114.32E Xianning City 14.vi.2009 4 males, 2 females. Zhejiang Province: 30.51N, 119.48E Anji county 12.v.2012 male, female; 29.vi.2012 30 females; 01.vii.2012 34 females; 08.vii.2012 3 females; 15.vii.2012 female; 01.vii.2012 3 males; 08.vii.2012 male. Sichuan Province: 29.61N, 103.47E Mountain Emei 17.vii.2006 10 males, 14 females; 3.vi.2009 male, 11 females; 2.viii.2009 10 females. Guangdong Province: 24.54N, 113.02E Nanling Nature Reserve 01.viii.2009 3 females. Guangxi Province: 23.09N, 105.99E Diding Nature Reserve 08.viii.2012 3 females. Yunnan Province: 21.92N, 101.28E Xishuanbanna, Jinghong City 09.vi.2012 6 females. 22.79N, 100.98E Simao district, Puer City 16.v.2008, male, 4 females; 17.v.2009 10 females. Hainan Province: 18.54N, 109.40E Mountain Wuzhi 23.iv.2012 female; 01.viii.2012 female.

Diagnosis. One of four Abscondita with pale dorsum and black elytral apices ( Fig 2 ). Distinguished from both Abs. chinensis and Abs. terminalis by the pale terminal abdominal tergites and its larger size (Males may reach 12.9 mm in length and females 14 mm); differing from Abs. perplexa in having a pale abdomen ( perplexa has dark markings on at least V5). Females macropterous ( Fig. 2 C, D). Larvae with short spines over dorsal surface and mandibles with two inner teeth ( Fig. 2 E, 4).

Redescription of Male. 10.3–12.9 mm long; 4.6–5.3 mm wide; approx. 2.5 times as long as wide. Colour ( Fig. 2 A, B; 3): Pronotum orange yellow; MS, MN and semi-transparent elytra orange yellow, (except for apical black area occupying 1/6 length of elytron and extending to sides, posterior margin and ventral area of epipleuron and suture); head between eyes, antennae and palpi dark brown; ventral thorax orange yellow; all legs orange yellow at base with dark brown tarsi and most of tibiae except for narrow basal yellow portion; abdomen orange yellow without brown markings; LOs in V6, 7 white, V7 LO extending to posterior margin but not to sides which are narrowly yellow; all abdominal tergites and dorsally reflexed lateral margins of all ventrites yellow.

For expanded dimensions see Table 3. Pronotum: 1.7–2.2 mm long; 3.2–4.1 mm wide; W/L 1.8–1.9. Elytron: 8.6–10.8 mm long. Head: GHW 2.2–2.6 mm; SIW 0.3–0.5 mm; ASD> ASW. Mouthparts: apical labial palpomere with 3 teeth along inner margin. Aedeagal sheath with sternite terminated by short incurving lateral pieces.

Female ( Fig. 2 C, D). Macropterous and capable of flight. 11.6–14.0 mm long; 5.0– 5.8 mm wide; approx 2–3 times as long as wide. Colour: as for male with these exceptions—all abdominal ventrites yellow apart from the white LO in V6. Pronotum: 1.9–2.4 mm long, 3.8–4.5 mm wide. Elytron: 9.7–11.9 mm long. Head: GHW 2.0– 2.4mm; SIW 0.3–0.5mm; ASD> ASW; antennae almost always slightly longer than 2 x GHW. Mouthparts: apical labial palpomere with 3 teeth along inner margin except for 4 teeth in 2/28 Shennongjia, 3/69 Anji County, ½ Xianning City and 1/ 6 in Xishuanbanna.

Larva ( Fig. 2 E; 4). Dorsally greyish brown with a pale half moon shaped area just behind the anterior margin of the prothorax. The only species of Abscondita larva known to possess two inner mandibular teeth ( Fig. 4 A).

Biology. Jeng observed in Taiwan that both Abs. chinensis and Abs. anceyi flied high, usually over, on or just below tree canopy in forests. Males produced flash trains in flight, about 9–11 quick flashes in 1–1.5 sec, followed by a long silence of several seconds (these observations were made with the naked eye). Females of chinensis also flew high in mating course, but they were more commonly seen flying low to lay eggs later in the season. Females of both chinensis and anceyi produced continuous glow after mating, since such bioluminescent display was more common in the late but not at the beginning of the season. In general, it is not difficult to determine which is which by their habitats as well as male flash patterns in the field. However, this is not the case in those areas in mainland China. In Mt. Emei (Sichuan Province) after dark, males and females usually flew to top of bamboos for courtship. Females produced a long glow signal when they were flying to the top of bamboos ( Fig. 4 B). Males produced fast single flashes when they were flying on the top of bamboos with flash duration 209.6 ± 86.4 ms (n= 14; mean ± sd) and interval 465.6 ± 160.1 ms (n=14; mean ± sd) ( Fig. 4 A). Females produced single flashes when they were flying on the top of bamboos with duration 548.6 ± 57 ms (n=7; mean ± sd) and interval 850.7 ± 23.2 ms (n=7; mean ± sd) ( Fig. 4 C).

Remarks. Olivier originally described a female and subsequent assignment of two males was by Bourgeois (1890). We have based our identifications on those of Jeng and Chen (1999, 2003). Olivier’s (1883) females were 15mm long and 5 mm wide. The species appears to have a wide range from Myanmar ( Burma) to mainland China and Taiwan.

This species was not scored in our phylogenetic analyses but subsequent dissections revealed male characters that indicate its inclusion here. Larvae differ from other Abscondita species in several ways and the two toothed mandibles and very spiny exterior may be both defensive and offensive modifications. A brief diagnosis and drawings of certain adult characters appear at http://insect.biota.biodiv.tw/pages/898, and at http:// www.taipif.org.tw/nbrpp/images/bug/full/ Luciola _ anceyi _33.jpg (accessed 6 December 2012).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Habitus Abscondita anceyi. A, B male; C, D female; E larva (A, C, E dorsal; B, D ventral) (Scale bar = 5 mm).

FIGURE 3. Abscondita anceyi male genitalia. A, B aedeagal sheath; C, D, E aedeagus (A, C dorsal; B, D ventral; E left lateral) (Scale bar = 1 mm).

FIGURE 4. Abscondita anceyi fifth instar larva SEM. A, B, C head; D antenna, terminal three segments (A dorsal; B, D ventral; C anterior, dorsal surface uppermost).

FIGURE 5. Abscondita anceyi flash pattern. A, male fast flash on top of bamboos; B, female slow glow when flying to top of bamboos after dark; C, female flash on top of bamboos (recorded in Mt. E Mei, temperature 18 ° C, humidity 80 %).