Proteros sempiternus, Kazantsev, Sergey V., 2004

Kazantsev, Sergey V., 2004, Phylogeny of the tribe Erotini (Coleoptera, Lycidae), with descriptions of new taxa, Zootaxa 496, pp. 1-48 : 19-21

Proteros sempiternus sp. n. ( Figs. 25–30 )

Description

Male. Dark brown. Elytra except suture area (1.5 interstices in basal tenth and 3.5 interstices in basal nine tenths) testaceous.

Head with fine longitudinal rib behind antennal prominence. Eyes small (interocular distance 4 times as long as the radius). Antennae extending to just beyond middle of elytra. Pronotum transverse, about 1.25 times wider than long, with conspicuous median areola, connected with side margins by prominent carinae; sides almost parallel, with hind angles acute and relatively short; surface tuberculate except in median areola. Scutellum elongate, parallel­sided, deeply emarginate at apex.

Elytra long, 3.2 times longer than wide at humeri, almost parallel­sided, with 4 primary equally developed costae; interstices with single (except at bases and apices of some interstices) rows of relatively regular transverse rectangular cells. Short decumbent pubescence distributed along longitudinal costae, with single seta in the middle of transverse costae.

Metatrochanters with rounded posterior angles.

Aedeagus — Figs. 28–30 .

Length: 8.4 mm. Width (humerally): 2.2 mm.

Female. Unknown.

Diagnosis

P. sempiternus sp. n. differs from other erotines by the generic characters provided above, as well as its typical "Australian" coloration of testaceous elytra and black or dark brown suture area.

Etymology

The name is derived from the Latin " sempiternus " for "everlasting" alluding to the hypothesized ancient origin of the species.

Figures

FIGURES 25 – 30. Details of Proteros sempiternus gen n., sp. n., male. 25 — head, anteriorly; 26 — ultimate sternite; 27 — ultimate tergites; 28 — aedeagus, dorsally; 29 — same, laterally; 30 — same, ventrally.