Taridius coriaceus Fedorenko

Fedorenko, Dmitri N., 2012, Notes on the genus Taridius Chaudoir, 1875 (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Lebiini), with descriptions of six new species from Vietnam, ZooKeys 244, pp. 67-89 : 80-82

6. Taridius coriaceus Fedorenko sp. n. Figs 101546

Description.

Body (Fig. 15) subconvex, 8.6 mm in length. Dorsum black, a little shining due to a rather sharp microsculpture. Elytral dark pattern strongly reduced (Fig. 10): DSS occupying inner four intervals, slightly concave at back margin, sides and posterolateral angles both rounded, DSF occupying only sutural interval, DMS extended outwards as far as middle of interval 5, DLS separate on interval 8 in anterior three fifths, expanded onto 7th at middle and a little before. Underside black, metaventrite widely yellow medially, mesoventrite reddish at the extreme apex, pro-sternal process hardly paler between coxae, outer half of metacoxa infuscate, abdomen black to dark brown, apical third of its last sternite yellow. Microsculpture sharp on elytra, very sharp, nearly granulate over pronotum, including reflexed side margin, moderately deep, isodiametric or barely transverse, in the middle of disc, very distinct on head, superficial to obsolete on neck.

Eyes and genae combined almost semicircular in outline; frons on each side with three or four, anteriorly with four or five, carinae. Vertex almost flat, neck-constriction barely traceable.

Pronotum 1.17 times as wide as head, 1.39 times as wide as long, same as in as in

Taridius abdominalis , but lateral parts of base nearly straight, sides distinctly sinuate before base, hind angles obtuse but rather sharp. Both front and basal transverse impressions, as well as basal foveae except at the very base, obsolete; paralateral line indistinct. A wide area between reflexed side margin and middle of disc coriaceous and dull from irregular, moderately deep and very dense rugosities accompanied by very sharp microsculpture in addition.

Elytra slightly convex, subovate, 1.56 times as long as wide, 1.79 times as wide as pronotum, broadest far behind middle, apices truncate and subrectangular. Striae impunctate, intervals subequally wide and almost flat. Last abdominal sternite bisetose along posterior margin.

Female gonocoxite IX long, parallel-sided, widely rounded apically, ensiform setae almost totally reduced, dorsal setae invisible in ventral view (Fig. 46).

Diagnosis.

The species is certain to belong to the group which members share the last abdominal sternite bisetose in both sexes. From all of them, it differs by separate, dark, elytral DLS, peculiar pronotal sculpture and microsculpture, as well as by a particular structure of the female gonocoxite IX. A similar elytral pattern is observed in Taridius stevensi which is in contrast smaller and devoid of bronzed luster over dark color. Well-developed DLS and a dark abdomen are uncharacteristic of Taridius wrasei and Taridius pahangensis , the former species showing a quadrisetose abdominal sternite VII. The latter, according to its original description, is distinctive in having only one frontal carina on each side and a transverse pronotal microsculpture.

Material.

Holotype ♀, S[outh] Vietnam, Lam Dong Prov. / Bi Doup - Nui Ba [Nature] Reserve / env. Long Lanh / 12°10'44"N, 108°40'44"E / h = 1400-1600 m [asl], V.2009 / leg. D Fedorenko.

Geographic distribution.

Known from type locality only.