Metataenia (Metamroczkowskia) hauseri ( Obenberger, 1928 )

Nylander, Ulf, 2010, Notes concerning the genus Metataenia Théry, 1923 (Coleoptera, Buprestidae, Chrysochroina) from Papua New Guinea, with description of a new species and designation of a lectotype, Zootaxa 2529, pp. 55-64 : 56-58

Metataenia (Metamroczkowskia) hauseri ( Obenberger, 1928)

( Figs. 1–5 )

Paracupta hauseri Obenberger 1928: 155 . Metataenia hauseri: Théry 1943: 649 .

Specimens examined. Four females, Papua New Guinea, Northern Province, Popondetta, October 1980 to May 1981 (UN 1212, 1214, 1506, 1507).

This species was described from a single specimen collected at “Sattelberg” ( Fig. 3 ), from the same geographical region as Popondetta ( Fig. 32 ). The type specimen belonged to Prof. Gustav Hauser (1856 – 1935) and was preserved in his collection. My colleague Stephan Gottwald told me (in litt.) that the Hauser collection was acquired by the Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt Universitat zu Berlin, Germany in 1938 and he kindly took photographs of the type and sent them to me for comparison ( Figs. 3–5 ). They are in concordance with my specimens ( Figs. 1, 2 ).

Redescription of figured specimen (UN 1507). Collection date April 1981. Head: L 21 mm, W 6,8 mm, L/W=3,1. Black, shining with fine punctuation. H= 3,9 mm. V=2,2, F=1,8. Deep triangular depression between eyes with short pubescence and faint reflections of metallic-greenish hue. Deep furrow at middle of depression, broadest in middle. Eyes large, prominent. Antennae: Reaching just over humerus. First antennomere greenish blue, slightly bent, following antennomeres brown. Pronotum: Nearly trapezoidal but anterior half almost cylindrical, L/W=0,7, dark brown with metallic lustre. Median furrow fine, widening towards base. At each side depressed dfp spot with green metallic lustre anteriorly and golden red posteriorly. Scutellum: Small, oval, depressed, with golden lustre. Elytra: Concolorous with head and pronotum, attenuating behind shoulders, slightly impressed towards metacoxae, thereafter attenuate to apices in a smooth curve. Lateroposterior borders strongly denticulate, apices bidentate. Elytra weakly striate, punctures partly confluent. Each elytron with five golden dfp impressions: first near anterior border, next two just posterior to humeral protuberance, from 4th striae to lateral border, one just posterior to metacoxa and one small elongate impression near apices. Sides in bright illumination reflect red hue. Legs: Femora and proximal half of tibiae green, distal part of tibiae and tarsi yellow-brown, claw dark. Prosternum: Broad, strongly punctuated medially. Ventral side dark, central parts of ventrites dark brown, no dfp. Anal ventrite with narrow incision.

From the examination of the photographs ( Figs. 4, 5 ) of the type specimen, it is apparently male.

Remarks: This species is very much like M. (Metamroczkowskia) loriae ( Kerremans, 1895) . The differences ( Table 1) can be seen on the additional pictures of the holotype and a specimen from the central part of Papua New Guinea, Kamanea Village, Aseki, Morobe Province 2005 (UN 1820).

Metataenia hauseri ( Figs. 2, 4, 5 ) Metataenia loriae ( Figs. 7, 8, 9, 11 ) Pronotum strongly attenuate from base until middle, then Pronotum is straight from base then attenuate towards almost cylindrically towards anterior margin anterior margin

Antennomeres 8–11 longer than broad Antennomeres 8–11 wider than long Elytral striae separated by weakly elevated intervals Elytral striae only as rows of fine punctures Apices bidentate Apices tridentate

Prosternal process closely, densely punctuate Prosternal process sparsely punctuate Ventrites without yellow dfp Ventrites with yellow dfp

Figures

FIGURE 32. Regional map of southeastern Papua New Guinea indicating 1) Popondetta, Northern Province; and 2) Misima Island and 3) Rossel Island in the Louisiade Archipelago, Milne Bay Province.

FIGURES 1 – 5. Metataenia (Metamroczkowskia) hauseri (Obenberger, 1928). Fig. 1, labels from UN 1507 specimen; Fig. 2, UN 1507 specimen, lateral aspect; Fig. 3, labels from holotype; Fig. 4, holotype, dorsal aspect; Fig. 5, holotype, ventral aspect.

FIGURES 6 – 11. Metataenia (Metamroczkowskia) loriae (Kerremans, 1896). Fig. 6, labels from holotype; Fig. 7, holotype, dorsal aspect; Fig. 8, holotype, ventral aspect; Fig. 9, holotype, lateral aspect; Fig. 10, labels from UN 1820 specimen; Fig. 11, UN 1820 specimen, dorsal aspect.