Chaetocnema (Chaetocnema) parafusiformis Ruan, Konstantinov & Yang, 2019

Ruan, Yongying, Yang, Xingke, Konstantinov, Alexander S., Prathapan, Kaniyarikkal D. & Zhang, Mengna, 2019, Revision of the Oriental Chaetocnema species (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini), Zootaxa 4699 (1), pp. 1-206 : 86-88

30. Chaetocnema (Chaetocnema) parafusiformis Ruan, Konstantinov & Yang , New Species

( Fig. 51 )

Etymology: This species is named after the close resemblance to C. fusiformis Chen. Specific epithet is a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis: This species is close to C. fusiformis Chen , C. gracilis Motschulsky and C. laotica Medvedev. It may be distiguished from C. laotica by darker antennae, tibiae and tarsi, and the strongly metallic bronzy pronotum and head. It can be differentiated from C. fusiformis Chen by fewer punctures (5–8 in C. parafusiformis sp. nov. and 12–15 in C. fusiformis ) on vertex and elytral surface without transverse wrinkles. Chaetocnema parafusiformis can be differentiated from C. gracilis by larger body size and darker antennae and tibiae; the structure of last visible tergite of females of these two species are also different, for instance: punctures on the last tergite large and deep in C. parafusiformis , while weak and shallow in C. gracilis (see Fig 51 I and Fig 35 C ).

Distribution: Bhutan, Nepal, India, Iran.

Host plants: Unknown.

Description: Body length: 1.70–1.85 mm. Body width: 1.00– 1.05 mm. Ratio of length of antenna to length of body: 0.57–0.62. Ratio of elytron length (along suture) to width (maximum): 2.50–2.60. Ratio of pronotum width (at base) to length: 1.64–1.66. Ratio of length of elytron to length of pronotum (along middle): 2.85–2.88. Ratio of width of elytra at base (in middle of humeral calli) to width of pronotum at base: 1.05–1.10.

Pronotum and head bronzy, with very slight greenish luster, elytra dark brown with slight bronzy luster. Pronotum and vertex finely reticulated. Antennomeres 1–4 brown, 5–11 dark brown, with apical ones being darker. Tarsi deep yellow brown, tibiae dark brown, with area near femora brown. Pro- and mesofemora dark brown, with distal area near tibiae brown. Metafemora dark brown, with slight metallic luster.

Head hypognathous. Frontal ridge narrow but somewhat flat. Frontolateral sulcus present. Suprafrontal sulcus poorly developed, shallow, convex. Orbital, supraantennal sulci moderately developed. Ratio of width of frontal ridge (excluding margin) to width of antennal socket (excluding margin): 1.15–1.25. Number of punctures on vertex: 5–8 on each side near eye. Number of punctures on orbit: 1-2 on either side. A few punctures bearing setae present on frons near clypeus. Number of setae on labrum: 6. Anterior margin of labrum slightly concave or almost straight.

Pronotum without longitudinal impressions near basal margin. Deep row of large punctures at base of pronotum absent. Pronotal base strongly convex at middle, oblique and straight at sides. Lateral margins of pronotum slightly convex, strongly converging forward. Anterolateral prothoracic callosity weak, developed along lateral margin, produced forward forming acute angle. Posterolateral prothoracic callosity poorly developed. Diameter of pronotal punctures 2–3 times smaller than distance between them.

Elytra with slightly convex lateral sides. Elytral punctures only slightly larger than those of pronotum. Elytral punctures, including peri-scutellar row, arranged in single rows. Elytral interspaces between puncture rows slightly costate at sides. Number of rows of minute punctures on each interspace: 2–3. Elytral humeral callus weakly developed.

First male protarsomere slightly longer and larger than second, only slightly larger than that of female. Excavation on metatibia moderately deep. Large lateral denticle on metatibia very sharp. Metatibial serration proximal to large lateral denticle present.

Apex of aedeagus in ventral view narrowing abruptly. Ventral longitudinal groove absent. Apical denticle in ventral view absent. Minute transverse wrinkles on ventral side absent. Aedeagus in lateral view evenly curved.

Spermathecal receptacle oblong. Spermathecal duct coiled. Spermathecal pump much shorter than receptacle with apex cylindrical and narrowed. Vaginal palpus parallel-sided in middle. Anterior sclerotization of vaginal palpus narrowing anteriorly and posteriorly. Posterior sclerotization longer than wide. Anterior sclerotization wider than posterior.

Type: Holotype: ♂ ( USNM): 1) Bhutan, env. Punakha, N27°36.35’ E 89°52.43’, 19.IX.2005, 1400m, leg. K. Mahat, K. D. Prathapan, 2 ) Holotype, 3) Chaetocnema parafusiformis sp. nov. des. Yongying Ruan, 2016.

Paratypes: 1♂ ( USNM): 1) Bhutan, env. Punakha, N 27 36.35 E 89 52.43, 19.IX.2005, 1400m, leg. K. Mahat, K. D. Prathapan , 2) Paratype, 3) Chaetocnema parafusiformis sp. nov. des. Yongying Ruan, 2016; 1♀ ( BMNH): 1) Nepal, B. M. Nepal Exp., 1949, B. M. 1949–637, E. D, TIMURE, 8000–10000 ft , 2) Paratype, 3) Chaetocnema parafusiformis sp. nov. des. Yongying Ruan, 2016; 1♂ ( USNM): 1) Nepal, Pokhara Lumle St. ,– Thulakharka, 1640–2140m, 22.IV.2000, N 28 17.82 E 83 49.11, Konstantinov, Lingafelter, Volkovitsh, 2 ) Paratype, 3) Chaetocnema parafusiformis sp. nov. des. Yongying Ruan, 2016; 1♀ ( USNM): 1) Nepal, Jiri reg, Shivalaya–Deorali, 1770–2710m, 10.V.2000, N 27 35.51 E 86 19.59, forest, small valley with stream, Konstantinov, Lingafelter, Volkovitsh, 2 ) Paratype; 1♀ ( USNM): 1) Nepal, Lantang Nat. Park , env. of Dhunche, 1900–2100m, 30.IV.2000, N 28 07 00 E 85 17 00, Konstantinov, Lingafelter, Volkovitsh, 2 ) Paratype. 1♀ ( USNM): India, New Delhi IARI plots V–24–1968, sweeping weeds and cowpeas, Collected by K. E. Gibson ; 1♀ ( USNM): Iran, Varamin 3 July 1969 K. E. Gibson IARI plots V–24–1968, sweeping weeds and cowpeas, Collected by K. E. Gibson .

Figures

FIGURE 35. Chaetocnema gracilis. A Male habitus (example for variation in color). B Head, frontal view. C Pygidium (tergite 7) of female.

FIGURE 51. Chaetocnema parafusiformis sp. nov. A Holotype, habitus. B Pronotum and peri-scutellar area (Holotype). C Head, frontal view (Holotype). D Aedeagus, ventral view (Paratype). E Aedeagus, lateral view (Paratype). F Apex of aedeagus, ventral view (Paratype). G Vaginal palpi (Paratype). H Spermatheca (Paratype). I Pygidium (tergite 7) of female (Paratype).