Xenorthrius rubicollis Gerstmeier & Eberle, 2010

Gerstmeier, Roland & Eberle, Jonas, 2010, Revision of the Indo-Australian checkered beetle genus Xenorthrius Gorham, 1892 (Coleoptera: Cleridae, Clerinae) 2584, Zootaxa 2584 (1), pp. 1-121 : 77-79

Xenorthrius rubicollis Gerstmeier & Eberle, 2010 n. sp.

( Figures 46 and 68E )

Specimens examined: Holotype: Thailand: Chiang Mai Prov., N. Thailand, 13–14.VI.1979, W. Suzuki leg.; 24 (♂, RGCM).

Paratypes: Thailand: Doi Pui , Chiang Mai Prov., N . Thailand, 13.–14.VI.1979, W. Suzuki leg.; 24 ( RGCM). NW Thailand, 19.– 23.4.1991, Chiang Mai, Doi Suthep to Doi Pui, J. Horák leg ( NMPC) .

Measurements: (3 specimens measured) Average total length: 7.7mm, range: 7.5–7.8mm, average elytral length: 5.1mm, average elytral width: 2.3mm, average pronotal length: 1.9mm, average pronotal width: 1.7mm, average head width: 1.7mm.

Head: Black, cranium vested with short setae, few longer setae near eyes, punctation distinct but sparse; mandibles dark red-brown to black; posterior part of clypeus dark red-brown to black, with large punctation and a few long setae laterally, smooth centrally; ventral part dark red-brown to black, wrinkled; smooth centrally; antennae red-brown, antennomeres gradually decreasing in length from A3 towards A8, A9 to A11 forming a distinct club, antennae not reaching base of pronotum when laid back; gular sutures diverging apically, gular process relatively broad.

Thorax: Average pronotal length:width ratio 1.1:1; pronotum red-brown, vested with short yellowish setae, pronotal arch broad, punctation indistinct, denser laterally, interstices dorsally larger than one diameter of punctures, pronotum proper with denser punctation, interstices dorsally larger than one diameter of punctures; prosternum red-brown, smooth, mesosternum red-brown, vested with yellowish-white setae, metasternum red-brown, sparsely vested with short yellowish setae, punctation weak, interstices larger than one diameter of punctures; transverse sulcus on anterior part of mesosternum and mesepisternum relatively distinct on mesosternum, anterior metasternal process with two strongly sclerotized, ventrally projecting, edges; scutellum oval, colored like surrounding elytra, margins darkened.

Elytra: Average length:width ratio 2.2:1; basal third red-brown, posterior margin darkened, with a narrow yellow fascia centrally, postmedian fascia broad, dark red-brown, followed by another narrow yellow fascia, apices dark red-brown, rectangular subcutaneous structures visible through lighter areas, vested with short decumbent and longer erect setae, punctation large, striae 1 and 2 obsolete behind basal red-brown third of elytra, striae 3 to 8 crossing postmedian fascia and becoming weak behind it, striae 9 and especially striae 10 with weak punctation, interstices between and within striae smaller than one diameter of punctures, punctation rasp-like in basal third of elytra, interstices between striae strongly carinated in apical half.

Legs: Dark red-brown, coxa, trochanter and proximal part of femora yellow, tarsal pulvilli pale; metatibiae slightly bent distally, anterior and posterior face of each tibia carinate, carination colored like tibia.

Abdomen: Ventrites dark red-brown, punctation distinct, interstices minimal one diameter of punctures; lateral margins of male pygidium strongly converging, very broad basally; posterior margin of male ventrite 5 slightly emarginate; male ventrite 6 with distinct narrowly U-shaped emargination. Male genitalia ( Fig. 46 ): Tegmen dilated apically, sinus deep, V-shaped; phallic plates extremely narrow, tip broader and stronger sclerotized, with horizontal furrow; spicular fork dividing into two branches after one fifth of length.

Distribution: Thailand.

Seasonal occurrence: Collected from April to June.

Etymology: The specific epithet, ruber, a Latin adjective and collis, a Latin noun meaning red and neck respectively, referring to the reddish colored pronotum.

Figures

FIGURE 46. Xenorthrius rubicollis: (A) Tegmen in ventral view, (B) phallus in ventral view, (C) tip of aedeagus in lateral view, (D) spicular fork, (E) male pygidium, (F) male ventrite 6 and distribution map.

FIGURE 68. Habitus photographs: Xenorthrius penangis n. sp. (A), Xenorthrius procerus (B), Xenorthrius prolongatus (C), Xenorthrius robustus (D), Xenorthrius rubicollis n. sp. (E) and Xenorthrius rubris n. sp. (F). Scale bars = 4mm.