Dicranolaius similis, Liu, Zhenhua, Ślipiński, Adam & Pang, Hong, 2015

Liu, Zhenhua, Ślipiński, Adam & Pang, Hong, 2015, Notes on Australian Laius Guérin-Méneville, Dicranolaius Champion and Intybia Pascoe with description of new species related to Dicranolaius c-purpureus (Lea) (Coleoptera: Melyridae: Malachiinae), Zootaxa 3936 (2), pp. 272-280 : 279

Dicranolaius similis sp. n.

( Figures 1 C, 1D, 2C, 2F, 2G, 3B, 3E, 3H)

Etymology. Species name has been derived from the Latin adjective similis , as this new species is very similar to both D. c-purpureus and D. weiri .

Diagnosis. This species differs from D. c-purpureus and D. weiri in being somewhat shorter with black head, the dorsal bristles longer and the elytral markings more extensive at base. However, the male dimorphic characters and the male terminalia are the best distinguishing features.

Description. Length 4.40–5.79mm, PL/PW 0.71–0.76, EL/EW 2.81–3.25, HW/PW 0.75–0.77, EL/PL 2.65–2.76.

Male. Head and scutellum black, prothorax uniformly yellow or orange, elytra orange or yellow with dark blue slightly iridescent humeral area and C-shaped preapical marking with slightly lighter centre ( Figs 1 C, 1D). Antennomeres 1–3 orange, remaining segments dark brown or black ( Fig. 2 F); fore leg black with dark brown tarsus, mid and hind legs black. Meso- and metaventrites dark, abdomen yellow with terminal segment dark. Vestiture double, consisting of short and dense yellow setae and sparse, longer and thicker black bristles.

Head with dense white setae and sparse black bristles, very finely punctured. Antennal scape expanded and triangular ( Fig. 2 F); antennomere 3 expanded and flat ( Fig. 2 G). Pronotum broader than head, widest at anterior third; lateral margins and pronotal base with narrow bead, posterior edge more or less emarginate medially; pronotal disk without apparent punctures, shiny. Scutellum truncate, apically with dense silver adpressed setae. Elytra widest at apical third; sides gradually expanded posterolaterally; surface densely and weakly punctured, punctures about the same size as eye facets, separated by 1 diameter. Fore leg with dense white and yellow adpressed setae and few black bristles on tibiae, femur with deep excavation medially on upper surface as in Figure 2 C, tarsomere 2 elongate with dense comb along the anterior edge; mid and hind legs with dense white and yellow adpressed setae and few black bristles on femora and tibiae.

Tergite VIII with deep incision medially without spine ( Fig. 3 E); sternite VIII divided ( Fig. 3 H). Aedeagus ( Fig. 3 B) with very dense spines in endophallus.

Female. Unknown.

Types. Holotype male, Queensland: Camooweal, Q. 19.55S 138.06E 16.v.68. K. Armstrong (ANIC). Paratype: Katherine, N.T., 7-10.68, E. Matthews (1, male; ANIC, dissected).

Distribution. Queensland and Northern Territory.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Dicranolaius species, dorsal and lateral habitus. (A, B) Dicranolaius weiri sp. n.; (C, D) Dicranolaius similis sp. n.; (E, F) Dicranolaius c-pupureus (Lea).

FIGURE 2. Dicranolaius, males; A – C Foreleg; D – I antenna and antennomeres 1 – 4. (A, D – E) Dicranolaius weiri sp. n.; (C, F – G) Dicranolaius similis sp. n.; (B, H – I) Dicranolaius c-pupureus (Lea).

FIGURE 3. Dicranolaius, males; A – C Penis; D – F Tergite VIII, dorsal; G – I Sternite VIII, ventral (A, D, G) Dicranolaius weiri sp. n.; (B, E, H) Dicranolaius similis sp. n.; (C, F, I) Dicranolaius c-pupureus (Lea).