Gastroserica piceocoerulea Ahrens, Lukic

Ahrens, Dirk, Liu, Wangang, Lukic, Daniel & Bai, Ming, 2023, A taxonomic review of Microserica Brenske, 1894 from continental Asia (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Sericini), Zootaxa 5241 (1), pp. 1-115 : 24-27

Gastroserica piceocoerulea Ahrens, Lukic & Liu, new species

Figs. 7A–E , 26

Type material examined. Holotype: Ô “839470 / 839470 Microserica spTHAI_DE09_1 Thailand L. Dembicky

9.- 13.5.2009 Doi Chiang Dao env. Chiang Mai Prov. 19°24’45’’N 98°51’30’’E 1200m / 22 Sericini Asia spec.” ( ZFMK). Paratypes: Thailand: 1 Ô “THAI 1.-8.V.1993 Soppong Pai 1800m Pacholatko & Dembicky leg. / TS 31 / 16 Sericini Asia spec.” ( CP), 1 Ô “Thailand bor. Occ. 30.4.- 14.5.1991 Mae Hong Son env. Ban Huai Po 1800m ” ( ZFMK), 12 ÔÔ “NE Thailand 1.-15.5[?]. 1991 Mae Hong Son Ban Huai Po 800-1600 m S. Bily leg.” ( NHMB), 3 ÔÔ “NE Thailand 28.4.1991 Mae Hong Son S. Bily leg.” ( NHMB), 17 ÔÔ “NW Thailand, 19.19N, 97.97E Mae Hong Son, 1991 Ban Huai Po, 1600-2000 m 17.-23.5., L. Dembicky leg.” ( NHMW), 2 ÔÔ “NW Thailand 9.- 16.5.1991 Mae Hong Son, Ban Huai Po 1600-2000 m J. Horák leg.” ( ZFMK), 1 Ô “NW Thailand Ban Huai Po 9.- 16.5.1991 I. Horák leg.” ( ZFMK), 1 Ô “839469 / 839469 Microserica spTHAI_DE09_1 Thailand L. Dembicky 9.- 13.5.2009 Doi Chiang Dao env. Chiang Mai Prov. 19°24’45’’N 98°51’30’’E 1200m ” ( ZFMK), 1 Ô “NW Thailand 1.- 6.5.1991 Soppong Pai 1800m Leg. Pacholátko / TS32” ( CP), 1 Ô “Chieng Mai N. Thailand V-VI.1983 / Museum Leiden coll. P.J.J.H. Kuijten” ( RMNH), 2 ÔÔ “Thai, 17.-26.V.1991 Chiang Dao 1000m 19°25’N 98°52’E Vít Kubáň leg.” ( NMPC, ZFMK), 1 Ô “Thai, 10.-16.V.1991 Chiang Dao 600m 19°24’N 98°55’E V. Kuban leg. / coll. Milan Nikodym, Praha” ( ZFMK), 2 ÔÔ “NW Thailand, Chieng Dao, Ban San Pakia, 5.-10.v.2004, 1200m, Sv. Bily” ( NME). China: 1 Ô [China] “ Yunnan 1500-2500m, 25.22N 98.49E 17-24/5 Gaoligong mts. Vit Kubáň leg. 1995” ( CP), 7 ÔÔ “China: S-Yunnan (Xishuangbanna) 45 km SW Jinghong vic. Bangzhang vill. / N21°44’37’’, E100°27’02’’, 16-1700m, 03.-05.V.2009 leg. A. Weigel, blüh Cast” ( NME). 1 Ô [China] “Meng’e, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, 10.V.1958, 1050-1080m, leg. Wang Shuyong / LW-341” ( IZAS), 1 Ô [China] “Meng’e, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, 22.V.1958, 1000m, leg. Pu Fuji” ( IZAS), 3 ÔÔ [China] “Mengzhe, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, 15.VI.1958, 1200m, leg. Pu Fuji, Chen Zhizi / LW-377” ( IZAS). Laos: 1 Ô “Laos, 1.-16.v.1999, Louangphrabang pr., 20°33- 4’N 102°14’E Ban Song Cha (5km W) 1200m, Vit Kubáň leg.” ( CP), 1 Ô “Laos north, 13.-24.V.1997 15 km NW Louang Namtha N21°07.5’, E 101°21.0 alt. 750+ 100 m, M. Štrba & R. Hergovits leg.” ( CP), 1 Ô “Laos Vientiane Prov. Ban Van Eue 15-31.V.1965 / Native collector Bishop Museum” ( BPBM), 1 Ô “LAOS, Xieng Khouang prov., 19°37–8’N, 103°20’E, Phonsavan (30 km NE) Phou Sane Mt., 1420 m, 10-30.v.2009, D. Hauck leg. / NHMB Basel, NMPC Prague, Laos 2009, Expedition: M. Brancucci, M. Geiser, Z. Kraus, D. Hauck, V. Kubáň” ( NHMB), 3 ÔÔ “LAOS, Xieng Khouang prov., 19°37–8’N, 103°20’E, Phonsavan (30 km NE) Phou Sane Mt., 1420 m, 10- 30.v.2009, M. Brancucci leg. / NHMB Basel, NMPC Prague, Laos 2009, Expedition: M. Brancucci, M. Geiser, Z. Kraus, D. Hauck, V. Kubáň” ( NHMB), 16 ÔÔ “LAOS, Hua Phan prov., 20°13’N, 104°00’E, Phou Pane Mt., 1- 16.vi.2009, 1350-1500 m, M. Brancucci leg. / NHMB Basel, NMPC Prague, Laos 2009, Expedition: M. Brancucci, M. Geiser, Z. Kraus, D. Hauck, V. Kubáň” ( NHMB), 8 ÔÔ “LAOS, Houa Phan prov., 20°12-13’N, 103°59.5’- 104°01’E, Ban Saluei->Phou Pane Mt., 1340-1870 m, 10.v.-16.vi.2009, M. Brancucci & local coll. leg. / NHMB Basel, NMPC Prague, Laos 2009, Expedition: M. Brancucci, M. Geiser, Z. Kraus, D. Hauck, V. Kubáň” ( NHMB), 1 Ô “LAO-NE, Hua Phan prov., 20°12’N 104°01’E, Phu Phan Mt., 1500-1900m, 17.v.-3.vi.2007, M. Brancucci leg. / NHMB Basel expedition to Laos, 2007” ( NHMB), 5 ÔÔ “LAOS-NE, Houa Phan prov., Ban Saluei-> Phou Pane Mt., 20°12-13.5’N 103°59.5’- 104°01’E, 1340-1870m, 15.iv.-15.v.2008, Lao collectors leg.” ( NMPC), 1 Ô “LAONE, Hua Phan prov., 20°12’N 104°01’E, Phu Phan Mt., 1750m, 17.v.-3.vi.2007, Vít. Kuban leg. / NHMB Basel expedition to Laos, 2007” ( NHMB), 24 ÔÔ “NE-Laos: Hua Phan prov., Ban Saleui, Phou Pan (Mt.) - 20°12’N, 104°01’E; 1300-1900m; 01.-31.v.2011; leg. C. Holzschuh Ankauf ZFMK Bonn 2011” ( ZFMK), 178 ÔÔ “NE-Laos: Hua Phan prov., Ban Saleui, Phou Pan (Mt.) - 20°12’N, 104°01’E; 11.iv.-15.v.2012; 1300-1900m; leg. C. Holzschuh Ankauf ZFMK Bonn 2012” ( ZFMK), 122 ÔÔ “NE-Laos: Hua Phan prov., Ban Saleui, Phou Pan (Mt.) - 20°12’N, 104°01’E; 14.iv.-15.v.2012; 1300-1900m; leg. C. Holzschuh Ankauf ZFMK Bonn 2012/13” ( ZFMK), 3 ÔÔ “LaosNE Hua Phan prov. 20°13’09-19’N 103°59’54’’- 104°00’03’’E 1480-1510m, Phou Pane Mt., 22.iv.-14.v.2008,. Vit Kuban leg” ( ZFMK), 4 ÔÔ “Laos-NE Hua Phan prov. 20°12’N, 104°01’E Phou Phan Mt., 1750m 17.5.- 3.6.2007, Vít Kubáň leg” ( ZFMK), 1 Ô “X-DA4726 / X- DA4726 LAOS Hua Phua prov., Ban Saluei, Phou Pan (Mt.) 20°12’N, 104°01’E 15.-30.iv.2014 leg. C. Holzschuh – ZFMK Ankauf 2014 Microserica spLAOS Phupane10” ( ZFMK), 1 Ô “X-DA4934 / X- DA4934 LAOS Hua Phua prov., Ban Saluei, Phou Pan (Mt.) 20°12’N, 104°01’E 1.- 2.iv.2014 leg. C. Holzschuh – ZFMK Ankauf 2014 Microserica spLAOS Phupane10” ( ZFMK), 1 Ô “X-DA4937 / X- DA4937 LAOS Hua Phua prov., Ban Saluei, Phou Pan (Mt.) 20°12’N, 104°01’E 1.-2.iv.2014 leg. C. Holzschuh – ZFMK Ankauf 2014 Microserica spLAOS Phupane10” ( ZFMK), 1 Ô “X-DA4939 / X- DA4939 LAOS Hua Phua prov., Ban Saluei, Phou Pan (Mt.) 20°12’N, 104°01’E 1.-2.iv.2014 leg. C. Holzschuh – ZFMK Ankauf 2014 Microserica spLAOS Phupane10” ( ZFMK), 1 Ô “X-DA4720 / X- DA4720 LAOS Hua Phua prov., Ban Saluei, Phou Pan (Mt.) 20°12’N, 104°01’E 15.-30.iv.2014 leg. C. Holzschuh – ZFMK Ankauf 2014 Microserica spLAOS Phupane10” ( ZFMK).

Additional material examined. 1 Ô [ China] “ Meng’a, Xishuangbanna , Yunnan, 20. V.1958, 1050-1080m, leg. Pu Fuji / LW-388” ( IZAS; not labeled as paratype as specimen lost, only genitalia available) .

Description of holotype. Length: 5.0 mm, length of elytra: 3.5 mm, width: 3.0 mm. Body oval, body dark brown to blackish, pronotum with some greenish shine, elytra blue-iridescent, legs and antennal club brown, antennal funiculus yellow, dorsal surface shiny, nearly glabrous.

Labroclypeus narrow and almost semicircular, as wide as long, widest at base, lateral margins moderately convex and convergent to strongly rounded anterior angles; anterior margin weakly incised medially, margins weakly reflexed; lateral margins and ocular canthus produce a blunt angle; surface medially weakly convexly elevated, finely and coarsely, densely punctate, with numerous long, erect setae; frontoclypeal suture finely incised and curved medially. Frons shiny, with moderately dense, fine punctures, beside eyes and behind frontoclypeal suture with a few single short setae, otherwise with minute setae in punctures. Smooth area in front of eyes twice as wide as long. Ocular canthus sparsely finely punctate, narrow and moderately long (1/3 of ocular width), with a terminal seta. Eyes moderately large, ratio of diameter/interocular width: 0.64. Antenna with ten antennomeres; club composed of four antennomeres, weakly reflexed, 1.8 times as long as remaining antennomeres combined. Mentum elevated and slightly flattened anteriorly.

Pronotum wide, widest shortly before base, lateral margins evenly convex and convergent to rectangular and moderately produced anterior angles, posterior angles blunt and moderately rounded. Anterior margin of pronotum convex, with robust and complete marginal line; basal marginal line absent; surface finely and moderately densely punctate, with minute setae in punctures, anterior and lateral anterior margins sparsely setose. Hypomeron carinate, weakly produced ventrally. Scutellum triangular, coarsely and densely punctate, on median base less densely punctate.

Elytra short, widest at middle, striae finely impressed, finely and densely punctate, intervals weakly convex, with fine and sparse punctures concentrated along striae, with very minute setae in punctures, odd intervals with a few short setae; epipleural edge robust, ending at slightly rounded external apical angle of elytra, epipleura densely setose, apical border chitinous, without a fringe of short microtrichomes (visible at ca 100x magnification).

Ventral surface shiny, finely and densely punctate, metasternum sparsely covered with fine, short, or very minute setae; metacoxa glabrous, with a few single setae laterally. Mesosternum between mesocoxae as wide as mesofemur. Ratio of length of metepisternum/metacoxa: 1/1.62. Abdominal sternites finely punctate, with a transverse row of coarse punctures, each bearing a robust seta. Pygidium strongly convex and shiny, with mixed finer and dense, larger, partly longitudinally rugose punctures, without smooth midline, with numerous short setae and a few longer in the larger punctures.

Legs moderately wide; femora finely and sparsely punctate, with two longitudinal rows of longer setae. Metafemur moderately shiny, anterior margin acute, without submarginal serrated line; anterior row of seta-bearing punctures present; ventral posterior margin finely serrate at apex, only weakly widened in apical half, dorsal posterior margin serrate, with a few short setae basally. Metatibia moderately long and wide, widest at middle, ratio width/ length:1/2.95; dorsal margin sharply carinate, with two groups of spines, basal group at middle, apical one at three quarter of metatibial length, in basal third with a few robust single setae; lateral face longitudinally convex, finely and sparsely punctate, along midline smooth, with minute setae in punctures; ventral edge finely serrate, with three robust equidistant setae; medial face smooth, apex interiorly near tarsal articulation sharply truncate. Tarsomeres with fine, sparse setae ventrally, neither laterally nor dorsally carinate, dorsally impunctate; metatarsomeres glabrous, with a strongly serrated ridge ventrally and a parallel subventral smooth carina immediately beside it; first metatarsomere as long as following two tarsomeres combined and little less than twice as long as dorsal tibial spur. Protibia short, bidentate; anterior claws symmetrical, basal tooth of both claws bluntly truncate at apex.

Aedeagus: Fig. 7A–D . Habitus: Fig. 7E . Female unknown.

Diagnosis. Gastroserica piceocoerulea Ahrens, Lukic & Liu, new species is in external appearance similar to G. lucens (Ahrens & Fabrizi, 2009) , but in shape of aedeagus more similar to Gastroserica lucidomarginalis Ahrens, Lukic & Liu, new species. Gastroserica piceocoerulea differs from G. lucidomarginalis Ahrens, Lukic & Liu, new species by the dark body color, and by the shape of aedeagus: the phallobase is less curved (lateral view), its ventral lamina is reduced in length but present on both sides before apex of ventral phallobase (lateral view); the distal margin of the basal lobe of the left paramere is convex rather than sharply pointed as in G. lucidomarginalis Ahrens, Lukic & Liu, new species. From G. lucens Ahrens & Fabrizi, 2009 , G. piceocoerulea differs by the longer antennal club and by the longer basal lobe of the left paramere.

Etymology. The name of the new species is derived from the combined Latin words “ piceus ” (black) and

“ coeruleus ” (blue) (adjective in singular nominative), with reference to the dark, iridescent shiny body surface. Variation. Length: 4.6–6.0 mm, length of elytra: 3.0– 3.5 mm, width: 2.8–3.2 mm. Female unknown. Genbank accessions. Table 1 .

Figures

FIGURE 7. A–E: Gastroserica piceocoerulea Ahrens, Lukic & Liu, new species (holotype); F–I: G. rubropicea Ahrens, Lukic & Liu, new species (holotype). A, F: Aedeagus, left side lateral view; D, H: Aedeagus, right side lateral view; B, C, G: Parameres, dorsal view; E, I: Habitus (not to scale). Scale: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 26. Distribution of the genus Gastroserica (Helioserica Ahrens, Lukic & Liu, new subgenus), part 3.