Mimophilus tragicus Faust

Prena, Jens, Yang, Jiani, Ren, Li, Wang, Zhiliang, Liu, Ning & Zhang, Runzhi, 2014, Nomenclatural changes, new country records and range extensions of Baridinae (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) from China, Zootaxa 3841 (3), pp. 339-363 : 348

Mimophilus tragicus Faust

( Figs. 9 , 21 )

Mimophilus tragicus Faust 1894: 312 .

Syntypes from Carin Cheba [Karen Hills], Myanmar ( BMNH, MSNG, SFFM, SNSD); six examined.

Baridiomorphus conicollis Voss 1965: 110 .

Holotype from “ India or.” ( NHRS); not examined, see notes below. New synonymy.

Diagnosis. The two known species of Mimophilus are relatively easy to recognize because of large size, elongate shape and color pattern ( Fig. 9 ). Males have dentate metafemora and larger ventrodistal tibial spines than females, whereas this sexual dimorphism is unknown in species of similar genera, such as Anthinobaris Morimoto & Yoshihara. Other useful diagnostic characters are basally subconnate claws and straight cutting edge of the mandible. Mimophilus tragicus differs from M. personatus Faust by less conspicuous vestiture and smaller male protibial spine ( Faust 1894). It should be noted that M. personatus is known only from a few specimens collected in Myanmar ( Faust 1894), India ( Pajni 1989) and Thailand (JPPC), and the above mentioned morphological differences need further study and confirmation.

Notes. Voss (1965) described Baridiomorphus conicollis based on a single specimen standing in the NHRS under Faust’s manuscript name “Barinomorphus conicollis ”. The genus name had been used meanwhile by Morimoto (1962), therefore the change to Baridiomorphus . We have not examined this specimen, but the description matches perfectly a specimen with the original manuscript name in the Faust Collection (SNSD), except that it has seven rather than six desmomeres as claimed by Voss. However, such a miscount occurred already in Pertorcus Voss ( Prena et al. 2014) . Baridiomorphus conicollis is a new synonym of Mimophilus tragicus , and Baridiomorphus a new synonym of Mimophilus .

Distribution. The species has been known from Myanmar ( Faust 1894) and is reported here for the first time from S China (Guangxi, Yunnan), NE India, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam ( Fig. 21 ).

Biology. We observed specimens climbing and mating on culms of the tall grass Thysanolaena latifolia (Poaceae) in late September 2013 but did not find larvae or their galleries.

Material examined. CHINA. Guangxi: Beidou, Napo, 22.vi.2000 ( IZCAS 1) ; Damingshan Protected Area, Hanjiang, Nanning, 24.v.2011 ( IZCAS 1) ; Fangcheng, Fulong, 24.viii.1998 ( IZCAS 1) ; Fangcheng, Tongzhong Village, 5.vii.2000 ( IZCAS 3) ; Hongqi Forestry Center, Shangsi, 29.v.1999 ( IZCAS 1). Yunnan: Bulang, Menghai, 28.iv.2011 ( IZCAS 1) ; Caiyanghe, Simao, Pu'er, 28.vii.2007 ( HBU 1) ; Cheli, 22.iv.1957, 27.iv.1957 ( ZIN 2) ; Jinxiu, Yonghe, 12.v.1999 ( IZCAS 1) ; Longling, Baoshan, 19.v.1955 ( IZCAS 1) ; Luxi, 5.v.1980 ( IZCAS 1) ; Jingdong, Pu'er, 31.v.1956 ( ZIN 2), 5.viii.2006 ( HBU 1) ; Jinggu, 13.v.1957 ( ZIN 1) ; Jinghong, Xishuangbanna, 2.viii.2006 ( HBU 1) ; Nabanhe Nature Reserve, Jinghong, Xishuangbanna, 20.vi.2012 ( IZCAS 1) ; Menga, Xishuangbanna, 2.v.1958 (21x), 8.viii.1958 ( IZCAS 22) ; Menghun, Xishuangbanna, 9.v.1958 ( IZCAS 13) ; Mengla, Xishuangbanna, 24.v.1959 ( IZCAS 5) ; Longyindai, Xishuangbanna, 19.ix.2013 ( IZCAS 1) ; Mengliang, Jinggu, Pu'er, 3.v.1957 ( ZIN 1) ; Menglunzhen, Mengla, Xishuangbanna, 8.viii.2007 ( HBU 1) ; Mengsong, Xishuangbanna, 24.iv.1958 ( IZCAS 2) ; Mengzhe, Xishuangbanna, 4.vi.1958 ( IZCAS 2) ; Simao, Pu'er, 23.v.1957 ( ZIN 1) ; Tongbiguan, Yingjiang, Dehong, 15.v.2009 ( ZAFU 2) ; Xishuangbanna, Jinghong, 25.vi.1958 ( IZCAS 1). INDIA. Assam: without site ( MNKB 1). Meghalaya: Khasi Hills ( SNSD 1) ; West Garo Hill region, TURA, 29.v.1996 ( JPPC 5). LAOS. Houa Phan: Ban Saluei to Phou Pane Mt. , 10.v.–16.vi.2009 ( NHMB 1). Louang Namtha: 20 km NW Louang Namtha, 5.v.1997 ( JPPC 15). Phongsaly: Phongsaly , 28.v.–20.vi.2003 ( NHMB 2 ). Xieng Khouang: Ban Na Lam to Phou Sane Mt. , 30 km NE Phonsavan , 10.v.–30.v.2009 ( NHMB 4 ) ; Phonsavan to Phu Padaeng, 30.–31.v.2009 ( NHMB 5). MYANMAR. Kaya, Kayin or Sha: Carin Cheba [Karen Hills], 900–1100 m, V XII/1888 ( SFFM 2, SNSD 4). THAILAND. Nan: Nan, IX/ X.1992 ( JPPC 2). Phetchaburi: Kaeng Krachan N. P., 30.vii.–5.viii.1996 ( ZIN 1). VIETNAM. Vinh Phuc: Tam Dao N. P., 13.–27.vi.2011 ( JPPC 2). “ Tonkin ”: Manson Mts. ( NKMB 1, SNSD 1).

Figures

FIGURES 9 – 12. Dorsal and lateral habitus images. 9, Mimophilus tragicus, 7.8 mm, West Garo Hills (India). 10, Moreobaris deplanata, 3.9 mm, Linhai (Zhejiang). 11, Pellobaris melancholica, 3.7 mm, Taipingshien (Anhui). 12, Psilarthroides czerskyi, 2.9 mm, Zhouzhi Houzhenzi (Shanxi).

FIGURES 21 – 22. Map of mainland China and surrounding countries showing distribution of Psilarthroides czerskyi, Mimophilus tragicus, Moreobaris deplanata and Ulobaris kuchenbeisseri.