Neoserica (s.l.) obscura (Blanchard, 1850)

Liu, Wan-Gang, Fabrizi, Silvia, Bai, Ming & Ahrens, Dirk, 2016, A taxonomic revision of Neoserica (sensu lato): the species groups N. lubrica, N. obscura, and N. silvestris (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Sericini), ZooKeys 635, pp. 123-160 : 133-136

Neoserica (s.l.) obscura (Blanchard, 1850) Figs 2 E–H, 6

Omaloplia obscura Blanchard, 1850: 79.

Neoserica obscura : Frey 1972a: 212, Ahrens 2006: 239, 2007: 26.

Microserica roeri Frey, 1972b: 171; Ahrens 2006: 239, 2007: 26; syn. n.

Aserica chinensis Arrow, 1946b: 268; Maladera (Aserica) chinensis : Ahrens 2006: 234, 2007: 19; syn. n.

Type material examined.

Lectotype ( Omaloplia obscura , here designated): ♂ "Museum Paris Chine Gallery 5-46/ Omaloplia obscura Cat. Mus. China" (MNHN). Paralectotypes ( obscura ): 1 ♂ "Museum Paris Gallery 5-46/ Omaloplia obscura Blanch. ex Typis/ Brsk. I 98 vid" (MNHN), 1 ♂ "Museum Paris Chine Gallery 5-46" (MNHN). Syntype ( Aserica chinenesis ): 2 ♂♂ "China Kuliang 1923 S. F. Light" (BMNH), 1 ♂ “Foochow” (BMNH). Holotype ( Microserica roeri ): ♂ "Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J. Klapperich 17.6.1938 (Fukien) /Type Microserica roeri n.sp. G. Frey 1971" (ZFMK). Paratypes ( Microserica roeri FREY): 1 ♂ "Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J. Klapperich 16.6.1938 (Fukien)/Paratype Microserica roeri n.sp. G. Frey 1971" (ZMHB), 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀ "Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J. Klapperich 17.6.1938 (Fukien) /Paratype Microserica roeri n.sp. G. Frey 1971" (ZFMK), 1 ♀ "Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J. Klapperich 15.6.1938 (Fukien) /Paratype Microserica roeri n. sp. G. Frey 1971" (ZFMK), 1 ex. (not sexed) "Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J. Klapperich 25.5.1938 (Fukien)/ Microserica roeri m. G. Frey 1971/ Paratype Microserica roeri Frey, 1972 det. Ahrens 2016" (ZFMK), 4 ex. (not sexed) "Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J. Klapperich 4.6.1938 (Fukien)/ Microserica roeri m. G. Frey 1971/ Paratype Microserica roeri Frey, 1972 det. Ahrens 2016" (ZFMK), 2 ex. (not sexed) "Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J. Klapperich 12.6.1938 (Fukien)/ Microserica roeri m. G. Frey 1971/ Paratype Microserica roeri Frey, 1972 det. Ahrens 2016" (ZFMK), 15 ex. (not sexed) "Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J.Klapperich 14.6.1938 (Fukien)/ Microserica roeri m. G. Frey 1971/ Paratype Microserica roeri Frey, 1972 det. Ahrens 2016" (ZFMK), 25 ex. (not sexed) "Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J.Klapperich 15.6.1938 (Fukien)/ Microserica roeri m. G. Frey 1971/ Paratype Microserica roeri Frey, 1972 det. Ahrens 2016" (ZFMK), 27 ex. (not sexed) "Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J.Klapperich 16.6.1938 (Fukien)/ Microserica roeri m. G. Frey 1971/ Paratype Microserica roeri Frey, 1972 det. Ahrens 2016" (ZFMK), 58 ex. (not sexed) "Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J.Klapperich 17.6.1938 (Fukien)/ Microserica roeri m. G. Frey 1971/ Paratype Microserica roeri Frey, 1972 det. Ahrens 2016" (ZFMK), 9 ex. (not sexed) "Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J.Klapperich 18.6.1938 (Fukien)/ Microserica roeri m. G. Frey 1971/ Paratype Microserica roeri Frey, 1972 det. Ahrens 2016" (ZFMK), 1 ex. (not sexed) "Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J.Klapperich 20.6.1938 (Fukien)/ Microserica roeri m. G. Frey 1971/ Paratype Microserica roeri Frey, 1972 det. Ahrens 2016" (ZFMK), 1 ex. (not sexed) "Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J.Klapperich 21.6.1938 (Fukien)/ Microserica roeri m. G. Frey 1971/ Paratype Microserica roeri Frey, 1972 det. Ahrens 2016" (ZFMK), 1 ex. (not sexed) "Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J.Klapperich 9.7.1938 (Fukien)/ Microserica roeri m. G. Frey 1971/ Paratype Microserica roeri Frey, 1972 det. Ahrens 2016" (ZFMK), 1 ex. (not sexed) "Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J.Klapperich 27.7.1938 (Fukien)/ Microserica roeri m. G. Frey 1971/ Paratype Microserica roeri Frey, 1972 det. Ahrens 2016" (ZFMK), 1 ex. (not sexed) "Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J.Klapperich 8.8.1938 (Fukien)/ Microserica roeri m. G. Frey 1971/ Paratype Microserica roeri Frey, 1972 det. Ahrens 2016" (ZFMK), 4 ex. (not sexed) "Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J.Klapperich 9.8.1938 (Fukien)/ Microserica roeri m. G. Frey 1971/ Paratype Microserica roeri Frey, 1972 det. Ahrens 2016" (ZFMK), 1 ex. (not sexed) "Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J.Klapperich 22.8.1938 (Fukien)/ Microserica roeri m. G. Frey 1971/ Paratype Microserica roeri Frey, 1972 det. Ahrens 2016" (ZFMK).

Additional material examined.

8 ex. "China Fujian prov. Sangang env. 3.-5./.1991 M. Nikodým leg." (ZFMK), 4 ex. "Chine 18.V.46 Kuatun, Fukien leg. Tschung-Sen" (MHNG), 18 ex. "Chine 1.VI.46 Kuatun, Fukien leg. Tschung-Sen" (MHNG), 4 ex. "Chine 4.VI.46 Kuatun, Fukien leg. Tschung-Sen" (MHNG), 3 ex. "Chine 8.VI.46 Kuatun, Fukien leg. Tschung-Sen" (MHNG), 12 ex. "Chine 10.VI.46 Kuatun, Fukien leg. Tschung-Sen" (MHNG), 6 ex. "Chine 12.VI.46 Kuatun, Fukien leg. Tschung-Sen" (MHNG), 57 ex. "Chine 15.VI.46 Kuatun, Fukien leg. Tschung-Sen" (MHNG), 78 ex. "Chine 20.VI.46 Kuatun, Fukien leg. Tschung-Sen" (MHNG), 14 ex. "Chine 29.VI.46 Kuatun, Fukien leg. Tschung-Sen" (MHNG), 37 ex. "Chine 28.VII.46 Kuatun, Fukien leg. Tschung-Sen" (MHNG), 6 ex. "Chine 4.VII.46 Kuatun, Fukien leg. Tschung-Sen" (MHNG), 24 ex. "Chine 6.VII.46 Kuatun, Fukien leg. Tschung-Sen" (MHNG), 24 ex. "Chine 7.VII.46 Kuatun, Fukien leg. Tschung-Sen" (MHNG), 36 ex. "Chine 14.VII.46 Kuatun, Fukien leg. Tschung-Sen" (MHNG), 18 ex. "Chine 22.VII.46 Kuatun, Fukien leg. Tschung-Sen" (MHNG), 3 ex. "Chine 14.VIII.46 Kuatun, Fukien leg. Tschung-Sen" (MHNG), 2 ex. "Reg. de Luc-Nam (Tonkin) L. Blaise/ Museum Paris (Coll. Ph. Francois) Coll. L. Bedel 1922" (MNHN), 4 ex. "Museum Paris Kouy-Tcheou P. Cavalerie 1910" (MNHN), 2 ex. "Museum Paris Kouy-Tcheou Reg. de Pin-Fa, P. Cavalerie 1908" (MNHN), 2 ex. "Museum Paris Kouy-Tcheou Kouy-Yang, P.P. Cavalerie et Fortunat 1906" (MNHN), 6 ex. "Hangchow 6-5-24/ J. F. Illingworth" (BPBM), 2 ex. "Kwangtung, S.C. Chukiang Lungtaushan 17.VI.1947/ J.L. Gressitt Collector" (BPBM), 1 ex. "S. China Kwangtung Loh-chang Dist. 1947/ J.L. Gressitt Colletor Bishop Museum" (BPBM), 3 ex. "S. China: Kwangtung Tsin-leong Shan 5.VI.1936/ L. &. M. Gressitt Collectors Bishop Museum" (BPBM), 1 ex. "S. China NE Kwangtung Yim-na Shan 10-15.VI.36/ J. L. Gressitt Collector Bishop Museum" (BPBM), 1 ex. "Fukien, S. China Kienyang: Nwangkeng 6.VI.42 T. C. Maa" (BPBM), 1 ex. "China: Taipe‘ v.1925/ D. T. Fullaway, Coll. Bishop Museum Acc. +1986.189" (BPBM), 2 ex. "Hong Kong: Hong Kong Island IV.1958/ N.L.H. Krauss Collector Bishop" (BPBM), 1 ex. "Fukien, S. China Shaowu: Tachulan 1000 m. 22.VII.42/ T. C. Maa Collector Bishop Mus." (BPBM), 2 ex. "Fukien, S. China Kienyang City 1941-23.VI. Maa" (BPBM), 1 ex. "Fukien, S. China Kienyang: Kwang-keng to Tachulan 1943. Maa" (BPBM), 1 ex. "Fukien, S. China Shaowu: Tachulan 1000 m. T. Maa/ 1.VII.42" (BPBM), 1 ex. "Fukien, S. China Shaowu: Tachulan 1000 m. T. Maa/ 7.V.42" (BPBM), 2 ex. "Fukien, S. China Changting City 1940 3.VI. Maa" (BPBM), 1 ex. "Fukien, S. China Changting: Hotien 24.VII.1940/ T.C. Maa Collector Bishop" (BPBM), 1 ex. "Fukien, S. China Shahsien 15.VII.1940 T. Maa" (BPBM), 2 ex. "Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J.Klapperich 17.6.1938 (Fukien)/ Neoserica obscura Bl. det G. Frey 1967/68" (CF), 3 ex. "Kiangsi, S. China Taiauhong, S. of Sungwu, 540 m VII-5-36 Gressitt" (BPBM), 1 ex. "Fukien, S. China Chungan Bohea Hills 12.VI.1941 T.C. Maa" (BPBM), 1 ex. "Foochow July‘ 24/ J.F. Illingworth" (BPBM), 2 ex. "Kiangsi, SE China Hong Shan 1000 m VI-25-36, Gressitt" (BPBM), 1 ex. "China, W Jiangxi Jinggang Shan-Ciping 2-14.VI.1994 E. Jendek & O. Sausa leg./ CS 18" (CP), 7 ex. "China, W Jiangxi Jinggang Shan Ciping env. 2-14.VI.1994" (NHMW), 46 ex. "China Hunan SE Ling Xian env. 26.31N 113.44E 15-18.VI.1994" (NHMW), 2 ex. "China Hunan S Chenzhou env. 25.49N 112.59E 19-21.VI.1994" (NHMW), 1 ex. "China Hunan SE Guidong env. 26.04N 113.56E 26-31.V.1994" (NHMW), 3 ex. "China Schf." (ZMHB), 5 ex. " China Canton" (ZMHB), 1 ex. " Kiautschou China" (ZMHB), 1 ex. "China Canton V.-VII.11 Mell S.V." (ZMHB), 3 ex. "China Tsha-jiu-san VII-IX.10 Mell S.V." (ZMHB), 1 ex. "Prov.Fo-Kien (China)" (ZMHB), 1 ex. "Fockien Donckier" (ZMHB), 5 ex. "Museum Paris Chekiang Hang Tcheou A. Pichon 1925" (MNHN), 1 ex. "China, N Fujian, 8.-25,V. Wuyi Shan mts. ~10km W Xingcun pitfall traps, 27.65N 117.85E Jaroslav Turna leg., 2005" (ZFMK), 8 ex. "Kuatun (2300m) 27,40n.Br. 117,40o.L. J. Klapperich 17.6. 1938 (Fukien)/ ex. Coll. V. Balthasar National Museum Prague, Czech Republic" (NMPC), 2 ex. "Kuatun (2300m) 27,40n.Br. 117,40o.L. J. Klapperich 14.6. 1938 (Fukien)/ ex. Coll. V. Balthasar National Museum Prague, Czech Republic" (NMPC), 2 ex. "Kuatun (2300m) 27,40n.Br. 117,40o.L. J. Klapperich 16.6. 1938 (Fukien)/ ex. Coll. V. Balthasar National Museum Prague, Czech Republic" (NMPC), 1 ex. "Kuatun (2300m) 27,40n.Br. 117,40o.L. J. Klapperich 18.8. 1938 (Fukien)/ ex. Coll. V. Balthasar National Museum Prague, Czech Republic" (NMPC), 2 ex. "Kuatun (2300m) 27,40n.Br. 117,40o.L. J. Klapperich 25.5. 1938 (Fukien)/ ex. Coll. V. Balthasar National Museum Prague, Czech Republic" (NMPC), 5 ex. "Kuatun Fukien China 18.6.46 (Tschung Sen.)/ ex. Coll. V. Balthasar National Museum Prague, Czech Republic" (NMPC), 1 ex. "Kuatun Fukien China 15.6.46 (Tschung Sen.)/ ex. Coll. V. Balthasar National Museum Prague, Czech Republic" (NMPC), 1 ♂ "China: E Guizhou prov.; Fodingshan; Ganshi; 25km of Shiguian; 1300m; BOLM lgt.; 5.-9.vi.1997" (CP), 3 ex. "Datchulau China '39 TH Cheng/ July 39" (USNM), 2 ex. "Hangchow VI-22 1927 Coll. C.Y. Wong" (USNM), 3 ex. "Hangchow VI-23 1927 Coll. C.Y. Wong" (USNM), 1 ex. "Hangchow VI-24 1927 Coll. C.Y. Wong" (USNM), 1 ex. "Foochow China VII- 18 2519 Coll. C.C. Wee" (USNM), 1 ex. "Hangchow China./ VII-6 to VIII-17-1926 Coll. H.A. Jaynes" (USNM), 1 ex. "Hangchow China./ V-10-1926 Coll. H.A. Jaynes" (USNM), 1 ex. "Hangchow IX-20-1924/ J.F. Illingwerth Ex flower" (USNM), 1 ex. "Zakow China VII-16-1924" (USNM), 1 ex. "Zakow China./ III-24 to IV-15-1926 Coll. H.A. Jaynes" (USNM), 1 ex. "Foochow China CI-1928/ F.C. Hadden Collector" (USNM), 2 ex. "Chekiang China/ OL Cartwright collection 1959" (USNM), 1 ♂ "Guangdong, 9,10.VII.1965" (IZAS), 1 ♂ "Xiadao, Nanping, Fujian, 27.V.1963, leg. Zhang Youwei" (IZAS), 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀ "Hujiang, Lianxian County, Guangdong, 18.VI.1965, leg. Zhang Youwei" (IZAS), 1 ♂ "Guangdong, 7.VII.1965" (IZAS), 1 ♂ "Jiuniutang, Mao’ershan, Guangxi, 13.VII.1985, 1100m, leg. Liao Subai" (IZAS), 1 ♂ “Chong’an Xingcun, Fujian, 10.VII.1960, 200m, leg. Jiang Shengqiao" (IZAS), 1 ♂ "Xiangshui, Boluo, Guangdong, 31.V.1965, leg. Zhang Youwei" (IZAS), 1 ♂ "Guanping, Tongmuguan, Chong’an, Fujian, 13.VIII.1960, 900-1000m, leg. Jiang Shengqiao" (IZAS), 4 ex. "China: Zhejiang, Longquan City, 30.VI.1979" (SNUC).

Redescription.

Body length: 5.6 mm, length of elytra: 3.9 mm, body width: 3.6 mm. Body short-oval, black, elytra reddish brown, dorsal surface except anterior labroclypeus dull, pronotum and elytra glabrous.

Labroclypeus subtrapezoidal, distinctly wider than long, widest at base, lateral margins weakly convex, convergent anteriorly; anterior angles strongly rounded; anterior margin shallowly sinuate medially, margins moderately reflexed; surface weakly convex, shiny, base dull, coarsely and densely punctate, with numerous erect setae; frontoclypeal suture indistinctly incised, vanishing under dull toment; smooth area in front of eye convex, nearly as long as wide; ocular canthus short and triangular (1/3 of ocular diameter), sparsely punctate, with one or more terminal setae. Frons with fine and moderately dense punctures, with a few long erect setae beside eyes and behind frontoclypeal suture. Eyes small, ratio diameter/ interocular width: 0.41. Antenna with ten antennomeres, club (♂) with four antennomeres and straight, as long as remaining antennomeres combined. Mentum convexly elevated and flattened anteriorly.

Pronotum transverse, widest at base, lateral margins in basal half nearly straight and moderately convergent to middle, evenly convex and weakly convergent anteriorly; anterior angles distinctly produced and sharp, posterior angles blunt and weakly rounded at tip; anterior margin straight, with a fine complete marginal line; surface densely and finely punctate, glabrous, with minute setae in punctures (100 × magnification); lateral border densely setose; hypomeron distinctly carinate basally, not produced ventrally. Scutellum triangular, with fine, dense punctures, glabrous.

Elytra short-oval, widest shortly behind middle, striae finely impressed, finely and densely punctate, intervals weakly convex, with sparse, fine punctures concentrated along striae, glabrous except a few single, short setae on odd intervals; epipleural edge robust, ending at nearly blunt external apical angle of elytra, epipleura densely setose; apical border without a fine fringe of microtrichomes (visible at 100 × magnification).

Ventral surface dull, finely and densely punctate; metasternum nearly glabrous except a few long robust setae on disc, punctures with minute setae (100 × magnification); metacoxa glabrous, with a few single setae laterally; abdominal sternites finely and densely punctate, with a transverse row of coarse punctures, each bearing a short robust seta, last sternite half as long as penultimate one. Mesosternum between mesocoxae as wide as the mesofemur, with a semi-circular ridge bearing long setae. Ratio of length of metepisternum/ metacoxa: 1/ 1.9. Pygidium dull, moderately convex, finely and densely punctate, without smooth midline, with a few long setae along apical margin.

Legs short; femora moderately shiny, with two rudimentary longitudinal rows of setae, finely and sparsely punctate, glabrous; metafemur with anterior margin acute, without serrated line behind anterior edge, posterior margin smooth ventrally, in apical half only weakly widened, posterior margin smooth dorsally. Metatibia wide and short, widest at middle, ratio of width/ length: 1/ 2.7; dorsal margin sharply carinate, with two groups of spines, basal group at one third, apical group at three quarters of metatibial length, basally with a few short single setae; lateral face weakly convex, finely and sparsely punctate, smooth along middle; ventral edge finely serrated, with three robust nearly equidistant setae; medial face smooth, apex interiorly near tarsal articulation bluntly truncate and slightly concavely sinuate. Tarsomeres ventrally with sparse, short setae, smooth, neither laterally nor dorsally carinate; metatarsomeres with a strongly serrated ridge ventrally, glabrous; first metatarsomere as long as following two tarsomeres combined and slightly longer than dorsal tibial spur. Protibia short, bidentate, distal tooth sharply pointed at apex; anterior claws symmetrical, basal tooth of inner claw sharply truncate at apex.

Aedeagus: Fig. 2 E–G. Habitus: Fig. 2H.

Variation.

The colour may vary from being totally black to reddish brown. Female: antennal club also composed of 4 antennomeres, however, the club is slightly shorter than in males and the first joint of the club is slightly shorter than the club; pygidium moderately convex, at middle strongly shiny and finely punctate.

Remarks.

The parameres of the lectotype of Neoserica obscura (Blanchard) are virtually identical in the shape with those of Microserica roeri Frey and Aserica chinensis Arrow. The latter two names are consequently proposed here as junior synonyms of Neoserica obscura .