Epuraea (Micruria) pulliginis Zhao, Huang & Kirejtshuk

Zhao, Mengjiao, Huang, Min, Yang, Xingke & Kirejtshuk, Alexander G., 2014, Two new species of the genus Epuraea Erichson, 1843 from China (Coleoptera, Nitidulidae, Epuraeinae), ZooKeys 445, pp. 107-115 : 108-112

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Nitidulidae

Epuraea (Micruria) pulliginis Zhao, Huang & Kirejtshuk sp. n. Figs 9-16

Type material.

Holotype. ♂, China, Sichuan, Wolong, 2200-2600m, 29.VII.1983, Xuezhong, Zhang leg., (IZCAS). Paratypes. 1♂,7♀, same data as holotype (IZCAS).

Description.

Body. Length 3.2 mm, breadth 1.7 mm, hight 0.8 mm. Body oval, rather convex dorsally, dorsum nearly unicoloured chestnut brown with lighter pronotal sides, underside dark brown with brown appendages and prosternum. Pubescence silver, closely adpressed, and equal to or somewhat longer than distance between their insertions (Figs 9, 10).

Integument. Head with irregularly sized and spaced punctures. Pronotum with moderately deep punctation nearly as large as eye facets in diameter, interspaces between them slightly greater than one puncture diameter, surface microreticulated; elytra with slightly coarse punctures less than eye facets in diameter, interspaces between them approximately twice as great as a puncture diameter. Metaventrite and abdominal ventrites with indistinct punctures and microreticulated.

Head short, half as long as the distance between eyes (consisting of moderately fine facets with greater diameter than that of punctures). Labrum with shallow emargination in the middle (Fig. 11). Ultimate labial palpomere approximately three times as long as thick and somewhat narrower at apex. Antennae markedly longer than head breadth, antennal club oval, and composing approximately 1/3 of total length. Pronotum evenly convex, 1.8 times as wide as long, with apex transverse, base slightly sinuate near angles, sides arcuate and margins narrowly explanate, anterior angles projecting and posterior angles obtuse; widest just at posterior angles. Prosternal process moderately curved along procoxae, moderately widened apically (Fig. 12). Elytra much longer than combined width, gradually narrowing to rounded apices, sides arcuate, and margins subexplanate and somewhat translucent. Pygidium not exposed from under elytral apices. Distance between procoxae subequal and that between matacoxae nearly three times more than between mesocoxae. Epipleura slightly narrower than antennal club.

Legs. All legs long and narrow. Protibia (Fig. 16) wider than meso- and metatibiae, with gradually increasing teeth along outer edges and two subapical long spurs. Protarsi 4/5 as wide as corresponding tibiae, meso- and metatarsi much narrower. Tarsal claws with strong teeth at base (Fig. 16).

Aedeagus. Tegmen well sclerotized, penis trunk moderately sclerotized (Figs 13, 14).

Female.

Ovipositor simple, short and weakly sclerotized (Fig. 15).

Etymology.

The specific epithet emphsizes the brown coloration of the species (Latin “pulliginis” - singular, genitive case from “pulligo” - brown, dark color).

Notes.

This new species appears to be closely related to Epuraea (Micruria) kompantzevi ( consobrina -group) differing from it by having more slender (not subovoid) body, denser and more clear dorsal punctation, more conspicuous pubescence, less gently sloping pronotal and elytral sides, subtruncate elytral apices (not forming a join curve), projecting subapical teeth of protibiae, lack of sexual dimorphism in elytral apices and peculiar structure of the aedeagus. Besides, in addition of characteristic structure of male genitalia of Epuraea (Micruria) pulliginis sp. n. differs from:

Epuraea (Micruria) bergeri in the pronotum narrowed at base, elytra more narrowing towards transversely oblique apices (not transverse), rounded apex of prosternal process, simple metafemur and metatibia, strong tooth at base of tarsal claws, ovipositor with wider base of coxites;

Epuraea (Micruria) consobrina in the subunicolorous disks of pronotum and elytra, coarser and deeper punctation (particularly on elytra), longer and denser silver pubescence, narrower explanate stripes of elytra, obliquely rounded elytral apices (not obliquely truncate), rounded apex of prosternal process, strong tooth at base of tarsal claws, narrower ovipositor with shorter coxites;

Epuraea (Micruria) pulliginis sp. n. in the lighter coloration without bronze shine on dorsum, much sparser dorsal punctation, golden pubescence, elytra more narrowing towards subtruncate apices and completely covering abdomen, lack of deepened narrow nedian depression along the middle of metaventrite, less projecting subapical teeth on protibiae, wider coxites of ovipositor;

Epuraea (Micruria) reticulata in the subunicolorous dorsum, much denser and more distinct dorsal punctation, denser and more conspicuous dorsal pubescence, widely rounded lobes of labrum, elytra more narrowing towards transversely oblique apices (not transverse), simple male metafemora, projecting subapical teeth of protibiae;

Epuraea (Micruria) scapha in the much more slender body, denser and more clear dorsal punctation, less gently sloping pronotal and elytral sides, obliquely subtruncate elytral apices (not forming a join curve), projecting subapical teeth of protibiae, simple male metafemora, meso- and metatibiae, and lack of sexual dimorphism in elytral apices, ovipositor with coxites shorter and narrower at base;

Epuraea (Micruria) subita in the less convex body, rounded apex of prosternal process, elytra narrowing towards transversely oblique apices (not transverse), simple metafemur, strong tooth at base of tarsal claws, ovipositor with wider base of coxites.