Calleida discoidalis Heller, 1921

Shi, Hongliang & Casale, Achille, 2018, Revision of the Oriental species of Calleida Latreille (sensu lato). Part 2: the C. discoidalis species group (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Lebiini), ZooKeys 806, pp. 87-120 : 104-105

[5] Calleida discoidalis Heller, 1921 Figs 32-35, Map 2

Callida discoidalis Heller, 1921: 529 (type locality: Philippines: Mindanao, Davao; holotype deposited in SMTD); Jedlička 1963: 436.

Type material examined.

Holotype, male, "Davao Mindanao Baker", “7247”, “1920/3”, "discoidalis. Typus", "Staatl. Museum für Tierkunde. Dresden" (SMTD, Fig. 32).

Non-type materials examined.

1 female, "Davao Mindanao Baker", "Ex Mus. Coll. Agric. Phil. Is.", " Callida discoidalis Heller compared with type H.E.A.", "H.E. Andrewes Coll. B. M. 1945-97." (BMNH). 1 female, "Davao Mindanao Baker" (CCA, ex Straneo collection).

Diagnosis.

C. discoidalis is distinct within the Calleida discoidalis group for its evident reddish spot on the inner five or six intervals of the elytra, markedly contrasting with the lateral metallic bluish green intervals, and for having the head, antennae, pronotum, legs and ventral side completely reddish yellow. C. discoidalis is similar to C. luzonensis n. sp., from which is distinct by several characters stressed in the key to species (and see diagnosis of C. luzonensis below).

C. discoidalis could be confused with C. splendidula , sympatric in the Philippines, for their similar habitus and colour, and the evident reddish patch on the elytral disc in both species. It is, however, easily recognized by the latter for the multisetose abdominal sternite VII (in C. splendidula , the abdominal sternite VII bears only one seta on each side in males, two in females), generally larger size, and for the different shape of aedeagus.

Description.

The original description provided by Heller (1921), here completed with some additional characters, is sufficient to distinguish this taxon.

General features as in Figs 32-33. Medium-sized species: TL = 9.5-10.0 mm; L = 10.0-10.5 mm.

Colour: Head, antennae, pronotum, underside and legs reddish yellow. Elytra dark metallic green, with trace of bluish; disc with an evident reddish patch, one-half to two-thirds as long the elytra length, widest in apical third of elytra, occupying the inner five or six intervals; reddish patch not reaching elytral base, narrowed to apex, only with the first interval reddish at apex.

Lustre and microsculpture: Moderately shiny; head and pronotum with obsolete microsculpture; elytra with faint but distinct microsculpture in isodiametric meshes.

Head: Smooth; genae short, moderately swollen; neck constriction evident.

Pronotum: Wider than head, cordate, markedly transverse (ratio PW/PL = 1.17-1.23). Lateral margins widened and arcuate in front, reflexed and sinuate in the basal third; lateral expansions wide; posterior angles obtuse; disc with shallow transverse wrinkles. In one examined specimen, exceptionally the left side bears two antero-lateral setae.

Elytra: Moderately elongate (ratio EL/EW = 1.62-1.65), depressed, with basal border complete, extended to the parascutellar stria; striae deep, finely punctate; intervals convex at base, flattened on disc; intervals 7-8, slightly tumid at apex; apical margin obliquely truncate, with outer apical angles slightly thickened at the outer apical angles, which are obtusely rounded.

Ventral side: Abdominal sternites with sparse, short but evident pubescence. Abdominal sternite VII with two setae on each side in males, four on each side in females.

Male genitalia: As in Figs 34-35, median lobe of aedeagus slightly bent, its distal-middle part moderately dilated in dorsal view; dorsal and ventral margins slightly curved and undulate in lateral view; apical orifice pleuropic left; apical lamina flat, rounded at apex, slightly thickened in lateral aspect. Endophallus with two chitinized copulatory pieces, located in the apical half near the left lateral margin; the dorsal one larger in size, longish, markedly bent and acuminate at apex; the ventral one small, spine-like. Left paramere depressed on the dorsal side; right paramere not curved at apex.

Female genitalia: Not examined.

Geographical distribution and habitat.

Only known from the Mindanao Island in the Philippines (Map 2) from a very few specimens. Probably found in tropical forests.

Remarks.

We examined five other specimens from Philippines in the collection of BMNH, identified as “discoidalis”, which actually belong to C. splendidula (Fabricius).