Aethina (Aethina) inconspicua Nakane, 1967

Dasgupta, Jhikmik & Pal, Tarun Kumar, 2022, On Aethina Erichson of Northeast India (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae: Nitidulinae), Zootaxa 5124 (5), pp. 533-550 : 539-540

4. Aethina (Aethina) inconspicua Nakane, 1967

Aethina (Aethina) inconspicua Nakane, 1967: 68 ; Kirejtshuk, 1986: 53; Kirejtshuk, 2005: 66; Jelínek and Audisio, 2007: 470.

Description derived from earlier literature. Facies: Body ( Figs. 49, 50 ) oblong-ovate, rather convex, body colour uniform, ranging from brown to almost black; anterior margin of head, mouthparts, sides of the pronotum, scutellum, and part of elytra often paler. Cuticle densely covered with long, reddish, usually quite contrasting hairs, interspersed with darker hairs, elytral sides with brush of hairs, which are about 3× longer than those on the pronotum. Vertex of head with rounded punctures, diameter approximately equal to the eye facets, distance between the punctures less than or equal to the diameter of the punctures, interspaces with microsculpture. Last segment of labial palpi elongate, slightly swollen, with truncate apex, 2.5× longer than wide. Prothorax with surface rarely punctate, and elytral surface with larger but less distinct punctures, interspaces with more or less distinct microsculptures. Prothoracic process about as wide as antennal club. Tibiae about as wide as antennal club. Front legs slightly narrower, claws simple.

Male: Metaventrite in distal half somewhat shallow; pygidium with transverse, truncate apex, beneath which appears anal sclerite; aedeagus well sclerotised. Female: Metaventrite with flattened apex, pygidial apex rounded, ovipositor moderately sclerotised.

Aedeagus ( Figs. 44–48 ): Specimens of different geographical locations showed variable shapes. Tegmen longer than broad, with apex rounded ( Fig. 48 ) or apex truncated ( Fig. 44 ). Median lobe subrectangular in shape with a slightly protruding apex.

Measurements (in mm.): Total length 2.8–4.0, total width 1.7–2.0.

Material examined. The material could not be examined due to non-availability of specimen.

Distribution. INDIA: Meghalaya, Sikkim, Uttarakhand; PAKISTAN; NEPAL; THAILAND; VIETNAM; CHINA: Sichuan, Fujian, Yunnan; TAIWAN; JAPAN; RUSSIA: Khabarovsky, Primorsky Krays, Kuriles.

Figures

FIGURES 40–50. Aethina (Aethina) argus Grouvelle, 1890: 40, Dorsal facies, line drawing (adapted from Grouvelle, 1890); 41, Tegmen, line drawing (adapted from Kirejtshuk, 1986); 42, Median lobe, line drawing (adapted from Kirejtshuk, 1986); 43. A. (A.) cyaneipennis Grouvelle, 1903: Dorsal facies (line drawing adapted from Kirejtshuk, 1986); 44–50. A. (A.) inconspicua Nakane, 1967 (adapted from Kirejtshuk, 1986): 44, Tegmen of specimen from Punjab; 45, 47, Median lobe and 48, Tegmen of specimen from S. China; 46, Median lobe of specimen from Punjab; 49, Dorsal facies of specimen from Fuji; 50, Dorsal facies of specimen from Punjab.