Gnaptorina pilifera, Shi & Ren & Merkl, 2007

Shi, A-M., Ren, G-D. & Merkl, O., 2007, Six New Species Of Gnaptorina Reitter, 1887 (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae: Blaptini) From The Tibet Plateau, Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 53 (3), pp. 219-238 : 220-222

Gnaptorina pilifera sp. n.

( Figs 1–12 , 73–74, 85)

Description – Body, antennae and legs black, shining; dorsal surface covered with short, light setae. Male body length 9.8–11.5 mm, width 5.4–5.8 mm; female body length 10.6–12.4 mm, width 5.6–6.1 mm.

Male (Fig. 73). Anterior margin of clypeus straight. Outer margin of head with obtuse-angled incision above antennal base. Genae parallel-sided before eyes. Eyes slightly protruding beyond outer margin of head. Dorsal surface of head flat, with dense coarse punctures. Antennae, when posteriorly extended, reaching posterior 1/4 of pronotum. Length (width) ratio of 2nd to 11th antennomeres 9 (10): 27(9): 12(9): 11(9): 12(9): 12(10): 12(13): 11(14): 11(15): 18(15).

Pronotum ( Fig. 1 ) transverse, 1.30–1.37 (1.34 on average, n = 14) times as wide as long, widest in the middle, 1.88–1.93 (1.90 on average, n = 14) times as wide as head. Ratio of pronotal width at anterior margin to its maximum width and width at base (n = 14) 0.52: 1.00: 0.76 on average. Outer margins of pronotum arcuately convex, bordered along entire length. Anterior margin sinuate, basal margin straight, both bordered laterally. Anterior angles obtuse, rounded apically; posterior angles weakly obtuse. Pronotal surface between outer margins convex, punctures denser and coarser than those on head, disc with short median depression. Prothoracic hypomeron concave, with longitudinal wrinkles and very sparse granules. Intercoxal process of prosternum with shallow median depression, obliquely sloping behind procoxae.

Elytra elongate oval, 1.35–1.43 (1.38 on average, n = 14) times as long as wide, widest before the middle, 1.26–1.31 (1.29 on average, n = 14) times as wide as pronotum. Epipleural carina visible from above throughout its entire length. Elytral surface between outer side of epipleura and sutural margin convex, with two rows of tubercles, dense granules and sparse irregular tubercles. Epipleural surface smooth, densely covered with wrinkles. Visible abdominal ventrites with punctures and brown setae, 1st to 3rd ventrite with wrinkles.

Legs ( Figs 3–5 ) strong, length (width) ratio of fore, middle, and hind femora 86(24): 92(24): 100(25); that of corresponding tibiae: 65(10): 66(14): 97(16). Fore tibiae with serrate outer margin, shallow preapical incision, and massive upper spur at apical margin longer than 1st protarsomere, lower spur fine and pointed. Only 1st protarsomeres with a tuft of light setae at apical margin of plantar surface. Middle tibiae slightly incurved; hind tibiae straight, gradually widening toward apex. Length (width) ratio of 1st to 4th metatarsomeres 23(7): 11(6): 10(6): 22(5.5).

Aedeagus ( Figs 6–8 ): length 2.4 mm, width 0.57 mm. Parameres 0.71 mm long and 0.37 mm wide. Spiculum gastrale as in Fig. 9 . Apical margin of abdominal sternite 8 sinuate ( Fig. 10 ).

Female (Fig. 74). Body longer and wider. Epipleural carina visible from above from anterior 1/2 to 2/3. Plantar surface of 1st protarsomeres without tuft of light setae. Ovipositor as in Figs 11–12 .

Type material – Holotype, male, CHINA: Tibet, Nang , 3200 m, N 29°06’, E 93°12’, 21 June 2004, Ai-Min Shi and Yi-Bin Ba leg. ( MHBU). First label of the holotype (written with Chinese characters) see Fig. 85 . Paratypes: 13 males (1, HNHM, 12, MHBU) and 9 females (1, HNHM, 8, MHBU), same data as holotype ; 1 female, CHINA: Tibet, Lhuntse , 3900–4100 m, N 28°24’, E 92°30’, 27 June 2004, Ai-Min Shi and Yi-Bin Ba leg. ( MHBU) .

Etymology – Named after the dorsal surface of the body covered with short, light setae.

Diagnosis – This new species can be distinguished from other species of

Gnaptorina by the following differences: dorsal surface of body shortly covered with light setae; elytral surface between outer side of epipleura and sutural margin with two rows of tubercles, dense granules and sparse irregular tubercles.

Distribution – China: Tibet.

Figures

Figs 1–12. Gnaptorina pilifera sp.n.: 1 =pronotum, 2= antenna, 3 =fore leg, 4 = middle leg, 5 =hind leg, 6 = apical part of aedeagus in dorsal view, 7 = same, ventral view, 8 = aedeagus in lateral view, 9 = spiculum gastrale, 10 = abdominal sternite8, 11 =ovipositor in dorsal view, 12 = same, ventral view

Figs 85–90. First labels of the holotypes: 85 = Gnaptorina pilifera sp. n., 86 = G. compressa sp. n., 87 = G.kangmar sp.n., 88 = G.himalayana sp.n.,89 =G. globithoracalis sp.n.,90 =G. nigra sp. n.