Meligethes sp.

Audisio, Paolo, Jelínek, Josef & Cooter, Jonathan, 2005, New and little-known species of Meligethes Stephens, 1830 from China (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 45, pp. 111-127 : 12

Meligethes sp. cf. praetermissus Easton, 1957

( Figs. 13-14 )

Material examined. CHINA: ZHEJIANG, Anji County, Long Wang Mts. Nature Reserve (= Long Wang Shan Nature Reserve), 1200 m, 13.v.1996, on? Cardamine sp. (Brassicaceae) , J. Coot- er leg., det. P. Audisio, 15 JJ 17 ♀♀ (CAR, NMPC).

These specimens are similar in general habitus and shape of the male genitalia ( Figs. 13- 14 ) to M. praetermissus Easton, 1957 , known from Japan and Eastern Siberia ( EASTON 1957; KIREJTSHUK 1992). They differ markedly in having body coloration entirely metallic brown, with yellowish legs and antennae ( M. praetermissus is usually brown with faint bluish reflec- tions), and dorsal punctures coarser and deeper (relatively sparse and shallow in M. praetermissus ). We tentatively refer to the above material from SE China as M. praetermissus . The material was collected on unidentified Brassicaceae with white flowers and long, acute, and elliptic leaves, probably in Cardamine or related genera (J. COOTER, pers. observ.).

Figures

Figs. 1-12. Tegmen and aedeagus (dorsal aspect) of Meligethes Stephens, 1830. 1-2 – M. difficiloides sp. nov., J paratype from Yunnan, Weibao Mts. 3-4 – M. dieckmanni Audisio & Jelínek, 1984, J from Turkey, Kars province, Göle. 5-6 – M. difficilis (Heer, 1841), J from Italy, Rome. 7-8 – M. atrovirens Jelínek, 1982, J from Turkey, Giresun province, Kümbet. 9-10 – M. abditus sp. nov., J paratype from Beijing principality, Xiaolongmen. 11-12 – M. chlorocupreus sp. nov., J paratype from Yunnan, Weibao Mts. Scale bar = 0.20 mm.