Sundapyrochroa nigripennis (Pic) Young, 2014

Young, Daniel K., 2014, Sundapyrochroa: A new genus of Fire-Colored Beetles (Coleoptera: Pyrochroidae: Pyrochroinae) from the Sunda Shelf, with a key to the three species, Insecta Mundi 2014 (341), pp. 1-18 : 6-8

Sundapyrochroa nigripennis (Pic) , comb. nov.

( Figures 4–8 , 16–18 )

Sundapyrochroa nigripennis (Pic)

Pseudopyrochroa nigripennis Pic, 1932

Pseudopyrochroa nigripennis v. notaticeps Pic, 1943

Pseudopyrochroa nigripennis notaticeps Pic ; Young (1996) ; syn. nov. Male. (habitus, Fig. 4–5 ) Mean length from anterior margin of labrum (head slightly deflexed) to apex of elytra 10.7 mm (n = 6). Color largely brownish-black to black; head, prothorax, and basal portions of ventral mesothorax usually orange ( Fig. 4 ), sometimes entirely dark in color ( Fig. 5 ); legs and venter rufopiceous to black.

Head. Cranium ( Fig. 7 ) lacking cranial pits, but with paired, subtle gibbosities: one on either side of meson juxtaposed to anterior emarginations of compound eyes; cranial surface densely, shallowly punctate, more coarsely so on surface of cranial “neck.” Third antennomere with ramus nearly 3X length of the antennomere, itself.

Thorax. Pronotum ( Fig. 4–5 ) subquadrate, densely, shallowly punctate; anterior margin nearly straight; mesal canaliculus lacking. Elytral surface irregularly, coarsely, shallowly rugulose; vestiture consisting of short, dark setae; ribbing of each elytron evident but poorly defined.

Abdomen. Sternite 8 widest basally, apex ( Fig. 16 ) rather deeply emarginate mesally, bearing numerous, moderately elongate marginal setae.

Male abdominal terminalia. Tegmen ( Fig. 17 ) with basal piece widest distally, its length slightly more than 2X its width, broadly joined to parameres distally. Parameres fused along basal 2/3, thence abruptly, widely separated, produced into a collar-like lip mesally at point of separation, the lip very feebly emarginate mesally; distal parameres narrow and subparallel, each obtusely rounded apically. Median lobe ( Fig. 18 ) elongate, laterally bisinuate, produced basally into two, short median struts, apex rather broadly rounded.

Female. (habitus, Fig. 6 ) Similar to male, though a little larger. Mean length from anterior margin of labrum (head slightly deflexed) to apex of elytra 12.7 mm (n = 6). Antennae stout, antennomeres 3 –10 notably pectinate ( Fig. 6 ), but rami much shorter and more stout than those of male; antennomeres 1–10 black, 11 creamy whitish; last abdominal sternite entire, broadly rounded.

Larva. Unknown.

Etymology. The species epithet is derived from the Latin root nigri -, meaning dark or black, and the Latin, - penni, meaning “a wing”. The name likely refers to the uniformly black elytra of all known specimens of S. nigripennis .

Type Information. Pic (1932) based the species description on an unspecified number of males; the description also lists the following: “Iles Cameron, Pahang (Pendlebury, in British Museum).” Two of the four males examined, one each in DYCC and MNHP, predate the publication date; these two males bear very nearly identical data and likely represent syntypes of P. nigripennis . A single female ( BMNH) also predates the publication date, but as the original description clearly referred to the male only, this female may not be definitively considered part of the P. nigripennis syntype series. An additional two males and single female in the MNHP also bear very similar “Cameron Highlands” labels, but they were collected in 1939. Thus, they can not be part of the P. nigripennis syntype series.

In his 1943 paper, Pic commented on P. nigripennis and then made reference to “ v. n. notaticeps.” In keeping with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature ( ICZN) (1985: Article 45(g)(ii)), Young (1996) considered Pic’s “ variation novum ” as implying subspecific rank. Of the four specimens of P. nigripennis in the Pic collection ( MNHP), Young (1996) considered the males to represent the syntype series of P. nigripennis notaticeps . He excluded the female under the mistaken belief that only the male was described. In fact, Pic (1943:9) referred specifically to the female: “J’attribue comme ♀ à ces ♂ des exemplaires à coloration semblable, mais ayant les antennes simples avec leur article terminal blanc.” [I attribute these as females; males have similar coloration, but [the female] has simple antennae with the terminal article white.] Thus, the female Young referred to (1996: 227) should also be considered a paralectotype of P. nigripennis notaticeps .

In summary, there appear to be at least two male syntypes of P. nigripennis and a lectotype male, as well as at least three paralectotypes (2♂♂, 1♀) of P. nigripennis notaticeps . Moreover, the MNHP male syntype of P. nigripennis is also one of the paralectotypes of P. nigripennis notaticeps , as is provided for in the ICZN (1999: Article 72.6.).

Having examined all the specimens in question, P. nigripennis notaticeps does not conform to the standard definition of a subspecies as a geographically defined aggregate of local populations. Thus, the subspecific epithet is proposed to represent no more than a NEW SYNONYM of S. nigripennis .

Specimens Examined. (6♂♂, 6♀♀): 1♀, [Malaysia]: PAHANG, F.M.S. // Cameron Highlands // [looks like] Ginling Kial 5000 ft. // 26.5.1939; [underside 1 st label]: H. M. Pendlebury // Coll: // F.M.S., Museums; [2 nd label]: Ex F.M.S., Museum. // B.M. 1955-354. [3 rd label]: Pseudopyrochroa // nigripennis Pic ♀ // det. Daniel K. Young ( BMNH); 1♀, [Malaysia]: PAHANG, F.M.S. // “Cameron’s High-, lands.” // Sunga Parang, path 4850 ft. // May 25 th 1931 // H. M. Pendlebury; [underside 1 st label]: EX COLL // F.M.S., MUSEUM; [2 nd label]: Pres. by // Imp. Inst. Ent. // Brit. Mus. // 1932-66.; [3 rd label]: Pseudopyrochroa // nigripennis Pic // det. Daniel K. Young ( BMNH); 1♂, MALAYSIA W., PERAK // 40km SE of IPOH, 900 m // Banjaran Titi Wangsa, RINGLET, 29.iii.- 15.iv. // 2004 Čechovsky Petrlgt.; [2 nd label – reversed] BMNH{E} // 2005-104 // MVL Barclay ( BMNH) [all black melanic specimen]; SYNTYPE ♂, [Malaysia]: PAHANG, F.M.S. // “Cameron’s High- // lands.” Tanah Rata to // Padang 4500 ft. // May 29 th 1931 // H. M. Pendlebury.; [underside 1 st label]: EX COLL // F.M.S., MUSEUM.; [2 nd label]: Pres. by // Imp. Inst. Ent. // Brit. Mus. // 1932-66.; [3 rd label]: [handwritten, presumably Pic’s hand] désiré; [4 th label]: [handwritten, Pic’s hand] Pseudopyrochroa // nigripennis // mihi ( DYCC); 1♀, MALAYSIA-PAHANG // Cameron Highlands // MARDI Research Station // Malaise Trap, 2001 // BMNH{E} 2005-151 // D. J. Quick [2 nd label]: Retained by Permission // 24.I.2007 // ex: BMNH ( DYCC); 1♂, Malaysia CH // BRINCHANG // 1550 möh // 12.4.1987 // T-E. Leiler; [2 nd label]: Swedish Museum // of Natural History // Stockholm // NHRS ( DYCC) [NOTE: ♂ has uniformly dark head and prothorax unlike “typical” specimens.]; SYN- TYPE ♂ [of nigripennis ]/ PARALECTOTYPE ♂ [of nigripennis notaticeps]:, [Malaysia]: PAHANG, F.M.S. // “Cameron’s High-, lands.” // Tanah Rata to, Padang 4500 ft. // May 29 th 1931 // H. M. Pendlebury; [underside 1 st label]: EX COLL // F.M.S., MUSEUM; [2 nd label]: Pseudopyrochroa // nigripennis // Pic var. à tete u partie rembrunir; [3 rd label]: v. notaticeps // mihi; [4 th label]: PARALECTOTYPE: ♂ // Pseudopyrochroa // nigripennis // notaticeps Pic // Daniel K. Young ( MNHP); LECTOTYPE ♂ [of nigripennis notaticeps]: [Malaysia]: PAHANG, F.M.S. // Cameron Highlands // 4700-5000 ft. // May 15 th 1939; [underside 1 st label]: H. M. Pendlebury // Coll: // F.M.S., Museums; [2 nd label]: nigripennis // V; [3 rd label]: LECTOTYPE: ♂, Pseudopyrochroa // nigripennis // notaticeps Pic // Daniel K. Young ( MNHP); PARALECTOTYPE ♂ [of nigripennis notaticeps]:, [Malaysia]: PAHANG, F.M.S. // Cameron Highlands // [looks like] G. Beumbun 6036 ft. // December 1939; [underside 1 st label]: H. M. Pendlebury // Coll: // F.M.S., Museums; [2 nd label]: PARALECTOTYPE: ♂, Pseudopyrochroa // nigripennis // notaticeps Pic // Daniel K. Young ( MNHP); PARALECTOTYPE ♀ [of nigripennis notaticeps]:, [Malaysia]: PAHANG, F.M.S. // Cameron Highlands // [looks like] Ginling Kial 5000 ft. // May 25 th 1939; [underside 1 st label]: H. M. Pendlebury // Coll: // F.M.S., Museums; [2 nd label]: Pseudopyrochroa // nigripennis ♀; [3 rd label]: PARALECTOTYPE: ♀ // Pseudopyrochroa // nigripennis // notaticeps Pic // Daniel K. Young ( MNHP); 1♀, Malaysia CH // BRINCHANG // 1550 möh // 12.4.1987 // T-E. Leiler; [2 nd label]: Swedish Museum // of Natural History // Stockholm // NHRS ( NHRS); 1♀, Malaysia, Cameron // Highlands, Brinchang, Mt. 1700-1800 m. 10.VI., [19]’95 // leg. S. Kazantsev ( SKCC).

Distribution. As noted above, all specimens of S. nigripennis were collected in peninsular Malaysia’s Cameron Highlands, at elevations of 4500–6036 feet. Ten specimens were collected between late March and early June; six were taken during the month of May. Two specimens came from December and late January. These data could possibly suggest at least a bivoltine, if not multivoltine developmental pathway for S. nigripennis .

Diagnosis and Remarks. The antennae are diagnostic in both sexes of S. nigripennis . Males have the ramus of antennomere three nearly three times as long as the entire length of the antennomere, itself ( Fig. 8 ). In males of S. atricolor ( Fig. 2 ) and S. sumatrensis ( Fig. 11 ), the ramus of antennomere three is clearly less than the length of the antennomere. Females of S. nigripennis have antennomeres 1–10 black, while the terminal (11th) antennomere is creamy yellowish-white to whitish ( Fig. 6 ). Antennomeres 1–11 are black in females of both S. atricolor ( Fig. 3 ) and S. sumatrensis ( Fig. 12 ), as well as males of all three species.

Figures

Figures 4–6. Sundapyrochroa nigripennis (Pic). 4) Habitus, adult male, dorsal. 5) Habitus, melanic adult male, dorsal. 6) Habitus, adult female, dorsal.

Figures 7–8. Sundapyrochroa nigripennis (Pic). 7) Head, adult male, dorsal. 8) Left antenna, dorsolateral.

Figures 13–21. Three species of Sundapyrochroa. 13) S. atricolor (Pic), abdominal sternite eight. 14) S. atricolor (Pic), tegmen, dorsal. 15) S. atricolor (Pic), penis, dorsal. 16) S. nigripennis (Pic), abdominal sternite eight. 17) S. nigripennis (Pic), tegmen, dorsal. 18) S. nigripennis (Pic), penis, dorsal. 19) S. sumatrensis (Pic), abdominal sternite eight. 20) S. sumatrensis (Pic), tegmen, dorsal. 21) S. sumatrensis (Pic), penis, dorsal.

Figures 1–3. Sundapyrochroa atricolor (Pic). 1) Habitus, adult male, dorsal. 2) Left antenna, lateroventral. 3) Habitus, adult female, dorsal.

Figures 11–12. Sundapyrochroa sumatrensis (Pic). 11) Head, adult male, dorsal. 12) Habitus, adult female, dorsal.