Gynaecoserica Brenske, 1896

Ahrens, Dirk & Fabrizi, Silvia, 2009, A review of the genus Gynaecoserica Brenske, 1896 (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Sericini), Journal of Natural History 43 (25 - 26), pp. 1505-1584 : 1506-1511

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.1080/00222930902968809
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/0399C459-DB29-6F5F-FE65-FA1D5FBC0D5B
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Gynaecoserica Brenske, 1896
status

Treatment

Gynaecoserica Brenske, 1896: 154 (type species by monotypy: Gynaecoserica pellecta Brenske, 1896 ); Brenske 1898: 235, 314; Ahrens 1996: 32–37; 2004: 104.

Chaetoserica Brenske, 1896: 154 (type species by monotypy: Chaetoserica cymosa Brenske, 1896 ); Brenske 1898: 235, 314; syn. by Ahrens 1996: 32.

Paragynaecoserica Khan and Ghai, 1982: 61 (type species by original designation: Paragynaecoserica pubescens Khan and Ghai, 1982 ); syn. by Ahrens 1996: 32.

Diagnosis

Body small (3.5–8 mm), body elongate oval to shortly oval, weakly convex; colour brownish or yellowish, often with small dark spots or greenish iridescent shine; dorsal face shiny or dull, pilosity of dorsal surface may vary considerably; antenna with nine or ten antennomeres, antennal club of male with three, four, five, six or seven antennomeres, female always with three antennomeres. Smooth area in front of the eyes only slightly wider then long. Hypomeron carinate but not ventrally produced. Legs slender and moderately long; metafemur without an anterior submarginal serrate line and having the ventral posterior margin smooth or only in apical half serrate; protibia moderately long and bidentate; metatibia at apex interiorly near tarsal articulation sharply and deeply truncate, tarsomeres dorsally impunctate. Aedeagus in most species with right-side lateral apophysis and parameres ventrally fused.

Distribution

From Central Nepal through Eastern Himalaya, lower Eastern Tibet towards southern ranges of the Indochinese mountain systems.

Remarks

As with many other sericine genera, Gynaecoserica is difficult to define based solely on morphology and it is possible that it is not a monophyletic group as presented here. The fusion of the parameres is a character that might help to diagnose the genus (because it is very rare among sericines); however, it occurs also in Leuroserica Arrow, 1946 which has been regarded as a separate genus based on the glabrous shiny body surface and the large flat left-side apophysis of the phallobasis. The first two characters also occur in newly discovered species (so far assigned to Gynaecoserica ) which lack the left-side lateral phallobasal apophysis. On the other hand, some taxa close to G. latesquamosa ( Frey, 1975) ( G. singhikensis Ahrens, 2004 , G. annuliforceps Ahrens and Fabrizi, 2009 , G. tawangensis Ahrens and Fabrizi, 2009 ) share almost all the principal characters, except the completely fused parameres, with the other Gynaecoserica species. As a result of the high morphological homogeneity and high homoplasy among many characters, especially those of the genitalia, it will be difficult to resolve the relationships between these groups without analysing their phylogeny using molecular data. As this has not yet been done, we prefer to keep the species of the G. latesquamosa group in Gynaecoserica and retain Leuroserica as a separate genus.

Key to the species (males)*

*This key excludes G. schima sp. nov., which could not be fitted into the key because of the lack of antennal clubs in the male holotype.

1. Dorsal body surface shiny (e.g. Figure 6D, G View Figure 6 )....................... 2

1'. Dorsal body surface dull (e.g. Figure 6A–C View Figure 6 )........................ 6

2. Antennal club with seven antennomeres. Elytra and basis of pronotum yellowish, head and anterior part of pronotum dark ( Figure 7A View Figure 7 )..... G. digna sp. nov.

2'. Antennal club with four to five antennomeres........................ 3 3. Antennal club with four antennomeres............................. 4

3'. Antennal club with five antennomeres.............................. 5

4. Elytra uniformly coloured, reddish brown or blackish ( Figure 6D View Figure 6 ).................................................... G. compacta sp. nov.

4'. Elytra yellowish with numerous small dark spots ( Figure 7C View Figure 7 )......................................................... G. barclayi sp. nov.

5. Metatibia dorsally entirely longitudinally convex.... G. gisionensis sp. nov.

5'. Metatibia dorsally moderately carinate at least in apical half......................................................... G. bicolorata sp. nov.

6. Antennal club composed of three antennomeres...................... 7

6'. Antennal club composed of four or more antennomeres...............10

7. Body length ca. 4 mm ........................ G. densipunctata sp. nov.

7'. Body length> 6 mm ............................................ 8

8. Anterior angles of pronotum obsolete, disc of pronotum glabrous. Antennal club 1.5 times as long as the remaining antennomeres combined.................................................... G. singhikensis Ahrens

8'. Anterior angles of pronotum blunt or acute, disc of pronotum setose. Antennal club about as long as the remaining antennomeres combined........... 9

9. Lateral margins of pronotum evenly convex, in basal half almost subparallel.................................. G. tawangensis Ahrens and Fabrizi

9'. Pronotum basally distinctly narrowed............. G. latesquamosa (Frey)

10. Pronotum basally distinctly narrowed. Antennal club composed of four antennomeres..................... G. annuliforceps Ahrens and Fabrizi

10'. Lateral margins of pronotum evenly convex, in basal half almost subparallel... 11

11. Antennal club composed of four antennomeres......................12 11'. Antennal club composed of five antennomeres......................21 11''. Antennal club composed of six antennomeres........................34

12. Apical apophysis of phallobase long, almost as long as parameres (e.g. Figure 2A View Figure 2 )....................................................14

12' Apical apophysis of phallobase short, about half as long as parameres (e.g. see Ahrens 1996: fig. 75).........................................13

13. Antenna with nine antennomeres. Antennal club 1.5 times as long as the remaining antennomeres combined. Parameres in dorsal view narrow, their lateral margins subparallel (see Ahrens 1996: fig. 77)................................................................ G. pellecta (Brenske)

13'. Antenna with ten antennomeres. Antennal club 2.5 times as long as the remaining antennomeres combined. Parameres in dorsal view broad, their lateral margins convexly widened at middle (see Ahrens 2004: fig. 163).................................................... G. tumba Ahrens

14. Body length> 6 mm ............................................15

14'. Body length <5 mm ............................................18 15. Parameres short, one-third as long as phallobase ( Figure 2A View Figure 2 )........................................................ G. bomdilana sp. nov.

15'. Parameres long, at least half as long as phallobase (e.g. see Ahrens 1996: fig. 81). 16

16. Punctures on head coarse and moderately dense. Right dorsal margin of paramere not notched at basal third (see Ahrens 1999: fig. 2)......................................................... G. gogonaica Ahrens

16'. Punctures on head fine, dense. Right dorsal margin of paramere deeply notched at basal third (see Ahrens 1996: figs 82, 85).................. 17

17. Parameres (lateral view) dorsoventrally widened at middle (see Ahrens 1996: fig. 85). Lateral apophysis of phallobase basally without small convexity (see Ahrens 1996: fig. 86)..................... G. variipennis wuermlii (Frey)

17'. Parameres (lateral view) dorsoventrally very slightly widened at middle (see Ahrens 1996: figs 82). Lateral apophysis of phallobase basally with a small convexity (see Ahrens 1996: figs 83)..... G. variipennis variipennis (Moser)

18. Lateral apophysis of phallobase lacking ( Figure 1O–Q View Figure 1 ).... G. bocaki sp. nov.

18'. Lateral apophysis of phallobase present (e.g. Figure 5S View Figure 5 ).............. 19

19. Parameres more than half as long as the phallobase ( Figure 5S View Figure 5 ). Parameres slender, both together at base almost less than one-quarter as wide as the length of the parameres ( Figure 5R View Figure 5 )............. G. ziyardamensis sp. nov

19'. Parameres about one-third as long as the phallobase (e.g. Figure 2V View Figure 2 ). Parameres basally wide, both together at base about half as wide as the length of the parameres (e.g. Figure 2W View Figure 2 ).......................... 20

20. Lateral apophysis of phallobase narrow and sharply pointed at the apex (lateral view) ( Figure 2X View Figure 2 )........................... G. hirsuta sp. nov.

20'. Lateral apophysis of phallobase laterally flattened and hooked dorsally at the apex (lateral view; Figure 5F View Figure 5 ).................... G. rostrata sp. nov.

21. Lateral apophysis of phallobase absent (see Ahrens 1996: fig. 88)........................................................ G. felina (Arrow)

21'. At least right lateral apophysis of phallobase present (e.g. Figure 4D, L View Figure 4 ).. 22

22. Phallobase with a single apical apophysis on right side (e.g. Figure 4D, L View Figure 4 )... 23

22'. Phallobase with two apical apophyses, one on the right side, one on the left side. Species entirely yellow except the black abdomen (e.g. Figure 3Q View Figure 3 ).. 33

23. Median sinuation at apex of the phallobase very deep (depth corresponding to about a quarter or more of length of phallobase) (e.g. Figure 4E View Figure 4 )..... 24

23'. Median sinuation at apex of the phallobase shallow (depth corresponding to about a tenth or less of length of phallobase) (e.g. Figures 3A View Figure 3 , 5B View Figure 5 )...... 28

24. Parameres without any basal extension (e.g. Figure 4E View Figure 4 )............... 25

24'. Parameres with long basal extensions (e.g. Figures 1E View Figure 1 , 5K View Figure 5 )............ 26

25. Parameres subparallel, slightly widened towards the apex ( Figure 4E View Figure 4 ).................................................... G. luteata sp. nov.

25'. Parameres widest at base, distinctly narrowed behind basis and strongly sinuate concavely at the middle of left side ( Figure 4K View Figure 4 )........................................................... G. maymyoensis sp. nov.

26. Pronotum glabrous or sparsely setose..............................27

26'. Pronotum at least partly densely covered with white setae........................................................ G. seinghkuensis sp. nov.

27. Phallobase narrow (in dorsal view), about four times as narrow as length (excluded the apical apophysis) of phallobase. Right paramere laterally almost straight ( Figure 1E View Figure 1 )......................... G. amara sp. nov.

27'. Phallobase broader (in dorsal view), about three times as narrow as length (excluded the apical apophysis) of phallobase. Right paramere laterally strongly concavely sinuate ( Figure 1E View Figure 1 )................. G. alma sp. nov.

28. Lateral apophysis of phallobase in cross-section circular (e.g. Figure 5B, C View Figure 5 ).. 29

28'. Lateral apophysis of phallobase laterally flattened (e.g. Figure 3K, L View Figure 3 )....30

29. Lateral apophysis of phallobase thinly filiform; phallobase apically as wide as at middle (dorsal view) ( Figure 5B View Figure 5 )................ G. obliqua sp. nov.

29'. Lateral apophysis of phallobase displaced slightly dorsally being broad at base and evenly narrowed towards the apex; phallobase apically distinctly narrowed (dorsal view) ( Figure 3B View Figure 3 ).................. G. ignobilis sp. nov.

30. Lateral apophysis of phallobase almost as wide as long (lateral view, Figure 3L View Figure 3 )..................................... G. lobiceps sp. nov.

30'. Lateral apophysis of phallobase at least twice as wide as long (lateral view)... 31

31. Lateral apophysis of phallobase sharply pointed at apex (see Ahrens2004: Figure 161)...................................... G. perdita Ahrens

31'. Lateral apophysis of phallobase convex at apex (e.g. Figure 3I View Figure 3 ).........32

32. Fused parameres narrowed apically ( Figure 3H View Figure 3 )......... G. keithi sp. nov.

32'. Fused parameres distinctly widened apically (see Ahrens 1996: fig. 80)................................................. G. cymosa (Brenske)

33. Fused parameres slender, more than four times as long as wide, left paramere with a fine basal filiform extension ( Figure 3Q View Figure 3 )........... G. lomsakensis sp. nov.

33'. Fused parameres broad, about twice as long as wide, left paramere without a basal extension ( Figure 4H View Figure 4 )..................... G. maekasana sp. nov.

34. Protarsal claws symmetrical, basal tooth of interior claw sharply pointed. Head entirely shiny.............................................35

34'. Protarsal claws asymmetrical, basal tooth of interior claw bluntly truncate and slightly widened. Basal half of head dull.........................38

35. Lateral apophysis of phallobase absent or very short ( Figures 3O View Figure 3 , 4R View Figure 4 )....36

35'. Lateral apophysis of phallobase present, prominent (e.g. Figure 4O View Figure 4 ).....37

36. Parameres each with a very long basal extension being almost as long as the paramere itself ( Figure 3M View Figure 3 )....................... G. lohitensis sp. nov.

36'. Parameres without any basal extensions ( Figure 4Q View Figure 4 )... G. namtamaiensis sp. nov.

37. Phallobase a single apical apophysis on right side. Head, lateral margins as well as suture of elytra mostly blackish (see Ahrens 2004: fig. 287).................................................. G. marginipes (Brenske)

37'. Phallobase with two apical apophyses, one at the right side, one on the left side. Body colour entirely yellow ( Figure 4M View Figure 4 )...... G. nahangensis sp. nov.

38. Elytra dark brown monochrome. Protarsomeres short and stout, tarsomeres II to IV as long as wide........................... G. jelineki sp. nov.

38'. Elytra polychrome. Protarsomeres elongate, tarsomeres II to IV about twice as long as wide................................................ 39

39. Ventral apical spine of metatibia sharply pointed at apex.............. 40

39'. Ventral apical spine of metatibia slightly truncate at apex............. 41

40. Parameres and its basal appendages very short, parameres shorter than onesixth of length of phallobase; lateral apophysis of phallobase absent ( Figure 2P, R View Figure 2 )..................................... G. exilis sp. nov.

40'. Parameres and its basal appendages long, parameres half as long as phallobase; lateral apophysis of phallobase present ( Figure 2N, O View Figure 2 )............................................................ G. dirangensis sp. nov.

41. Parameres on right side strongly widened apically (dorsal view, Figure 5O View Figure 5 )................................................ G. vogleri sp. nov.

41'. Parameres at apex almost as wide as at base (dorsal view, Figures 1H View Figure 1 , 4B View Figure 4 )... 42

42. Ventral apical spine of metatibia distinctly hooked dorsally. Basal extension of right paramere largely lobiform ( Figure 1H View Figure 1 ).. G. arunachalensis sp. nov.

42'. Ventral apical spine of metatibia not hooked. Basal extension of right paramere small and sharply pointed ( Figure 4B View Figure 4 )............ G. lubosi sp. nov.