Mimela semirubra Zhao, 2021

Zhao, Ming-Zhi, 2021, On the genus Mimela Kirby, 1823 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae) from China and adjacent countries, with description of five new species, Zootaxa 4995 (2), pp. 201-230 : 205-212

Mimela semirubra Zhao , new species

( Figs. 4A–F , 6A–C )

Type material. Holotype: ♂ ( MYNU), “ CHINA, Yunnan Prov., Nujiang Pref., Gongshan County, Dulongjiang Township, Maku Village , Qinlangdang 1100m, 2009.VI.3, Hai-Chen Shan leg.” Paratypes (14♂♂, 43♀♀): 1♂, 5♀♀ ( CCPC, 1♀ ZMPC), “ CHINA, Yunnan Prov., Nujiang Pref., Gongshan County, Dulongjiang Township , Maku Village , 1850m, 2009.VI.2, Hai-Chen Shan leg.” ; 1♂ ( CCPC), “ CHINA, Yunnan Prov., Nujiang Pref., Lushui City , Liuku County, Pianma Town , 2009.VI.24, Hai-Chen Shan leg.” ; 1♀ ( CCPC), “ CHINA, Yunnan Prov, Dehong Pref. , Yingjiang County, Xima Town , power station, 2013.V.16, Xiao-Dong Yang leg.” ; 1♀ ( CCPC), “ CHINA, Yunnan Prov, Dehong Pref. , Yingjiang County, Xima Town , power station, 2013.V.18, Xiao-Dong Yang leg.” ; 1♀ ( CCPC), “ Yunnan, Te-hung-chou Lung-chuan, Hu-sa 1700m 2017, IV-30, Y.-T. Chung Leg. CCCC” ; 2♂♂, 5♀♀ (1♂, 2♀♀ CZPC, 1♂, 2♀♀ ZMPC, 1♀ MSPC), “ CHINA: Yunnan Prov. Dehong Pref., Yingjiang County Xima Town 1300m 2019.VI, W.-Z. Yang leg.” ; 4♀♀ ( ZMPC), “ CHINA: Yunnan Prov. Dehong, Yingjiang County, Xima Town 2018.VII local collector leg.” ; 4♂♂, 3♀♀ ( ZMPC), “ CHINA: Yunnan Prov. Dehong Pref., Yingjiang County, Xima Town , Hulukou , Menglaihe River 1250m 2019. mid IV-early VI Light trap Wei-Zong Yang leg.” ; 1♀ ( ZMPC), “ CHINA: Yunnan, Dehong, Yingjiang, Sudian , Maocaozhai Vill. 1900m 2020.VI.15-18 Lu QIU leg.” ; 1♂ ( CZPC), “ China, Yunnan Xima, Yingjiang co. May 2020 local collector leg.” ; 1♂ ( WFPC), “ China, Yunnan, Yingjiang County, Xima , VII.2018, Peng Wang leg.” ; 7♀♀ ( WFPC), “ China, Yunnan, Yingjiang County, Xima, Hulukou , VIII.2019, Wei-Zong Yang leg.” ; 1♂, 2♀♀ ( ZMPC), “ Yunnan, Dehong, Lianghe County, Mengyang Town , near Kazi Village Committee 1580m light trap 2020.V-VIII Ying-Hui Lin leg.” ; 3♂♂, 3♀♀ ( CCPC, 1♂ ZMPC), “ CHINA, Yunnan Tengchong, Wuhe, Xiaodifang Village , 2118m 2020, VII-VIII, Leg. Y.-H. LI, mercury lamp trap CCCC” ; 4♀♀ ( WFPC), “ China, Yunnan, Baoshan, Tengchong, Diantan , 4-5.VII.2016, Gui-Qiang Huang leg.” ; 1♀ ( ZMPC), “ China, Yunnan, Baoshan City, Tengchong, Diantan Town , 6.VII.2016, light trap Gui-Qiang Huang leg.” ; 1♀ ( ZMPC), “ China, Yunnan, Baoshan City, Tengchong, Gaoligongshan , Baihualing , 2020.VI.7-10, 1800m, Yu-Chen Zheng & Jia-Zhi Zhang leg.” ; 2♀♀ ( CZPC), “ CHINA, Yunnan, Fugong co. , border to Myanmar, N Gaoligongshan, 2000m, vii. 2020, local collector leg.” ; 2♀♀ ( CCPC, ZMPC), “ CHINA, Yunnan, Lincang, Bangdong, Mt. Wulaoshan , 2544m 2020, VII-VIII, Leg. Y.-H. LI mercury lamp trap, CCCC” .

Description. Holotype (male). Body length 19.1 mm, greatest width 10.8 mm; body shape ovoid, broadened behind, moderately convex. Color. Smooth, not metallic, with strong lacquered luster; dorsal surface fiery red with green luster, the green luster being deeper on head, pronotum and pygidium; ventral surface including legs and antenna black; setae yellowish white. Head. Clypeus about 2.31 times broader than long, trapezoidal, anterior angle broadly rounded, anterior margin feebly curved and slightly reflexed; clypeus and frons densely and shallowly rugopunctate; punctures somewhat coarser along the distinct fronto-clypeal suture; vertex and lateral portions of frons with sparse small punctures; the whole surface with dense small punctures; antennal club distinctly longer than antennomeres 2–6 combined; two semierect short setae situated along inner margin of eye. Pronotum. About 1.89 times broader than long; sides distinctly convergent anteriad; anterior angles acute, shortly protruding; posterior angles obtuse; all marginal lines absent; with very sparse small punctures, which are slightly coarser along margins; lateral border with several short setae. Scutellum. Broadly ogival, with very sparse and shallow tiny punctures. Elytra. Intervals flat; strial punctures small and close; primary costae impunctate; interstices with scattered small punctures; humeral umbo and apical protuberance moderately prominent. Propygidium. Completely hidden by elytra; glabrous, very finely and sparsely punctate. Pygidium. With large but shallow punctures; apex with several long setae. Abdominal ventrites. With rather coarse punctures, somewhat denser and coalescent laterad; each ventrite with a transverse row of short setae, broadly interrupted at middle; distal margin of ventrite 6 weakly sinuate with a row of long setae. Ventral thoracic surface. Prosternal process well developed and plough-shaped, strongly pointed anteriad, posterior ventral corner rounded; mesometasternal process acute and protruding; metasternum with moderately dense punctures; meso- and metasternum with moderately dense long setae, broadly glabrous at middle of metasternum. Legs. Slender; protibia unidentate, terminal tooth extends to anterior level of protarsomere 2, acute at apex, proximal tooth reduced to an indistinct protuberance; protarsomere 5 with an internobasal protuberance; inner protarsal claw and outer mesotarsal claw deeply split apically, with the former wider, forming two branches; upper branches shorter and sharp, lower branches longer and broader, strongly bent downward subapically, apices acute; inner metatarsal claw slightly more arched and shorter than the outer one; metatibia weakly fusiform. Male genitalia. As in Fig. 6A–C .

Paratypes. Male. Body length: 16.8–19.5 mm, greatest width 10.0– 12.1 mm. Coloration on dorsal surface varies from fiery red to reddish green. Some specimens with bidentate protibia ( Fig. 4D ), with a rather small proximal tooth. Shape of male genitalia quite consistent. Female. Body length: 17.7–20.1 mm, greatest width 10.2–12.0 mm. Generally similar to male. Coloration on dorsal surface varies from red to grass green ( Fig. 4E ). Antennal club slightly longer than antennomeres 2–6 combined. Pygidium more convex than in male, more triangular in shape. Protibia bidentate, terminal tooth of protibia rather long and extending to anterior level of protarsomere 4, proximal tooth of protibia acute; tarsi thinner than in male; internobasal protuberance of protarsomere 5 less prominent.

Differential diagnosis. Mimela semirubra Zhao , new species is most similar to M. seminigra Ohaus, 1908 (from China, Laos and Vietnam; Figs. 5A–E , 6D–H ) and can be distinguished from it by elytral punctures being finer and mesometasternal process being much longer. The parameres of M. semirubra new species are broader than those of M. seminigra . The ventral plate almost extends to the apex of the paramere and is not deflected between the two branches (anterior margin of ventral plate with a deflected extension at middle in M. seminigra ).

Distribution. China: Yunnan (Nujiang: Gongshan; Tengchong; Dehong: Lianghe, Longchuan, Yingjiang; Lincang: Bangdong).

Etymology. The specific epithet derives from the Latin prefix “ semi- ” and adjective “ ruber, -a, -um ”, alluding to the predominantly red dorsal surface on most of the individuals of this species.

Mimela varichroma Zhao , new species

( Figs. 7A–F , 8A–F , 9H )

Type material. Holotype: ♂ ( MYNU), “Yunnan, Te-hung-chou Lung-chuan, Hu-sa, 1700m 2017, IV-30, Y.-T. Chung Leg. CCCC” . Paratypes (40♂♂, 23♀♀): 3♂♂, 6♀♀ ( ZMPC), “ CHINA: Yunnan Prov., Dehong Pref., Yingjiang County, Xima Town , 2018.VII, local collector leg.” ; 1♂ ( CZPC), “ Tongbiguan Xima 1000m Yingjiang Dehong Yunnan CHINA 2019-VI local collector leg” ; 1♂ ( ZMPC), “ Tongbiguan Xima 1000m Yingjiang Dehong Yunnan CHINA 2019-VIII local person leg.” ; 1♂, 1♀ ( ZMPC), “ CHINA: YUNNAN, Dehong, Yingjiang, Xima , Hulukou 1200m 2018. X Wei-Zong Yang leg.” ; 9♂♂, 2♀♀ ( ZMPC, 3♂♂ TZPC), “ CHINA: Yunnan Prov. Dehong Pref., Yingjiang County, Xima Town , Hulukou , Menglaihe River 1250m 2019. mid IV-early VI Light trap Wei- Zong Yang leg.” ; 3♂♂, 1♀ ( ZMPC), “ CHINA: Yunnan, Dehong, Yingjiang, Sudian , Maocaozhai Vill. 1900m 2020. VI.15-18 Lu QIU leg.” ; 13♂♂, 12♀♀ ( WFPC), “ China, Yunnan, Yingjiang County, Xima, Hulukou , VIII.2019, Wei-Zong Yang leg.” ; 9♂♂, 1♀ ( WFPC), “ China, Yunnan, Yingjiang County, Xima , VII.2018, Peng Wang leg.” .

Description. Holotype (male). Body length 19.3 mm, greatest width 10.6 mm; body shape ovoid, broadened posteriad, moderately convex. Color. Entirely dark green, with strong metallic luster; antennomeres 1–5 light brown; antennomeres 6–9, tarsal claws, apices of meso- and metatarsomere 5 and protibial teeth dark brown; setae yellowish white. Head: Clypeus about 2.57 times broader than long, trapezoidal, anterior angle round, anterior margin weakly reflexed, disc densely and irregularly punctate; fronto-clypeal suture distinct; frons and vertex with moderately dense large punctures, which become finer posteriad; antennal club longer than antennomeres 2–6 combined; with two semierect long setae along inner margin of eye. Pronotum. About 1.9 times broader than long; sides distinctly convergent anteriad in posterior half, then slightly more convergent anteriad; anterior angles acute and moderately protruding; posterior angles angulated but round at apex; with lateral marginal line only, obsolete before reaching posterior angle; with moderately dense large punctures, somewhat denser laterally; disc with a smooth longitudinal portions medially; lateral border with several recumbent long setae. Scutellum. Ogival, side slightly concave in basal third; disc with very sparse tiny punctures; with a rather shallow longitudinal medial furrow. Elytra. Intervals flat; only primary costa 1 clearly defined by an punctured line and its smooth surface, other portions bear moderately dense and irregular, large punctures, the punctures somewhat coalescent near lateral margin, seven inner intervals hardly recognizable, while primary costa 4 to interstice V are somewhat more clearly defined; humeral umbo and apical protuberance moderately prominent; epipleura with a longitudinal row of sparse short setae. Propygidium. Completely hidden by elytra; glabrous, with dense large punctures. Pygidium. With moderately dense large punctures, somewhat denser marginally; with some long proximal setae and a transverse row of long setae along apical margin. Abdominal ventrites. With sparse and shallow punctures, which become coarser laterally; ventrite 2–5 each with a transverse row of sparse short or long setae, broadly interrupted at middle except for ventrite 5. Ventral thoracic surface. Prosternal process well developed and plough-shaped, convex ventrally, strongly pointed anteriad, posterior ventral corner blunt; mesometasternal process very long and acute; metasternum densely punctate; with dense long setae, broadly glabrous at middle of ventral metathoracic surface. Legs. Slender; protibia bidentate, terminal tooth extends to anterior level of protarsomere 2, acute at apex, proximal tooth blunt and small; protarsomere 5 with a distinct internomedial denticle; inner protarsal claw and outer mesotarsal claw deeply split apically with the former wider, forming two branches; upper branches shorter and sharp, lower branches longer and broader with apices acute; inner metatarsal claw slightly more arched and shorter than the outer one; basal projection of metacoxa acute at apex; metatibia weakly fusiform. Male genitalia. As in Fig. 8D–F .

Paratypes. Male. Body length: 18.3–20.9 mm, greatest width 10.1–11.5 mm. External features and genitalia consistent. Coloration variable, normally green, sometimes green with orange ( Fig. 7D ) or blue ( Fig. 7F ) hue, or even entirely deep blue ( Fig. 7E ). Female. Body length: 19.7–22.2 mm, greatest width 11.3–12.5 mm. Generally similar to male. Color normally green ( Fig. 8A–B ), sometimes with orange hue ( Fig. 8C ); blue individuals unknown. Body stouter and more convex. Antennal club shorter than in male. Pygidium more convex than in male, more triangular in shape. Terminal tooth of protibia blunt at apex, extending to anterior level of protarsomere 3, proximal tooth of protibia larger and subrectangular; tarsi thinner than in male; internomedial denticle of protarsomere 5 less prominent.

Differential diagnosis. Mimela varichroma Zhao , new species is very similar to M. soror Arrow, 1908 ( Fig. 9A–G , syntypes from BMNH) in external features (the male of M. soror is unknown). In females of both species the baso-posterior angle of metacoxa is acute at apex (normally round at apex in other Mimela species ). Moreover, Mimela varichroma new species can be easily recognized by the unicolor body and legs (clypeus, ventral prothoracic surface, femora and tibiae of M. soror yellowish brown). The punctures on dorsal surface of M. soror are distinctly larger and denser than those on M. varichroma new species.

Distribution. China: Yunnan (Dehong: Longchuan, Yingjiang).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a combination of Latin prefix “ vari -” and Greek noun “ χρῶμα (chroma) ”, in allusion to the variable coloration. It is used as noun in apposition.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Habitus of Mimela semirubra Zhao, new species. A–C, holotype; D, male paratype (Xiaodifang Village); E, female paratype (Maku Village); F, female paratype (Sudian); A, D–F, dorsal view; B, ventral view; C, lateral view.

FIGURE 5. Habitus of Mimela seminigra Ohaus, 1902. A–C, male (Huanglianshan); D, male (Mt. Jianfengling); E, female (Zhangping); A, D–E, dorsal view; B, ventral view; C, lateral view.

FIGURE 6. Male genitalia of Mimela spp. A–C, M. semirubra Zhao, new species, holotype; D–F, M. seminigra Ohaus, 1902 (Ruili); G, H, M. seminigra (Mt. Jianfengling); A, D, dorsal view; B, E, G, lateral view; C, F, H, ventral view.

FIGURE 7. Habitus of Mimela varichroma Zhao, new species. A–C, holotype; D–F, male paratypes (Hulukou); A, D–F, dorsal view; B, ventral view; C, lateral view.

FIGURE 8. Habitus and male genitalia of Mimela varichroma Zhao, new species. A–C, female paratypes (Hulukou); D–E, male genitalia of holotype; A, C, D, dorsal view; B, F, lateral view; E, ventral view.

FIGURE 9. A–E, habitus of female syntypes of Mimela soror Arrow, 1908 (India, Manipur; images ©Matthias Seidel); A, E, dorsal view; B, ventral view; C, lateral view; D, rear view; F, labels for A–D; G, labels for E; H, rear view of M. varichroma Zhao, new species, female paratype (Xima).