Amiserica rufidula (Nomura)

Ahrens, Dirk, Liu, Wangang, Pham, Phu Van & Fabrizi, Silvia, 2021, An overview on the genus Amiserica Nomura, 1974 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Sericini), Zootaxa 5050 (1), pp. 1-63 : 6-7

Amiserica rufidula (Nomura) group

Checklist (up to this paper):

Amiserica rufidula Nomura, 1974: 84 .

Amiserica babai Kobayashi, 1988 b: 53 . (uncertain assignment)

Amiserica shizumui Kobayashi, 1980: 17 . (uncertain assignment)

Remarks. After the revision of extensive material of the genus Maladera Mulsant & Rey, 1871 from China ( Fabrizi et al. 2021), we could recognize Amiserica loi Kobayashi, 1991 (based on the original description and without the need of examination of the type material) as representative of the subgenus Eumaladera Nomura, 1967 : Maladera (Eumaladera) loi ( Kobayashi, 1991) , new combination. This species is excluded from Amiserica based on its characteristic genital morphology ( Kobayashi 1991: Fig. 7a–c ).

The species group assignment of the other included species is rather complicated. Amiserica shizumui Kobayashi, 1980 (see Ahrens 2002) and Amiserica babai Kobayashi, 1988 lack the membraneous sacs of parameres. However, in the first species, the metatibia also possesses a long serrated line beside the dorsal margin and a serrated line close to the anterior margin of metafemur while the anterior margin is robustly margined. Possibly both species represent isolated lineages. We had no material available for Amiserica babai .

Key to the species of the Amiserica rufidula (Nomura) group (♂♂)

1 Antennal club composed of 3 antennomeres................................................................. 2

- Antennal club composed of 4 antennomeres................................................................ 4

2 Metatibia lacking serrated line.......................................................................... 3

- Metatibia lacking serrated line present. Left dorsolateral apical process of phallobase.......... A. rufidula Nomura, 1974

3 Dorsolateral processes of phallobase subsymmetrical......... A. zhongtiaoshanensis Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu , new species

- Dorsolateral processes of phallobase distinctly asymmetrical........ A. sacculiforceps Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu , new species

4 Apex of phallobase with at least short dorsolateral processes, phallobase mesoventrally enlarged...................... 9

- Apex of phallobase without long dorsolateral processes, phallobase mesoventrally not enlarged....................... 5

5 Antennal club long, twice as long as remining antennomeres combined. ( Vietnam)......................................................................................... A. basisymmetrica Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu , new species

- Antennal club very long, three times as long as remaining antennomeres combined.................................. 6

6 Metatibia widest at middle and moderately wide, basal group of spines reduced to a single robust seta.................. 8

- Metatibia widest at apex and narrow, with a distinct basal group of spines at middle. Basal lobe of right paramere shorter and convexly rounded at mesal apex.......................................................................... 7

7 Metatibia with serrated line beside dorsal margin. Parameres at apex weakly curved dorsally, lateral lobe of left paramere attached to the paramere (Taiwan) .................................................. A. antennalis ( Nomura, 1974)

- Metatibia without serrated line beside dorsal margin. Parameres at apex strongly curved dorsally, lateral lobe of left paramere distinctly divergent from the paramere (Yunnan)............... A. pseudoantennalis Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu , new species

8 Apex of phallobase entirely without dorsolateral processes. Basal lobe of right paramere long and sharply pointed at mesal apex. ( Vietnam)................................................. A. strnadi Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu , new species

- Apex of phallobase with a short lateral process on the right side. Basal lobe of right paramere short and convex at apex. ( Vietnam)................................................... A. eucurviforceps Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu , new species

9 Metatibia with serrated line beside dorsal margin. Dorsolateral phallobasal processes shorter than half length of parameres. 10

- Metatibia without serrated line beside dorsal margin. Dorsolateral phallobasal processes more than half length of parameres. .................................................................................................. 11

10 Mesoventral extension of phallobase in lateral view of equal height. Right paramere short and weakly bent. Right dorsolateral processes short, not exceeding the base of right paramere.......... A. diaocangshana Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu , new species

- Mesoventral extension of phallobase in lateral view highest at middle. Right paramere longer and strongly bent. Right dorsolateral processes longer, distinctly exceeding distally the base of right paramere.............................................................................................. A. longxinensis Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu , new species

11 Narrowed portion of left phallobasal dorsolateral apical process straight and about half as long as the process itself....... 12

- Narrowed portion of left phallobasal dorsolateral apical process short and curved, much less than half as long as the process itself.............................................................................................. 13

12 Right paramere strongly narrowed at middle (lateral view). Right dorsolateral apical process of phallobase wide......................................................................... A. incisa Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu , new species

- Right paramere even in width (lateral view). Right dorsolateral apical process of phallobase narrow.............................................................................. A. pseudoincisa Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu , new species

13 Left paramere subparallel (in lateral view)................................................................ 14

- Left paramere convexly narrowed from basal third towards apex and base (in lateral view).................................................................................... A. funiushanica Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu , new species

14 Dorsolateral apical process of phallobase covering less than half of parameres. Right paramere slightly bent dorsally at middle (lateral view)........................................................................................ 15

- Dorsolateral apical process of phallobase covering more than half of parameres. Right paramere straight (lateral view).................................................................... A. piaoac Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu , new species

15 Left paramere almost straight (lateral view). The right dorsolateral apical process of phallobase is more robust and more rounded at apex............................................ A. fengyangensis Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu , new species

- Left paramere curved upward (lateral view). The right process of the dorsolateral apical processes of phallobase is shorter and narrower than the left one....................................... A. jiuhuensis Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu , new species

Figures

FIGURE 7. A–E: Amiserica piaoac Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, new species (holotype); F–I: A. fengyangensis Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, new species (holotype); J–N: A. jiuhuensis Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, new species (holotype). A, F, J: Aedeagus, left side lateral view; D, H, M: Aedeagus, right side lateral view; C, G, K: Parameres, dorsal view; B, L: Aedeagus, dorsal view; E, I, N: Habitus (not to scale). Scale: 0.5 mm.