Merarius quadrituberculatus ( Hope, 1831 )

Trýzna, Miloš & Baňař, Petr, 2021, Review of the genus Merarius Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Anthribidae), with description of two new species from China, Zootaxa 5020 (2), pp. 367-383 : 378-381

Merarius quadrituberculatus ( Hope, 1831)

( Figs 35–39 )

Anthribus quadrituberculatus Hope, 1831: 27 (transferred by Wolfrum 1953: 25).

Merarius glabriceps Jordan, 1911: 106 (synonymized by Wolfrum 1953: 25).

Type locality: ‘Nepal’

Studied material. 1 male: NEPAL P: Seti /D: Bajhang 34 km, NE Chainpur (N 29°46´32´´, E 81°25´26´´) to 38 km NE Chainpur (N 29°47´07´´, E 81°28´04´´), along Kalapani Khola, 2900–3500 m, forest, 21.vi.2009, A. Weigel leg. ( Figs 35–39 ) ; 2 males, 1 female: C NEPAL, Bagmati Zone, Rasuwa Distr., Langtang N.P., Syabru , 2200–2600 m, 25.v.1999, J. Dalihod leg. ; 1 female: NEPAL - HIMALAYA, Annapurna mts. , N-Pokhara, Madi-Khola-Tal, Kyojo Kh., 1850 m, 2.v.1996, O. Jäger leg. ; 1 female: NEPAL, Gandaki, Manang, Timang , 2500– 2600 m, old open forest, grassland, 10.–12.v.2007, R. & H. Fouqué leg. ; 1 female: E NEPAL, Koshi, Basantapur , 2300 m, 30.v.–2.vi.1985, C. Holzschuh leg. ; 1 female: E NEPAL, Koshi, Chitre , 2200–2400 m, 28.–29.v.1985, C. Holzschuh leg. (all MTDC).

Identification. Species with only one pair of tubercles in post median part of elytra, these tubercles very small, appearing as small bumps ( Fig. 39 ). Tubercles in sub-basal part conical with blunt tops somewhat upwardly oriented. Disc of pronotum completely flat without any imprint ( Fig. 36 ). Dorsal transverse carina of pronotum in contact with lateral carina widely rounded, not forming distinct protruding lateral lobes ( Fig. 36 ). Elytra and pronotum with predominance of dark brown to blackish colour. Entire area of elytral declivity with one large irregular lightcoloured spot, inside this area are two small dark dots, light area also on lateral part of head and in sub-basal part of elytra laterally from tubercles. Body size 7.50–9.50 mm. Colour pattern as in Figs 35–36, 39 .

Distribution. India: Assam, Sikkim (Khasia Hills), Nepal ( Wolfrum 1929, 1953, Senoh 1991, Rheinheimer 2004, Trýzna & Valentine 2011, Trýzna 2017)

Figures

FIGURES 35–39. Merarius quadrituberculatus (Hope), male, Nepal, Bajhang; 35, dorsal habitus; 36, pronotum in dorsal view; 37, head in dorsal view; 38, right antenna, dorsal view; 39, lateral habitus [apex of left hindtibia and hindtarsus omitted from the picture]. Scale bars in mm.