Merarius species

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 : 382

Key to Merarius species

(see also Frieser 2008: 21)

1 Disc of pronotum completely flat without any imprint. Dorsal transverse carina of pronotum in contact with lateral carina widely rounded, not forming protruding lateral lobes ( Figs 31 , 36 ). Tubercles in sub-basal area conical, in cross-section rather spherical, tips of tubercles blunt and rounded. Elytra in post median area with only one pair of tubercles ( Figs 30, 34 , 35, 39 ) ................................................................................................... 2

- Disc of pronotum with distinct deep transverse groove. Dorsal transverse carina of pronotum in contact with lateral carina forming distinct protruding lateral lobes ( Figs 2 , 7 , 26 ). Tubercles in sub-basal area beak-like, in cross-section rather suboval, tips of tubercles more or less pointed and oriented backwards ( Figs 5 , 10 , 24 , 29 ). Elytra in preapical area with two pairs of tubercles of the same size or inner pair significantly smaller ( Figs 1 , 6 , 21 , 25 ).................................... 3

2 Pair of tubercles in post median area of elytra distinctly smaller than tubercles in sub-basal area ( Fig. 39 ). Rostrum shorter, ratio of rostrum length to maximum width 1.04 in male ( Fig. 37 ). Interocular distance 2x as wide as width of antennomere II in male. Entire area of elytral declivity with one large irregular light-coloured spot, inside with only two small dark dots ( Fig. 35 )......................................................................... M. quadrituberculatus ( Hope, 1831)

- Pair of tubercles in post median area approximately the same shape and size as tubercles in sub-basal area ( Fig. 34 ). Rostrum longer, ratio of rostrum length to maximum width 1.18 in male ( Fig. 32 ). Interocular distance as wide as width of antennomere II in male. Elytral declivity dark, with only narrow tortuous transverse light-coloured stripe ( Fig. 30 ) (only one male known)............................................................................ M. holzschuhi Frieser, 2001

3 Two pairs of tubercles in preapical area of the same shape and size, tops of these tubercles with blunt points ( Figs 6, 10 )......................................................................... M. korinae Trýzna & Baňař sp. nov.

- Two pairs of tubercles in preapical area differently sized, outer pair of tubercles very long, extended, forming sharp needle-like spike, inner pair of tubercles small, several times shorter ( Figs 1, 5 , 25, 29 )....................................... 4

4 Dorsal transverse carina of pronotum bisinuate, conspicuously emarginate in middle ( Fig. 26 ). Longitudinal carina in middle part of rostrum reaching only to anterior margins of eyes, terminated here by a weak indistinct transverse imprint, interocular area grooved. Rostrum with coarse and sparse punctures ( Fig. 27 )................... Merarius davidis Fairmaire, 1889

- Dorsal transverse carina of pronotum sinuate, forming in wide arch, not emarginate in middle ( Fig. 2 ). Longitudinal carina in middle part of rostrum reaching continuously to posterior margins of eyes, interocular area not grooved. Rostrum with fine and dense punctures ( Fig. 3 ).......................................... Merarius alexandrae Trýzna & Baňař sp. nov.

Figures

FIGURES 30–34. Merarius holzschuhi Frieser, holotype male, SW Bhutan, Gedu; 30, dorsal habitus; 31, pronotum in dorsal view; 32, head in dorsal view; 33, right antenna, dorsal view; 34, lateral habitus [left hindtibia and hindtarsus omitted from the picture]. Scale bars in mm.

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.

FIGURES 1–5. Merarius alexandrae Trýzna & Baňař sp. nov., holotype female; 1, dorsal habitus [right hindtarsus omitted from the picture]; 2, pronotum in dorsal view; 3, head in dorsal view; 4, right antenna, dorsal view; 5, lateral habitus [apex of left hindtibia and hindtarsus omitted from the picture]. Scale bars in mm.

FIGURES 6–10. Merarius korinae Trýzna & Baňař sp. nov., holotype male; 6, dorsal habitus [right legs mostly omitted from the picture]; 7, pronotum in dorsal view; 8, head in dorsal view; 9, right antenna, dorsal view; 10, lateral habitus [apex of left hindtibia and hindtarsus omitted from the picture]. Scale bars in mm.

FIGURES 25–29. Merarius davidis Fairmaire, female, E Tibet, Tomi (Tangmai); 25, dorsal habitus; 26, pronotum in dorsal view; 27, head in dorsal view; 28, right antenna, dorsal view; 29, lateral habitus [apex of left hindtibia and hindtarsus omitted from the picture]. Scale bars in mm.

FIGURES 21–24. Merarius davidis Fairmaire, syntype male, Tibet, Moupin [= Baoxing, Sichuan province, China]; 21, dorsal habitus; 22, all labels from the pin of photographed specimen; 23, head and antennae in dorsal view; 24, lateral habitus. Measurements not available.