Clinterocera sinensis Xu & Qiu, 2018

Xu, Hao, Qiu, Jian-Yue & Huang, Guo-Hua, 2018, Taxonomy and natural history of the myrmecophilous genus Clinterocera Motschulsky, 1858 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) from China and adjacent regions: revision of the C. jucunda species group, Zootaxa 4531 (3), pp. 301-352 : 335-337

Clinterocera sinensis Xu & Qiu , new species

( Figs. 26–27 , 38 , 60–61 , 82–83 , 134–135 , 147 , 179 , 180 , 227–235 )

Differential diagnosis. This new species is the smallest species of this species group, and it is similar to C. brevifasciata in general appearance, but can be differentiated by its smaller body size, longer length of lateral tomentous band on elytral ( Fig. 147 ), different shaped punctures on elytral disc (compared to C. brevifasciata ) ( Fig. 27 ), and slender tarsi ( Figs. 60–61 ). This new species is also close to C. donckieri , but can be differentiated by its smaller body size, smaller punctures on elytral disc, and slender tarsi.

Holotype (Male). General: Body length 15.6 mm; width 6.4 mm. Body black, elytra partially orange. Body surface with numerous setiferous punctures; setae yellow, stubble like. Head, pronotum, scutellum, and disc of elytra without tomentum, elytral declivity and pygidium with khaki tomentum ( Fig. 134 ). Head: Clypeus apical margin raised, frons evenly convex; surface without tomentum, with dense, fine, setiferous punctures; punctures elliptic behind clypeal apex, round in frons; setae yellow, slender. Antennal scapus strongly expanded, subflabellate; exterior surface tomentous, with dense, minute, setiferous punctures; interior surface with many setiferous punctures in margins, setae slender. Mouthparts: Prementum extremely expanded, scutellate; exterior surface matt, with dense, semicircular, setiferous punctures; setae short ( Fig. 135 ). Pronotum: Nearly rounded hexagonal; margins slightly raised; anterior margin almost straight, slightly convex in medial in dorsal view; surface without tomentum, disc with sparse, minute, rounded arcuate-striolate, setiferous punctures; punctures denser in lateral portion; setae short ( Fig. 26 ). Scutellum: Subtriangular. Surface without tomentum; with sparse, fine, arcuate-striolate, setiferous punctures; setae yellow, short. Elytra: Subrectangular; posterior half of disc orange-red, juxtascutellar area and elytral declivity black. Surface with sparse, minute, elliptic, arcuate-striolae setiferous punctures, denser in elytral declivity; setae yellow, short ( Fig. 27 ). Disc without tomentum; elytral declivity with a tomentous band; posthumeral and lateral tomentous spots distinct ( Fig. 134 ). Metepisternum and metepimeron: Metepisternum without tomentum; metepimeron tomentous; surface with dense, arcuate-striolate punctures. Sternum: Preprosternal apophysis robust, slightly reflexed, with cluster of long setae on the apex. Metasternum without tomentum, surface with dense, arcuate-striolate, setiferous punctures in lateral portion; punctures rounded in middle portion; setae short. Abdomen: Shallow, longitudinal groove between abdominal sternites III–V. Abdominal sternites surface with dense, fine, arcuate-striolate, setiferous punctures, and sparse, fine, annulate-striolate, setiferous punctures; setae short. Surface without tomentum ( Fig. 135 ). Propygidium surface heavily tomentous, with dense, setiferous punctures; setae short; terminal spiracla distinctly protruding. Pygidium: Distinctly convex. Surface heavily tomentous, with fine, round, setiferous punctures; setae slender. Legs: Surface with dense, fine, sinuous striolae and arcuate, setiferous punctures; setae slender. Tibiae slender. Protibia with a small, external denticle in apical portion; an indistinct protrusion near middle of outer margin; apical tooth of inferior ridge elongate, tapering, curved downwards ( Fig. 38 ). Mesotibia and metatibia with an indistinct protrusion near middle of outer margin; three distinct, acute protrusions in distal portion; two spurs short, tapering ( Fig. 60 ). Coxa, trochanter, anterior side of profemora, posterior side of mesofemora and metafemora, dorsal side of mesotibia and metatibia with sparse tomentum. Tarsi with 4 tarsomeres, slender ( Figs. 38 , 60 );

propretarsi short, acute. Parameres: Short, outer margins nearly parallel in medial, distal portion expanded, apex obtuse in apical view; interparameral split slightly widened ( Figs. 82–83 ).

Allotype (female). Body length 15.2 mm; width 6.1 mm. Similar to holotype, but leg surface without tomentum.

Other paratypes. Body length 14.3–18.2 mm; width 5.7–7.1 mm. Characters are quite stable, the size and shape of the black juxtascutellar marking on elytra with slight variation ( Fig. 179 ).

Type material. Holotype: ♂ (HUNAU), 7.VIII.2012, Tuyunguan, Guiyang, Guizhou, CHINA, 1,230 m, Jian- Yue QIU & Hao XU // in ant nest in rotten wood. Paratypes (24♂♂, 42♀♀): CHINA: Zhejiang: 1♀ (QCCC), VI.2016, Mount Dapanshan Nature Reserve, Pan’an County, Su-Jiong ZHANG; 1♀ (QCCC), 10.VI.2016, Jiangnan-tianchi, Tianhuangping, Anji County, Huzhou, Yi-Peng ZANG; 1♂ (QCCC), 16.V.2013, Mount Dapanshan Nature Reserve, Huaxi, Pan’an County, Su-Jiong ZHANG. 1♂ (QCCC), IV.2013, Yuantang Tree Farm, Dapan, Pan’an County, Su-Jiong ZHANG; 1♀ (QCCC), 24.VI.2014, Mount Dapanshan Nature Reserve, Pan’an County, Su-Jiong ZHANG; 1♀ (QCCC), 22.VII.2015, Mount Simingshan, Yuyao County, Ningbo, Ling-Xiao CHANG; 1♀ (HSXC), 1.VI.2010, Mount Tianmushan, Lin’an, Huang-Shun XI; 3♀♀ (ZJUH), 7.VII.2008, Mount Tianmushan, Lin’an, Xiao-Yi ZHENG; 2♂♂, 1♀ (QCCC), 28.V.2014, Mount Tianmushan, Lin’an, 300 m, De-Yao ZHOU// in ant nest; Anhui: 2♀♀ (QCCC), 12.VII.2013, Fuxi, Tangkou, Huangshan, 600 m, Dong-Kai CHEN; 1♀ (QCCC), 12.VII.2016, Fuxi, Tangkou, Huangshan, Wen-Ting LIU; 1♀ (QCCC), 12.VII.2016, Fuxi, Tangkou, Huangshan, Yuan LI; 1♀ (QCCC), 10.VII.2017, Fuxi, Tangkou, Huangshan, Hui-Wen SHEN; Jiangxi: 1♀ (SYSM), 3.VII.2011, Mount Jinggangshan, Luofu, Ji’an, Jin-Wei LI; Hunan: 1♀ (SWU), VII.1988, Zhangjiajie, Zhi-Mo ZHAO; 1♂ (QCCC), 21.V.2014, Taoyuandong National Nature Reserve, Yanling County; Guangdong: 1♂ (QCCC), 3.VII.2015, Nanling Nature Reserve, Shaoguan, Xue-Ye ZHONG & Shi-Fan ZHOU; Hubei: 1♀ (QCCC), 3.VII.2015, Longwangchong, Hejiaping, Changyang County, Yichang, Pei-Yan JIANG; 1♀ (QCCC), 19.VII.2002, Houhe Nature Reserve, Wufeng County, Yichang, Yong LI; Chongqing: 1♂ (SWU), 15.VIII.1994, Mount Jinfoshan, Nanchuan, Sichuan, Guang-Fan YAN; Guizhou: 1♀ (Allotype, HUNAU), Tuyunguan, Guiyang, Guizhou, CHINA, 1,230 m, Jian-Yue QIU & Hao XU // 3 rd instar larva in rotten wood 7.VIII.2012, adult emerged X.2012; 2♂♂, 1♀ (QCCC), Tuyunguan, Guiyang, Guizhou, CHINA, 1,230 m, Jian-Yue QIU & Hao XU / / 3 rd instar larvae in rotten wood 7.VIII.2012, adults emerged X.2012; 1♂, 1♀ (QCCC), 1♂, 1♀ (KSCJ), 21.VI.2015, Tuyunguan, Guiyang, Guizhou, CHINA, 1,230 m, Jian-Yue QIU & Hao XU; 1♂, 2♀♀ (QCCC), 1♂ (RMNH), F 1 generation of the femal (2015) from Tuyunguan, Guiyang/ eggs VI.2015, adult emerged VIII.2015; 1♀ (RMNH), VIII.2008, Guiyang; 1♀ (QCCC), 21–23.VII.2017, Mount Leigongshan Nature Reserve, Leishan County, 1,200 m, Ming-Zhi ZHAO; 1♀ (QCCC), 12.VI.1985, Luodian County; 1♂ (QCCC), 19.VI.2013, Mount Yuntaishan, Shibing County, Kaili, 665– 1,010 m, Mei WANG; 3♂♂, 1♀ (QCCC), 1.X.2014, Mount Fenghuangshan Park, Zunyi, Jia-Jun GAO; 4♂♂, 1♀ (QCCC), Nanling Park, Zunyi, Jia-Jun GAO// 3 rd instar larvae in rotten wood VIII.2015, adults emerged IX.2015; 1♂ (GUGC), 19.VI.2010, Guiyang; 1♀ (GUGC), 22.VI.2010, Qingyan, Guiyang; 2♀♀ (HLSC), Guiyang, College student leg.; 1♀ (SNUC), 24.IV.2017, Maolan Nature Reserve (in litter), Libo County, 25°17′16″N, 107°56′20″E, 742m, Ri-Xin JIANG & Cheng-Zhi HU; 2♀♀ (QCCC), 1.III.2018, Maolan Nature Reserve (in pupal cell), Libo County, Jian-Yue QIU & Hao XU; 1♀ (QCCC), 16. VI.2018, Maolan Nature Reserve (in ant nest), Libo County, Jian-Yue QIU & Hao XU; 1♂, 3♀♀ (QCCC), 1♂, 1♀ (NSMT), F 1 generation of female ( VI.2018) from Maolan // egg VI.2018, adult emerged 10.IX.2018; Guangxi: 1♀ (QCCC), 10.V.2015, Mount Dayaoshan Nature Reserve, Jinxiu County, 1,200 m, Jin-Teng ZHAO; 1♀ (QCCC), 17.V.2015, Mount Dayaoshan Nature Reserve, Jinxiu County, 1,100 m, Jin-Teng ZHAO; 1♀ (QCCC), 20.VII.2015, Mount Dayaoshan Nature Reserve, Jinxiu County, 1,100 m, Jin-Teng ZHAO.

Etymology. The species name “ sinensis ” refers to China, the country where the type series was collected.

Distribution. China: Anhui, Chongqing, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang.

Natural history. In July 2011 in Guizhou, fresh adults in cells and mature larvae were found in fallen rotten wood that was inhabited by Pristomyrmex pungens Mayr, 1866 ( Hymenoptera : Formicidae ) ( Figs. 227–230 ). These larvae became adults in early October. In the most recent survey of flower beetles in June 2018 in Guizhou, a live female and few eggs was excavated from a rotten wood where the same species of ants nested ( Figs. 232– 233 ); the eggs collected became adults under artificial condition in September. In mid June 2015, adults were observed flying in shrub; females were brought back, and subsequently laid eggs in crushed rotten wood, then the offspring became adults in mid August ( Figs. 234–235 ). These beetles were found under a stone near an ant nest in Mount Tianmushan (Mr. De-Yao Zhou, personal observation, May 2014), and some fresh individuals were also observed overwintering together in a rotten tree in October (Mr. Jia-Jun Gao, personal observation, October 2014). All indications are that adults are active from early summer to midsummer, larvae become adults before winter, and dormant adults stay in their cells until the next summer.

Remarks. Clinterocera sinensis is widely distributed in southern China, but only two specimens (in SWU) were captured prior to the year 2000, all other specimens were collected in the past 18 years.

Figures

FIGURE 180. Known distribution of the Clinterocera jucunda species group (inset map shows the distribution of C. heinrichi). Some records and collecting sites are not shown because there is no precise geographical information.

FIGURES 6–27. Setiferous punctures on the pronotum and elytron of Clinterocera. 6–7, Clinterocera brevifasciata new species (holotype); 8–9, C. davidis; 10–11, C. donckieri; 12–13, C. jucunda; 14–15, C. krikkeni new species (holotype); 16–17, C. nigra; 18–19, C. velutina new species (holotype); 20–21, C. vietnamensis new species (holotype); 22–23, C. yunnana; 24– 25, C. raui; 26–27, C. sinensis new species (holotype).

FIGURES 28–38. Protibia and protarsi of Clinterocera (male). 28, Clinterocera brevifasciata new species (holotype); 29, C. davidis; 30, C. donckieri; 31, C. jucunda; 32, C. krikkeni new species (holotype); 33, C. nigra; 34, C. velutina new species (holotype); 35, C. vietnamensis new species (holotype); 36, C. yunnana; 37, C. raui; 38, C. sinensis new species (holotype).

FIGURES 39–61. Metatibia and metatarsi of Clinterocera (male and female). 39. Clinterocera bicolor; 40–41, C. brevifasciata new species (holotype and paratype); 42–43, C. davidis. 44–45; C. donckieri; 46–47, C. jucunda; 48–49, C. krikkeni new species (holotype and paratype); 50–51, C. nigra; 52–53, C. velutina new species (holotype and paratype); 54– 55, C. vietnamensis new species (holotype and paratype); 56–57, C. yunnana; 58–59, C. raui; 60–61, C. sinensis new species (holotype and paratype).

FIGURES 62–83. Male genitalia of Clinterocera (apical and lateral view). 62–63, Clinterocera brevifasciata new species (holotype); 64–65, C. davidis; 66–67, C. donckieri; 68–69, C. jucunda; 70–71, C. krikkeni new species (holotype); 72–73, C. nigra; 74–75, C. velutina new species (holotype); 76–77, C. vietnamensis new species (holotype); 78–79, C. yunnana; 80–81, C. raui; 82–83, C. sinensis new species (holotype).

FIGURES 112–135. Male habitus of Clinterocera (typical form), dorsal and ventral view. 112–113, Clinterocera brevifasciata new species (holotype); 114–115, C. davidis (Fujian, China); 116–117, C. donckieri (Guizhou, China); 118–119, C. jucunda (Chiang Rai, Thailand); 120–121, C. krikkeni new species (holotype); 122–123, C. nigra (Taiwan); 124–125, C. velutina new species (holotype); 126–127, C. vietnamensis new species (holotype); 128–129, C. yunnana (Yunnan, China); 130–131, C. ishikawai (paratype); 132–133, C. raui (Hua Phan, Laos); 134–135, C. sinensis new species (holotype).

FIGURES 136–147. Male habitus of Clinterocera (typical form), oblique view. 136, Clinterocera brevifasciata new species (holotype); 137, C. davidis (Fujian, China); 138, C. donckieri (Guizhou, China); 139, C. jucunda (Chiang Rai, Thailand); 140, C. krikkeni new species (holotype); 141, C. nigra (Taiwan); 142, C. velutina new species (holotype); 143, C. vietnamensis new species (holotype); 144, C. yunnana (Yunnan, China); 145, C. ishikawai (Ryukyu, Japan, paratype); 146, C. raui (Hua Phan, Laos); 147, C. sinensis new species (holotype).

FIGURES 165–179. Habitus of Clinterocera (variation). 165–166, Clinterocera krikkeni new species (Guizhou, paratypes); 167–172, C. nigra (Taiwan, 169–171 photograph by Yi-Chia Qiu, greasy); 173–174, C. velutina new species (Hainan, China, allotype and paratype); 175, C. vietnamensis new species (Nha Trang, Vietnam, allotype); 176, C. yunnana (Yunnan, China); 177, C. yunnana (Guizhou, China); 179, C. yunnana (Hubei, China); 179, C. sinensis new species (Zhejiang, China, paratype).

FIGURES 227–230. Habitat and different stages of Clinterocera sinensis new species. 227–228, a rotten trunk colonized by Pristomyrmex pungens ants in Guiyang, Guizhou, China; 229–230, adult and larva in ant nest.

FIGURES 231–235. Habitat and different stages of Clinterocera sinensis new species. 231, Secondary forest in Mount Simingshan, Zhejiang, China (photograph by Ling-Xiao Chang); 232–233, an adult excavated from an ant nest at the edge of Karst forest in Maolan Nature Reserve, Guizhou, China; 234–235, larva and fresh adult in pupal cell in artificial conditions.