Physodera unicolor, Ma, Yunlong, Shi, Hongliang & Liang, Hongbin, 2017

Ma, Yunlong, Shi, Hongliang & Liang, Hongbin, 2017, Revision of the Oriental Genus Physodera Eschscholtz, 1829 (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Lebiini, Physoderina), with the descriptions of two new species, Zootaxa 4243 (2), pp. 297-328 : 306

andrewesi -group

The andrewesi -group contains three species: P. andrewesi (Jedlička) , P. bacchusi Darlington, and P. unicolor sp. n. This species group has a rather wide and discontinuous distribution range in southeast Asia, including south Chinese continent, Taiwan Island, the Philippines, and New Guinea. ( Fig. 66 )

The diagnostic characters of this species group are: Body form weakly convex; pronotum unicolor ; elytra unicolor or with two spots near apex; tergum VII uniformly black, or with vague light pattern. Terminal labial palpomeres securiform in both sexes (Fig. 61); male sternum VII with two pairs of setae; elytral third interval with four or more setigerous pores. Aedeagus gently slender, with apical lamella short and wide, about coniform, strongly oblique to right side; internal sac with main flagellum reaching apical orifice; trumpet-form expansion small, length 0.25–0.3 times of the main flagellum; secondary flagellum short and weakly sclerotized; apical bursa present or not. ( Figs. 41 , 42 )

We consider these three species are close for the following similarities: (1) body form weakly convex; (2) elytral third and fifth interval with three or more setigerous pores; (3) tergum VII without distinct pattern; (4) aedeagal apical lamella short, about coniform.

The andrewesi -group is very similar with eschscholtzii -group in color coordination, and male secondary sexual characters. But, the andrewesi -group is different from the latter species group in body form (weakly convex in andrewesi -group, strongly convex in eschscholtzii -group) and aedeagus shape (much slenderer in eschscholtzii - group).

Figures

FIGURE 41. Median lobe of male genitalia, right-lateral, ventral, left-lateral, and dorsal view of P. bacchusi Darlington, holotype, scale bar = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 42. Median lobe of male genitalia, right-lateral, ventral, left-lateral, and dorsal view of P. unicolor sp. n., a paratype from Anhui, scale bar = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 66. Known distribution of Physodera andrewesi group: ● P. andrewesi (Jedlička); Ɨ P. bacchusi Darlington; * P. unicolor sp. n., type localities for valid names in red.