Therates pseudovitalisi Matalin et Wiesner, 2023

Matalin, Andrey V. & Wiesner, Jürgen, 2023, Revision of the Therates fruhstorferi complex (Coleoptera, Cicindelidae), Zootaxa 5256 (5), pp. 401-433 : 407-408

Therates pseudovitalisi Matalin et Wiesner , sp. n.

Figs 9, 10 , 36, 37 , 58, 59 , 90–93 , 132–134 .

Therates fruhstorferi vitalisi W. Horn, 1913 — Sawada & Wiesner 2000: 63–64, 2004: 263–264; Wiesner & Geiser 2016: 88.

Type material. HOLOTYPE, 1♂ — Laos, Luang Prabang Prov., Ban Song Cha (5 km W), 20 o 33–4’N 102 o 14’E, ± 1200 m, 24.4– 16.5.1999, leg. Vit Kubaň & C. Holzschuh ( JW) ; PARATYPES: 1♀ —same labeled as the holotype ( JW) ; 3♂♂ 6♀♀ — Laos, Oudom Xai (17 km NEE), 20 o 45’N 102 o 09’E, ~ 1100 m, 18.4– 1.5.1998, leg. Vit Kubaň (2♂♂ 5♀♀ — JW, 1♂ 2♀♀ — MSPU) ; 1♂ — Laos, Houaphanh Prov., Phou Pane Mt , VII.2011 ( MSPU) ; 1♀ — Laos NE, Sam [= Xam] Neua , 17.V.2002 ( JW) ; 1♂ —Laos-N, Phongsaly prov., Ban Bun Neua [= Boun Neua] (4 km E), 20.VI.2003, ~ 1100 m, 21 o 38’N 101 o 57’E, P. Pacholátko leg. ( JW) .

References. LAOS, Houaphanh Prov.: 1♂ 2♀♀ — Xam Nua Distr, Ban Saleui , 1350 m, 15.VII.2002; 1♂ — Xam Nua Distr, Phu Pan , 1800 m, 17–21.VI.2003 (both Sawada & Wiesner 2004) ; 1♀ — Phou Pane Mt. , 1480–1550 m, 20 o 13’09–19’’N 103º59’54’’E, 1–16.VI.2009, leg. Z. Kraus ( Wiesner & Geiser 2016) .

Diagnosis. This new species is readily distinguished from T. vitalisi , T. biserratus , T. hunanensis sp. n., T. sauteri and T. motoensis by lacking lateral carinae on the apex of aedeagus ( Figs 132–134 vs. Figs 152–174 ). From T. fruhstorferi and T. ziyardamensis sp. n. a new species is easily distinguished by the shape of aedeagus ( Figs 132– 134 vs. Figs 115–131 ), from T. fruhstorferi additionally by wider apices of elytra ( Figs 9–11 , 90–95 vs. Figs 1, 3–8 , 81–89 ) and by shorter hind tarsus ( Figs 175–178 ). From T. pseudovitalisi tibetana ssp. n. a nominotypical subspecies is clearly differentiated by the shape of antennomeres 9–11 ( Figs 36, 37 vs. Figs 38, 39 ), by the proportions of hind tibiae and tarsi—mean HTbL/HTaL = 1.32 vs. HTbL/HTaL = 1.25, by narrow, elongate, clearly oblique central dot ( Figs 9, 10 , 90–93 vs. Figs 11 , 94, 95 ), and by the longer elytra—mean EL/AL = 2.6 vs. mean EL/AL = 2.48.

Description. TL = 10.53–11.1 mm in males (mean = 10.74 mm, n = 5), 10.5–12.1 mm (mean = 11.17 mm, n = 7) in females.

Head shining black-blue with purple-violet reflection; orbital plates finely striated in posterior third; frons convex, semi-circular (see above), slightly downward anteriorly (see at the side), smooth or slightly rugose, frontal sulci deep and slightly convergent in anterior 2/3, shallow and distinctly divergent in posterior third. Mandibles in males brown underside, yellow-brown topside with brown teeth and apical molar; in females dark-brown except pale basal quarter topside. Labial palpi yellow-brown or brown except dark-brown apical palpomeres; maxillary palpi dark brown with narrow light-brown apices in all palpomeres. Antennae barely extend shoulders, black, scape dark brown on anterior margin and black on posterior margin, in some females brown-black, antennomeres 2–5 with light violet tinge and narrow dark-brown apices, antennomeres 9–11 in males distinctly dilated, antennomeres 9 and 10 with wide protruding downward anterior lower margins ( Fig. 37 ), in female only slightly delated and protruding ( Fig. 36 ). Labrum indistinctly transverse, LW/LL = 1.0–1.08 (mean = 1.04, n = 12), in males black-brown with medium-sized yellow-brown apical spot indistinctly separated from central apical teeth ( Fig. 58 ), in females entirely black ( Fig. 59 ).

Pronotum shining blue with violet reflection; indistinctly transverse, PW/PL = 1.0–1.11 (mean = 1.06, n = 12), apical lobe practically equal wide throughout; thorax shining black-blue with light golden-violet reflection.

Femora bicolored, fore femora pale-yellow with brown violet-tinged anterior side, black with violet tinge on posterior side, middle femora brown-black with light violet tinge except pale-yellow posterior basal third, hind femora pale-yellow in basal third or quarter and black with violet tinge in apical 2/3 or 3/4; tibiae brown-black with blue-violet lustre; tarsi black with blue-violet tinge; HTbL/HTaL = 1.25–1.42 (mean = 1.32, n = 12) ( Figs 175–178 ).

Elytra shining black-blue with purple-violet or blue-violet reflection; indistinctly divergent toward apex, EL/ EW = 1.92–2.06 (mean = 1.98, n = 12); punctuation deep and regular between basal humps and central dot, in apical third shallow and sparse; scutellum black with blue or violet tinge; apical margin shortly cut. Elytral pattern presented by well visible pale-yellow small basal portion of humeral lunule (see in front) and elongate slightly or clearly oblique narrow wide-uniformed or slightly dilated in lateral portion central dot; basal dot very small, in some specimens indistinct or entirely absent ( Figs 9, 10 , 90–93 ).

Aedeagus gradually sinuate with elongate rounded apex, lacking lateral carinae ( Figs 132–134 ); AL = 2.5–2.7 mm (mean = 2.62, n = 5), EL/AL = 2.56–2.72 (mean = 2.6, n = 5), in one aberrant male EL/AL = 2.45.

Etymology. The new species is named “ pseudovitalisi ” due to it very similar outward appearance with T. vitalisi Horn, 1913 .

Distribution. LAOS: Oudomxay, Luang Prabang, Houaphanh, Phongsaly Provinces ( Fig. 184 ).

Figures

FIGURES 184. Distribution of Therates spp.: dark blue solid circle—T. vitalisi vitalisi; dark blue half-solid circle—T. vitalisi ida; lilac solid circle—T. hunnanensis sp. n.; orange solid circle—T. biserratus; pink solid circle—T. motoensis; red open circle—T. sauteri; red solid quadrat—T. fruhstorferi fruhstorferi; red half-solid quadrat—T. fruhstorferi australis ssp. n.; blue solid quadrat—T. ziyardamensis sp. n.; green solid quadrat—T. pseudovitalisi sp. n. (nominotypical subspecies); green halfsolid quadrat—T. pseudovitalisi tibetana ssp. n.; L in the symbols—according only to the literature sources. Map source— https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:East_Asia_topographic_map.png.

FIGURES 1–14. Therates spp., habitus: 1–6—T. fruhstorferi fruhstorferi (1–3—Vietnam, Montes Mouson; 4—Vietnam, Na Hang; 5—Vietnam, Tam Dao; 6—Laos, Ban Nape); 7, 8—T. fruhstorferi australis ssp. n. (Vietnam, Kon Ka Kinh); 9, 10—T. pseudovitalisi sp. n. (9—Laos, Bang Son Cha; 10—Laos, Ban Bun Neua); 11—T. pseudovitalisi tibetana ssp. n. (China, Xia- Cha-Yu); 12—T. ziyardamensis sp. n. (Myanmar, Zi Yar Dam); 13, 14—T. motoensis (China, Hanmi); 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9–13— males; 3, 6, 8, 14—females; 1, 2—lectotype; 3—paralectotype; 7, 9, 11, 12—holotypes; 8, 10—paratypes; 1, 3–14—habitus; 2—type labels.

FIGURES 29–49. Therates spp., left antennomeres 6–11: 29–32—T. fruhstorferi fruhstorferi (29, 30 – Vietnam, Na Hang; 31, 32 – Laos, Ban Nape); 33, 34—T. fruhstorferi australis ssp. n. (33—Vietnam, Kon Ka Kinh N.P.; 34—Vietnam, Pak Khe River); 35—T. ziyardamensis sp. n. (Myanmar, Zi Yar Dam); 36, 37—T. pseudovitalisi pseudovitalisi ssp. n. (36—Laos, Ban Song Cha; 37—Laos, Ban Bun Neua); 38, 39—T. pseudovitalisi tibetana ssp. nov. (China, Xia-Cha-Yu); 40, 41—T. motoensis (China, Hanmi); 42, 43—T. hunnanensis sp. n. (China, Shunhuangshan); 44—T. biserratus (China, Fanjing Shan-Kuaichang); 45, 46—T. vitalisi vitalisi (Vietnam, Xuan Son N.P.); 47—T. vitalisi ida (China, Fukien); 48, 49—T. sauteri (48—China, Taiwan, Taipei Hsien; 49—China, Taiwan, Ilan Hsien); 30, 32, 34, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 44, 46, 49—males; 29, 31, 33, 36, 38, 40, 42, 45, 47, 48—females; 33, 35, 37, 39, 41—holotypes; 34, 36, 38, 42—paratypes. Without scales.

FIGURES 58–64. Therates spp., labrum: 58, 59—T. pseudovitalisi pseudovitalisi ssp. n. (58—Laos, Ban Song Cha; 59— Laos, Ban Bun Neua); 60, 61—T. pseudovitalisi tibetana ssp. n. (China, Xia-Cha-Yu); 62, 63—T. motoensis (China, Hanmi); 64—T. ziyardamensis sp. n. (Myanmar, Zi Yar Dam); 58, 60, 62, 64—males; 59, 61, 63—females; 58, 60, 64—holotypes; 59, 61—paratypes.

FIGURES 81–98. Therates spp., left elytron: 81–87—T. fruhstorferi fruhtorferi (81, 82—Vietnam, Montes Mauson; 83— Vietnam, Na Hang; 84—Vietnam, Pu Hoat N.P.; 85—Vietnam, Tam Dao; 86—Laos, Ban Nape—Kaev Nua Pass; 87—Laos, Ban Nape); 88, 89—T. fruhstorferi australis ssp. n. (88—Vietnam, Kon Ka Kinh N.P.; 89—Vietnam, Pak Khe River); 90– 93—T. pseudovitalisi pseudovitalisi ssp. n. (90, 93—Laos, Ban Song Cha; 91—Laos, Ban Bun Neua; 92—Laos, Oudom Xai); 94, 95—T. pseudovitalisi tibetana ssp. n. (China, Xia-Cha-Yu); 96—T. ziyardamensis sp. n. (Myanmar, Zi Yar Dam); 97, 98—T. motoensis (China, Hanmi); 81, 83, 84, 87, 88, 90, 91, 94, 96, 97—males; 82, 85, 86, 89, 92, 93, 95, 98—females; 81, 82—paralectotypes; 88, 90, 94, 96—holotypes; 89, 91–93, 95—paratype.

FIGURES 115–135. Therates spp., aedeagus: 115–125—T. fruhstorderi fruhstorferi (115, 116—Vietnam, Vietnam, Montes Mouson; 117–121—Vietnam, Xuan Son N.P.; 122, 123—Vietnam, Tam Dao; 124—Laos, Ban Nape; 125—Laos, Ban Nape— Kaev Nua pass); 126–130—T. fruhstorferi australis ssp. n. (126—Vietnam, Kon Ka Kinh N.P.; 127—Vietnam, Gia Lai; 128— Vietnam, Ngok Boc I Mt.; 129, 130—Vietnam, song Thanh N.P.); 131—T. ziyardamensis sp. n. (Myanmar, Zi Yar Dam); 132– 134—T. pseudovitalisi pseudovitalisi ssp. n. (132—Laos, Ban Song Cha; 133, 134—Laos, 17 km NEE Oudom Xai); 135—T. pseudovitalisi tibetana ssp. n. (China, Xia-Cha-Yu); 115—lectotype; 116—paralectotype; 126, 131, 132, 135—holotypes; 127–130, 133, 134—paratypes; 117—dorsal view; 115, 116, 118–135—left lateral view. Scale bars in mm.

FIGURES 152–174. Therates spp., aedeagus: 152–166—T. vitalisi vitalisi (152, 153—Vietnam, Xuan Son N.P.; 154— Vietnam, Sa Pa; 155, 156—Laos, Ban Nape—Kaev Nua pass; 157–163—Laos, 15–20 km NW Louang Namtha; 164, 165— Laos, 8 km NE Ban Nape; 166—Laos, Thong Khan); 167—T. vitalisi ida (China, Kuatun); 168—T. biserratus (China, Fanjing Shan-Kuaichang); 169–171—T. hunnanensis sp. n. (China, Shunhuangshan); 172—T. motoensis (China, Hanmi); 173, 174—T. sauteri (173—China, Taiwan, Taihorin; 174—China, Taiwan, Ilan Hsien); 167, 169—holotypes; 170, 171—paratypes; 173— lectotype; 152—dorsal view; 153–174—left lateral view; ac—apical carinae; sp—spring; fl—flagellum. Scale bars in mm.

FIGURES 175–178. Morphometric features of Therates spp: 175, 177—relation of the proportions EL/PL and HTbL/HTaL (green rhombus—T. pseudovitalisi sp. n.; blue circles—T. fruhstorferi; open symbols—males; solid symbols—females); 176, 178—relation of the proportions HTbL/HTaL (small quadrates—medians; rectangles—25–75 percentiles; whiskers—min–max; significantly different samples are marked with different lower letters, according to Mann–Whitney U-test, p <0.05 (176—U = 112.0, z = 5.08, p = 0.000; 178—U = 23.5, z = 3.37, p = 0.0007)); 175, 176—all specimens; 177, 178—males.