Aspidimerus esakii Sasaji, 1968

Huo, Lizhi, Wang, Xingmin, Chen, Xiaosheng & Ren, Shunxiang, 2013, The genus Aspidimerus Mulsant, 1850 (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) from China, with descriptions of two new species, ZooKeys 348, pp. 47-75 : 52

Aspidimerus esakii Sasaji, 1968 Figs 15-17, 43-47, 85

Aspidimerus esakii Sasaji, 1968: 16; 1986: 40; Pang and Mao 1979: 54; Pang 1998: 185; Yu 1995: 139; 2011: 166; Kovář 2007: 575; Ren et al. 2009: 106.

Diagnosis.

This species is close to Aspidimerus chapaensis in general appearance, but can be separated from it by the black elytra with four yellow spots (Fig. 15), and the antennae with 8 antennomeres. In Aspidimerus chapaensis , elytra black with four red spots and the antennae with 9 antennomeres. The spermatheca is also diagnostic according to the illustrations given by Sasaji (1968) and Hoàng (1982).

Description.

TL: 3.70mm, TW: 2.90mm, TH: 1.75mm, TL/TW: 1.28; PL/PW: 0.53; EL/EW: 1.00.

Body oblong oval, dorsum moderately convex and densely pubescent (Figs 15-17). Head yellowish brown, clypeus reddish brown, eyes black (Fig. 17). Pronotum black except anterior corners yellowish brown. Scutellum and elytra black. Each elytron with two yellowish brown spots (Figs 15-16). Underside black, except legs and abdomen reddish brown.

Head small, 0.45 times elytral width (HW/EW=1:2.23). Punctures on frons small, separated by 0.5-1.0 times their diameter, with dense golden pubescence. Eyes large and oval, rather finely faceted, the widest interocular distance 0.50 times head width. Pronotum 0.69 times elytral width (PW/EW=1:1.45), punctures on pronotum and scutellum fine, close, separated by 0.5-1.0 times their diameter, with thick, golden pubescence. Elytra finely punctate, with short yellow white pubescence. Surface of prosternum coarse, with sparse, long and yellowish pubescence. Punctures on metaventrite moderately large, separated by 0.5-1.0 times their diameter, with dense yellowish pubescence.

Male genitalia: Penis relatively long, slender and strongly curved, apex of penis with membranous appendage, penis capsule with a short indistinct outer process and a long inner one (Figs 43-45). Penis guide slender, gradually tapering to apex forming a pointed tip in lateral view (Fig. 47). In ventral view, penis guide broad, widest at basal 1/3 with truncate apex (Fig. 46). Parameres slender, sparsely setose at apex, equal in length to the penis guide (Fig. 47).

Specimens examined.

China, Hainan: 1♂, Bawangling Natural Reserve, [19°05.49'N, 109°06.38'E], ca 260m, 5.v.2005, Wang XM leg (SCAU).

Distribution.

China (Hainan, Guangxi, Taiwan).