Metriorrhynchus sericans Waterhouse, 1879

Bocak, Ladislav, 2007, A Revision Of Metriorrhynchus (Coleoptera: Lycidae) From The Greater Sunda Islands And Continental Asia, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 55 (2), pp. 253-260 : 258

Metriorrhynchus sericans Waterhouse, 1879

(Figs. 7–8)

Metriorrhynchus sericans Waterhouse, 1879: 53 .

Material examined. – Male, holotype of M. sericans (BMNH) , “ India, Bowring 63.47*” .

Others: 6 males ( LMBC), S. Laos, Attapu Prov., Bolaven Plateau, Nong Lom env., 15°02'N 106°35'E, 800 m, coll. E. Jendek and O. Sausa, 18–30 Apr.1999 ; 1 male ( LMBC), Laos, Louangnamtha pr., Namtha-Muang Sing , 900–1,200m, coll. V. Kuban, 5–31 May.1997 ; 1 male ( BMNH), [ Laos], Luang Prabang, Muong Om , coll. R. V. de Salvaza, 17 May.1920 ; 1 male ( BMNH), [ Laos], Luang Prabang, Ban Sen Savouage , coll. R. V. de Salvaza, 16 Mar.1920 ; 1 male ( LMBC), S Vietnam, 40 km NW of An Khe, Buon Luoi , 620–750 m, coll. P. Pacholatko and L. Dembicky, 28 Mar.–12 Apr.1995 ; 1 male ( LMBC), Thailand NW, Mae Hong Son, Ban Si Lang , 1,200 m, J. Horak coll., 1–8 May.1992 ; 2 males ( BMNH), Tenasserim, Javoy , coll. Doherty ; 2 males ( BMNH), Tenasserim ; 2 males ( BMNH), Birmah, Karen Mts. , coll. Doherty ; 1 male ( BMNH), Upper Burma, Senghku Valley, Nogmung , 28°5'N 97°35'E, 1500 feet (ca. 457 m), coll. F. Kingdon Ward, 25 Apr.1926 ; 1 male ( BMNH), Assam, Patkai Mts. , coll. Doherty ; 1 male ( BMNH), India Or. , Manipur, coll. Fry ; 1 male ( BMNH), India, Wood-Mason’s coll .

Differential diagnosis. – Metriorrhynchus sericans is very similar to the sympatrically occurring M. laosensis , new species, and these species differ only in the shape of male genitalia (Figs. 7–8 and 5–6, respectively). No stable differences in the female genitalia were found and females of M. sericans cannot be identified by morphology.

Redescription. – For external characters and colouration see the description of M. laosensis , new species, above.

Measurements. – Body length 10.3–15.6 mm, width at humeri 2.3–3.3 mm.

Distribution. – India: Nagaland, Manipur; Myanmar Tenasserim, Karen State; Vietnam; Laos; Thailand north of the Isthmus of Kra; The specimens with locality Assam were collected in Patkai Mountains, which have been in the state of Nagaland since 1963.

Remarks. – Metriorrhynchus sericeus and M. sericans occur sympatrically in Laos, Thailand and Myanmar. They form mimicry rings with some sympatrically occurring Xylobanus and Cautires species and the colouration of their pronota can be from light yellow through cinnamon-brown to completely black.