Morphostenophanes elegantulus, Masumoto & Becvar, 2008

Zhou, De-Yao, 2020, A revision of the genus Morphostenophanes Pic, 1925 (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Stenochiinae, Cnodalonini), Zootaxa 4769 (1), pp. 1-81 : 54

Morphostenophanes elegantulus species group ( elegantulus -group)

The Morphostenophanes elegantulus species group is characterized by the head without frontal impressions and vertexal median impression; male elytra usually widest in middle, elytra with rows of round or oval segment of striae, some interrupted or straight, with encircled areas convex; male metatibiae with strongly pubescent inner margins; male sternite III and IV rearly bear impressions; ovipositor elongate, gradually narrowing apically, apex of gonocoxite acute.

Comments. Masumoto and Bečvář (2008) mentioned M. elegantulus with ‘the body of Promorphostenphanes in outline, but the elytra bear rows of rounded or ovate impressions as in Morphostenophanes .’, therefore, Promophostenophanes was synonymized with Morphostenophanes . The author found species within the atavus -and elegantulus -group sharing not only general habitus but also relatively smooth sternites III and IV without distinct impressions and similar elongate ovipositor. These two species groups only differ in elytral sculpturing. Furthermore, some individuals of M. gaoligongensis , M. furvus , M. furvus weishanus and M. sinicus have disconnected and not encircled short segments of striae. The author found a male M. furvus possessing almost complete elytra striae 3 rd and 4 th, but they are still interrupted by elevated, cross-border intervals (marked by yellow arrows in Fig. 40F ). This seems to show a transtional form between continuous elytral striae and centrally convex impressions. In this sense, atavus - and elegantulus -group are potentially closely related.

Figures

FIGURE 40. External characters of Morphostenophanes species in the elegantulus-group: M. gaoligongensis Zhou new species (A, H–L), M. sinicus Zhou new species (B, G, M–O), M. furvus Zhou new species (C, E, F, P–R), M. furvus weishanus Zhou new subspecies (D, S–U). Male antennae in dorsal view (A–D). Male elytra (E, F) and female elytra (G). Scutella (H, I). Male protibiae in dorsal view (J, M, P, S), mesotibiae in ventral view (K, N, Q, T), and metatibiae in dorsal view (L, O, R, U). Scale bars of A–G= 2 mm; H, I not to scale, J–U = 1 mm.