Trichocateres Kolibac , 2010

Kolibac, Jiri, 2013, Trogossitidae: A review of the beetle family, with a catalogue and keys, ZooKeys 366, pp. 1-194 : 134-135

Genus Trichocateres Kolibac, 2010 Fig. 12 ; Map 13

Trichocateres Kolibáč, J. 2010: 35.

Type species.

Trichocateres fasciculifer Kolibáč, 2010 [by monotypy and author’s designation]

Description.

Body size: 5.2-5.5 mm. With general characteristics of the tribe Lophocaterini (body oval, frontoclypeal suture deeply arcuate, antennal club weakly asymmetrical, mandibular mola present, base of mandible with membranous appendage/penicillus, prostheca composed of tuft of setae, lacinia with spines). It is most closely related to Lophocateres , Indopeltis and Grynocharis (mandibular mola present, elytral carinae well-developed).

Similarities of Trichocateres with Lophocateres and Indopeltis : the mandible with membranous penicillus and distinct prostheca; the wing venation with cross-veins MP3-4 and AA1+2-3+4 absent; and the metendosternite with robust stalk and widely separated anterior tendons. It resembles Indopeltis in aedeagus with projecting phallobasic apodeme, eyes similarly shaped, relatively large and situated dorsally, and lateral edge of pronotum undulating, whereas Lophocateres parallels include labrum with tormal processes branched at base and maxilla with mediostipes not fused with lacinia. Excluding the characters mentioned, Trichocateres differs from all three abovementioned genera chiefly in tibial spur pattern 1-1-1, two sharp grooves in prosternal process and tufts of long hairs on elytra and pronotum. (Genus diagnosis after Kolibáč 2010.)

Biology.

The circumstances of collection are not exactly known; the specimens were knocked down from branches or fallen timber. Remnants of insect cuticle were found in the gut of the Assam specimen, the remains of an insect larva in the gut of the Laos specimen.

Distribution.

India: Assam, northern Laos.

Species:

Trichocateres fasciculifer Kolibáč, 2010; NE India: Assam, N Laos (JK)

Kolibáč, J. 2010: 36

Figures

Figure 12. A Grynocharis oblonga B Grynocharina peltiformis C Lophocateres pusillus D Promanus auripilis E Promanus subcostatus F Promanus depressus G Peltonyxa sp., Australia, NSW H Trichocateres fasciculifer.

Map 13. A distribution of the tribe Lophocaterini.