Phorocardius rufiposterus Ruan & Douglas, 2020

Ruan, Yongying, Douglas, Hume B., Qiu, Lu, Chen, Xiaoqin & Jiang, Shihong, 2020, Revision of Chinese Phorocardius species (Coleoptera, Elateridae, Cardiophorinae), ZooKeys 993, pp. 47-120 : 47

7. Phorocardius rufiposterus Ruan & Douglas sp. nov. Figs 14 , 15 , 23G , 24G , 25G , 26F

Type locality.

Yunnan, Xi-shuang-ban-na, Xiao-meng-yang.

Etymology.

This species is named after the red-brown color of the posterior half of the body.

Distribution.

China (Yunnan).

Differential diagnosis.

Body length greater than 7.0 mm; integument black (non-metallic) anteriorly, fading to red-brown or yellow-brown on posterior half. Prothorax: procoxal cavities closed (narrowly open in a few); prosternal process not strongly narrowed posterad from base to ventral apex in ventral view, ventral apex almost truncate. Male genitalia: paramere acute beyond preapical lateral expansion; with preapical lateral expansion present, without apical mesal callus. Female: apex of last abdominal ventrite (ventrite V) with longitudinal slender blade-shaped projection at middle, deeply emarginate at sides.

This species is unique for its closed procoxal cavities.

It resembles Phorocardius magnus Fleutiaux, 1931 in the general body shape and the lighter color on the posterior half of body. They can be distinguished by the following characters: in P. rufiposterus Ruan & Douglas, sp. nov., aedeagus with apex of paramere robust (sides convex in dorsal view before large preapical expansion), apex spear-shaped in ventral view with acute tip and triangular preapical lateral expansion; head with frontal carina convex in frontal view; and female with ventrite V deeply emarginate, a slender blade-shaped projection present at middle (Fig. 15C ), while in P. magnus , body entirely red-brown to brown throughout, with pronotum slightly darker; aedeagus with paramere narrow and concave before small preapical expansion in ventral view; head with frontal carina straight in frontal view; and female with the apex of abdominal ventrite V tri-lobed, middle lobe semicircular to longitudinal with apex rounded, not slender blade-shaped.

Description.

(based on all type specimens) Body black anteriorly, fading to red-brown or yellow-brown on posterior half. Dorsum glabrous and shiny. Head black, with mouthparts red-brown to dark brown. Antennae brown. Pronotum black, with anterior and posterior edge brown. Elytra black to dark red-brown anteriorly, fading to red-brown or yellow-brown posteriorly. Venter black to dark red-brown on anterior half, fading to red-brown or yellow-brown on posterior half. Epipleura red-brown. Legs red-brown to dark red-brown. Body surface covered with yellow-grey pubescence.

Measurements.

(based on all type specimens) Male body length 8.2-10.2 mm, width 2.6-3.2 mm. Female body length 8.5-10.6 mm, width 3.0-3.5 mm. Body length to width ratio 3.0-3.2. Pronotal width to length ratio 1.0-1.1. Pronotal width to body width ratio 0.87-0.90. Elytral length to pronotal length ratio 2.3-2.4; elytron length to width ratio 4.1-4.2.

Head. Frons and vertex with interspaces between punctures 1.5-4 × average puncture diameter, sparsest at centre of frons. Frontal carina in frontal view convex, not straight. Antenna with apex not reaching beyond posterior angle of pronotum. Distance between eyes to width of eye ratio in frontal view 3.0-3.2. Antenna length to body length ratio, in male 0.36-0.37, in female 0.33-0.34; proportions of antennomere length (male) as follows: 100 (scape); 51-59; 75-80; 71-76; 75-80; 73-80; 68-78; 67-75; 73-80; 78-80; 92-99.

Prothorax. Pronotum in dorsal view (Fig. 14A ): sides evenly convex from apex to slight concavity near posterior third, widest near mid-length; posterior angles with lateral sides almost straight, not bulged; surface with interspaces between punctures 1.5-2.5 × average puncture diameter. Punctures much smaller or nearly absent posterad than at centre of disc. In ventral view, ventral surface of prosternal process with sides carinate and slightly and gradually narrow from anterior to mid-length, parallel-sided from mid-length to posterior end, apex almost truncate. In lateral view, prosternal process with ventral surface curved slightly dorsad, posterior end with ventral 2/3 almost straight, dorsal 1/3 produced posteriorly (Fig. 24G , upper arrow). Procoxal cavity closed (Fig. 15E ), narrowly open in a few.

Pterothorax (Figs 24G , 25G ). Mesepisternum in ventral view with antero-mesal angle acute, long (Fig. 25G , upper (green) arrow). Projections on posterior edge of mesosternum: in ventral view weakly developed (Fig. 25G , lower (red) arrow); in lateral view almost absent (Fig. 24G , lower (red) arrow). Scutellar shield: width to length ratio 0.88-0.90; anterolateral edges slightly sinuate; posterior apex pointed. Elytra: upper edge of epipleura with minute serrations.

Legs. Length ratio of metatarsomeres I-V (excluding claws): 100; 80-90; 65-75; 57-62; 137-155. Claw with ventral apex almost as large as dorsal apex.

Abdomen. Lateral edges of visible abdominal ventrites I-V with minute serrations.

Male genitalia. Robust in ventral and lateral views. Median lobe in ventral view gradually narrowed from base to near apex, apex rounded to apically flattened. Median lobe in lateral view curved ventrad, with apex dilated and recurved dorsad. Paramere in ventral view: wide, width 2.5-3.5 × median lobe width (measured at mid-length of paramere and median lobe respectively); widest near mid-length, gradually narrowed and with outer sides evenly convex towards apex; apex spear-shaped, with acute tip and triangular preapical lateral expansion, apical mesal callus absent. Paramere in lateral view: robust, almost straight from base to apical third, gradually narrowed and bent ventrad from apical third to apex; apex slightly recurved dorsad, preapical ventral expansion absent, with an angulate structure near apex (see Fig. 14F ), without hook-shaped structure.

Female. Body color like male. Ventrite V deeply emarginate at apex, with longitudinal slender blade-shaped projection at midline (Fig. 15C ) (male with ventrite V entirely convex and rounded). Proximal sclerites of bursa copulatrix oval, apex acute (Fig. 14H ): base with without concavity, each with 14-16 large spines occupying two-thirds of edges, 9-10 smaller spines on disc.

Type material.

Holotype. ♂ (IZCAS), labels: 1) Yunnan, Xi-shuang-ban-na, Xiao-meng-yang (小勐养), 850 m, Chinese Academy of Sciences [in Chinese]; 2) 1957.VI.18, leg. Linchao Zang [in Chinese]; 3) Holotype Phorocardius rufiposterus sp. nov. Des. Ruan et al., 2019.

Paratypes (23♂, 11♀). 1♂ (SZPT), labels: 1) Yunnan, Xi-shuang-ban-na, Xiao-meng-yang (小勐养), 850 m, Chinese Academy of Sciences [in Chinese]; 2) 1957.IX.13, leg. Shuyong Wang [in Chinese]; 3) Phorocardius sp. det. Shihong Jiang, 1999; 4) Paratype Phorocardius rufiposterus sp. nov. Des. Ruan et al., 2019. • 2♀ (SZPT), labels: 1) Yunnan, Lin-cang, Yun-xian County, Man-wang township (漫湾镇), light trap, VI-VII, leg. Zichun Xiong, Shenzhen Polytechnic [in Chinese]; 2) Paratype Phorocardius rufiposterus sp. nov. Des. Ruan et al., 2019. • 2♂ (SZPT), labels: 1) CN: Yunnan, Xinping County (新平), 2013.VI.7, Collector unknown, Shenzhen Polytechnic [partly in Chinese]; 2) Paratype Phorocardius rufiposterus sp. nov. Des. Ruan et al., 2019. • 1♂ (SZPT), labels: 1) Yunnan, Xi-shuang-ban-na, Meng-a (勐阿), 1000 m, Chinese Academy of Sciences [in Chinese]; 2) 1958.VI.21, leg. Shuyong Wang [in Chinese]; 3) Phorocardius sp. det. Shihong Jiang, 1999; 4) Paratype Phorocardius rufiposterus sp. nov. Des. Ruan et al., 2019. • 2♂2♀ (IZCAS), labels: 1) Yunnan, Xi-shuang-ban-na, Xiao-meng-yang (小勐养), 850 m, Chinese Academy of Sciences [in Chinese]; 2) 1957.VI.14-20, leg. Shuyong Wang & Linchao Zang [in Chinese]; 3) Paratype Phorocardius rufiposterus sp. nov. Des. Ruan et al., 2019. • 2♂ (IZCAS), labels: 1) Shuan Jiang (双江县), 55-VI; 2) Paratype Phorocardius rufiposterus sp. nov. Des. Ruan et al., 2019. • 1♂ (IZCAS), labels: 1) Yunnan, Xi-shuang-ban-na, Meng-la (勐腊), 620-650 m, Chinese Academy of Sciences [in Chinese]; 2) 1958.VI.10, leg. Yirang Zhang [in Chinese]; 3) Paratype Phorocardius rufiposterus sp. nov. Des. Ruan et al., 2019. • 3♂4♀ (IZCAS), labels: 1) Yunnan, Xi-shuang-ban-na, Meng-a (勐阿), 800-1080 m, Chinese Academy of Sciences [in Chinese]; 2) 1958.V-VIII, leg. Shuyong Wang & Fuji Pu [in Chinese]; 4) Paratype Phorocardius rufiposterus sp. nov. Des. Ruan et al., 2019. • 4♂2♀ (IZCAS), labels: 1) Yunnan, Xi-shuang-ban-na, Meng-hun (勐混), 650-950 m, Chinese Academy of Sciences [in Chinese]; 2) 1958.VI.3-15, leg. Xuwu Meng, Shuyong Wang & Chunpei Hong [in Chinese]; 3) Paratype Phorocardius rufiposterus sp. nov. Des. Ruan et al., 2019. • 4♂ (IZCAS), labels: 1) Yunnan, Xi-shuang-ban-na, Meng-hun (勐混), 650-1200 m, Chinese Academy of Sciences [in Chinese]; 2) 1958.V-VII, leg. Xuwu Meng & Zhixing Chen [in Chinese]; 3) Paratype Phorocardius rufiposterus sp. nov. Des. Ruan et al., 2019. • 1♂ (TARI, ex. SZPT), labels: 1) Yunnan, Xi-shuang-ban-na, Meng-hun (勐混), 750 m, Chinese Academy of Sciences [in Chinese]; 2) 1958.V-31, leg. Xuwu Meng [in Chinese]; 3) Paratype Phorocardius rufiposterus sp. nov. Des. Ruan, 2018. • 1♀ (IZCAS), labels: 1) Yunnan, Jing-dong (景东), 1170 m, 1958.VII.3 [in Chinese]; 2) Paratype Phorocardius rufiposterus sp. nov. Des. Ruan et al., 2019. • 1♂ (IZCAS), labels: 1) southwest Yunnan, close to Jing-ping (金平), 1170 m, 1956.VII.27, leg. панфилов [written in Russian]; 2) Paratype Phorocardius rufiposterus sp. nov. Des. Ruan et al., 2019. • 1♂ (IZCAS), labels: 1) Yunnan, Lan-cang (澜沧), 1000 m, 1957.VII.29, leg. Lingchao Zang [in Chinese]; 2) Paratype Phorocardius rufiposterus sp. nov. Des. Ruan et al., 2019.

Remarks.

This species is unique for its closed procoxal cavities, which has not been reported in other Phorocardius species. However, other aspects of this species are consistent with generic traits of Phorocardius . These are: characteristic claws and female and male genitalia.

Integument color varies slightly between individuals. However, the gradual change of color from anterior to posterior end of the body can be observed in all specimens.

Based on specimen information, this species inhabits low to middle elevations (ca. 500-1500 m) in Yunnan Prov., south China. Yunnan is rainy, subtropical to tropical, with evergreen broad-leaf forest or tropical rain forest. This species is distributed only in the Oriental Region.

Figures

Figure 14. Phorocardius rufiposterus Ruan & Douglas, sp. nov. A holotype, habitus, dorsal view, arrow indicating claws B holotype, habitus, ventral view C female abdominal sternite VIII, dorsal view (paratype) D ovipositor, dorsal view (paratype) E aedeagus, ventral view (paratype) F aedeagus, lateral view (paratype), arrow indicating apex of paramere and median lobe G aedeagus, dorsal view (paratype), arrow indicating apex of paramere H distal (upper side) and proximal sclerites of bursa copulatrix.

Figure 15. Phorocardius rufiposterus Ruan & Douglas, sp. nov. A pronotum and scutellar shield of holotype, dorsal view B head, frontal view C last abdominal ventrite (ventrite V) of female, dorsal view, arrow indicating blade-like projection D posterior edge of pronotum, left side, dorsal view, arrows indicating sublateral incisions E procoxa, lateral-ventral view, arrow indicating closed procoxal cavity.

Figure 23. Shape of supraantennal carina of Chinese Phorocardius species. Arrows indicating supraantennal carina forked near eye. A P. alterlineatus Ruan & Douglas, sp. nov. B P. flavistriolatus Ruan & Douglas, sp. nov. C P. florentini. D P. magnus. E P. manuleatus. F P. minutus Ruan & Douglas, sp. nov. G P. rufiposterus Ruan & Douglas, sp. nov. H P. unguicularis. I P. yunnanensis Ruan & Douglas, sp. nov. J P. zhiweii Ruan, Douglas & Qiu, sp. nov. K head, frontal-lateral view, arrows indicating forked supraantennal carina.

Figure 24. Lateral view of prosternal process and mesosternum of Chinese Phorocardius species. Upper green arrows indicating shape of posterior end of prosternal process; lower red arrows indicating projections (absent or present) on posterior edge of mesosternum (i. e., on anteroventral angle of mesosternal fossa according to Douglas 2003). A P. alterlineatus Ruan & Douglas, sp. nov. B P. flavistriolatus Ruan & Douglas, sp. nov. C P. florentini. D P. magnus. E P. manuleatus. F P. minutus Ruan & Douglas, sp. nov. G P. rufiposterus Ruan & Douglas, sp. nov. H P. unguicularis. I P. yunnanensis Ruan & Douglas, sp. nov. J P. zhiweii Ruan, Douglas & Qiu, sp. nov.

Figure 25. Ventral view of pro- and mesothorax of Chinese Phorocardius species. Showing shape of ventral surface of prosternal process (upper, yellow dashed line), mesepisternum (middle, green arrow and dashed line) and projections on posterior edge of mesosternum (lower, red arrow and solid line) middle, green arrows indicating anterior-mesal angle of mesepisternum. A P. alterlineatus Ruan & Douglas, sp. nov. B P. flavistriolatus Ruan & Douglas, sp. nov. C P. florentini. D P. magnus. E P. manuleatus. F P. minutus Ruan & Douglas, sp. nov. G P. rufiposterus Ruan & Douglas, sp. nov. H P. unguicularis. I P. zhiweii Ruan, Douglas & Qiu, sp. nov.

Figure 26. Female abdominal ventrite V in Chinese Phorocardius species (ventral view). A P. alterlineatus Ruan & Douglas, sp. nov. B P. flavistriolatus Ruan & Douglas, sp. nov. C P. florentini. D P. magnus. E P. manuleatus F P. rufiposterus Ruan & Douglas, sp. nov. G P. unguicularis H P. yunnanensis Ruan & Douglas, sp. nov, arrows showing incisions near apex.