Harpapion safranum Wang & Alonso-Zarazaga

Wang, Zhiliang, Alonso-Zarazaga, Miguel A. & Zhang, Runzhi, 2013, A taxonomic study on the genus Harpapion Voss, 1966 from China (Coleoptera, Apionidae), ZooKeys 358, pp. 25-44 : 33-37

Harpapion safranum Wang & Alonso-Zarazaga sp. n. Figures 13, 14, 41-52

Description

(holotype). Measurements (in mm): Standard length: 1.84. Rostrum: length: 0.77, maximum width: 0.16. Pronotum: median length: 0.53, maximum width: 0.57. Elytra: median length: 1.33, maximum width: 0.92.

Integument (Figures 41-42) generally piceous, antennae, prorostrum and tarsi dark reddish brown, femora reddish brown, and tibiae pale reddish brown.

Vestiture composed of distinctly whitish, thick, lanceolate scales with acute to rounded apices, rarely truncate (some scales on hind margin of eyes elliptical to nearly rhombic) and grayish acute hairs on antennae, tibiae and tarsomeres. Pronotal vestiture centripetal, scales on apex parallel to margin, but on base perpendicular to margin, pronotal disc with scales distinctly longer and thicker than on legs, reaching base of anterior scales. Elytral scales in one row per interstriae, two irregular rows on disc, scales on striae 1/2-2/3 as long as scales on interstriae. One specialized seta on apical region of 9th interstria.

Rostrum cylindrical and moderately robust, in dorsal view 8.25 × as long as apical width, 1.45 × as long as pronotum in midline, widest at mesorostrum, prorostrum constricted apicad, metarostrum with sides almost parallel, metarostrum with median dorsal area impunctate, dorsal submedial sulci and dorsal submedial keels weak, minutely punctate and pubescent, lateral area of metarostrum and prorostrum with weak oblong confluent punctures, weakly microreticulate, apical third of prorostrum almost impunctate, smooth and shining; in lateral view moderately curved, sides converging to apex, carinae and sulci weak, ventral medial keel fine and complete, ventral sublateral keels with dense line of scales under mesorostrum.

Head transverse, frons very weakly convex, as wide as metarostrum, constricted behind eyes, medial area impunctate and glabrous, lateral areas with irregular rows of punctures and scales, subocular keel not reaching middle of eyes, area between subocular keel flat, microreticulate and impunctate. Eyes round, moderately convex.

Antennae inserted at basal 0.23 of rostral length, scape 3.20 × as long as wide, about as long as mesorostral width. Pedicel 2.00 × as long as wide, as long as desmomeres 2+3, desmomeres 2-3 1.33 × as long as wide, desmomeres 4-5 and 7 1.00 × as long as wide, desmomere 6 0.75 × as long as wide. Club oval, slightly flattened, 1.88 × as long as wide, as long as last 5.5 desmomeres, sutures obsolete.

Pronotum campaniform, 0.93 × as long as wide, apical constriction relatively strong, little wider at base than at middle, base 1.39 × as wide as apex, bisinuate with rounded medial projection towards scutellum, basal flange developed. Prescutellar fovea shallow, very short, about as broad as diameter of one puncture, as long as 2-3 diameters, reaching 1/4 of pronotum. Discal punctures relatively deep, ca. 0.5 –1× diameter apart, interspaces moderately convex, microreticulate.

Scutellum elongate, triangular, ca. 2.00 × as long as wide, 2 basal tubercles fused at base in front view, apical tubercle rounded, slightly prominent and hardly visible in lateral view (Figure 13).

Elytra elongate, 1.45 × as long as wide, 2.51 × as long as pronotum, widest almost at middle, humeri moderately developed, striae deep, about as wide as interstriae, punctures elongate, apically connected 1+2+9, 3+4, 5+6, 7+8, interstriae evidently convex with small punctures, surface distinctly wrinkled, not microreticulate, shining.

Ventral areas. Mesocoxae separated by a distance of 0.17 × own transverse diameter. Metasternum 0.88 × as long as mesocoxae. Mesosternal apophysis more prominent than metasternal apophysis. Anterior metasternal rim present. Abdominal ventrites microreticulate, length ratio along midline: 32-16-4-6-17. Ventrites 1-4coarsely punctate, Ventrite 5 minutely punctate with median convexity. Suture I marked only on sides, erased in middle, distance from hind margin of metacoxae as long as ventrite 2. Ventrite 5semicircular, transverse, 0.41 × as long as wide. Pygidium subsemicircular, 0.71 × as long as wide, apical flange strongly raised with row of punctures and hairs; transverse sulcus deep; disc pubescent and punctured as that of ventrite 5 (Figures 49-50).

Legs. Profemora little larger than metafemora, slightly robust, 3.11 × as long as wide, widest at middle, minutely punctate. Protibiae almost straight, 7.05 × as long as wide (Figure 33). Protarsomere 1 1.93 × as long as wide, protarsomere 2 1.25 × as long as wide, protarsomere 3bilobed, 0.82 × as long as wide, lobes narrow, onychium 2.75 × as long as wide, projecting from lobes of tarsomere 3 for 0.55 × its length. Meso- and metatibial mucrones distinctly elongate and bent at apices (Figure 14), mesotibial mucro ca. 0.50 × as long as apical tibial width, metatibial mucro longer than mesotibial one, ca. 0.67 × as long as apical tibial width. Tarsal claws with conspicuous obtuse basal teeth.

Genitalia and terminalia. Eighth sternite moderately elongate, constricted to narrow, truncate apical margin, basal margin with sides distinctly extended backward (Figure 51). Ninth sternite (spiculum gastrale) Y-shaped, not winged, manubrium ca. 3.00 × as long as arms (Figure 52). Penis in dorsal view with pedon slightly widened at level of ostium, distinctly constricted apicad, apical plate ogival, apex with button-like prong, tectum with sides almost parallel, apically moderately constricted, in lateral view, pedon depressed, moderately curved, apical plate slightly incurved; temones about 0.50 × as long as aedeagal tube; endophallus without obvious structures (Figures 47-48). Tegminal plate articulated with free ring, laterally enveloping,; apical membranous area of parameroid lobes undeveloped, only laterally visible, without microchaetae; basal sclerotized area extremely enlarged and extended apicad, triangular-shaped, with 5 short macrochaetae on each lateroapical edge, without sensilla; fenestrae short, transverse, narrowly separated; linea arquata present, very close to basal margin of fenestrae; prostegium bidentate, teeth acute, slightly curved; median unsclerotized strip elongate and surpassing fenestrae. Manubrial apex evidently and asymmetrically broadened (Figures 45-46).

Variation. Male paratypes. Measurements (mm, n=5): Standard length: 1.62-1.90. Rostrum: length: 0.61-0.75, maximum width: 0.14-0.16. Pronotum: median length: 0.47-0.57, maximum width: 0.51-0.60. Elytra: median length: 1.26-1.46, maximum width: 0.72-0.92. Female paratypes (Figures 43-44). Measurements (mm, n=2): Standard length: 1.801.86. Rostrum: length: 0.720.79, maximum width: 0.160.17. Pronotum: median length: 0.510.54, maximum width: 0.560.58. Elytra: median length: 1.441.42, maximum width: 0.900.91. Females differ from males by the rostrum entirely black without reddish apex, about 1.41 –1.46× longer than pronotum, antennae inserted at basal 0.33 of rostrum, tibiae simple, unarmed. Otherwise practically as in male.

Type-locality.

China, Guangdong: Zhongshan City eighth district, 22°30'58.82"N, 113°23'36.81"E.

Materials. Holotype: 1♂: 广东中山八区 [Guǎngdōng Zhōngshān Bāqū] / 1957.VII.31; 中国科学院 [ zhōngguókēxuéyuàn] / 山坡草地 [ shānpōcǎodì] / 46; IOZ(E)1639313; Paratypes: 3♂: Kwangtung [Guǎngdōng] S. China / Loh Fau Shan, [ Luófúshān], / Poh-lo [ Bóluó] District / April 6-8, 1934 / K. C. Yeung; En-071380~En-071382; 1♂: Hong Kong: Un-long [ Yuánláng], / New Territories / September 19. 1940 / J. Linsley Gressitt; En-071403; 1♂: Hainan I. South China / Ta-hian [probably Dàoxiǎng], Alt. 300 met. / N. side, 5- Finger Mts. [ Wúzhĭshān] / VI-12-1935 / L. Gressitt / En-071423; 1♀: Kwangtung [Guǎngdōng], S. China / Ho-yün [Heyun] to Wui-lung [probably Wéilóng] / Ho-yuen [ Héyuán] District / Apr. 7, 1940. J. L. / Gressitt & F. K. To; En-071409; 1♀: Kwangtung [Guǎngdōng], S. China. / Sin-fung [Xīnfēng] to Lung-kai [Longgai (probably Lóngjīe which can be found on the modern maps)]. / Sin-fung [Xīnfēng] & Lien-p’ing [ Liánpíng] / Dist’s, Apr. 12, 1940 / L. Gressitt & F. E. To; En-071367.

Distribution.

Guangdong, Hong Kong, Hainan.

Type deposition.

Holotype will be deposited in IZCAS, while all paratypes in BMSYU.

Remarks.

Harpapion safranum sp. n., can be easily recognized from other species from China by its external characters (red colour of entire legs and antennae, etc.) However, it is extremely similar to Harpapion considerandum which can be distinguished from the former by genitalia which were described above and illustrated in Figures 1-7.

Etymology.

This species is named safranum after its testaceous legs. This is a Medieval Latin name of the plant now called Crocus sativus L. (saffron) which yields a yellowish-orange dye. It is considered a noun in apposition.