Benedictus quadrimaculatus Ruan & Konstantinov, 2023

Ruan, Yongying, Konstantinov, Alexander S., Damaska, Albert F., Zheng, Lihao, Chen, Jun & Meng, Ziye, 2023, Description of three new species of Benedictus (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini) from China, with comments on their biology and modified ethanol traps for collecting flea beetles, ZooKeys 1177, pp. 147-165 : 147

Benedictus quadrimaculatus Ruan & Konstantinov sp. nov.

Figs 4 , 5

Type material.

Holotype: ♂ (SZPT), labels: 1) China, Yunnan, Yuanyang County, Xinjie, 23.1163°N, 102.7690°E, 1900 m. Leg. Y. Ruan & M. Zhang 2019.VII.28, Extracted from moss; 2) HOLOTYPE Benedictus quadrimaculatus sp. nov. Des. Ruan et al. 2022.

Paratypes: 6♂6♀ (SZPT; some would be transferred to IZCAS), labels: 1) China, Yunnan, Yuanyang County, Xinjie, 23.1163°N, 102.7690°E, 1900 m. Leg. Y. Ruan & M. Zhang 2019.VII.28, Extracted from moss; 2) PARATYPE Benedictus quadrimaculatus sp. nov. Des. Ruan et al. 2022.

Diagnosis.

This new species may be distinguished from other known species of Benedictus by the following combination of characters: in ventral or dorsal view, apex of median lobe of aedeagus wide and emarginate at middle; four dark maculations present on the abdominal tergites (Figs 4G , 5A, B ), which are more prominent when the beetle is alive; antennal calli subquadrate with a fovea present between them. Black spots on the abdominal tergites that are visible through elytra is a highly unusual feature that we have not observed in flea beetles before.

Description.

Male body length 1.35-1.45 mm, width 0.80-0.85 mm; female body length 1.45-1.50 mm, width 0.80-0.85 mm (based on all type specimens). Ratio of body length to body width: 1.70-1.77 (one male and one female measured). Entire body evenly yellow-brown to chestnut-brown, including antennae and legs.

Head. Head hypognathous. Vertex smooth, without reticulation; a few punctures bearing setae situated above supraorbital sulci on each side. Antennal calli well delimited, subquadrate, and slightly convex; fovea present between antennal calli. Supracallinal and supraorbital sulci deep, forming oblique straight line. Supra-antennal sulcus poorly developed. Facial part of head relatively short. Frontal ridge widest between antennal sockets, strongly narrowed and ridged towards clypeus; frons concave and smooth on each side of frontal ridge, surface without minute longitudinal ridges. Proportions of antennomere lengths: 100: 64: 45: 45: 66: 53: 72: 78: 73: 78: 110 (measured in one individual).

Thorax. Pronotum moderately convex, ratio of pronotum width (measured at middle) to length: 1.30-1.42 (measured in one male and one female). Pronotum widest at middle part. Anterolateral callosity strongly developed, elongate, and somewhat straight, with anterolateral setiferous pore situated at posterior end. Procoxal cavities open posteriorly. Base of pronotum with deep and transverse antebasal groove bearing coarse and large punctures; transverse antebasal groove delimited by a well-developed longitudinal groove on each side.

Elytra convex, humeral calli absent. Elytra with punctures arranged in regular lines. Hind wings absent.

Legs. First male protarsomere larger than that of female. Length of metatibia to first metatarsomere in male: 100: 30.

Male genitalia. Median lobe of aedeagus in ventral view: widest at middle; ventral surface smooth; sides parallel from base to apical fourth, abruptly narrowed with a step at apical fourth; apex wide, emarginated in middle, without denticle. Median lobe of aedeagus in lateral view: slightly sinuate, curved ventrad at basal 3/4, bent dorsad at apical 1/4, apex straight.

Female genitalia. Spermathecal pump cylindrical, very slightly curved, apex broad and rounded; without clear border with receptacle; more or less perpendicular to receptacle. Receptacle of spermatheca pear-shaped, with sides convex. Spermathecal duct without coils.

Variation.

The shape of the pronotum varied slightly by having slightly lesser widths and straighter lateral sides in some individuals.

Etymology.

This species is named after the four dark maculations on its abdominal tergites (Fig. 4G ), which are prominent when the beetle is alive (Fig. 5A, B ).

Type locality.

Yuanyang County, Yunnan Prov., China.

Distribution.

China (Yunnan).

Host plant.

Unknown.

Biology.

This species is extracted from moss cushions containing multiple moss species using a modified fan-driven Berlese funnel (see Ruan et al. 2020). Live individuals were reared in the laboratory environment; however, no feeding behaviour was observed.

Although two larvae (Fig. 5E, F ) were extracted along with the adults from moss, it is unknown if they are conspecific.

Figures

Figure 4. Adult morphology of Benedictus quadrimaculatus sp. nov. A-C holotype, dorsal, lateral, and ventral views D-F median lobe of aedeagus (holotype), ventral, dorsal, and lateral views G sclerotised and darkened area on the abdominal tergites (arrowed), which are visible through elytra as black spots when the beetle is alive H head I last visible abdominal tergite of female J spermatheca K tignum L vaginal palpi M pronotum.

Figure 5. Biology of Benedictus quadrimaculatus sp. nov. A, B photography of living individuals in lab environment C photography of the moss cushion at the type locality D habitat environment near the type locality E, F habitus of two unknown larvae extracted along with the adults of B. quadrimaculatus from moss.