Epitrichius fraterculus (Moser) Moser, 2008

Li, Chun-Lin, Yang, Ping-Shih & Wang, Kuo-Sheng Hsu Chuan-Chan, 2008, A review of the genus Epitrichius Tagawa, with an analysis of the internal sac armature of the male genitalia (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae), Zootaxa 1895, pp. 10-24 : 23

Epitrichius fraterculus (Moser) , new combination & new status

Trichius fraterculus Moser, 1902: 533 (description); Schenkling 1922: 32 (catalog); Paulian 1961: 16 (key) Trichius fraterculus fraterculus: Krikken 1972: 488 (new status, notes and distribution)

Trichius fraterculus duporti Bourgoin : Krikken, 1972: 489 (new status, notes and distribution). New synonym.

Specimens examined. VIETNAM. Tonkin, Montes Manson (presently Mauson Mountains, northern Vietnam), April, Mai, 2–3000’, H. Fruhstorfer (1 male, Mus. Hauschild, ZMUC); ibid (1 male, coll. Janson-Valck Lucassen, RMNH); Vin Phu: Tam Dao, 28-30-V-1995 (1 male, CCLI); ibid, 20-V-1995, M. Sat (1 female, CCLI); ibid, IV-1994 (2 males, 1 female, CCLI); ibid, 900- 950m., 14-18-V-1999, S. Nomura (1 male, 1 female, NSMT).

Distribution. Northern Vietnam ( Fig. 19 ).

Remarks. Krikken (1972) divided E. fraterculus into two subspecies by considering the subspecies, E. f. duporti , with metallic luster on head and pronotum was found south of the Red River and compared it with its nominate subspecies without metallic luster which was north of the Red River. However, we have received a series of specimens with metallic luster which were recently collected from Tam Dao, a well-known place located north of the Red River in the province of Vinh Phu, Vietnam. Based on this it can be said that the Red River does not constitute a natural barrier to geographically isolate either subspecies. Additionally, the genital characters of the parameres and the internal sac armatures are identical to each male specimen examined. Accordingly, the individuals possess cupreous or copper green luster on both the head and the pronotum should be considered intraspecific variation and the subspecies E. f. duporti should be treated as a junior synonym of E. fraterculus .

Figures

FIGURE 19. Geographical distribution of the Epitrichius species: Epitrichius bowringii (open circle), Epitrichius fraterculus and Epitrichius versutus (black square) and Epitrichius shinshuigensis (black triangle).