Oedichirus lucabosmontis nov.sp.

(Figs 24)

Material studied: ♀ Holotype: INDIA, Madras, Anaimalai H., 18 km N. de Valparai, 1250 m, 18-XI-72, Besuchet Löbl Mussard / HOLOTYPE Oedichirus lucabosmontis des. 2015 G. de Rougemont [MHNG].

Description: length: 6.3 mm; length of fore-body: 3; length of head: 0.82; breadth of head: 0.9; length of antenna: 2.32; length of pronotum: 1.17; breadth of pronotum: 0.92; length of elytron: 1; breadth of elytra: 1.25. Fore-body rufo-testaceous, abdominal segments III-VI somewhat darker, reddish-brown, segments VII-IX black. Body devoid of microsculpture except on row of keels on anterior margins of tergites.

Pubescence erect, short and sparse on fore-body longer on abdomen. Habitus: Fig. 24h

Head moderately transverse, eyes large and prominent; post-ocular border consisting of a narrow groove and fine carina ending well before posterior margin of eye; disc with only one pair of punctures before base, apart from a number of minute setiferous punctures on frons, on inner margins of eyes, and in post-ocular groove. Pronotum very convex, the sides rounded between anterior angles and narrowly bordered base; lateral margins entirely but inconspicuously bordered; disc without series of punctures, with only 2-3 lateral punctures and very small punctures along anterior and lateral margins. Micropterous, elytra broad, very short, humeral angles completely obsolete; disc with only a few, small, scattered, slightly asperate punctures. Punctures of abdominal tergites arranged in three discrete transverse rows, with no punctures adjacent to anterior row of keels and grooves.

Female: sternite: Fig. 24vp

This is a sibling species of the south Indian endemics O. cardamomensis nov.sp. and O. coorgensis nov.sp. of which it is a vicariant in the Anamalai hills. It differs from both those species in its greater size and proportionately broader fore-body, and most conspicuously by the head being impunctate but for one pair of punctures near the posterior margin. This alone distinguishes the new species from all other oriental Oedichirus .

Key 4.