Theopea sekerkai sp. nov.

(Figs 18 D–18F, 20)

Type series. Holotype ♂ (NMPC): LAOS. Attapeu: Annam Highlands Mits., Dong Amphan NBCA, 15°05’09” N 107°25’05”E, 1150m, 30.IV.–5.V.2010, leg. J. Hájek. Paratypes. 1♂, 1♀ (NMPC), same data as holotype. LAOS. Attapeu: 2♂♂, 1♀ (BMNH), Bolaven Plateau, 15 km SE of Ban Huangkong, Nong Lom (lake) env., 15°02’N 106°35’E, 800m, 18–30.IV.1999, leg. E. Jendek & O. Šauša; Bolikhamsai : 1♂, 1♀ (RBCN), Ban Nape—Kaew Nua Pass, 18°21’3” N 105°09’1”E, 600m, 18.IV.–1.V.1998, leg. E. Jendek & O. Sausa ; 2♂♂, 1♀ (RBCN), same but with “leg. O. Sausa ”; Kharimouane: 1♂, 1♀ (RBCN), Nakai env., Route no 8, 17°42’8” N 105°09’1”E, 560m, 4–8.V.1998, leg. E. Jendek & O. Sausa.

Description. Length 5.6–6.1 mm, width 2.3–2.5 mm. General color (Figs 18 D–18F) metallic blue or purple; mouth parts brown or dark brown; antennae yellowish brown but five apical antennomeres more or less darkened; legs yellow, but tarsomere III and apex of tarsomere V darkened. Vertex with reticulate microsculpture. Antennae filiform in males (Fig. 20A), antennomeres III–V slightly curved, length ratios of antennomeres I–XI 1.0: 0.3: 0.7: 1.0: 1.0: 1.0: 1.0: 0.9: 0.9: 0.8: 1.0, length to width ratios of antennomeres I–XI 3.0: 1.7: 2.6: 3.3: 3.4: 3.5: 3.5: 3.4: 3.3: 3.5: 4.6; slender in females (Fig. 20B), antennomeres III–X straight, length ratios of antennomeres I–XI 1.0: 0.3: 0.6: 0.9: 0.9: 0.8: 0.8: 0.7: 0.7: 0.7: 0.9, length to width ratios of antennomeres I–XI 3.8: 1.7: 3.3: 4.8: 4.5: 4.2: 4.2: 4.3: 4.3: 4.4: 4.9. Pronotum transverse, 1.3x wider than long, disc with one pair of lateral depressions, reticulate microsculpture, and with dense, coarse punctures; lateral margin basally narrowed; apical and basal margins subtruncate. Elytra elongate and parallel-sided, 1.8x longer than wide; disc with reticulate microsculpture, dense, coarse punctures, arranged into longitudinal rows, and with distinct, longitudinal ridges between longitudinal rows of punctures, these ridges weaker in males. Apical margin of abdominal ventrite V in females (Fig. 20H) subtruncate, but slightly depressed near sides. Tarsomeres I of front legs swollen in males (Fig. 20I), subparallel in females (Fig. 20J). Penis (Figs 20 C–20E) extremely slender, 10.0x longer than wide; apex narrowly rounded, with medial, shallow, narrow notch; sides asymmetrical, expanded to right at apical 1/3, tectum extremely elongate from apical 1/20 to basal 3/10, narrower apically; almost straight in lateral view, moderately curved near base; triangular processes small; internal sac with one slender endophallic sclerite complex, 0.7x as long as penis, composed of two sclerites, basal piece much shorter than sclerotized apical piece, apical piece with apical half membranous, dorsal sclerite extremely elongate, 3.6x longer than basal piece, apex acute in lateral view; ventral sclerites present. Gonocoxae (Fig. 20F) elongate, slightly broadened at apical 1/6, connected from basal 1/3 to apical 1/5; apices narrowly rounded, each gonocoxa with seven setae along outer margin from apex to apical 1/6; with one pair of short lateral processes at basal 2/5. Ventrite VIII (Fig. 20G) longitudinal and well sclerotized; disc with several long setae at sides and near apical margin, and with dense, short setae along apical margin; spiculum extremely slender. Receptacle of spermatheca (Fig. 20K) slightly swollen; pump broad and strongly curved; proximal spermathecal duct deeply inserted into receptacle, broad and short.

Diagnosis. Males of T. sekerkai sp. nov. have asymmetrical penis similar to those of T. coerulea . They differ in possessing a membranous apex of the apical piece and shorter dorsal sclerite, 3.6x longer than basal piece in T. sekerkai sp. nov. (Figs 20 C–20E) contrary to well sclerotized apical piece and shorter dorsal sclerite, 1.6x long than basal piece in T. coerulea (Figs 14 C–14E).

Etymology. This new species is dedicated to Lukáš Sekerka (Curator, NMPC), who assisted this study in many ways.

Distribution. Central and South Laos.