Metataenia (Parachysodema) rothschildi ( Théry 1923 ), Thery, 1923

Nylander, Ulf, 2010, Notes concerning the genus Metataenia Théry, 1923 (Coleoptera, Buprestidae, Chrysochroina) from Papua New Guinea, with description of a new species and designation of a lectotype, Zootaxa 2529, pp. 55-64 : 62-63

Metataenia (Parachysodema) rothschildi ( Théry 1923)

( Figs. 28–31 )

Specimens examined: One female (UN 1207), Jinja - Rossel Is[land], M.B.P. [Milne Bay Province], PNG [ Papua New Guinea], Oct[ober] 1981 (labels Fig 28 ).

Description of female specimen. Head: L/W=16/6=2,7. Black, prominent eyes. Between antennal sockets and vertex deep triangular impression with fine pubescence and dark brown-rusty, pulverulence, faint metallic lustre in scratched areas. Triangular depression bordered by black ridge. Antennae reaching just beyond middle of pronotum. First joint club-shaped, black, followings brown, second sub-cylindrical, third, two times as long as broad, following eight slightly longer than broad. Scutellum small, trapezoid, blue. Pronotum black, broader than long, L/W=0,6, at each side large impression covered with dark brown-rusty pulverulence like that in head impression. At scratched areas silvery-metallic lustre. Pronotum with deep punctuation, centrally planning, at base excavated, no furrow centrally. Elytra: L/W=1,9, parallel in half of its length, thereafter tapering to one spine apices with marked denticulation. Elytra regularly punctuated-striated. Ventral side: Prosternum broad, prosternal process coarsely and densely punctuated. On metepisterna, metacoxae and 2–5 ventrites laterally with dfp. Anal ventrite with short and narrow notch. Legs: Femur blueblack with short pubescence, ventral side with dark brown pads like velvet, (femoral brushes); tibiae blueblack until distal part, brown, tarsi yellow-brown.

Flight period: This specimen was captured in October.

Comments: In Kerremans (1909), the Louisiade Archipelago was then named Iles du Sud-Est. In this Archipelago ( Fig. 32 ), a large number of small islands are included. Misima Island and Rossel Island are larger islands that have moist tropical rainforests with Pandus, Diospyrus and Hopea trees together with other species not yet described. The main threat to the forest is logging and converting the forest to agricultural land and, not least, gold mining.

Figures

FIGURE 32. Regional map of southeastern Papua New Guinea indicating 1) Popondetta, Northern Province; and 2) Misima Island and 3) Rossel Island in the Louisiade Archipelago, Milne Bay Province.

FIGURES 28 – 31. Metataenia (Parachysodema) rothschildi, UN 1207 specimen. Fig. 28, labels; Fig. 29, lateral aspect; Fig. 30, dorsal aspect; Fig. 31, ventral aspect.