Pseudozena, Grzymala & Leschen, 2020

Grzymala, Traci L. & Leschen, Richard A. B., 2020, Sexual Dimorphism of New Zealand Puppet Beetles (Aderidae, Coleoptera, Tenebrionoidea): Systematic Revision, Description of Three New Genera, and Phylogeny for Zenascus, gen. n., Zootaxa 4889 (1), pp. 1-59 : 23-24

Pseudozena gen. n.

Type species: Pseudozena denticulata sp. n., here designated.

Etymology. The genus is named with reference to the deceptively similar overall dorsal habitus to the other more speciose New Zealand genus, Zenascus . The name is formed from the Greek pseudo (misrepresent, practice trickery) combined with zena as a reference to Zenascus .

Diagnosis. This genus is distinguished by the subglobular scape and pedicel, the anntennomere 3 subequal in length and width to antennomere 4, the biseriate elytra, and the metafemur featuring a characteristic ctenidium accompanied by a row of sclerotized ridges present on the postero-ventral margin of both males and females ( Figs 9D & 9F ). The genus is superficially very similar to the genus Zenascus , but can be distinguished by the subequal size and shape of antennomeres 3 & 4, the distinct modifications to the metafemora, and the interstitial setae of the elytra subequal in length and width to the primary setae.

Description. Average size for family, length 1.60–1.67 mm. Head abruptly constricted posteriorly, forming a neck, concealed within pronotum. Eyes moderately protuberant, coarsely faceted, with moderate anterior emargination, with short interfacetal setae. Antennal insertions anterad of eyes and eye emargination, produced on slight ridge. Frontoclypeal suture present. Mandible bidentate. Pronotum ( Fig. 8A ) subquadrate, width subequal to slightly greater than length; pronotal width 0.5× elytral width; sides sinuate, anterior angles rounded, posterior angles rounded; disc with two strongly impressed basal fovea, and a distinct transverse sulcus just anterad of center; surface with deep, elongate punctures, unevenly spaced from one another, separated by an average of two punctural lengths; punctures confused on central disc. Prosternal process short, extremely narrowed posteriorly, apex acute. Mesonotum with slight central anterior notch; suture between mesonotum and scutellar shield distinct, centrally emarginate; scutellar shield ( Fig. 8D ) subquadrate, length approximately equal to width, posterior margin straight, lateral apices broadly rounded. Elytron ( Figs 8E, 8F ) with moderately, obliquely impressed subscutellar depression; surface with elongate, elliptical punctures, separated by an average of three punctural lengths, pubescence biseriate, primary setae decumbent, thin, length about equal to two punctural lengths; secondary setae subdecumbent, subequal in width and length to primary, 2–3 present between each approximate pair of deep, elongate punctures; posterior margin rounded, without protrusions. Mesoventrite without procoxal rests. Mesanepitsternum with deep, punctation. Mesepimeron with deep punctation. Mesanepisternal-mesepimeral suture faintly indicated by absence of punctures. Mesoventral process ( Fig. 8G ) moderately broad, about 0.5× width of mesocoxa, posterior margin inserted below metaventral process. Metaventrite ( Fig. 9A ) with deep punctures, approximately evenly spaced across surface except medially and at margins anterad of metacoxae; discrimen indistinct, without invagination. Metendosternite with moderately long lateral arms; anterior process absent; laminae absent. Proleg with femur ( Fig. 8C ) simple, width subequal basally, medially, and apically; tibia gradually expanded in width apically, without apical spine; tarsomeres 1–3 subequal in width, each ventrally with spatulate, adhesive setae, equally concentrated on each; 1 st protarsomere 2.5× longer than protarsomere 2; 2 nd protarsomere 1.5× longer than protarsomere 3; protarsomere 3 expanded ventrally; protarsomere 4 reduced; 5 th protarsomere 2.5× longer than wide. Midleg with femur ( Fig. 9C ) simple, width subequal basally, medially, and apically; tibia straight from base to apex, gradually expanded apically; tarsomeres 1–3 subequal in width, each ventrally with spatulate, adhesive setae, concentrated on mesotarsomere 3; 1 st mesotarsomere 2.5× longer than mesotarsomere 2; 2 nd mesotarsomere 1.5× longer than mesotarsomere 3; mesotarsomere 3 expanded ventrally; mesotarsomere 4 reduced; 5 th mesotarsomere 2.5× longer than wide. Hindleg with coxa ( Fig. 9B ) having deep punctures confined to posterior margin, with suture anterad of punctures; femur ( Figs 9C, 9F ) with distinct line of thickened setae on basal half of ventro-posterior margin, with row of eight sclerotized ridges, confined to basal half, of varying thickness and height, gradually expanded in width medially, medial width approximately 1.8× width basally and apically; tibia ( Fig. 9E ) gradually expanded in width from base to apex, apex inner face without triangular expansion; tarsomere 1 elongate, length approximately 8× width; metatarsomere 2 length subequal to width, expanded ventrally, with spatulate, adhesive setae ventrally; metatarsomere 3 reduced; metatarsomere 4 length approximately 3.5× width. Abdomen with ventrites 1 and 2 connate ( Fig. 8G ), suture not indicated, without appressed thick field of pubescence, length of ventrites 1 and 2 combined 2.5× length of ventrite 3; abdominal process rounded; length of ventrites 3 and 4 subequal; deep punctures confined to abdominal process and medial area of ventrite I, present medially on ventrites 2–4, absent laterally; small, shallow micropunctures present on ventrite 5; ventrite 5 without medial impression. Phallobase ( Fig. 9C ) broadly rounded anteriorly; phallobase and apicale clearly separated, not fused; apicale posteriorly narrowly acute, accessory lobes present with four setae, one long and two short setae at apex, one long seta ventrally below apex; penis with anterior struts barely extending past phallobase.

Females. Ventrite 5 without medial setiferous sex patch. Apex of last abdominal ventrite and tergite without serration.

Distribution. New Zealand.

Remarks. The phylogenetic relationship of Pseudozena to other aderid genera is currently unknown. The size and shape of the pronotum and male genitalia characteristics indicate a possible close relationship with the newly described Zenascus . The specific type of biseriate elytral pubescence and particular modifications to the metafemora are unique characteristics amongst currently described aderid taxa and a phylogenetic analysis is required to determine the relationships of this genus.

Figures

FIGURES 8A–G. Pseudozena denticulata gen n. sp. n., scanning electron micrographs. (A) pronotum; (B) antenna; (C) proleg; (D) scutellum; (E) elytron; (F) elytral integument close-up; (G) mesoventral and metaventral processes.

FIGURES 9A–G. Pseudozena denticulata gen n. sp. n., scanning electron micrographs. (A) metaventrite; (B) metacoxa; (C) midleg (D) metafemur; (E) metatibia; (F) close-up of metafemur ventro-posterior margin; (G) abdomen.