Tegyrius tippui, Prathapan & Viraktamath, 2009

Prathapan, K. D. & Viraktamath, C. A., 2009, Revision of Tegyrius (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini), with descriptions of eight new species, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 157 (2), pp. 326-358 : 354

TEGYRIUS TIPPUI SP. NOV. ( FIGS 108–116 )

Distribution: India (Karnataka).

Host plant: Piper trioicum Roxb. Description: General colour shining black. Proximal six to eight antennomeres yellowish brown, with the rest gradually turning piceous to black. Mouth parts brown. Fore- and middle legs yellowish brown, except with proximal third to two-thirds of the femora being darker. Metafemora piceous, with lighter apex; rest of hind leg yellow brown. Last ventrite of males lighter posteriorly.

Supraorbital sulcus indistinct. Third antennomere distinctly shorter than fourth; fifth subequal to fourth or longer; fifth to seventh subequal; eighth to tenth each slightly shorter than the preceding one; eleventh subequal to or longer than first; distal five to six antennomeres gradually but distinctly thickened. The antennae extend well beyond half of the elytra over the pronotum.

Antebasal transverse impression present on pronotum, with the punctures in the antebasal transverse impression being stronger than those on the rest of the pronotum. Apex of prosternal intercoxal process concave, with a weak preapical transverse depression. Prosternal intercoxal process 2.5 times wider than the distance between the anterior margin of the prosternum and the coxal cavity; distance from the anterior margin of the prosternum to the end of the intercoxal prosternal process 5.8 times the minimum width of the prosternal intercoxal process.

Mesoscutellum broader than long, with narrowly rounded apex. Mesosternum depressed in anterior half, with posterior margin concave. Elytra with maximum width at the middle; elytral apex convex, and moderately broad; elytral punctures moderately bold, forming uncountable rows, with the distance between adjacent punctures 0.5–2.5 times the diameter of a puncture in the anterior half of the elytron. First metatarsomere slightly longer than half of metatibia.

Intercoxal ridges on first abdominal ventrite extend slightly beyond a third of the length of the ventrite, and converge slightly posteriorly ( Fig. 108 ). Lobe in the middle of the posterior margin of the last visible ventrite of males with convex posterior margin ( Fig. 109 ). Last visible tergite of females with shallow groove.

In lateral view, aedeagus with distal two-thirds nearly straight, and with an acute apex ( Fig. 111 ); ventral surface with an acute, wedge-like, preapical longitudinal ridge, with the distal end triangular, but with the lateral angles not being prominent ( Fig. 110 ); distal opening partially covered with lamina ( Fig. 112 ); stem of tegmen longer than arm ( Fig. 113 ).

Spermatheca with horizontal part of pump subequal to vertical part; receptacle about 2.5 times longer than wide, with the outer side convex, and with the inner side apparently convex, with the recep-

Figures

Figures 108–113. Tegyrius tippui sp. nov.: 108, intercoxal ridges on first abdominal ventrite; 109, male last abdominal ventrite; 110, aedeagus, ventral view; 111, aedeagus, lateral view; 112, distal opening; 113, tegmen.

Figures 114–116. Tegyrius tippui sp. nov.: 114, spermatheca; 115, vaginal palpi; 116, tignum.