Hoplasoma vithala Bezděk, 2014

Bezděk, Jan, 2014, A revision of Hoplasoma acuminatum and H. thailandicum species groups, and re-definition of H. unicolor species group (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae), Zootaxa 3794 (3), pp. 419-434 : 430-431

Hoplasoma vithala Bezděk , sp. nov.

( Figs 22 , 25, 28, 31, 34, 37 , 40, 42, 44 )

Type locality. “ Thailand, Nan prov., Doi Phuka N. P.”.

Type material. Holotype ♂ ( NMPC), labelled: “ THAILAND, Nan prov., / Doi Phuka Nat. Park , / 28.IV.–12.V.2002 / P. Průdek & M. Obořil leg. [w, p]”. Paratypes: ♂ ( NMPC), labelled: “ Annam / Mus. Pragen- / se [w, p]”; 2 ♂ ( JBCB), labelled: “ LAOS, / Luang Namtha [w, p]”; 1 ♂ 3 ♀ ( NHMB), labelled: “ THAILAND, CHIANG MAI Prov. / Ang Khang region, 1600± 100m / 19°53´45´´N 99°02´45´´E, / L. Dembický leg., 2–7.v.2009 [w, p]”; 1 ♀ ( NHMB), labelled: “ LAOS, 1.–16.v.1999, / Louangphrabang pr., / 20°33-4´N 102°14´E, / Ban Song Cha (5 km W), / 1200m, Vít Kubáň leg. [w, p]”; 1 ♀ ( NHMB), labelled: “ LAOS, Louangnamtha pr., / 21°09´N 101°19´E, / Namtha → Muang Sing , / 5–31.v.1997, 900- / Vít Kubáň leg. - 1200 m [w, p]”; 1 ♀ ( NHMB), labelled: “ LAO, Phongsaly prov., / 21°41-2´N 102°6-8´E, / 28.v.–20.vi.2003, / PHONGSALY env. / ~ 1500m, Pacholátko leg. [w, p]”; 1 ♀ ( NHMB), same label data but Brancucci leg. The specimens are provided with one additional red label: “HOLOTYPUS [or PARATYPUS], / Hoplasoma / vithala sp. nov., / J. Bezděk det. 2013”.

Description. Body parallel, glabrous, completely paly brown, except apices of mandibles black. Coloration of legs and antennae variable, in pale specimens of same shade as body or tarsi and last antennomeres more brownish, in darker specimens antennomeres III-XI, tarsi and outer margins of tibiae black.

Measurements. Males: 6.1-6.9 mm (holotype 6.7 mm), females: 6.8-7.8 mm.

Male (holotype, Fig. 22 ). Head lustrous. Labrum transverse, with transverse row of pale setae, anterior margin straight. Anterior part of head impunctate, glabrous. Interocular space wide, 2.0 times as wide as transverse diameter of eye. Interantennal space 0.65 times as wide as transverse diameter of antennal socket. Frontal tubercles large, subtriangular, moderately elevated, lustrous, glabrous, impunctate. Vertex impunctate, glabrous, with group of setae behind each eye. Antennae 0.85 times as long as body, antennomeres II-VI filiform, antennomeres VII-X slightly flattened, in lateral view with apical part slightly bent downwards ( Fig. 34 ), length ratio of antennomeres equals 23-14-24-32-30-30-28-24-24-19-25.

Pronotum lustrous, 1.50 times as broad as long, widest at first quarter, disc with distinctly convex anterior half, posterior half impressed. Anterior margin straight, unbordered. Lateral margins bordered, slightly rounded in anterior half, almost straight and moderately convergent posteriorly. Posterior margin slightly rounded, bordered. Anterior angles rectangular, posterior angles obtusangulate, all angles with setigerous pore bearing long pale seta. Several very short setae also on lateral margin behind anterior angles and in middle of posterior margin. Scutellum impunctate, glabrous, subtriangular, with rounded apex.

Elytra dull, 2.10 times as long as wide and 0.70 times as long as body, densely covered with fine small confused punctures.

Mesotibia almost straight ( Fig. 28 ). All first tarsomeres enlarged. Protarsomere 1 elongate, wide, twice as long as wide, distinctly wider as protarsomere 2. Length ratio of protarsomeres 1–4 equals 20-15-7-15. Metatarsomere 1 parallel-sided, three times as long as wide, as wide as metatarsomere 2 in apical part. ( Fig. 37 ). Length ratio of metatarsomeres 1–4 equals 24-20-8-17. Claws bifurcate with inner branches somewhat shorter.

Ventral surface subopaque, finely punctate, covered with pale setae. Abdomen simple, last ventrite with subtriangular impression in middle of posterior half, posterior margin distinctly bent into abdomen ( Fig. 31 ).

Aedeagus symmetrical, wide, parallel, apex triangular. In lateral view thin, apex bent downwards ( Fig. 25 ).

Female. Interocular space wider, 2.7 times as wide as transverse diameter of eye. Interantennal space 0.80 times as wide as transverse diameter of antennal socket. Antennae filiform. Pronotum 1.60 times as broad as long All first tarsomeres not enlarged. Posterior margin of last ventrite shallowly concave. Genitalia: gonocoxae connected in anterior third, each apical process bearing four setae apically and additional two setae laterally, gradually convergent basally with maximal constriction in basal quarter, base extended with semicircular incision on basal margin ( Fig. 42 ). Spermatheca with poorly delimited nodulus narrower than cornu, covered with several transverse wrinkles, cornu shortly C-shaped, basal half wider than apical half, proximal spermathecal duct turn basally, than constricted and again extended ( Fig. 40 ). Sternite VIII oval, anterior margin with short setae, longer discal setae cummulated along anterior margin, tignum thin, long, 2.3 longer than sternite VIII ( Fig. 44 ).

Differential diagnosis. The males of Hoplasoma vithala sp. nov. are similar to H. thailandicum and H. andrewesi sp. nov. but differ in almost straight mesotibia (strongly curved in H. thailandicum and H. andrewesi sp. nov.) ( Figs 26–28 ). Antennomeres VII-X in males of H. vithala sp. nov. are slightly flattened, in lateral view with apical part slightly bent downwards ( Fig. 34 ) while terminal antennomeres of H. thailandicum and H. andrewesi sp. nov. are more or less extended ( Figs 32–34 ). The first metatarsomeres in males of H. thailandicum and H. andrewesi sp. nov. are widely extended while elongate and narrow in H. vithala sp. nov. ( Figs 35–37 ). The females of H. vithala sp. nov. and H. thailandicum are extremely similar, some difference can be found on mesotibia (slightly curved in H. thailandicum , almost straight in H. vithala sp. nov.) and on spermatheca (proximal duct gradually narrowing and connected with nodulus in axis 90° in H. thailandicum , in same plane in H. vithala sp. nov.) ( Figs 38–40 ).

Distribution. Vietnam, Thailand, Laos.

Etymology. Composed from the first syllables of countries Vietnam, Thailand and Laos. Noun in apposition.

Figures

FIGURES 20 – 22. Habitus of Hoplasoma. 20 — H. thailandicum (male, Thailand, 6.4 mm); 21 — H. andrewesi sp. nov. (male, holotype, 6.0 mm); 22 — H. vithala sp. nov. (male, holotype, 6.7 mm).

FIGURES 23 – 37. Details of males Hoplasoma thailandicum, H. andrewesi sp. nov. and H. vithala sp. nov. 23 – 25: aedeagus (dorsal view at left, lateral view at right); 26 – 28: mesotibia; 29 – 31: last ventrite; 32 – 34: terminal antennomeres; 35 – 37: metatarsus. 23, 26, 29, 32, 35 — H. thailandicum; 24, 27, 30, 33, 36 — H. andrewesi sp. nov.; 25, 28, 31, 34, 37 — H. vithala sp. nov. Scale bars: 0.5 mm for Figs 23 – 25 and 35 – 37, 1 mm for Figs 26 – 34.

FIGURES 38 – 44. Details of females Hoplasoma thailandicum and H. vithala sp. nov. 38 – 40: spermatheca (38, 40: dorsal view, 39: lateral view); 41 – 42: gonocoxae; 43 – 44: sternite VIII. 38 – 39, 41, 43 — H. thailandicum; 40, 42, 44 — H. vithala sp. nov. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.