Metallanchista perlaeta (Kirschenhofer, 1994) Shi & Zhou & Liang, 2013

Shi, Hongliang, Zhou, Hongzhang & Liang, Hongbin, 2013, Taxonomic synopsis of the subtribe Physoderina (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Lebiini), with species revisions of eight genera, ZooKeys 284, pp. 1-129 : 34-35

Metallanchista perlaeta (Kirschenhofer, 1994) comb. n. Habitus: Figs 9, 10

Metallanchista perlaeta Kirschenhofer 1994: 1025 (original: Allocota ; type locality: Langkawi Isld. (Malaysia); holotype deposited in NHMW).

Notes on types.

The holotype, a female, came from Langkawi Island. We have not examined it.

Non-type material examined

(Total 2 females from Indonesia) 1 female (CRS), "Sumatra C., Padang 3. 97, Panjang"[Fig. 9]. 1 female (NHML), “Java”; "Bowring., 63 47*"[Fig. 10].

Diagnosis.

Elytral color various, metallic violaceous, green, or cupreous, but always with distinct bluish color along lateral margins; pronotal width 1.50 times length, lateral margins completely rounded in middle, front angles with moderately long setae; elytral intervals hardly convex. This species is close to Metallanchista laticollis sp. n., but can be distinguished from it by different color and pronotal shape.

Description.

Body length 9.1-9.9 mm; head nearly black, with luster, antennae dark brown; mouthparts reddish brown, apices of terminal palpomeres yellow; pronotum black, with luster, slightly bluish in lateral expansion; elytra strongly metallic, disc violaceous, green, or cupreous, sometimes with basal and lateral areas bluish, but at least lateral margins distinctly bluish; epipleurae yellowish brown with metallic blue; ventral side dark brown to black, slightly lustrous; legs black, tarsomeres brown. Head glabrous, without microsculpture or punctures. Pronotum rounded, widest slightly before middle; lateral explanate areas very wide, flat, with a few punctures; ratio PW/PL 1.50; pronotal base briefly but distinctly lobed; disc moderately convex, microsculpture indistinct, without punctures or pubescence; front angles with some moderately long setae; lateral margins completely rounded in middle, strongly sinuate before hind angles; hind angles slightly acute, distinctly but slightly projected, with a few accessory setae; basal foveae shallow, with a few punctures; median line shallow, not reaching to apical or basal margin. Elytra with striae barely sulcate, composed of fine punctures, but slightly deepened in middle of 6th stria; intervals hardly convex, without punctures or microsculpture; 3rd interval with two setigerous pores, basal one placed at basal one-third approximately, adjacent to 3rd stria, apical one placed at apical one-eighth approximately, adjacent to 2nd stria; 5th interval with one setigerous pore near base. Male genitalia unknown. Female genitalia with apical segment of ovipositor slender and straight, without setae, length about four times basal width; widest at base, gradually narrowed to apex, apex sharp; inner and outer margin nearly straight; extended part on apex slightly sclerotized, very short. Spermathecal characters not studied.

Distribution

( Map 4 ). Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java.

Geographical variation.

So far only the three females of this species from different localities are known to us. They are different in color from each other, probably representing geographical variation. The holotype from Malay Peninsula has the elytra cupreous, apex violaceous, lateral margin slightly blue (by original description). The second female is from Sumatra and has the elytra violaceous on most areas, laterally with bluish band occupying 7th to 9th intervals, and the two bands joined at base. The last one is from Java and has elytra that are fully metallic green, but slightly bluish along lateral margin. More specimens, especially males, are needed for further study.

Figures

Map 4. Known distribution of genus Metallanchista: ● Metallanchista laticollis sp. n. ◆ Metallanchista perlaeta (Kirschenhofer).

Figures 7 - 12. Habitus, scale bars = 2.0 mm: 7 Anchista fenestrata subpubescens Chaudoir, a specimen from Pakistan 8 Anchista nubila Andrewes, a specimen from India 9 Metallanchista perlaeta (Kirschenhofer), a specimen from Sumatra 10 Metallanchista perlaeta (Kirschenhofer), a specimen from Java 11 Physodera dejeani Eschscholtz, a specimen from Yunnan 12 Physodera eschscholtzii Parry, a specimen from Yunnan.