Nippononebria, Ueno, 1955

Kavanaugh, David H. & Liang, Hongbin, 2010, A new species of genus Nippononebria Uéno (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Nebriini) from Changbai Mountain, Jilin Province, China, the first species of the genus confirmed from the Asian mainland, ZooKeys 46, pp. 1-13 : 10-11

Key for identification of adults of species of Nippononebria (sensu stricto) Uéno

1. Antennomere 4 without or with only extremely sparse pubescence on apical onethird; elytral apex narrowly oblique, laterally displaced from midline and posteriorly acute, sutural margin angulate at apex; male sternum VII with two pairs of posterior paramedial (“anal”) setae [specimens from western Nearctic Region (Pacific Coast of North America)] ............. subgenus Vancouveria Kavanaugh

– Antennomere 4 with moderately dense pubescence on apical one-third; elytral apex bluntly pointed at midline, sutural margin straight at apex; male sternum VII with only one pair of posterior paramedial (“anal”) setae [specimens from eastern Palaearctic Region ( Japan and northeastern China)] subgenus Nippononebria Uéno ..................................................................... 2

2(1). Thorax coarsely punctate ventrally (most distinctly so on mesepisterna and metepisterna, but also on prosternum and proepisterna anteriorly, mesosternum and metasternum laterally); size very small (SBL of male less than 6.5 mm); elytral silhouette ( Fig. 1 ) subovoid, widest distinctly anterior to middle; elytral microsculpture comprised of moderately impressed and markedly transverse meshes; head, pronotum, and elytra with faint but distinct blue-green metallic reflection; hindwings full-sized................ Nippononebria changbaiensis sp. n.

– Thorax smooth, impunctate ventrally; size larger (SBL of male 6.5 mm or more, of female 6.8 mm or more); elytral silhouette varied, widest at or slightly to markedly posterior to middle; elytral microsculpture comprised of very faintly to moderately impressed isodiametric, irregular, or slightly transverse meshes; head and pronotum without metallic reflection, elytra without or with faint metallic reflection; hindwings full-sized or reduced to less than half elytral length ....................................................................................... 3

3(2). Elytral silhouette ovoid, distinctly narrowed basally and apically, widest at middle or slightly posterior to middle, humeral carina and tooth markedly developed, elytral striae impuncate or very faintly punctate; pronotum relatively long and slender, only slightly wider than head across eyes, ratio of pronotal width to length = 1.20 to 1.35, basal margin only slightly wider than apical margin; elytral microsculpture comprised of moderately impressed broken isodiametric to irregular or slightly transverse meshes; elytra without or with faint greenish metallic reflection; hindwings reduced to small vestigial lobes ........................................................... Nippononebria pusilla (Uéno)

– Elytral silhouette subrectangular or subvoid, widest at middle or slightly to markedly posterior to middle, humeral carina and tooth slightly to moderately developed, elytral striae moderately and distinctly punctate; pronotum relatively broad, distinctly wider than head across eyes, ratio of pronotal width to length = 1.4 or greater, basal margin distinctly wider than apical margin; elytra microsculpture comprised of very faintly (nearly effaced) to moderately impressed irregular or broken isodiametric or slightly transverse meshes; elytra without or with very faint greenish metallic reflection; hindwings full-sized or reduced to less than half elytral length........................... 4

4(3). Elytral silhouette subrectangular, relatively broad, widest at or very slightly posterior to middle, humeral carina and tooth slightly developed; elytral intervals smoothly convex; elytra shiny, with microsculpture comprised of nearly effaced to very faintly impressed irregular to slightly transverse meshes; elytra without or with very faint greenish metallic reflection; hindwings fullsized; pronotum with basal sinuation of lateral margin short and shallow, basal angles slightly obtuse or rectangular, lateral explanation broad throughout........................................................... Nippononebria chalceola (Bates)

– Elytral silhouette subovoid, relatively long and narrow, widest distinctly posterior to middle (at apical one-third in some individuals), humeral carina and tooth moderately developed; elytral intervals slightly flattened at middle; elytra slightly dull from moderately impressed broken isodiametric, irregular, or slightly transverse meshes; elytra without metallic reflection; hindwings reduced to less than half elytral length; pronotum with basal sinuation of lateral margin long and shallow to moderately deep, basal angles rectangular or slightly acute, lateral explanation narrow, especially at middle.................. ................................................................ Nippononebria sawadai Nakane

Figures

Figure 1. Holotype male, Nippononebria changbaiensis sp. n., dorsal habitus. Scale line = 1.0 mm.