Taumacera multicostata (Jacoby, 1896)

(Fig. 101)

Platyxantha multicostata Jacoby, 1896a: 495 (original description)

Type material examined. SYNTYPES: 1 ♀, ‘Co-/ type [white round label with yellow collar, p] // SUMATRA / SI-RAMBÉ / XII.90-III.91 / E. MODIGLIANI [w, p] // Museo Civ. / Genova [orange, p] // Jacoby Coll. / 1909-28a [w, p] // Platyxantha / multicostata / Jac.[b, h] // SYN- / TYPE [white round label with pale blue collar, p] (BMNH); 1 ♀, ‘ SUMATRA / SI-RAMBÉ / XII.90-III.91 / E. MODIGLIANI [w, p] // Typus [red letters, w, p] // multicostata / Jac. [w, h] // Platyxantha / multicostata / Jac. [b, h]’ (MSNG).

Comments. The correct generic assignment of this species remains unclear. JACOBY (1896a) described it from two specimens (according to a note mentioned in the same paper in the description of Platyxantha submetallica) and classified it in Platyxantha which was followed by WILCOX (1973). Recently, REID (1999) transferred it to Taumacera without any comments. I examined both syntypes (females) deposited in the BMNH and MSNG. The BMNH syntype (Fig. 101) was studied in detail. It has closed posterior margins of the procoxal cavity and the metatibia without a spine. However, the legs are in bad condition and I cannot exclude that the spines were broken. The correct generic placement can be resolved only when a male specimen is discovered. Moreover, it cannot be excluded that Platyxantha multicostata and P. submetallica belong to a single species as they were collected in the same locality (Si-Rambé) and differ only in body length and paler colouration of the elytral disc in P. submetallica, as mentioned already by JACOBY (1896a).