Corticarina tenuis, Ho & Li & Chan, 2024

Ho, Yu-Hsiang, Li, Hou-Feng & Chan, Mei-Ling, 2024, Fig. 2. Kaplan-Meier survival curve for Trophon geversianus embryos. Temperature treatments were 13 in Positive association between PTN polymorphisms and schizophrenia in Northeast Chinese Han population., Zoological Studies 63 (22), pp. 1-11 : 3-5

Corticarina bhutanensis Johnson, 1977 ( Figs. 1A , 2A–B )

Corticarina bhutanensis Johnson, 1977: 333 ; Johnson, 2007: 645 (catalogue); Rücker, 2020: 24 (catalogue).

Material examined: TAIWAN. 1ñ. Taichung City, Heping, Dasyueshan. 19.IX.2020. Beating. Y. H. Ho & C. T. Hsu leg. ( PCHO). 1ñ. Nantou County, Ren’ai, Guandaoshan. 4.VII.2021. Sweeping. Y. H. Ho & C. T. Hsu leg. ( PCHO). 1ñ. Nantou County, Ren’ai, Meifeng. 15. VI.2021. Y. H. Ho leg. ( PCHO). 1ò. Same collection data as for preceding. 31.VIII.2021. ( PCHO). 5ò. Nantou County, Yuanfeng. 25.VII-22.VIII.2006. Malaise trap. C. S. Lin & W. T. Yang leg. ( NMNS) ( NMNS ENT 7423-3102, 7423-3100, 7423-1879, 7423- 3112, 7423-3095). 1ò. Same collection data as for preceding. 2.VIII-8.IX.2005. ( NMNS) ( NMNS ENT 7392-1153). 1ò. Same collection data as for preceding. 8.XII.2005 - 3. I.2006. ( NMNS) ( NMNS ENT 7493- 18). 1ò. Nantou County, Ren’ai, Yuanfeng. 24.1214, 121.2435. 8.III-6. V.2021. Malaise trap. Y. H. Ho & W. T. Yang leg. ( NMNS). 3ò. Same collection data as for preceding. 6.V-15.VII.2021. ( NMNS). 1ò. Same collection data as for preceding. 15.VII-15.X.2021. ( NMNS). 2ò. Chiayi County, Fenchihu. 1400 m. 10. V.1977. J. Klapperich leg. ( MMUE). 1ò. Chiayi County, Alishan, Shishan race. 8.VIII.2020. Beating. Y. H. Ho & P. Y. Shih leg. ( NMNS). 4ò 1ñ. Same collection data as for preceding. 24.VIII.2021. Y. H. Ho & Y. N. Chiu leg. ( NMNS). CHINA. 2ò 1ñ. Prov. Fukien, Kuatun, Tschungsen. 2.IV.1946. J. Klapperich leg. ( MMUE). INDIA. 1ò. Darjeeling Distr., Lopchu. 1500m. 3. V.1976. W. Wittmer leg. ( MMUE). 1ñ. Meghalaya, Shiliong Peak. 26.XI.1974. T. SenGupta leg. ( MMUE).

Type specimen examined: Paratype. BHUTAN. 1ñ. Chimakothi. 22. V.1972. ( MMUE).

Diagnosis: In Taiwan, this species may be misidentified as C. clareae Johnson , and can be distinguished by the width of pronotum. In C. bhutanensis , the pronotum is wider ( PW /EW ≥ 0.69) than in C. clareae ( PW /EW ≤ 0.67). The most reliable character to separate both species is the shape of the median lobe. In C. bhutanensis , the apical end of the median lobe is wider than in C. clareae .

Redescription: Body length, 1.53–1.82 mm. Measurements are given in table 1. General body colour is light to dark brown, with appendages light brown.

Head wider than long ( HL /HW = 0.59–0.68). Eyes large and protuberant, with more than twenty facets. Interocular space large ( IO /HW = 0.63–0.70). Temple weakly developed. Frons sparsely covered with long hairs and punctures, separated by one to two times the puncture diameter. Clypeus short, about half as long as labrum, surface sparsely covered with long hairs and densely and transversely reticulated microsculpture. Labrum covered with long hairs on surface. Antennae eleven-segmented and covered with short hairs, with apical three segments strongly clubbed, length reaching hind angle of pronotum.

Pronotum broadly cordate, wider than long, widest at middle, narrowest at anterior end, surface densely covered with long hairs and punctures, separated by half to one times the puncture diameter. Posterior one third with a round depression. Anterior margin straight, narrower than head. Lateral margins smooth, broadly curved outwardly, lacking denticles denticles, and each hind angle has a small projection. Posterior margin feebly curved outwardly, narrower than elytra.

Elytra elongate oval ( EL /EW = 1.35–1.45), lateral margins subparallel, broadest at anterior one third, apex round, slightly convex in lateral view. Shoulders round, not protruding at anterior margin. Each stria with row of punctures, interstria with very small punctures. Each punctures with hairs, without significant difference in length; without any strong carinae on interstria. Scutellum broadly pentagonal.

Prosternum wider than long, surface sparsely covered with short hairs and densely and transversely reticulated microsculpture, pair of transverse punctures present on anterior margin. Procoxae contiguous, large and protuberant. Prosternal process short, situated at base of prosternum. Mesoventrite short, surface sparsely covered with short hairs and densely and transversely reticulated microsculpture. Metaventrite moderately wide, surface covered with moderately long hairs, posterior margin with an adjacent row of punctures, separated at middle.

Abdomen with six ventrites, each surface covered with long hairs and densely and transversely reticulated microsculpture. 1st ventrite two times longer than rest of ventrites. Apical margin of 6th ventrite curved outwardly.

Legs subequal in length. Femur densely covered with short hairs. Tibia covered with moderately long hairs, and becoming longer at apical end. Tarsus one and half times shorter than tibia. Tarsomere 3-3-3, 3rd tarsomere long, longer than 1st and 2nd combined, 1st tarsomere strongly expanded, reaching apex of 2nd tarsomere; arolium indistinct. Foretibia slender, straight, male with a distinct tooth on anterior one third; mid and hindtibia without any tooth. Female without any tooth on legs.

Median lobe short, strongly sclerotized, lateral margins subparallel in ventral view, constricted at anterior one sixth, curved outwardly at middle in lateral view; apical end sharp. Ejaculatory duct and median strut absent. Tegmen long, as long as median lobe.

Distribution: This species can be found in Bhutan, India, China, and Taiwan ( Johnson 2007). In Taiwan, this species is widely distributed in mid- to high-altitude areas ( Fig. 3 ).

Biology: This species can be found on the withered part of leaves in different species of plants, mainly Poaceae Barnhart. This species is sympatric with Corticarina clareae Johnson in Taichung City, Nantou County, and Chiayi County, and sympatric with C. tenuis sp. nov. in Nantou County.

Figures

Fig. 1. Habitus of Corticarina species of Taiwan. A, C. bhutanensis Johnson, 1977. B, C. clareae Johnson, 1972. C, C. tenuis sp. nov. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 2. Aedeagus of Corticarina species of Taiwan.A–B, C. bhutanensis Johnson, 1977. C–D, C. clareae Johnson, 1972. E–F, C. tenuis sp. nov. A, C, E: lateral view. B, D, F: ventral view. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

Fig. 3. Distribution map of Corticarina in Taiwan. Red circles: Corticarina tenuis sp. nov. Blue circles: C. bhutanensis. Green circles: C. clareae.