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 : 5-6

Corticarina clareae Johnson, 1972 ( Figs. 1B , 2C–D )

Corticarina clareae Johnson, 1972: 102 ; Johnson, 2007: 646 (catalogue), Rücker, 2020: 24 (catalogue).

Material examined: TAIWAN. 2ò. Taichung City, Heping, Xueshan. 14.X.2009. Sweeping. W. B. Yeh leg. ( NMNS). 2ò. Same collection data as for preceding. 15.X.2009. ( NMNS). 2ò. Same collection data as for preceding. 8.X.2010. ( NMNS). 1ò. Same collection data as for preceding. 8.X.2011. ( NMNS). 3ò. Taichung City, Heping, Qika. 17.IV.2021. Sweeping. C. T. Hsu, W. B. Yeh, S. Huang & Y. H. Ho leg. ( NMNS). 3ò. Nantou County, Yuanfeng. 7.III-13.IV.2006. Malaise trap. C. S. Lin & W. T. Yang leg. ( NMNS) ( NMNS ENT 7421-70, 7421-65, 7421-100). 1ò. Same collection data as for preceding. 11.I-15.II.2005. ( NMNS) ( NMNS ENT 7387-54). 1ò. Same collection data as preceding. 6.VI-25.VII.2006. ( NMNS) ( NMNS ENT 7423- 1912). 1ò. Same collection data as preceding. 11.V-13.VII.2004. ( NMNS) ( NMNS ENT 6660-543). 5ò. Nantou County, Ren’ai, Yuanfeng. 24.1214, 121.2435. 15.VII-15.X.2021. Y. H. Ho & W. T. Yang leg. ( NMNS). 1ò. Same collection data as preceding. 8.III-6. V.2021. ( NMNS). 1ò. Same collection data as preceding. 6.V-15.VII.2021. Y. H. Ho & W. T. Yang leg. ( NMNS). 1ò. Nantou County, Tsuifeng, 2306 m, 3.VIII.1979. K. Ushijima leg. ( EUMJ). 1ò. Chiayi County, Fenchihu. 1400 m. 10. V.1977. J. Klapperich leg. ( MMUE). 1ñ. Tainan City, Nanxi, Meiling. 22.III-27.VIII.2021. 23.1966, 120.5739. Malaise trap. M. L. Jeng, W. T. Yang & Y. H. Ho leg. ( NMNS). 1ò 2ñ. Kaohsiung City, Nishyudan, nr. Liukuei. 7.IV.1976. K. Ushijima leg. ( EUMJ). INDIA. 1ò. Assam, Upper Shillong. 26.IV.1976. T. Sen Gupta leg. ( MMUE). NEPAL. 1ò. KOSI, Crête S. Mangsingma. 2800 m. 7.IV.1984. L. Smetana leg. ( MMUE).

Type specimens examined: Paratypes. INDIA. 2ò. Kuman, W. Almora. H. G. Champion leg. ( F 3572.189, F 3572.191) ( MMUE). 1ò 1ñ. Utta Pradesh, Kuman, Nainital. H. G. Champion leg. (ò: 3572.197, ñ: F 3572.190) ( MMUE).

Diagnosis: In general, this species is closely related to C. fraudulenta Johnson in external morphology, and can only be separated by the aedeagus, the median lobe of which is and can only be separated by the aedegus, the median lobe of which is shorter (about twice as long as wide) in C. fraudulenta and longer (about three times as long as wide) in C. clareae . In Taiwan, this species may be misidentified with C. bhutanensis , and can be separated by the width ratio between the pronotum and elytra, and the shape of median lobe, which are described in the key and the diagnosis of C. bhutanensis .

Redescription: Length 1.44 – 1.65 mm. Measurement data are given in table 1. General body colour light to dark brown, with appendages light brown.

Head wider than long ( HL /HW = 0.62–0.70). Eyes large and protuberant, with more than twenty facets. Interocular space large ( IO /HW = 0.60–0.66). Temple weakly developed, barely visible. Frons sparsely covered with long hairs and punctures, separated by one to two times of puncture diameter, densely covered with densely and transversely reticulated microsculpture. Clypeus short, about half as long as labrum; surface of clypeus and labrum sparsely covered with long hairs. Antennae eleven-segmented and covered with short hairs, with apical three segments strongly clubbed.

Pronotum broadly cordate, wider than long, widest at middle, narrowest at anterior end, surface sparsely covered with long hairs and punctures, separated by one to one and half times of puncture diameter; posterior one third with a shallow round depression. Anterior margin straight, narrower than head. Lateral margins smooth, broadly curved outwardly, without any denticles, hind angle each with a small projection. Posterior margin feebly curved outwardly, narrower than elytra.

Elytra elongate oval ( EL /EW = 1.33–1.45), 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 smaller punctures; each puncture with hairs, without significant difference in length; interstria without any strong carinae. Scutellum broadly pentagonal.

Prosternum wider than long, surface sparsely covered with short hairs and densely and transversely reticulated microsculpture, a pair of transverse depressions 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 short, half of tibia length. 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.

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

Distribution: This species can be found in Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Taiwan ( Johnson 2007). They are mainly distributed in mid- to high-altitude environment in Taiwan. ( 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 bhutanensis 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.