Therates hubertusi Medina & Cabras, 2022

Medina, Milton Norman D., Donato, Joshua & Cabras, Analyn A., 2022, Therates hubertusi sp. nov. a new species of tiger beetle (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) in Davao City Philippines, Baltic Journal of Coleopterology 22 (1), pp. 127-131 : 128-130

Therates hubertusi Medina & Cabras , sp.nov.

( Fig. 1 )

Type depository. Holotype 1 male in UMCRC, paratype 1 male in UMCRC.

Type material. HOLOTYPEmale ( Figure 1 ): Philippines – Mindanao, Mindanao, / Davao City , / 4­5.vi. 2021, 700 masl, local collector leg. ( UMCRC), printed on red card. PARATYPE: Same data as holotype (1 male, UMCRC), printed on yellowcard. Each specimen also bears a red (holotype) or yellow (paratype) label under the locality label that states “ Holotype [or Paratype] / Therates hubertusi / Medina&Cabras, 2021” .

Etymology. Named after Dr. Hubertus van Dierendonck, a Dutch national for his invaluable contribution in protecting the environment within the Obu­Manuvu tribe ancestral domain in Davao City Philippines.

Description. Measurements: Male (n=2), TBL: 7.2­ 7.5 mm. LL:1.0 mm.WL: 1.0 mm. LP: 0.8 mm. WP: 1.0 mm. LP: 1.5 mm. LM: 1.2 mm. LE: 4.4mm. WE: 3.5 mm. LA: 1.7 mm. WA: 0.3 mm.

Male. Length without labrum 7.2­ 7.5 mm (Holotype, 7.5mm) ( Fig. 1 A­B). Head dorsal aspectdark metallic blue, frons glabrous lustrous metallic blue, vertex lustrous dark metallic blue, with supraorbital striae, clypeus lustrous fulvous brown without setae, antennal plates glabrous; lateral aspect genae lustrous black with tinge of fulvous brown near the base of the teeth; ventral aspectgulalustrous black with metallic brown at the middle. Eyes black, large distinctly protruding, globose, as wide as the humerus, supraorbital area glabrous, with one setae near each eyes, setae yellow. Labrum ( Fig. 1C ) with one pair of short basal teeth, one pair of distinct distolateral teeth, and middle lobe bearing 6 longer sharp teeth and 5 smaller teeth in between, 9 golden brown setae. Mandibles, light yellow at base, golden brown towards the apex; labial palp white at base, golden brown otherwise, length 1mm. Antennae filiform, when projected posteriorlydo not reach at the middle of elytra; scape golden yellow on one side, golden brown on the other side with 1 yellow setae; antennomeres 1­ 4 golden brown, with 2­ 7 setae in between antennomeres; antennomeres 5­ 10 evenly covered with fine golden yellow setae. Prothorax distinctly globose; Pronotumlustrous black, 1.5 times longer than wide, glabrous althroughout; pronotal disc finely striated metallic green; pronotal groove deep. Prosternum, prosternalepimeron, mesosternum, mesipisternumlustrous black, glabrous. Intercoxal process golden brown. Metasternum golden brown. Coxa and trochanters of front, middle, lower legs light golden yellow. Femur as long as tibia, femur and tibia light golden yellow sparsely covered with minute golden yellow setae: front leg 2.0 mm, middle 2.5 mm, hind leg 3.5 mm.

Medina M.N.D., Donato J., Cabras A.A.

Abdominal sternites 1­ 5 golden brown with 2 fine golden yellow setae, anal sternitegolden brown. Elytra 1.25 times longer than wide, LE: 4.4 mm, WE: 3.5 mm, scutellum and epipleura golden brown, elytral suture golden brown from the base up to near the apex, light golden yellow towards the apex. Thick transverse maculation after the base separated at the middle, and from the middle slightly recurve transverse black maculation up to before the apex. Apex of elytra blunt, flat ( Fig. 1 D­E). AedeagusWA: 0.3 mm. LM: 1.2 mm. long slender bottle­shaped aedeagus tapering towards apex (Fig. X).

Distribution. Therates hubertusi Medina& Cabras , sp. nov., is known only from the type locality in Carmen Baguio District, Davao City Philippines.

Ecology. The present species was collected approximately 200 meters from the riparian ecosystem, around 700 masl, perching in Cyatheacontaminans (Giant Tree Fern). The biotype has clayish soil partially covered with shrubs mostly members of Pteridophyta and Anthophyta.

Differential diagnosis. This new species is distinct from its congeners in T. fasciatus group T.f. fasciatus (sensustricto), T.f. quadrimaculatus, T.f. pseudolatreilli, and T. palawanensis but can be easily recognize in size difference, labrum, very distinct elytral apex ( Fig. 2 A­E), and slender neck of the head. Based on size, it is very similar to T. monticola , and on maculation with T. palawanensis but differ in many ways. Ultimately, its genitalia is unique from its known congeners.

Figures

Figure 1. Therates hubertusi Medina&Cabras, sp.nov. A: Habitus, B: Lateral side, C. Labrum, D­E: Aedeagus.

Figure 2. Elytra apex:A: Therates hubertusi Medina&Cabras, sp.n., B: Therates fasciatus fasciatus Fabricius, 1801, C: Therates monticola Zettel&Pangantihon, 2017, D: Therates fasciatus pseudolatreillei (Horn, 1895), E: Therates fasciatus quadrimaculatus Horn, 1895.