Blaps (Nalepa) undulata Li, 2025

Zhang, Bao-Yue & Li, Xiu-Min, 2025, Phylogeny-based reinterpretation of the genus Blaps Fabricius, 1775 (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Blaptinae) from China, with description of two new species, ZooKeys 1244, pp. 99-111 : 99-111

Blaps (Nalepa) undulata Li sp. nov.

Type specimens.

Holotype: China • ♂ ( MHBU HBU (E) 339980 ); Sichuan, Batang County; 30°12.45'N, 99°15.59'E / Alt. 3055 m / 15.VII.2021 / Xiu-min Li leg. Paratypes: China • 10 ♂♂ 6 ♀♀ [2 ♂♂ in ethanol] ( MHBU HBU (E) 339981 -339996); same data as holotype ; China • 1 ♀ [in ethanol]; Xizang, Markam County, Zangxoi Township / 29°74.01'N, 98°44.52'E / 21.VII.2020 / Alt. 3050 m / Ming-min Ma leg.

Description.

Male (Figs 5 , 6 A – C ). Body length 17.0–19.0 mm, width 6.5–7.0 mm; black, opaque.

Head (Fig. 5 A, B ). Anterior margin of epistome straight. Head slightly convex, with sparse, fine punctation. Mentum oval, base of mentum straight. Antennae long, antennomere XI reaching base of pronotum when directed backwards, antennomeres III – VII cylindrical, VIII – X long spherical, XI spindle (Fig. 5 C ). Ratio of length / width of antennomeres II – XI 10.0 (10.6): 36.3 (12.5): 16.5 (11.1): 16.1 (10.3): 17.2 (10.0): 19.0 (9.5): 14.3 (10.1): 14.2 (12.0): 14.6 (13.0): 19.0 (11.0).

Prothorax (Fig. 5 D ). Pronotum slightly transverse, 1.2 times as wide as long, 1.7 times as wide as head. Widest at the middle, lateral margins slightly emarginated from base to middle, then toward anterior angles arcuated; lateral edges entirely margined; ratio of width at the anterior margin to the widest part and base 26: 45: 43. Disc smooth and convex, surface with dense, fine, small punctation. With two rounds depressions before posterior angles. Apex of prosternal process obtuse, obliquely sloping behind procoxae, distinctly projecting beyond the margin of prosternum.

Pterothorax. Elytra ovoid, 1.6 times as long as wide, weakly arcuated, widest at the middle, 2.5 times as long as and 1.3 times as wide as pronotum, 2.2 times as wide as head. Lateral elytral border not entirely visible dorsally. Scutellum hiding. Disc flattened in middle, rough, with undulate wrinkles. Apex of elytra slowly sloping, obtuse. Without elytral mucro. Abdominal ventrites 1 st – 3 rd with irregular fine wrinkles, abdominal ventrites 4 th – 5 th with dense punctations.

Legs (Fig. 5 E – K ). Legs long. Inner side of pro- and metatibiae slightly curved, mesotibiae straight, expanded apically. Ratio of length of pro-, meso- and metatibiae 9.0: 9.0: 12.0, and ratio of length (width) of metatarsomeres I – IV 19.4 (5.5): 10.3 (5.2): 10.0 (5.0): 16.8 (4.3).

Aedeagus (Fig. 5 L – N ). Length 3.3 mm and width 1.0 mm. Parameres length 1.1 mm and width 0.9 mm, conical; parameres wide and convex at base, apex obtuse, lateral margin arcuately narrowing from base to 1 / 3, then straightly narrowing from basal 1 / 3 to apex in dorsal view; slightly curved, narrowed almost in a straight line up to the apex in lateral view.

Female (Fig. 6 D – F ). Body length 18.0– 19.5 mm, width 8.0–9.0 mm. Body wider and more robust than in male. Elytral without mucro. Head as wide as outterocular distance. Pronotum 1.3 times as wide as long, elytra 1.6 times as long as wide. Antennae shorter than in male, reaching posterior 2 / 3 of pronotum when directed backwards, antennomeres III – VII cylindrical, VIII – X elongate spherical, XI spindle. Pro- and metatibiae straight.

Etymology.

This species is named from the Latin adjective “ undulata ”, meaning wavy, in reference to the wavy wrinkles on the elytra.

Distribution.

China, Sichuan, Xizang.

Diagnosis.

The new species is a sister to Blaps (Nalepa) yushuensis Li & Ren, 2022 in the phylogenetic analysis. However, it is easy to distinguished from Blaps (Nalepa) yushuensis Li & Ren, 2022 and other species of the subgenus Nalepa by the following characters: (1) parameres conical, apex rounded (parameres apex acuminate in other species); (2) elytra rough, with undulate wrinkles (elytral surface smooth, with sparse punctures and shallow wrinkles in other species).

Figures

Figure 5. Blaps (Nalepa) undulata Li, sp. nov. A. Head, dorsal view; B. Head, ventral view; C. Antenna; D. Pronotum; E. Protibia; F. Mesotibia; G. Metatibia; H. Protarsus; I. Mesotarsus; J. Metatarsus; K. Profemur apically; L – N. Aedeagus; L. Dorsal view; M. Ventral view; N. Lateral view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

Figure 6. Habitus of Blaps (Nalepa) undulata Li, sp. nov. A – C. Male, holotype; A. Dorsal view; B. Ventral view; C. Lateral view; D – F. Female, paratype; D. Dorsal view; E. Ventral view; F. Lateral view. Scale bars: 5 mm.