Peltocercyon splendidus Mai, Jia, Ryndevich

Mai, Zuqi, Jia, Fenglong, Ryndevich, Sergey K., Angus, Robert, Minoshima, Yûsuke N., Fikáček, Martin & Růžička, Jan, 2025, Taxonomic Revision and Phylogeny of the Genus Peltocercyon d'Orchymont, 1925 (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae: Megasternini), Zootaxa 5671 (1), pp. 1-74 : 47-50

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5671.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:60D33D8C-BDC2-4C2A-B840-90014815E8CB
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16981942
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/1032930E-FFAC-6B1D-FF2C-22D0B217EA50
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Peltocercyon splendidus Mai, Jia, Ryndevich
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Peltocercyon splendidus Mai, Jia, Ryndevich , Angus & Fikáček sp. nov.

Figs 25A–H View FIGURE 25 , 26A–D View FIGURE 26 , 38A–D View FIGURE 38 .

Type material examined. Holotype: male ( SYSU), “ China , Xizang Autonomous Region , Xigazê / Nyalam County, Zhangmu Town / Lixin Village / 2626 m / 27.9643°N, 85.9739°E / 30.VI. –2.VII.2023 / Zuqi Mai, Cheng Liang & Yuezheng Tu leg. // Broad-leaved evergreen forests with dwarf bamboo, flight intercept trap with rotten jackfruits, bananas, bamboo shoots and mushroom around” GoogleMaps . Paratypes: CHINA: Xizang: 2 males, 3 females ( SYSU), same data as the holotype; 1 male ( SYSU), “ China, Xizang Autonomous Region, Xigazê , Zhêntang Town forest / 2337 m / 27.8487°N, 87.4331°E / 9–12.VII.2023 / Zuqi Mai, Cheng Liang & Yuezheng Tu leg. // Primary rainforest, flight intercept trap with rotten jackfruits, bananas, bamboo shoots, mushroom and human shit around” GoogleMaps ; Yunnan: 1 male ( NHMB), “ Yunnan / 2200–2500 m / 24.57°N 98.45°E / 8–16/5 / GAOLIGONG mts. / Vit. KubÁň leg. / 1995” GoogleMaps ; Sichuan: 18 spec. ( NMP), “CHINA: Sichuan Prov. / 37 km N Baoxing, Qiao Qi vill. / Jiajin Shan Nat. Forest Park / 14–16.VI.2014, 2500 m / 30°41’'05’’N 102°42’18’’E / J. HÁjek & J. Růžička lgt. // baited pitfall trap #9 (fish / meat), margin of mixed forest broadleaf trees” ; Shaanxi: 1 male, 1 female ( SYSU), “ Foping Conv. / Shaanxi Prov. / alt. 2065 m / 21-VIII-2004 / Hu, Tang, Zhu leg.”; 1 female ( SYSU), “ Shanxi, Changqing Nature Reserve / Qiaozhi Yang leg.” Hubei: 1 male, 2 females ( SYSU), “ Jinhouling / Shennongjia / Hubei Prov. / 4.VIII.2022 / Li & Tang leg.” . INDIA: 26 spec. ( NMP), “INDIA, Arunachal Pradesh (14) / 1.5 km NE of Bomdila, nr. Bormdila pass, 2–5.Ⅴ.2008, 2600 m / 27°16’34’’N 92°25’49’’E / FikÁček, PodskalskÁ, Šípek lgt. // in cow excrements in dense evergreen bushes” GoogleMaps .

DNA voucher. MF139: 1 spec. ( NMP) “ INDIA, Arunachal Pradesh (14) / 1.5 km NE of Bomdila, nr. Bormdila pass, 2–5.Ⅴ.2008, 2600 m / 27°16’34’’N 92°25’49’’E / FikÁček, PodskalskÁ, Šípek lgt. // in cow excrements in dense evergreen bushes // DNA isolate: DNA extraction: MF139, DNA extract stored at Department of Entomology , National Museum , Prague ” GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. Length 3.1–3.8 mm. Head and pronotum black, pronotum with yellow patches laterally; elytron with a large triangular black patch lateromedially, reaching elytral stria 3 ( Fig. 25A, D View FIGURE 25 ). Pronotum with uniform crescent-shape punctures. Elytra shiny, spaces between ground punctation smooth. Mentum with sparse and fine punctures ( Fig. 26A View FIGURE 26 ). Posterior tentorial pits not distinctly depressed ( Fig. 26A View FIGURE 26 ). Prosternum tectiform medially; lateral portion with sparse and fine setae, without ridge; prosternal process finely notched posteriorly ( Fig. 26B View FIGURE 26 ). Antennal groove moderate in size ( Fig. 26B View FIGURE 26 ). Mesoventral plate spindle-shaped ( Fig. 26C View FIGURE 26 ). Arcuate ridge of metaventrite distinct, strongly bent backwards ( Fig. 26C View FIGURE 26 ). Lateral areas of metaventrite without coarse punctures ( Fig. 26C View FIGURE 26 ). First abdominal ventrite without longitudinal sculptures basally. ( Fig. 26D View FIGURE 26 ). Male genitalia ( Fig. 25E–H View FIGURE 25 ): paramere slightly widened subapically and then gradually narrowing towards apex, apex rounded and straight; inner face of paramere with a fringe of long setae subapically and a few apical setae. Median lobe slender, widest in the middle, apex obtuse.

Description. Form and Colour ( Fig. 25A–D View FIGURE 25 ). Total length 3.1–3.8 mm; maximum width 2.0– 2.4 mm. Body broadly oval, slightly parallel-sided in the middle, moderately convex. Dorsum shiny. Head and pronotum black, pronotum with two narrow yellow patches laterally. Elytron with a large black triangular patch lateromedially, reaching stria 3 medially; elytral margin, base, interval 1, and posterior end of elytra black; remaining areas yellowish brown. Maxillary and labial palpi yellowish brown; antennae yellowish brown with club darker. Prosternum, epipleura, legs and posterior margins of ventrites yellowish brown, other areas dark brown to black.

Head. Dorsal surface with uniform dense and coarse crescent-shape punctures; interstices between punctures smooth. Anterior margin of clypeus with a marginal bead. Eyes of moderate size, separated by ca. 5× the width of one eye. Mentum subtrapezoid, ca. 1.5× as wide as long, slightly depressed anteromedially; anterior margin of mentum slightly concave; with sparse and fine punctures ( Fig. 26A View FIGURE 26 ). Gula with a pair of posterior tentorial pits at the front, without distinct depressions. Antennae with 9 antennomeres; antennal club (antennomeres 7–9) compact and densely pubescent. Maxillary palpomere 2 moderately swollen in apical half, longer than palpomere 3; palpomere 4 almost symmetrical, slightly longer than palpomere 3. Each maxilla with a sucking-disc shaped appendage in male.

Thorax. Pronotum widest posteriorly, gradually narrowed anteriad, with crescent-shape punctures as on head. Lateral margins of pronotum narrowly rimmed, the rim overlapping anterior and posterior corners, anterior and almost all of posterior margin without rim. Prosternum gradually raised at middle portion and tectiform medially, with sharp median carina, pubescent, without ridge; prosternal process finely notched posteriorly ( Fig. 26B View FIGURE 26 ). Antennal grooves moderate in size, outer lateral margin moderately convex ( Fig. 26B View FIGURE 26 ). Mesoventral plate narrowly elongate, surface slightly convex and shining; ca. 8.5× as long as wide, posterior apex overlapping the anterior ridge of metaventrite in a single point ( Fig. 26C View FIGURE 26 ). Scutellar shield in shape of equilateral triangle, longer than wide, with punctures as those on pronotum. Elytra widest at anterior third; each elytron with 10 rows of punctate striae, striae moderately impressed; striae 6, 8 and 9 not reaching anterior margin of elytron; stria 10 short, only ending at posterior third of elytron; intervals of striae flat, with fine ground punctures, intervals between punctures glabrous. Epipleuron wedge-shaped and strongly oblique at anterior half of elytron. Central area of metaventrite uniformly punctate and bare, lateral areas of metaventrite densely pubescent, without coarse punctures; anterior ridge of metaventrite strongly bent backwards at anterolateral corner and forming a distinct arcuate ridge; metaventrite with complete femoral lines crossing the arcuate ridges and reaching anterolateral corners of metaventrite; anterior ridge of metaventrite continuous with the arcuate ridge at the crossing point ( Fig. 26C View FIGURE 26 ).

Legs. Profemora bare ventrally, with very fine punctures; mesofemora with coarser setiferous punctures than those on metafemora. Tibiae with small lateral spines. Tarsi with sparse gold ventral setae, first metatarsomere about as long as metatarsomeres 2–3 combined.

Abdomen. Abdominal ventrites densely pubescent. First ventrite sharply carinate medially, without short longitudinal sculpture basally ( Fig. 26D View FIGURE 26 ).

Male genitalia. Paramere widest basally, gradually narrowing towards apical third and slightly widen apically, then gradually narrowing towards apex; apex of paramere rounded, not curved inwards; inner face of paramere with a fringe of long setae subapically and several apical setae ( Fig. 25E, G View FIGURE 25 ). Phallobase slightly shorter than parameres; nearly parallel sided, manubrium gradually narrowed and asymmetrical at the base ( Fig. 25E, G View FIGURE 25 ). Median lobe slender, widest in the middle and gradually narrowing towards apex; apex obtuse; gonopore triangular, situated subapically ( Fig. 25F View FIGURE 25 ). Median projection of sternite 9 gradually narrowing apicad and rounded at the base; lateral struts slightly longer than median portion ( Fig. 25H View FIGURE 25 ).

Biology ( Fig. 38A–D View FIGURE 38 ). This species occurs in the high mountain forests. Adults were collected from the fresh cow excrement and are attracted to baited traps.

Etymology. The species name splendidus (Latin, meaning splendid) refers to the beautiful and shiny dorsal coloration of this species.

Remarks. This species belongs to the Peltocercyon splendidus group. It is most similar to Peltocercyon taylorae sp. nov. from which it can be distinguished by pronotum mostly black, with yellow patches present only laterally ( Fig. 25A, D View FIGURE 25 ) (pronotum mostly yellowish, with a narrow median black spot in P. taylorae sp. nov., Fig. 27A View FIGURE 27 ), and the median lobe of aedeagus with an obtuse apex ( Fig. 25F View FIGURE 25 ) (pointed in P. taylorae , Fig. 27E View FIGURE 27 ).