Research Article |
Corresponding author: Bin Chen ( 1395982681@qq.com ) Academic editor: Patrice Bouchard
© 2014 Yong Zhou, Ottó Merkl, Bin Chen.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Zhou Y, Merkl O, Chen B (2014) Notes on the genus Xenocerogria (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Lagriini) from China. ZooKeys 451: 93-108. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.451.8478
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Three species of the genus Xenocerogria Merkl, 2007 have been recorded in China, X. feai (Borchmann, 1911), X. ignota (Borchmann, 1941) and X. ruficollis (Borchmann, 1912). Xenocera xanthisma Chen, 2002 is proposed as a junior synonym of X. ruficollis. Lectotype of X. ignota is designated, and the species is transferred to the genus Lagria Fabricius, 1775. New Chinese province records of X. ruficollis are provided.
China, Lagriinae , lectotype designation, new synonym, redescription, Tenebrionidae , Xenocerogria
Otto Merkl: 19th contribution to the knowledge of Lagriini. 18th contribution: Masumushi. Special Publication of the Japanese Society of Scarabaeidology No. 1. Japanese Society of Scarabaeidology, Tokyo, pp. 301–312, 2011.
Xenocerogria Merkl, 2007 is a small genus of Lagriini distributed in China, India and Southeast Asia. The generic name Xenocerogria was proposed by
The genus Xenocera was established by
No modern revision has been published for the genus Xenocerogria, only a checklist was provided by
Photographs of the types of Xenocera xanthisma Chen, 2002 were taken by Leica M205A stereomicroscope; descriptions and measurements were performed under a stereomicroscope (Nikon SMZ1500), and photomicrographs of Xenocerogria ruficollis (Borchmann, 1912) were taken with a stereomicroscope (LEICA EZ4 HD) attached to a computer using Leica Application Suite version 2.1.0 software in Chongqing. Photographs of Xenocerogria feai and X. ignota were taken with Nikon Coolpix 4500 digital camera attached to Leica MZ 125 stereomicroscope in Budapest. Label text of type specimens is cited verbatim.
The following abbreviations are used for institutions where specimens are deposited (curators responsible for loans in parentheses):
CCLT Private collection of Chi-Feng Lee, Taipei, Taiwan;
CKMT Private collection of Kimio Masumoto, Tokyo, Japan;
CMNH Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Section of Invertebrate Zoology, Pittsburgh, PA, USA (R. Davidson);
CQNU Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, P. R. China (Bin Chen);
CSBC Private collection of Stanislav Bečvář, České Budějovice, Czech Republic;
DEI Deutsches Entomologisches Institut, Müncheberg, Germany (Lothar Zerche);
HNHM Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest, Hungary (Ottó Merkl);
MHBU Museum of Hebei University, Baoding, P. R. China (Guo-Dong Ren);
MHNG Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Geneva, Switzerland (Giulio Cuccodoro);
MSNG Museo Civico di Storia Naturale “Giacomo Doria”, Genova, Italy (Roberto Poggi);
NSMT National Science Museum (Natural History), Tokyo, Japan (Shuhei Nomura);
QCCC Private collection of Jian-Yue Qiu & Hao Xu, Chongqing, P. R. China;
SMNS Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde, Stuttgart, Germany (Wolfgang Schawaller);
SWU Southwest University, Chongqing, P. R. China (Li Chen);
ZFMK Zoologisches Forschungsinstitut und Museum Alexander Koenig, Bonn, Germany (Michael Schmitt).
Xenocera Borchmann, 1936: 116 (not Broun, 1881: 668). Type species: Lagriocera feai Borchmann, 1911, by original designation.
Xenocerogria Merkl, 2007: 269 (replacement name);
The genus was thoroughly described by
China, India, Burma, Java, Sumatra.
This genus is distinguished from other lagriine genera on the basis of the male antenna: antennomeres 9 and 10 are strongly transverse; the terminal antennomere is concave in ventral surface, with length equal to at least combined length of 4 preceding antennomeres (female with shorter terminal antennomere). This antennal structure is combined with unmodified male tibiae. These characteristics make this genus vaguely defined, and it is possibly an artificial assemblage of species not closely related to each other. Even
The situation is similar in most genera of the tribe Lagriini. Most of the species of the subtribe Lagriina were originally described as members of the genus Lagria Fabricius, 1775. Later, species with unusual (apomorphic) characters were transferred from Lagria to separate genera established mainly by Borchmann, for instance Aulonogria Borchmann, 1929, Cerogria Borchmann, 1909, Neogria Borchmann, 1911 and Schevodera Borchmann, 1936, just to mention a few from East and Southeast Asia. However, these genera are defined mostly by modifications of male antennomeres and tibiae. Females not associated with males are difficult or virtually impossible to separate at generic level. The remaining species were retained in the genus Lagria. In fact, modifications can frequently be observed on the male antennae and legs of species of Lagria, although these are not as prominent as in Cerogria, for instance. The genus Lagria itself, used as a dumping ground for more “simple” species is therefore still quite diverse, and most of the Oriental species are rather different from the type species, the western Palaearctic Lagria hirta (Linnaeus, 1758).
Removal of species with unique characters, creating a hardly treatable mass of less distinctive species in a large genus is common throughout the Coleoptera, including the family Tenebrionidae (see comments by
1(2) | Elytral pubescence short and completely decumbent. Male: antennomere 3 much longer than 1 and 2 combined, antennomeres 9 and 10 not transverse, antennomere 11 unmodified, much shorter than 3 preceding combined; inner side of hind tibia finely denticulate | Lagria ignota (Borchmann, 1941) |
2(1) | Elytral pubescence longer, semierect to erect. Male: antennomere 3 much shorter than 1 and 2 combined, antennomeres 9 and 10 transverse, antennomere 11 enlarged, concave, as long as at least 4 preceding combined; hind tibia without denticulation. | |
3(4) | Elytral pubescence erect. Male: antennomere 11 as long as 4 preceding combined; antennomeres 5 to 10 with inner surface flattened, bordered with longitudinal carina. Female: length of elytra about 2× maximum width | Xenocerogria feai (Borchmann, 1911) |
4(3) | Elytral pubescence semierect. Male: antennomere 11 as long as 6 preceding combined; antennomeres 5 to 10 without flattened inner surface. Female: length of elytra about 3× maximum width | Xenocerogria ruficollis (Borchmann, 1912) |
Lagriocera ruficollis Borchmann, 1912: 7 (type locality: China: Taiwan; type depository: DEI).
Lagriocera ruficollis:
Xenocera ruficollis:
Xenocerogria ruficollis:
Xenocera xanthisma
Body length 5–8 mm. Body, including antennae and legs, black, except brownish red prothorax and scutellum. Teneral specimens may have elytra reddish brown or whole body tending to be paler.
Male (Fig.
Pronotum subequal in length and width, barely constricted behind middle, maximum width just before middle; anterior and posterior angles rounded; disc with two indistinct oblique depressions before base; surface finely but densely punctate, punctures separated by interspaces of 0.3 to 0.5 puncture diameter on disc, tending to be subcontiguous toward lateral portions; disc with a small ill-defined impunctate spot at middle before base.
Elytra elongate, barely dilated posteriorly, widest at apical 1/3, about 4× as long as pronotum; punctation moderately dense, punctures separated by interspaces of 0.5 to 1 puncture diameter; interspaces slightly convex, forming short oblique or transverse wrinkles; dorsal pubescence consisting of short, semierect, sparsely set whitish hairs; humeral callosity separated from basal part of disc by indistinct impression; elytral margin visible in dorsal view except at humeral callosity; elytral epipleura densely punctate, parallel-sided from base to level of metacoxae, then gradually narrowing towards apex. Mesoventrite, mesepisternum, metepimeron, metepisternum finely and densely punctate; metaventrite very finely punctate, almost smooth, punctation becoming denser in lateral portions.
Legs narrow; apical 0.3 of middle and hind femora reaching beyond edge of elytra; fore and middle tibiae nearly straight, slightly shorter than femora, hind tibiae slightly curved, very weakly attenuated at middle, without visible denticulation. Tarsi simple.
Aedeagus with distal part of basale abruptly attenuating, much more slender than proximal part; apicale spoon-shaped, bifid at apex (Figs
Female (Fig.
Holotype of Xenocera xanthisma Chen, 2002, male, (SWU, Fig.
China: Jiangsu: 6 ♂♂ (CQNU), 1 ♂ (QCCC): Mt. Zijinshan, Nanjing, 27.V.2012, Hao Xu and Jian-Yue Qiu leg. Fujian: 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (HNHM): Shaowu env., 13–16.VI.1991, Nikodým & Červenka leg. Guangxi: 1 ♂ (MHBU): Bapen, Fusui, 17–18.VIII.2004, Yang Yu and Yi-Bin Ba leg.; 1 ♂ (MHBU): Luocheng, 21.VII.2006, Fu-Ming Shi and Shao-Li Mao leg. Guizhou: 2 ♂♂ (MHBU): Sanchahe River, Libo, 29–31.VII.2010, Yong Zhou and Yi-Ping Niu leg.; 1 ♀ (CQNU): Maolan National Nature Reserve (Fig.
China: Jiangsu (new record), Zhejiang, Fujian, Hubei, Guangxi (new record), Chongqing, Guizhou (new record), Taiwan. In Taiwan, X. ruficollis is one of the most common species of Lagriini, especially in the Machilus-Castanopsis zone, including disturbed places and secondary growth. Specimens are known from the lower Quercus zone, too. (The altitudinal vegetation zones of Taiwan see
Xenocera xanthisma was described by
Lagriocera feae Borchmann, 1909: 209 (type locality: Burma, Carin Chebà. type depository: MSNG).
Xenocera feai:
Xenocerogria feai:
Body length 5–10 mm. Body, including legs, black, except brownish red head, antennae, prothorax and scutellum. Brownish red parts sometimes darker brown to black.
Male (Fig.
Distal six male antennomeres: 18 Xenocerogria feai, lateral view 19 X. feai, ventrolateral view 20 Lagria ignota, lateral view 21 L. ignota, male right hind tibia 22–25 Aedeagus: 22 X. feai, ventral view 23 X. feai, lateral view 24 L. ignota, ventral view 25 L. ignota, lateral view. Scale = 1 mm.
Pronotum moderately transverse, maximum width at middle, anterior and posterior angles rounded; disc with four indistinct transverse lateral impressions; surface coarsely, sparsely and irregularly punctate, punctures separated by interspaces of 0.3 to 1.5 puncture diameter on disc, tending to be subcontiguous toward lateral portions; longitudinal midline with fine, obsolete carina.
Elytra elongate, moderately dilated posteriorly, widest at apical 1/3, about 5× as long as pronotum; punctation moderately dense, punctures separated by interspaces of 0.5 to 1 puncture diameter; interspaces slightly convex, forming short oblique or transverse wrinkles; dorsal pubescence consisting of long, erect, sparsely set whitish hairs; humeral callosity separated from basal part of disc by distinct impression; elytral margin visible in dorsal view except at humeral callosity; elytral epipleura densely punctate, parallel-sided from base to level of metacoxae, then gradually narrowing towards apex. Mesoventrite, mesepisternum, metepimeron, metepisternum finely and sparsely punctate; metaventrite very finely punctate, almost smooth, punctation becoming denser in lateral portions.
Legs narrow; apical 0.3 of middle and hind femora reaching beyond edge of elytra; fore and middle tibiae nearly straight, slightly shorter than femora, hind tibiae straight, with sparse tuft of short and fine hairs before middle, without visible denticulation. Tarsi simple.
Aedeagus with distal part of basale narrow, gradually attenuating, apicale narrow, pointed (Figs
Female (Fig.
One syntype, female (MSNG, examined by O. Merkl in 1990), labelled as follows: 1) Carin Chebà 900–1100 m L. Fea V XII-88 [printed in black frame on white paper]; 2) Typus [printed with red in red frame on white paper]; 3) Feae Borch. [printed on white paper with black frame]; 4) Lagriocera Feae m. [Borchmann’s handwriting on white paper in black frame]; 5) SYNTYPUS Lagriocera feae Borchmann 1911 (1909) [printed and handwritten on pink paper]; 6) Museo Civico di Genova [printed on white paper]. One syntype, male (MSNG, examined by O. Merkl in 1990), labelled as follows: 1) Carin Chebà 900–1100 m L. Fea V XII-88 [printed in black frame on white paper]; 2) SYNTYPUS Lagriocera feae Borchmann 1911 (1909) [printed and handwritten on pink paper]; 6) Museo Civico di Genova [printed on white paper].
China: Yunnan: 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (CSBC), 5 ♂♂, 9 ♀♀ (HNHM): Jinghong, 10–14.VII.1990, S. Bečvář leg.
China: Yunnan; Burma.
Xenocera ignota Borchmann, 1941: 26 (type locality: China, Fujian, Kuatun. type depository: ZFMK).
Xenocerogria ignota:
Body length 5–8 mm. Body, including antennae and legs, black, except brownish red head, prothorax and scutellum. Brownish red parts sometimes darker brown to black.
Male (Fig.
Pronotum moderately transverse, maximum width at middle, anterior and posterior angles rounded; disc with four indistinct transverse lateral impressions; surface coarsely, densely and irregularly punctate, punctures separated by interspaces of 0.3 to 0.5 puncture diameter on disc, tending to be subcontiguous mainly toward lateral portions; longitudinal midline with hardly discernible carina.
Elytra elongate, barely dilated posteriorly, widest at apical 1/5, about 5× as long as pronotum; punctation moderately dense, punctures separated by interspaces of 0.5 to 1 puncture diameter; interspaces slightly convex, forming short oblique or transverse wrinkles, mainly in basal 2/3; dorsal pubescence consisting of short, decumbent, sparsely set whitish hairs; humeral callosity separated from basal part of disc by vague impression; elytral margin visible in dorsal view except at humeral callosity; elytral epipleura sparsely punctate, parallel-sided from base to level of metacoxae, then gradually narrowing towards apex. Mesoventrite, mesepisternum, metepimeron, metepisternum finely and sparsely punctate; metaventrite very finely punctate, almost smooth, punctation becoming denser in lateral portions.
Legs narrow; apical half of middle and hind femora reaching beyond edge of elytra; fore and middle tibiae nearly straight, slightly shorter than femora, hind tibiae (Fig.
Aedeagus with distal part of basale broad, then abruptly attenuating, apicale narrow, pointed (Figs
Female (Fig.
Lectotype, herewith designated, female (ZFMK), mounted on a card, left fore tarsus and middle right leg are missing, labelled as follows: 1) Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40n. Br. 117,40ö. L. J. Klapperich 4. 6. 1938 (Fukien) [printed on pale pink paper]; 2) Type [printed on dark pink paper with black frame]; 3) Xenocera ignota m. [Borchmann’s handwriting on white paper]; 4) MUSEUM KOENIG BONN [printed on orange paper]; 5) Lectotypus ♀ Xenocera ignota Borchmann, 1941, des. Y. Zhou, O. Merkl & B. Chen, 2014 [printed on red paper].
China: Fujian: 1 ♂ (ZFMK), 1 ♀ (HNHM): Kuatun [=Guadun, in Mt. Wuyishan], N 27°40’, E 117°40’, 11.IV.1938, L. J. Klapperich leg.; 1 ♂ (ZFMK): same locality and collector, 7.V.1938; 4 ♂♂, 1 ♀ (ZFMK), 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀ (HNHM): same locality and collector, 8.V.1938; 4 ♂♂, 1 ♀ (ZFMK), 2 ♂♂ (HNHM): same locality and collector, 11.V.1938; 7 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀ (ZFMK), 2 ♂ ♂ (HNHM): same locality and collector, 12.V.1938; 3 ♀♀ (ZFMK): same locality and collector, 13.V.1938; 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀ (ZFMK): same locality and collector, 19.V.1938; 1 ♀ (ZFMK): same locality and collector, 23.V.1938; 3 ♀♀ (ZFMK): same locality and collector, 24.V.1938; 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (ZFMK): same locality and collector, 26.V.1938; 1 ♀ (ZFMK): same locality and collector, 25.V.1938; 2 ♀♀ (ZFMK): same locality and collector, 30.V.1938; 1 ♀ (ZFMK): same locality and collector, 2.VI.1938; 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀ (ZFMK): same locality and collector, 4.VI.1938; 1 ♀ (ZFMK): same locality and collector, 6.VI.1938; 1 ♂ (ZFMK): same locality and collector, 8.VI.1938; 1 ♀ (ZFMK): same locality and collector, 14.VI.1938; 1 ♀ (ZFMK): same locality and collector, 15.VI.1938; 1 ♀ (ZFMK): same locality and collector, 20.VI.1938. Vietnam: Vinh phu Province: 1 (SMNS): 15–17.IV.1986, Tamdao, 80 km N of Hanoi, 900 m, collector unknown; 1 (SMNS): 19–21.IV.1986, same locality; 1 (SMNS), 1 (HNHM): 20.IV.1986, same locality; 1 (SMNS): 24–25.V.1985, same locality.
China: Fujian; Vietnam.
Thanks are due to all curators and personal collection owners (named in the Materials and Methods) for loan of materials used in this study. We are indebted to Mr. Hao Xu and Miss Jian-Yue Qiu who generously donated habitat photographs; and to Tamás Németh (HNHM) who took the photographs of X. feai and L. ignota. Many useful suggestions and discussion on an earlier manuscript of this paper were provided by Hao Xu. The research was supported by the grants from Par-Eu Scholars Program, IAEA Coordinated Research Project (18268/R0), the National Institute of Health (R01AI095184), National Natural Science Foundation of China (31372265 and 31071968), Key Scientific and Technological Project of Chongqing (CSTC2012GG-YYJSB80002), the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing (CSTC2013JCYJA00009) and the Youth Fund of Chongqing Normal University (12XWQ16).