Two new species of Brachytrycherus Arrow, 1920 from China (Coleoptera, Endomychidae)

Abstract Two new species of Brachytrycherus from China, Brachytrycherus conaensis sp. n. and Brachytrycherus curviantennae sp. n. are described and illustrated. Brachytrycherus conaensis sp. n. is the first species of the Handsome Fungus Beetles recorded feeding on Ascomycetes. A key to the species of Brachytrycherus known in China is provided.

During the examination of the Endomychidae collected in China, two new species were recognized and are described here.

Material and methods
Type specimens of the new species described here are deposited in the following institutions or private collections: The specimens were examined and described using a Nikon® SMZ800 dissecting mi croscope. The following measurements were made using a Leica® M205 A dissecting microscope: body length from apical margin of clypeus to apex of elytra; width across both elytra (at widest part); elytral length along suture, including scutellum. The aedeagus was boiled in 10% NaOH solution, cleaned, and finally dissected in distilled water. Habitus photos were taken using a Canon® Eos 5D III SLR camera and Canon® MP-E 65mm macro lens. All photographs were modified in Adobe Photoshop® CC 2015.

Brachytrycherus Arrow, 1920
Brachytrycherus Arrow, 1920: 12. Type species. Brachytrycherus perotteti Arrow, 1920. Diagnosis. The species of Brachytrycherus resemble those of Ohtaius and Gerstaeckerus in having the body black or blackish-brown, elytral maculae transverse, most often orange or yellow. These genera share the feature of having the mandibles chisel-shaped apically. However, Brachytrycherus can be distinguished from these other genera by the following combination of characters: 1) body less elongate; 2) head with well-developed gular sutures; 3) mesoventral process with sides parallel; 4) maxillary laciniae with tuft of S-like setae apically (Tomaszewska 2005). Etymology. The specific name is derived from the type locality. Diagnosis. Brachytrycherus conaensis is similar to B. madurensis in appearance, but can be differentiated by each elytron with three maculae, anterior two maculae nearly rhomboid in shape, sometimes connected to each other, and the anterior and posterior elytral maculae without dentition.
Biology and ecology. Almost all individuals were found active on fence, woodpile or timber piles within the village and its surrounding area at night (Figs 9-11). Some larvae and adults were found (sometimes at the same time) feeding on the surface of the perithecia or spores of Daldinia concentrica (Xylariaceae) (Fig. 10), seeming to prefer the asexual phase; however, individuals were also found on mature ascocarps.
Based on the study of the natural history of the handsome fungus beetles (Shockley et al. 2009b), this report is possibly the first record of the handsome fungus beetles feeding on ascomycetes. In addition, some individuals were found active on the wood without fungus, and may be feeding on lichen growing on the wood (Fig. 11). This species association may not be host-specific. Etymology. The name refers to the antennomere 3 distinctly outwardly curved. Diagnosis. Brachytrycherus curviantennae is similar to B. madurensis in appearance, but can be differentiate by antennomere 3 distinctly curved outwards, pronotum sides strongly curved, elytral maculae with front and hind margins emarginate.
Description. Length 8.5-9.4 mm. Body broadly oval, approximately 1.6-1.8 times as long as wide; convex; shiny. Colour black with four red maculae on elytra.
Biology and ecology. The male was hand collected by simple searching, as it is active on branches at night (Fig. 7). Two females were collected by shaking the tree from a large clump of dead wood of Fagaceae plants (Fig. 8).

Conclusions
Prior to this study, only B. madurensis was recorded from China (Taiwan) (Shockley et al. 2009a). Two new species comprise the first record of Brachytrycherus from mainland China.