Research Article
Print
Research Article
A contribution to the genus Didrepanephorus Wood-Mason, 1878 (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Rutelinae)
expand article infoMing-Zhi Zhao, Wei-Xin Liu
‡ South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
Open Access

Abstract

The diagnostic characters of the genera Didrepanephorus Wood-Mason, 1878 and Fruhstorferia Kolbe, 1894 are clarified. The following nomenclatorial acts are proposed: Didrepanephorus birmanicus (Arrow, 1907), comb. nov., Didrepanephorus fukinukii (Muramoto & Araya, 2000), comb. nov., Fruhstorferia baron (Prokofiev, 2013), comb. nov., and Fruhstorferia anthracina Ohaus, 1903, comb. rev. Didrepanephorus tangzhaoyangi Zhao & Liu, sp. nov. is described from Yunnan Province, China. A lectotype is designated for Fruhstorferia birmanica Arrow, 1907. Didrepanephorus mizunumai Nagai & Hirasawa, 1991 is reported from Myanmar for the first time.

Keywords

China, Didrepanephorina, lectotype, Myanmar, new combination, new record, new species, Rutelini, Scarabaeoidea

Introduction

The subtribe Didrepanephorina was established by Ohaus (1918) to accommodate a morphologically remarkable genus Didrepanephorus Wood-Mason, 1878. The type species of this genus, D. bifalcifer Wood-Mason, 1878, is a densely setose ruteline beetle with strong sexual dimorphism in the shape of mandibles (Wood-Mason 1878). The morphological affinities between Didrepanephorus and Fruhstorferia Kolbe, 1894 had resulted in a chaos of generic separations when different characters were referred: Arrow (1917) separated Fruhstorferia from Didrepanephorus mainly by the dorsal surface generally without dense setae. Ohaus (1934a) recognized Didrepanephorus species by the complete frontoclypeal suture and reassigned species of the two genera. Young (1999) took the orientation of mandibles into account, i.e., bent upward in Didrepanephorus but directed forward in Fruhstorferia. Most recently, Muramoto (2005) differentiated the two genera by the prosternal process and abbreviation of abdominal ventrites 1–4 in males. Besides, some authors questioned the separation of the two genera (Nagai and Hirasawa 1991; Qiu et al. 2021). The authors of the present paper had found reliable morphological characters to distinguish the two genera. Based on these characters, the delimitation of the two genera is herein clarified.

The Chinese Didrepanephorus species are still poorly known. Qiu et al. (2021) described a new species from Guizhou and recorded two species new to Chinese fauna. Their biology was also reported, which greatly improved the knowledge of this genus. During the taxonomic study of the Old World Rutelini, a new species similar to D. ohbayashii (Nagai, 2004) was received by the first author from Yunnan Province of China. Additionally, based on the examination of the type material of F. birmanica Arrow, 1907, some taxonomic problems are also solved herein.

Material and methods

Images of the external characters and male genitalia were taken using a Canon EOS 760D camera in conjunction with a Tamron 90 mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro Lens and a Laowa 25 mm f/2.8 2.5-5X Ultra Macro Lens, respectively. Zerene Stacker (version 1.04) was used for stacking. All images were modified and arranged in plates in Adobe Photoshop CS5.

Data of material in NHMUK are cited verbatim. Different labels are separated by a double slash (//). Specimens studied in this research are deposited in the following public and private collections:

CCPC Chang-Chin Chen’s personal collection, Tianjing, China;

GGPC Guy Guerlach’s personal collection, Orny, France;

LCPC Chao Li’s personal collection, Beijing, China;

LZPC Ze-Chuan Li’s personal collection, Tai’an, China;

MYNU Invertebrate Collection of Mianyang Normal University, Mianyang, China;

NHMUK The Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom;

SCAU South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China;

SFPC Feng-Yi Sun’s personal collection, Yong’an, China;

TZPC Zhao-Yang Tang’s personal collection, Shenzhen, China;

ZMPC Ming-Zhi Zhao’s personal collection, Zhuhai, China.

Taxonomy

Delimitation of the genera Didrepanephorus Wood-Mason, 1878 and Fruhstorferia Kolbe, 1894

The following specimens were studied for comparative purpose: D. yunnanus wakaharai (Nagai, 2004): 1♂ (ZMPC), Laos, Houaphanh Province, Mt. Phu Pane, 2060 m, 2017.IV; D. takuyai (Muramoto, 2003): 1♂, 1♀ (ZMPC), Vietnam, Dalat, Lamdong, 2016.V; Didrepanephorus specimens studied in Qiu et al. (2021); F. anthracina Ohaus, 1903: 1♂, (CCPC), Vietnam, Bac Giang, Son Dong, Thanh Son, Tay Yen Tu, 120 m, 2014.VI.2, N.-Y. Tsai leg.; F. javana javana Kolbe, 1894: 1♂, 1♀ (TZPC), Indonesia, West Java, 2016.VI; F. nigromuliebris Nagai, 1984: 1♂ (ZMPC), Sabah, Croker Range, 800 m, 2019.V; Kibakoganea sexmaculata (Kraatz, 1900): 3♂ (ZMPC), Vietnam, Yen Bai Province, Nghia Lo, 2017.VII; K. akikoae satoi Nagai, 2004: 1♂ (ZMPC), Laos, Houaphanh Province, Mt. Phu Pane, 2060 m, 2016.IV; K. yoshitomii Nagai, 2004: 1♂ (ZMPC), Laos, Houaphanh Province, Mt. Phu Pane, 2060 m, 2016.III; Masumotokoganea kinabalensis (Ohaus, 1932): 1♂ (CCPC), Malaysia, Sabah, Tambunan, 1600 m, 2014.V.7, light, Yu-Tang Wang leg.

The authors of the present paper tentatively delimitate the two genera based on the shape of the male mandible and the range of body length. Regarding the Didrepanephorus species, there is a prominent protrusion at the base of lower margin of male mandible, which is either sharp or blunt at apex, and the lower margin is concave or strongly concave before the protrusion. Such prominent protrusion is replaced by a weak lump in Fruhstorferia, with exception of F. flavipennis Nagai, 1984, in which the lump is acute at apex. But the lower margin is never concave before the protrusion in Fruhstorferia. Sometimes there is a basal protrusion also at upper margin of mandible in Didrepanephorus species, which is absent in all Fruhstorferia species. The mandible of Didrepanephorus bent upwards, but directed forward in Fruhstorferia. The body length of Didrepanephorus varies from 13.0–22.4 mm in males (mandibles excluding) and 13.5–23.2 mm in females (Nagai and Hirasawa 1991; Muramoto and Araya 2000; Muramoto 2003b, 2005, 2013; Qiu et al. 2021). In the genus Fruhstorferia, the range is 22.0–31.1 mm in males (mandibles excluding) and 23.0–30.0 mm in females (Nagai 1984, 1989; Ohaus 1903; Prokofiev 2013). The range of body length is almost not overlapped and the genus Fruhstorferia is generally longer. At this stage, authors are unable to provide diagnostic characters of females due to lack of material.

The following nomenclatorial acts can be proposed based on the above delimitation: D. birmanicus (Arrow, 1907), comb. nov., D. fukinukii (Muramoto & Araya, 2000), comb. nov., F. baron (Prokofiev, 2013), comb. nov. and F. anthracina Ohaus, 1903, comb. rev. Prokofiev (2013) transferred F. anthracina to the genus Didrepanephorus because of the strongly abbreviated abdominal ventrites 1–4 in male. In the same paper, Prokofiev described a new species, i.e., D. baron and assigned it to the genus Didrepanephorus for the same reason. The two species lack basal protrusion at the lower margin of male mandible and have body longer, therefore they should be placed in the genus Fruhstorferia. The placement of D. takuyai (Muramoto, 2003) is still unclear: the male of this species has upright mandible without protrusion or lump at base of lower margin, and the body length of male can reach 23.5 mm (Muramoto 2003a). Consequently, a checklist of the two genera is provided (Table 1). Only type localities are cited to avoid probable misidentifications.

Table 1.

Checklist of the genera Didrepanephorus and Fruhstorferia with type localities.

No. Taxon name Type locality (verbatim from original description)
1 Didrepanephorus arnaudi Muramoto, 2003 Bao Loc, 1400 m, Lam Dong Prov., Vietnam
2 Didrepanephorus bifalcifer Wood-Mason, 1878 Wakidgaon, a Village 30–35 miles S.E. of Sadia, in the valley of the Noa Dehing, India
3 Didrepanephorus birmanicus (Arrow, 1907), comb. nov. Ruby Mines, Burma
4 Didrepanephorus fukinukii (Muramoto & Araya, 2000), comb. nov. Fang, Chiang-Mai Prov., N. Thailand
5 Didrepanephorus heterocolor Qiu, Zhao & Xu, 2021 Loudousenlin, 679 m, 25°17'51"N, 108°04'28"E, Maolan Nature Reserve, Libo County, Guizhou, China
6 Didrepanephorus lamdongensis Muramoto, 2013 Bao Loc, Lam Dong, South Vietnam
7 Didrepanephorus lao Nagai, 2005 Mt. Phu Pan, 1700 m, Ban Saleui, Xam Neua, Houa Phan Prov., N.E. Laos
8 Didrepanephorus mizunumai Nagai & Hirasawa, 1991 Fang, Chiangmai Prov., North Thailand
9 Didrepanephorus mucronatus Arrow, 1921 Laos, Indo-China
10 Didrepanephorus nishiyamai Muramoto, 2006 Mts. Damingshan, Guangxi Prov., China
11 Didrepanephorus ohbayashii (Nagai, 2004)
= Didrepanephorus pilosus Bouchard, 2007
(synonymized by Prokofiev 2014)
Ban Saleui, 1400 m, Xam Neua, Houa Phan Prov., N.E. Laos
(D. pilosus: Mout Phouu-phien-kha-sieng, Dakchung District, Xekong, Laos)
12 Didrepanephorus subvittatus Benderitter, 1922 Chapa, Tonkin
13 Didrepanephorus tangzhaoyangi Zhao & Liu, sp. nov. Mangyun Village, 780 m, Taiping Town, Yingjiang County, Dehong Prefecture, Yunnan Prov., China
14 Didrepanephorus vietnamicus Muramoto & Kobayashi, 2019 Mt. Axan, 1300 m, Tay Giang, Quang Nam, Vietnam
15 Didrepanephorus yunnanus yunnanus (Ohaus, 1911) Yunnan, China
16 Didrepanephorus yunnanus clermonti (Benderitter, 1929) Chapa, Tonkin
17 Didrepanephorus yunnanus kachinensis Muramoto, 2005 Eastern Kachin State, Myanmar
18 Didrepanephorus yunnanus piaoacensis (Nagai, 2004) Mt. Pia Oac, Cao Bang Prov., N. Vietnam
19 Didrepanephorus yunnanus wakaharai (Nagai, 2004) Mt. Phu Pan, 1750 m, Ban Saleui, Xam Neua, Houa Phan Prov., N.E. Laos
20 Didrepanephorus zen Muramoto, 2009 Pu Mat, Nghe An Prov., Vietnam
21 Didrepanephorus takuyai (Muramoto, 2003), incertae sedis Mt. Braian, 45 km east of Bao Loc, Lam Dong Prov., Vietnam
22 Fruhstorferia anthracina Ohaus, 1903, comb. rev. Mauson Berge, Tonkin
23 Fruhstorferia baron (Prokofiev, 2013), comb. nov. about 72 km east of Dalat, 750–800 m, Khan Vinh County, KhanhHoa Prov. bordering Lamdong Prov., Dalat Plateau, Vietnam
24 Fruhstorferia egregia Pouillaude, 1915 Kon-Tum, Annam
25 Fruhstorferia flavipennis Nagai, 1984 Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia
26 Fruhstorferia javana javana Kolbe, 1894 West-Java
27 Fruhstorferia javana castanea Pouillaude, 1915 Monts Kawie, Java
28 Fruhstorferia nigromuliebris Nagai, 1984 Croker range, ca. 1400 m, near Keningau city, Sabah, Malaysia
29 Fruhstorferia ohtanii Nagai, 1989 Lampung, South Sumatra, Indonesia

Morphological remarks. Minute and dense setae on dorsal surface can be traced in the species with glabrous appearance in Didrepanephorus and Fruhstorferia, as well as in the related genera Kibakoganea Nagai, 1984, Masumotokoganea Hirasawa, 1992 (the genera Nagainokoganea Hirasawa, 1992 and Pukupuku Muramoto, 2006 are not examined). This character sometimes has a different arrangement in closely allied species, e.g., D. mizunumai Nagai & Hirasawa, 1991 and D. zen Muramoto, 2009 (Muramoto 2009). It should be a synapomorphy shared by these genera. The complete frontoclypeal suture in D. bifalcifer (Ohaus 1934a) should be an autapomorphy, since its closest congener D. mucronatus Arrow, 1921 and other examined Didrepanephorus species have incomplete frontoclypeal suture (Qiu et al. 2021). And the prosternal process and medially abbreviated abdominal ventrites 1–4 in males (Muramoto 2005) are present in the species of both genera. It cannot be applied to distinguish the two genera.

Didrepanephorus tangzhaoyangi Zhao & Liu, sp. nov.

Figs 1–6, 7, 9, 10

Type locality

China, Yunnan Province, Dehong Prefecture, Yingjiang County, Taiping Town, Mangyun Village, 780 m.

Type material

(28 specimens). Holotype. ♂ (SCAU), China: Yunnan Prov., Dehong Pref., Yingjiang County, Taiping Town, Mangyun, 780 m, 2021.VI.3, Shao-Fu Chen leg. // HOLOTYPE Didrepanephorus tangzhaoyangi sp. nov. des. Zhao Ming-Zhi & Wei-Xin Liu 2021 [red label].

Paratypes (14♂ & 13♀). 3♂, 2♀ (ZMPC), 1♂ (LZPC), same data as holotype; 2♂, 3♀ (TZPC), 1♀ (SCAU), 1♀ (ZMPC), same as preceding but 2021.VI.22; 2♂ & 1♀ (TZPC), same as preceding but 2020.VI; 1♂, 1♀ (MYNU), same as preceding but 750 m, 2019.V, local collector leg.; 1♂ (LCPC), CHINA: Yunnan Prov., Yingjiang County, Mangyun Village, 2017.VI.10; 2♂, 4♀ (TZPC), 1♂ (SFPC), China: Yunnan Prov., Dehong Pref., Yingjiang County, Taiping Town, Mangyun, Husonghe River, 750 m, 2021.VI, Zhao-Wei Guo leg.; 1♂ (CCPC), China: Yunnan Prov., Ruili Botanical Garden, 2013.V.6, Xiao-Dong Yang leg. All paratypes were provided with an additional yellow label: PARATYPE Didrepanephorus tangzhaoyangi sp. nov. des. Zhao & Liu 2021.

Description of the holotype

(Figs 1–3, 7, 9–10). General. Body broadly ovoid and strongly convex. All external setae yellowish brown.

Head. Dorsal surface yellowish brown, marginal portions darkened. Clypeus flat, trapezoidal, anterior margin nearly straight, anterior corner obtusely right-angled, side strongly convergent anteriad and weakly swollen in basal two fifth, then roundly curved, and almost subparallel in apical half; punctures large at disc but absent in middle, punctures small at marginal portions. Frontal-clypeal suture broadly interrupted medially, black at each side. Frons and vertex with scattered large punctures. Eyes canthus with roundly curved outer margin, not extends beyond outermost point of eye. Antenna reddish brown, length of antennal club distinctly shorter than antennomeres 2–7 combined. Dorsal surface of head with moderately dense, erect long setae, broadly glabrous medially. Labrum blackish brown, strongly exposed dorsally, with dense, erect long setae along margin, anterior margin feebly sinuate. Mandible blackish brown, bends upward, upper margin with a large, acute basal protrusion and a small, blunt proximal protrusion, lower margin with a large protrusion at base. Maxilla and maxillary palp reddish brown, maxilla with dense and long setae. Mentum yellowish brown, apical fourth of mentum darkened and slightly swollen, anterior margin curved but strongly concave medially, surface with sparse short setae each emerging from a puncture.

Pronotum. Orange-brown, darkened at anterior and posterior margins. Strongly convex, ca. 1.46 × as wide as long, widest near middle. Anterior margin bisinuate; anterior marginal membrane complete. Sides feebly convergent posteriad in posterior half, roundly and broadly curved at middle, then strongly convergent anteriad in anterior half. Posterior margin broadly protruding in middle. All marginal lines complete. Anterior angle weakly protruding, posterior angle round. Surface with sparse large punctures, somewhat aggregate and smaller at disc. Each dorsal puncture accommodates a minute seta; lateral margin with a row of erect short setae.

Scutellum. Brown, margin blackish brown. Semicircular in shape. Surface with sparse punctures, impunctate medially.

Elytra. Dark orange-brown. Convex, length of each elytron slightly longer than cross width of the two elytra. Surface uneven, humeral and apical umbones weakly prominent. Strial punctures large and deep, punctures on primary striae as large as punctures on secondary striae, 1st primary stria well defined by a longitudinal row of regular punctures, other striae unrecognizable; the whole surface with sparse small punctures, denser on lateral portions. Surface with moderately dense, semierect short setae, denser apically. Epipleura with a row of dense, short to moderately long setae.

Propygidium and pygidium. Brown, disc and apical portions of pygidium yellowish brown. Surfaces with moderately dense small punctures and erect, short to moderately long setae. Pygidium strongly convex and curved to ventrum, apex with a short row of erect long setae.

Ventral thoracic surface. Ventral prothoracic surface yellowish brown, dark brown around procoxal cavity; surface with moderately dense, erect long setae, each emerging from a small puncture; anterior margin with a row of dense and very long setae. Prosternal process gradually narrower toward apex, with very dense, erect long setae. Ventral mesothoracic surface dark brown, with scattered small punctures; a broad middle portion smooth and glabrous, with an oblique row of small punctures at each side; each puncture with a recumbent short seta. Ventral metathoracic surface yellowish brown, gradually darkened toward each side; with dense small punctures and very long setae, less setose medially.

Abdominal ventrites. Dark brown, ventrites 2–4 yellowish brown between anterior and posterior margin. Ventrites 1–4 strongly abbreviated; ventrite 6 strongly concave apically. Surface with the following arrangements of small punctures: moderately dense at medial portions of each ventrites, moderately dense and forming a row at each side near posterior margin of ventrites 1–5, sparse at each side of ventrites 1–5. Each puncture with a semierect short seta, which become moderately long to long at marginal portions and sides.

Fore legs. Yellowish brown; joints of trochanter, femur, and tibia, including protibial spur and teeth dark brown; protarsus and claws blackish brown. Protibia tridentate, apical and proximal teeth sharp at apices; third tooth shorter and blunter, more spaced from the two anterior teeth. Protarsus strongly thickened, the weakly protruding ventrolateral apex of protarsomere 4 with a small spiniform seta at each side, protarsomere 5 with a small and blunt internomedial protuberance. Protarsal claws strongly bent, unsplit at apices, inner one distinctly larger than the outer one. Empodium with one long seta. Protibial notch distinct. Dorsal surface of protibia with dense, erect short setae at inner half.

Middle and hind legs. Yellowish brown; joints of trochanters, femora, and tibiae (base) pale reddish brown; apex of tibial spurs, as well as tarsi and claws reddish brown. Mesotibia with two sharp teeth at apex, the upper one smaller. Metatibia with an apically subtruncate ramus at apex, the ridge with several small teeth. Base of the sharply protruding ventrolateral apices of tarsomeres 4 with a large spiniform seta at each side; tarsomeres 5 with a large and sharp internobasal protuberance. Outer mesotarsal claws widely and deeply split at apex and forming two branches, upper branches slightly thinner and sharper, that of hindlegs also longer than the lower one; inner tarsal claw simply sharp at apex. Empodium of mesotarsus with one long seta, of metatarsus with two long setae. Femora and inner surface of tibia with dense and very long setae, tibia with dense, semierect, and moderately long setae.

Male genitalia. As Figs 9, 10. Parameres strongly asymmetric, basally fused. Phallobase strongly curved in lateral view.

Male paratypes

Most specimens consistent in morphological features, small-sized male (Fig. 4) has distinctly shorter mandible with proximal tooth absent, pronotum narrower and less convex (1.41 × as wide as long).

Female paratypes

(mainly based on individual of Figs 5, 6, with modification based on variability of paratype series). General. Body more elongated ovoid than male, coloration similar to male.

Head. Clypeus flat, subtrapezoidal (posterior margin ca. 3 × wider than anterior margin), anterior margin weakly sinuate and distinctly reflexed, anterior corner broadly rounded, side strongly convergent anteriad and weakly swollen in basal two fifth, then roundly curved, and strongly convergent anteriad to anterior corner; punctures large and almost not spaced. Frontal-clypeal suture formed by a sinuate row of large and not spaced punctures. Frons and vertex with irregular large punctures in anterior half, punctures smaller at inner side of eye. Mandible reddish brown, short, anterior edge strongly reflected with two apically blunt teeth, outer edge weakly concave medially and convex basally. Anterior margin of mentum distinctly bilobed. Antennomeres 3–7 somewhat abbreviated.

Figures 1–6. 

Habitus of Didrepanephorus tangzhaoyangi Zhao, sp. nov. 1 holotype, dorsal view 2 holotype, ventral view 3 holotype, oblique lateral view 4 male paratype, dorsal view 5 female paratype, dorsal view 6 female paratype, ventral view.

Pronotum. Pronotum less convex than male, ca. 1.51 ×as wide as long, anterior margin strongly bisinuate; sides feebly convergent anteriad in posterior half, roundly and broadly curved at middle, then strongly convergent anteriad and feebly concave in anterior half; anterior angle distinctly protruding, posterior angle round.

Scutellum. Scutellum more triangular than male.

Elytra. Elytral surface less uneven compared to male, with irregular and vague longitudinal costae; lateral portion of elytron distinctly bulging behind midpoint; punctures sparser.

Pygidium. Pygidium not strongly convex, subtriangular, not bent to ventrum; setae denser than in male.

Abdominal ventrites. Abdominal ventrites light yellowish brown, slightly darkened at posterior margin of each ventrite; ventrites 2–4 not abbreviated, ventrite 6 not concave at apex; extensively bearing moderately dense punctures, ventrite 6 broadly rugopunctate medially.

Legs. Procoxae situated closer. Three teeth of protibia almost equal in size and shape, not very sharp at apices. Protarsus not thickened, base of the sharply protruding ventrolateral apices of protarsomere 4 with a large spiniform seta at each side, protarsomere 5 without internomedial protuberance. Protarsal claws less bent than in male, two claws almost equal in size; the inner protarsal claw widely and deeply split into two branches, the lower branch is a small dent at middle of inner protarsal claw. Empodium of protarsus with two long setae. Dorsal surface of protibia with sparser setae formed in rows. Metafemur thicker than in male. Protibia and mesotibia feebly curved inward.

Measurements

Body length from apex of clypeus to apex of elytron: 15.6–18.3 mm of male (holotype 17.1 mm) and 15.9–18.1 mm of female; greatest width: 9.2–10.6 mm of male (holotype 9.9 mm) and 8.9–10.0 mm of female.

Differential diagnosis

The new species is most similar to Laotian D. ohbayashii (Nagai, 2004), but the large-sized male of the new species has distinctly shorter mandibles. The large and acute basal protrusion is absent in upper margin of mandible in male of D. ohbayashii. The parameres of the two species are basally fused and strongly asymmetric. However, the parameres of D. tangzhaoyangi differ as follows: the left paramere without an incision at outer margin, apex of the left paramere distinctly narrower, the right paramere strongly curved outward proximally (orients apically in D. ohbayashii). The female of D. ohbayashii has more concave outer edge of mandible.

Figures 7–10. 

Morphological details of Didrepanephorus species 7 head of holotype of D. tangzhaoyangi Zhao & Liu, sp. nov., oblique lateral view 8 head of D. birmanicus (Arrow, 1907) (Lectotype of Fruhstorferia birmanica Arrow, 1907),oblique lateral view, photo © Keita Matsumoto (NHMUK) 9–10 male genitalia of holotype of D. tangzhaoyangi 9 dorsal view 10 ventral view. Scale bar for genitalia only.

Etymology

The specific epithet is dedicated to Zhao-Yang Tang, who generously provided most of the type material of the new taxon.

Distribution

China (Yunnan: Dehong Prefecture).

Didrepanephorus birmanicus (Arrow, 1907), comb. nov.

Figs 8, 11–15

Fruhstorferia birmanica Arrow, 1907: 354 [original description]; Arrow 1917: 49 [partim], fig. 15; Ohaus 1918: 43 [catalogued]; Ohaus 1934b: 121 [catalogued]; Machatschke 1972: 53 [catalogued]; Muramoto and Araya 2000: 12, figs 3–4 [syntype male figured]; Krajčík 2007: 70 [catalogued]; Krajčík 2012: 110 [catalogued, subgeneric placement unnoted].

Fruhstorferia (Kibakoganea) birmanica Arrow, 1907: Nagai 1984: 29 [catalogued].

Type locality

“Burma, Ruby Mines”, in currently Mogok City of Mandalay, Myanmar.

Type material

(1 specimen). Lectotype of Fruhstorferia birmanica Arrow, 1907 (hereby designated). ♂ (BMNH), “Birmah [R]uby Mes // Doherty // 64607 // Fry Coll. 1905-100. // Fruhstorferia birmanica, Arrow type ♂ A. a M., 1907. // Type // HOLOTYPE Fruhstorferia birmanica A. M. SOULA det 1994 // NHMUK014379787”. It will be provided with an additional red label: LECTOTYPE Fruhstorferia birmanica Arrow, 1907 des. Zhao Ming-Zhi 2021.

Remarks

The taxon Fruhstorferia birmanica was originally described based on a pair of specimens from Ruby Mines, Burma (Arrow 1907). The lectotype has not yet been designated and the male illustrated by Muramoto and Araya (2000) has been erroneously fixed as holotype. According to Art. 74.7.1 (ICZN 1999), both specimens should be regarded as syntypes. The examination of both syntypes reveals that the female is conspecific with D. mizunumai Nagai & Hirasawa, 1991. Therefore, a lectotype designation is necessary.

The male genitalia of the lectotype (Figs 8, 11–15) is partly damaged, which greatly complicates the comparison to its related species. However, the similarity of this species to small-sized male of D. yunnanus (Ohaus, 1911) is still apparent in many external features, especially in the allied shape of terminal segment of maxillary palp, which is more expanded and compressed than other Didrepanephorus species. There is a strong concavity at the base of lower margin of mandible. The protrusion at lower margin is partly hidden under the labrum. These characters match the above definitions for Didrepanephorus. Thus, this species is transferred to the genus Didrepanephorus herein. Among the five subspecies of D. yunnanus, i.e., D. y. yunnanus (Ohaus, 1911), D. y. clermonti Benderitter, 1929, D. y. piaoacensis Nagai, 2004, D. y. wakaharai Nagai, 2004, and D. y. kachinensis Muramoto, 2005, recognized by Muramoto (2005), D. y. kachinensis appears to be most similar to D. birmanicus due to the generally reddish brown body in combination to the closest geographical distance. To fully understand the relation between the two species, examination of topotypical specimens of D. birmanicus with undamaged male genitalia is needed.

This species was partly misinterpreted and the name was previously applied to two different species (see below). This species is so far only known from the lectotype.

Distribution

Myanmar (Mandalay Region: Mogok).

Didrepanephorus fukinukii (Muramoto & Araya, 2000), comb. nov.

Fruhstorferia fukinukii Muramoto & Araya, 2000: 12, figs 1–2, 7 [original description]; Nagai 2004: 150, figs 21–22, 30 [additional record from Mt. Doi Suthep, near Chiang Mai]; Krajčík 2007: 71 [catalogued]; Krajčík 2012: 110 [catalogued, subgeneric placement unnoted].

Fruhstorferia birmanica Arrow, 1907: Nagai and Hirasawa 1991: 7, figs 19, 29–31 [recorded from Northwest Thailand]; Young 1999: 357, fig. 1b; Nagai 2004: 150, figs 19–20, 29 [recorded from Thailand, Fang].

Type locality

North Thailand, Chiang Mai Province, Fang.

Material examined

(2 specimens). 1♂, 1♀ (GGPC), Thailand, Chiang Mai, Fang, 07.2015.

Remarks

This species is transferred to the genus Didrepanephorus here because of the distinct basal protrusion at the lower margin of mandible, as shown by Nagai and Hirasawa (1991).

Judging from the figures of habitus and male genitalia, the records of F. birmanica from Northwest Thailand (Nagai and Hirasawa 1991; Nagai 2004) are considered as D. fukinukii here. Thus, the record of F. birmanica in Thailand should be omitted. Arrow (1917, 1919) and Muramoto and Araya (2000) partly misinterpreted the taxon F. birmanica and applied the name to a species from Chin Hills. The species from Chin Hills appears to be very similar to D. fukinukii but having different male genitalia, which has strong incision at outer margin of left paramere.

Distribution

Thailand (Chiang Mai).

Didrepanephorus mizunumai Nagai & Hirasawa, 1991

Figs 16–18

Fruhstorferia birmanica Arrow, 1907: Arrow 1907: 354 [partim, female]; Arrow 1917: 49, fig. 16 [partim, female].

Didrepanephorus mizunumai Nagai & Hirasawa, 1991: 10, figs 2–5, 20, 32–34, 39–40 [original description]; Nagai 2005: 271, figs 4–6, 17; Muramoto 2009: 59, figs 4–6.

Fruhstorferia mizunumai (Nagai & Hirasawa, 1991): Jameson 1997: 170, figs 21–22 [new combination]; Nagai 2004: 150, figs 13–16, 27 [recorded from Houa Phan Prov., Laos]; Krajčík 2007: 71 [catalogued]; Krajčík 2012: 93 [catalogued, subgeneric placement unnoted].

Fruhstorferia yunnana Ohaus, 1911: Muramoto 1993: 7, figs 6, 10 [misidentification, recorded from Sapa, N. Vietnam].

Type locality

North Thailand, Chiang Mai Province, Fang.

Material examined

(5 specimens). 1♀ (BMNH), “Birmah Ruby Mes // Doherty // 64610 // Fry Coll. 1905. 100. // Fruhstorferia birmanica, Arrow type ♀ A. a M., 1907. // Figured for “Fauna of India.” // Type // NHMUK014379788”, it will be provided with an additional red label: PARALECTOTYPE Fruhstorferia birmanica Arrow, 1907 des. Zhao Ming-Zhi 2021; 1♂, 1♀ (ZMPC), Thailand, Chiang Mai, Fang, 26.VI.2011; 1♂, 1♀ (ZMPC), same as preceding but 2015.V.

Remarks

The female of D. mizunumai is easily characterized by the three strongly elevated costae between humeral and apical umbone, as well as a bulge on lateral portions of elytron. The paralectotype of F. birmanica (Figs 16–18) well fits topotypical female of D. mizunumai from Fang. Therefore, the female paralectotype represents a new distributional record for Myanmar. Two similar species, i.e., Laotian D. lao Nagai, 2005 and Vietnamese D. zen Muramoto, 2009 have minor morphological differences, but both are more restricted in their known distribution ranges.

Figures 11–18. 

Type material of Didrepanephorus species. 11–15 male of D. birmanicus (Arrow, 1907) (Lectotype of Fruhstorferia birmanica Arrow, 1907) 16–18 female of D. mizunumai Nagai & Hirasawa, 1991 (paralectotype of F. birmanica), habitus in dorsal view 11, 16 habitus in dorsal view 12, 17 habitus in lateral view 13 aedeagus showing parameres in dorsal view 14 aedeagus in dorsal view 15, 18 attached labels. All photos © Keita Matsumoto (NHMUK).

Distribution

Laos (Houaphanh); Myanmar (Mandalay) (new record); Thailand (Chiang Mai); Vietnam (Lao Cai).

Discussion

In this study, we propose a new delimitation for Didrepanephorus and Fruhstorferia, which temporarily solves those taxonomic conflicts at generic level. But the placement of D. takuyai (Muramoto, 2003) remains uncertain and this species requires further examination. Type material of five of the seven taxa of the genus Didrepanephorus described before 2000 had been re-examined and illustrated (Muramoto and Fujioka 2000; Muramoto 2005; Qiu et al. 2021; the present paper). Species described in this century were all well-illustrated. Hence there is a good taxonomic fundament at specific or infraspecific level. To date, the genus Didrepanephorus comprises 21 valid taxa distributed in the Indochina Peninsula, southern China, and the Himalaya. Two thirds of the valid taxa were described in this century and it is likely that new species will be discovered in the future. The Chin Hills species similar to D. fukinukii should be studied to ensure its status. The registered Chinese fauna of Didrepanephorus increased rapidly from two to six species within two years. New faunistic records can be expected due to the existence of other congeners known from the adjacent regions.

Moreover, no phylogenetic analysis was conducted for Didrepanephorus and related genera, i.e., Fruhstorferia, Kibakoganea, Masumotokoganea, Nagainokoganea and Pukupuku. In the morphology-based phylogenetic study (Jameson 1997), D. mizunumai and K. sexmaculata were used as representatives of the subtribe Fruhstorferiina Ohaus, 1918 and formed a clade together with the genera Ceroplophana Gestro, 1893, Dicaulocephalus Gestro, 1888 and Peperonota Westwood, 1847, which were traditionally recognized as members of the subtribe Parastasiina Burmeister, 1844 (Ohaus 1918, 1934b). It suggests that these three genera should be taken into consideration as well.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to express their sincere gratitude to Zhao-Yang Tang (Shenzhen, China), Chang-Chin Chen (Tianjin, China), Hao Xu and Jian-Yue Qiu (both MYNU), Chao Li (Beijing, China), Ze-Chuan Li (Tai’an, China), Feng-Yi Sun (Yong’an, China), Guy Guerlach (Orny, France), Carsten Zorn (Gnoien, Germany) and Ming-Yi Tian (SCAU) for their supports to this study; to Georgi Angelov Geshev (University College London, the United Kingdom) for suggestion and improvement on the English expression; to Jian-Yue Qiu and another anonymous reviewer for kindly reviewed the manuscript. Thanks are also due to Keita Matsumoto and Maxwell VL Barclay (both NHMUK) who made examination of historical material possible. This study was sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant no. 41871039).

References

  • Arrow GJ (1907) Some new species and genera of lamellicorn Coleoptera from the Indian Empire (part 1). The Annals and Magazine of natural History, including Zoology, Botany and Geology Series 7 19(112): 347–359. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222930709487274
  • Arrow GJ (1917) The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Coleoptera Lamellicornia part II (Rutelinae, Desmonycinae, and Euchirinae). Taylor & Francis, London, 387 pp.
  • Arrow GJ (1919) Notes on ruteline coleoptera and descriptions of a few new species in the British Museum. The Annals and Magazine of natural History, including Zoology. Botany and Geology Series 9 4(24): 379–385. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222931908673907
  • Arrow GJ (1921) Two remarkable new Ruteline beetles from Indo-china. The Annals and Magazine of natural History, including Zoology. Botany and Geology, Series 9 7(40): 378–381. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222932108632533
  • Benderitter E (1929) Contribution à l’étude des Rutélides du Tonkin. Annales de la Société Entomologique de France 98: 101–109.
  • Bouchard D (2007) Description d’une nouvelle espèce de Didrepanephorus Wood-Mason, 1878. Coléoptères 13(7): 63–65.
  • ICZN [International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature] (1999) International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. 4th edn. International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature, The Natural History Museum, London, 306 pp.
  • Jameson ML (1997) Phylogenetic analysis of the subtribe Rutelina and revision of the Rutela generic groups. Bulletin of the University of Nebraska State Museum 14: 1–184.
  • Kolbe HJ (1894) Ueber einige neue, von Herrn J. Fruhstorfer auf Java entdeckte Coleopteren. Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung 55(1–3): 3–11.
  • Krajčík M (2007) Checklist of the Scarabaeoidea of the World. 2. Rutelinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae). Animma. x(Supplementum 4): 1–139.
  • Krajčík M (2012) Checklist of the world Scarabaeoidea. Animma. x(Supplementum 5): 1–139.
  • Machatschke JW (1972) Coleopterorum catalogus supplementa. Pars 66, fascicle 1. Superfamilie Scarabaeoidea, Familie Melolonthidae,Subfamilie Rutelinae. Editio Secunda. Dr. W. Junk, s’-Gravenhage, Berlin, 361 pp.
  • Muramoto R (1993) A new species of the genus Kibakoganea from northern Vietnam, with a key to species of Fruhstorferia (wide sense) from northern Vietnam. Gekkan-Mushi 273: 7–10.
  • Muramoto R (2003a) A new species of the genus Fruhstorferia from South Vietnam. Kogane 4: 27–29.
  • Muramoto R (2003b) A new species of the genus Didrepanephorus from southern Vietnam. Kogane 4: 30–32.
  • Muramoto R (2005) Notes on Didrepanephorus yunnanus (Ohaus, 1911) and the genus Kibakoganea Nagai, 1984. Kogane 6: 23–32.
  • Muramoto R (2006) A new genus of the ruteline scarabs and a new species of the genus Didrepanephorus (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Rutelinae, Didrepanephorina). Kogane 7: 55–59.
  • Muramoto R (2009) A new species of the genus Didrepanephorus from Vietnam. Kogane 10: 57–59.
  • Muramoto R (2013) A new species of the genus Didrepanephorus Wood-Mason, 1878 from Vietnam. Kogane 14: 1–4.
  • Muramoto R, Araya K (2000) A new species of the genus Fruhstorferia Kolbe, 1894 from northern Thailand. Kogane 1: 12–16.
  • Muramoto R, Fujioka M (2000) Notes on genus Didrepanephorus Wood-Mason, 1878. Saikaku Tsûshin 1: 5–8.
  • Muramoto R, Kobayashi H (2019) Two new species of the tribe Rutelini, subtribe Didrepanephorina (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Rutelinae) from Vietnam and India. Elytra. New Series 9(2): 325–330.
  • Nagai S (1984) Two new may-beetles of the genus Fruhstorferia from Malaysia, with the descriptions of a new subgenus. Transactions of the Shikoku Entomological Society 16(4): 25–31.
  • Nagai S (1989) A new May-beetle of the genus Fruhstorferia from south Sumatra, Indonesia. Gekkan-Mushi 224: 11–13.
  • Nagai S (2004) Two new species and four new subspecies of the Rutelinae from southeast Asia. Japanese Journal of Systematic Entomology 10(1): 145–157.
  • Nagai S (2005) A new species and two new subspecies of the Rutelinae from southeast Asia. Japanese Journal of Systematic Entomology 11(2): 269–274.
  • Nagai S, Hirasawa H (1991) Two new species of the genus Didrepanephorus from Southeast Asia. Gekkan-Mushi 239: 6–12.
  • Ohaus F (1903) Beiträge zur Kenntnis der der Ruteliden. Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 1903(2): 209–228.
  • Ohaus F (1918) Scarabaeidae: Euchirinae, Phaenomerinae, Rutelinae. In: Schenkling S (Ed.) Coleopterorum catalogus. Pars 66. Dr. W. Junk, s’-Gravenhage, Berlin, 241 pp.
  • Ohaus F (1934a) XXVII. Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Ruteliden (Col. Scarabaeidae). Mitteilungen der Deutsche Entomologische Gesellschaft 5: 9–15.
  • Ohaus F (1934b) Coleoptera Lamellicornia Fam. Scarabaeidae Subfam. Rutelinae. Erster Teil. In: Wytsman PAG (Ed.) Genera Insectorum, Fasc. 199 (A). Desmet-Verteneuil, Bruxelles, 172 pp.
  • Pouillaude I (1915) Note sur quelques Fruhstorferia et description d’une espèce nouvelle. Insecta 5: 12–16.
  • Prokofiev AM (2013) A new Didrepanephorus species from Dalat Highlands (Vietnam). Amurian zoological journal 5(3): 279–281.
  • Prokofiev AM (2014) New and noteworthy scarab beetles from Asia and America. Calodema 330: 1–25.
  • Qiu JY, Zhao MZ, Xu H (2021) Description of a new species of the genus Didrepanephorus Wood-Mason, 1878 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae) from China with notes on allied species. Zootaxa 4933(4): 493–513. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4933.4.2
  • Wood-Mason J (1878) Description of Didrepanephorus bifalcifer, the type of a new genus and species of Rutelidae, remarkable for the huge sickle-shaped mandibular horns of the males. The Annals and Magazine of natural History, including Zoology. Botany and Geology 5(2): 422–426. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222937808682447
  • Young RM (1999) A new Fruhstorferia Kolbe from the Dawna Ra Mountains, Myanmar. Coleopterists Bulletin 53(4): 355–358.
login to comment