Holotype: ♂ “China (Yunnan) Nujiang Lisu Aut. Pref., Salween side valley, 5 km S Fugong, road SS228, km 223 (creek bank, litter sifted) 8.VI.2007 leg. D. Wrase/ X-DA1554” (ZFMK).

The new species has the genitalia similar in shape to N. incompta Ahrens & Fabrizi, 2009, but N. fugongensis differs by the lens-shaped labrum and lacking the anterior fringe of dense setae on the labrum.

Body length: 6.7 mm, length of elytra: 4.5 mm, body width: 3.7 mm. Body oval, yellowish brown, dorsal surface strongly shiny and glabrous.

Labroclypeus subtrapezoidal, distinctly wider than long, widest at base, lateral margins nearly straight, convergent anteriorly, anterior angles strongly rounded, anterior margin very shallowly sinuate medially, margins moderately reflexed; surface convexly elevated at centre, shiny, finely and sparsely punctate, with a few single setae anteriorly; frontoclypeal suture distinctly incised, slightly elevated and weakly curved; smooth area anterior to eye weakly convex, approximately 1.5 times as wide as long; ocular canthus short and narrow (1/3 of ocular diameter), impunctate, with one terminal seta. Frons with fine and sparse punctures, with a few long erect setae beside eyes and on posterior half of frons. Eyes large, ratio diameter/ interocular width: 0.69. Antenna with ten antennomeres, club with five antennomeres and straight, slightly longer than remaining antennomeres combined. Mentum elevated and convex anteriorly. Labrum short, lens-shaped in anterior view, not produced medially, with shallow median sinuation and without densely setose anterior margin.

Pronotum moderately transverse, widest shortly behind middle, lateral margins evenly convex and weakly convergent towards base, more strongly convergent anteriorly; anterior angles distinctly produced and sharp, posterior angles blunt and weakly rounded at tip; anterior margin straight, with a fine complete marginal line; surface moderately densely and finely punctate, glabrous; lateral and anterior border sparsely setose; hypomeron distinctly carinate basally, not produced ventrally. Scutellum narrow, triangular, with fine, dense punctures, impunctate on basal midline, glabrous.

Elytra oval, widest at posterior third, striae finely impressed, finely and densely punctate, intervals nearly flat, with sparse, fine punctures concentrated along striae, glabrous; epipleural edge fine, ending at widely rounded external apical angle of elytra, epipleura densely setose, apical border with a fine fringe of microtrichomes (visible at 100× magnification).

Ventral surface shiny, finely and densely punctate, metasternum glabrous; metacoxa glabrous, with a few single setae laterally; abdominal sternites finely and densely punctate, with a transverse row of coarse punctures, each bearing a short robust seta. Mesosternum between mesocoxae as wide as the mesofemur. Ratio of length of metepisternum/ metacoxa: 1/ 1.55. Pygidium moderately convex and shiny, finely and sparsely punctate, without smooth midline, with a few long setae along apical margin.

Legs short; femora shiny, with two rudimentary longitudinal rows of setae, superficially and sparsely punctate, glabrous; metafemur with anterior margin acute, without serrated line behind anterior edge, posterior margin smooth ventrally in apical half only weakly widened, posterior margin smooth dorsally. Metatibia moderately wide and short, widest at middle, ratio of width/ length: 1/ 2.8; dorsal margin sharply carinate, with two groups of spines, basal group at one third, apical group at two thirds of metatibial length, basally with a few short single setae; lateral face weakly convex, finely and very sparsely punctate, smooth along the middle; ventral edge finely serrated, with three robust nearly equidistant setae; medial face smooth, apex interiorly near tarsal articulation bluntly truncate. Tarsomeres ventrally with sparse, short setae, smooth, neither laterally nor dorsally carinate; metatarsomeres with a strongly serrated ridge ventrally, smooth; first metatarsomere slightly shorter than following two tarsomeres combined and distinctly longer than dorsal tibial spur. Protibia moderately long, bidentate, distal tooth sharply pointed at apex; anterior claws symmetrical, basal tooth of inner claw sharply truncate at apex.

Aedeagus: Fig. 1A–C. Habitus: Fig. 1D. Female unknown.

Figure 1. 

A–D Neoserica fugongensis Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n. (holotype) E–H N. mantillieri Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n. (holotype) I–L N. dongjiafenensis Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n. (holotype) A, E aedeagus, left side lateral view C, G aedeagus, right side lateral view B, F parameres, dorsal view D, H habitus. Scale bars: 0.5 mm. Habitus not to scale.

This new species is named with reference to its type locality, Fugong.

Holotype: ♂ “CHINE - Yunnan Tongbinguan 24°36'N, 97°35'E alt. 1180m/ Museum Paris 13.VI.2001 Deuve, Mantilleri, Rougerie & Tian leg.” (MNHN).

The new species is very similar to Neoserica fugongensis in the shape of the genitalia and in external appearance, but N. mantillierii differs by the shape of the left paramere: it is longer and its external margin has a blunt angle in the middle, its apex is hook-like and strongly bent backwards.

Body length: 6.8 mm, length of elytra: 4.5 mm, body width: 3.7 mm. Body oval, yellowish brown, dorsal surface strongly shiny and glabrous.

Labroclypeus subtrapezoidal, distinctly wider than long, widest at base, lateral margins nearly straight, convergent anteriorly, anterior angles strongly rounded, anterior margin very shallowly sinuate medially, margins moderately reflexed; surface convexly elevated at centre, shiny, finely and sparsely punctate, with a few single setae anteriorly; frontoclypeal suture distinctly incised, slightly elevated and weakly curved; smooth area anterior to eye weakly convex, approximately 1.5 times as wide as long; ocular canthus short and narrow (1/3 of ocular diameter), impunctate, with one terminal seta. Frons with fine and sparse punctures, with a few long erect setae beside eyes and on posterior half of frons. Eyes large, ratio diameter/ interocular width: 0.69. Antenna with ten antennomeres, club with five antennomeres and straight, slightly longer than remaining antennomeres combined. Mentum elevated and convex anteriorly. Labrum short, lens-shaped in anterior view, not produced medially, with shallow median sinuation and without densely setose anterior margin.

Pronotum moderately transverse, widest shortly behind middle, lateral margins evenly convex and weakly convergent towards base, more strongly convergent anteriorly; anterior angles distinctly produced and sharp, posterior angles blunt and weakly rounded at tip; anterior margin weakly convex, with a fine complete marginal line; surface moderately densely and finely punctate, glabrous; lateral and anterior border sparsely setose; hypomeron distinctly carinate basally, not produced ventrally. Scutellum narrow, triangular, with fine, dense punctures, impunctate on basal midline, glabrous.

Elytra oval, widest at posterior third, striae finely impressed, finely and densely punctate, intervals nearly flat, with sparse, fine punctures concentrated along striae, glabrous; epipleural edge fine, ending at widely rounded external apical angle of elytra, epipleura densely setose, apical border with a fine fringe of microtrichomes (visible at 100× magnification).

Ventral surface shiny, finely and densely punctate, metasternum glabrous; metacoxa glabrous, with a few single setae laterally; abdominal sternites finely and densely punctate, with a transverse row of coarse punctures, each bearing a short robust seta. Mesosternum between mesocoxae as wide as the mesofemur. Ratio of length of metepisternum/ metacoxa: 1/ 1.42. Pygidium moderately convex and shiny, finely and sparsely punctate, without smooth midline, with a few long setae along apical margin.

Legs short; femora shiny, with two rudimentary longitudinal rows of setae, superficially and sparsely punctate, glabrous; metafemur with anterior margin acute, without serrated line behind anterior edge, posterior margin smooth ventrally in apical half only weakly widened, posterior margin smooth dorsally. Metatibia moderately wide and short, widest at middle, ratio of width/ length: 1/ 2.8, dorsal margin sharply carinate, with two groups of spines, basal group at one third, apical group at three quarters of metatibial length, basally with a few short single setae; lateral face weakly convex, finely and sparsely punctate, smooth along the middle; ventral edge finely serrated, with three robust nearly equidistant setae; medial face smooth, apex interiorly near tarsal articulation bluntly truncate. Tarsomeres ventrally with sparse, short setae, smooth, neither laterally nor dorsally carinate; metatarsomeres with a strongly serrated ridge ventrally, smooth; first metatarsomere slightly shorter than following two tarsomeres combined and distinctly longer than dorsal tibial spur. Protibia moderately long, bidentate, distal tooth sharply pointed at apex; anterior claws symmetrical, basal tooth of inner claw sharply truncate at apex.

Aedeagus: Fig. 1E–G. Habitus: Fig. 1H. Female unknown.

This new species is named after one of its collectors, Mr. Mantilleri, who provided us with a series of unidentified specimens from his expedition to China.

Holotype: ♂ “Dongjiafen, Jingdong, Yunnan, 16.VI.1956, leg. Zaguljaev” (IZAS). Paratype: 1 ♂ “Jingdong, Yunnan, 23.VI.1956, light trap, leg. Krshzhanovsknja” (ZFMK).

The new species is in shape of genitalia and in external appearance very similar to Neoserica fugongensis and N. mantillierii but differs distinctly in the shape of the left paramere: the distal hook in N. dongjiafenensis is much shorter compared to the total length of the paramere whose basal portion is nearly as wide as long and nearly lobiform.

Body length: 6.4 mm, length of elytra: 4.5 mm, body width: 3.5 mm. Body oval, yellowish brown, dorsal surface strongly shiny and glabrous.

Labroclypeus subtrapezoidal, distinctly wider than long, widest at base, lateral margins nearly straight, convergent anteriorly, anterior angles strongly rounded, anterior margin very shallowly sinuate medially, margins moderately reflexed; surface convexly elevated at centre, shiny, finely and sparsely punctate, with a few single setae anteriorly; frontoclypeal suture distinctly incised, slightly elevated and weakly curved; smooth area anterior to eye weakly convex, approximately 1.5 times as wide as long; ocular canthus short and narrow (1/3 of ocular diameter), impunctate, with one terminal seta. Frons with fine and sparse punctures, with a few long erect setae beside eyes and on posterior half of frons. Eyes moderately large, ratio diameter/ interocular width: 0.6. Antenna with ten antennomeres, club with five antennomeres and straight, as long as remaining antennomeres combined. Mentum elevated and convex anteriorly. Labrum short, lens-shaped in anterior view, not produced medially, with shallow median sinuation and without densely setose anterior margin.

Pronotum moderately transverse, widest at base, lateral margins evenly convex and weakly convergent anteriorly; anterior angles distinctly produced and sharp, posterior angles blunt and weakly rounded at tip; anterior margin weakly convex, with a fine complete marginal line; surface moderately densely and finely punctate, glabrous; lateral and anterior border sparsely setose; hypomeron distinctly carinate basally, not produced ventrally. Scutellum narrow, triangular, with fine, moderately dense punctures, impunctate on basal midline, glabrous.

Elytra oval, widest at posterior third, striae finely impressed, finely and densely punctate, intervals nearly flat, with sparse, fine punctures concentrated along striae, glabrous except a few long setae on penultimate lateral interval; epipleural edge fine, ending at widely rounded external apical angle of elytra, epipleura densely setose, apical border with a fine fringe of microtrichomes (visible at 100× magnification).

Ventral surface shiny, finely and densely punctate, metasternum glabrous; metacoxa glabrous, with a few single setae laterally; abdominal sternites finely and densely punctate, with a transverse row of coarse punctures, each bearing a short robust seta. Mesosternum between mesocoxae as wide as the mesofemur. Ratio of length of metepisternum/ metacoxa: 1/ 1.64. Pygidium moderately convex and shiny, finely and sparsely punctate, without smooth midline, with a few long setae along apical margin.

Legs short; femora shiny, with two rudimentary longitudinal rows of setae, superficially and sparsely punctate, glabrous; metafemur with anterior margin acute, without serrated line behind anterior edge, posterior margin smooth ventrally in apical half only weakly widened, posterior margin smooth dorsally. Metatibia moderately wide and short, widest at middle, ratio of width/ length: 1/ 2.8, dorsal margin sharply carinate, with two groups of spines, basal group at one third, apical group at three quarters of metatibial length, basally with a few short single setae; lateral face weakly convex, finely and sparsely punctate, smooth along the middle; ventral edge finely serrated, with three robust nearly equidistant setae; medial face smooth, apex interiorly near tarsal articulation bluntly truncate. Tarsomeres ventrally with sparse, short setae, smooth, neither laterally nor dorsally carinate; metatarsomeres with a strongly serrated ridge ventrally, smooth; first metatarsomere distinctly shorter than following two tarsomeres combined and slightly longer than dorsal tibial spur. Protibia moderately long, bidentate, distal tooth sharply pointed at apex; anterior claws symmetrical, basal tooth of inner claw sharply truncate at apex.

Aedeagus: Fig. 1I–K. Habitus: Fig. 1L. Female unknown.

The name of the new species is derived from the type locality, Dongjiafen.

Body length: 5.3–6.4 mm, length of elytra: 4.2–4.5 mm, body width: 3.4–3.5 mm.

Holotype: ♂ “[China] Menglun, Yunnan, 19.V.1991, leg. Wang Yinglun, Tian Binggang” (NWAFU). Paratype: 1 ♂ “[China] Guangxi, Shangsi Shiwandashan 2011-VII-7, 263m” (IZAS).

Neoserica menglunensis Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu sp. n. differs from all other Chinese species of the N. lubrica group by the presence of a transverse rim of dense setae on the anterior margin of labrum, and also by the shape of parameres: the left paramere is narrow and long (5 times as long as wide), and sharply pointed at its apex.

Body length: 5.5 mm, length of elytra: 4.0 mm, body width: 3.7 mm. Body oval, yellowish brown, dorsal surface strongly shiny and glabrous.

Labroclypeus short and subtrapezoidal, distinctly wider than long, widest at base, lateral margins nearly straight, convergent anteriorly, anterior angles moderately rounded, anterior margin broadly sinuate medially, margins moderately reflexed; surface nearly flat, shiny, finely and sparsely punctate, with a few single setae anteriorly; frontoclypeal suture distinctly incised, slightly elevated and weakly curved; smooth area anterior to eye weakly convex, approximately 1.5 times as wide as long; ocular canthus short and narrow (1/3 of ocular diameter), impunctate, with one terminal seta. Frons with fine and moderately dense punctures, with a few long erect setae beside eyes and behind frontoclypeal suture. Eyes moderately large, ratio diameter/ interocular width: 0.64. Antenna with ten antennomeres, club with five antennomeres and straight, slightly shorter than remaining antennomeres combined. Mentum elevated and convex anteriorly. Labrum short, nearly lens-shaped in anterior view, not produced medially, with shallow median sinuation and with a rim of dense setae near anterior margin.

Pronotum moderately transverse, widest at base, lateral margins in basal half nearly straight and moderately convergent to middle, evenly convex and weakly convergent anteriorly; anterior angles distinctly produced and sharp, posterior angles blunt and weakly rounded at tip; anterior margin weakly convex, with a fine complete marginal line; surface moderately densely and finely punctate, glabrous; lateral and anterior border sparsely setose; hypomeron distinctly carinate basally, not produced ventrally. Scutellum narrow, triangular, with fine, moderately dense punctures, impunctate on basal midline, glabrous.

Elytra oval, widest at posterior third, striae finely impressed, finely and densely punctate, intervals nearly flat, with sparse, fine punctures concentrated along striae, glabrous except a few long setae on penultimate lateral interval; epipleural edge fine, ending at widely rounded external apical angle of elytra, epipleura densely setose, apical border without a fine fringe of microtrichomes (visible at 100× magnification).

Ventral surface shiny, finely and densely punctate, metasternum glabrous; metacoxa glabrous, with a few single setae laterally; abdominal sternites finely and densely punctate, with a transverse row of coarse punctures, each bearing a short robust seta. Mesosternum between mesocoxae as wide as the mesofemur. Ratio of length of metepisternum/ metacoxa: 1/ 1.61. Pygidium moderately convex and moderately shiny, finely and densely punctate, without smooth midline, with a few long setae along apical margin.

Legs short; femora shiny, with two rudimentary longitudinal rows of setae, superficially and sparsely punctate, glabrous; metafemur with anterior margin acute, without serrated line behind anterior edge, posterior margin smooth ventrally in apical half only weakly widened, posterior margin smooth dorsally. Metatibia wide and short, widest at middle, ratio of width/ length: 1/ 2.4, dorsal margin sharply carinate, with two groups of spines, basal group at one third, apical group at three quarters of metatibial length, basally with a few short single setae; lateral face weakly convex, finely and sparsely punctate, smooth along the middle; ventral edge finely serrated, with three robust nearly equidistant setae; medial face smooth, apex interiorly near tarsal articulation bluntly truncate. Tarsomeres ventrally with sparse, short setae, smooth, neither laterally nor dorsally carinate; metatarsomeres with a strongly serrated ridge ventrally, smooth; first metatarsomere distinctly shorter than following two tarsomeres combined and only slightly longer than dorsal tibial spur. Protibia moderately long, bidentate, distal tooth sharply pointed at apex; anterior claws symmetrical, basal tooth of inner claw sharply truncate at apex.

Aedeagus: Fig. 2A–C. Habitus: Fig. 2D. Female unknown.

Figure 2. 

A–D Neoserica menglungensis Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n. (holotype) E–H N. obscura (Blanchard) (holotype, M. roeri Frey) I–L N. allobscura Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n. (holotype) A, E aedeagus, left side lateral view C, G aedeagus, right side lateral view B, F parameres, dorsal view D, H habitus. Scale bars: 0.5 mm. Habitus not to scale.

Body length: 5.4–5.5 mm, length of elytra: 3.9–4.0 mm, body width: 3.3–3.7 mm.

The new species is named after the type locality, Menglun.

Lectotype (O. obscura, here designated): ♂ “Museum Paris Chine Gallery 5-46/ O. obscura Cat. Mus. China” (MNHN). Paralectotypes (obscura): 1 ♂ “Museum Paris Gallery 5-46/ Omaloplia obscura Blanch. ex Typis/ Brsk. I 98 vid” (MNHN), 1 ♂ “Museum Paris Chine Gallery 5-46” (MNHN). Syntype (A. chinenesis): 2 ♂♂ “China Kuliang 1923 S. F. Light” (BMNH), 1 ♂ “Foochow” (BMNH). Holotype (M. roeri): ♂ “Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J. Klapperich 17.6.1938 (Fukien) /Type Microserica roeri n.sp. G. Frey 1971” (ZFMK). Paratypes (M. roeri FREY): 1 ♂ “Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J. Klapperich 16.6.1938 (Fukien)/Paratype Microserica roeri n.sp. G. Frey 1971” (ZMHB), 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀ “Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J. Klapperich 17.6.1938 (Fukien) /Paratype Microserica roeri n.sp. G. Frey 1971” (ZFMK), 1 ♀ “Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J. Klapperich 15.6.1938 (Fukien) /Paratype Microserica roeri n. sp. G. Frey 1971” (ZFMK), 1 ex. (not sexed) “Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J. Klapperich 25.5.1938 (Fukien)/ M. roeri m. G. Frey 1971/ Paratype Microserica roeri Frey, 1972 det. Ahrens 2016” (ZFMK), 4 ex. (not sexed) “Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J. Klapperich 4.6.1938 (Fukien)/ M. roeri m. G. Frey 1971/ Paratype Microserica roeri Frey, 1972 det. Ahrens 2016” (ZFMK), 2 ex. (not sexed) “Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J. Klapperich 12.6.1938 (Fukien)/ M. roeri m. G. Frey 1971/ Paratype Microserica roeri Frey, 1972 det. Ahrens 2016” (ZFMK), 15 ex. (not sexed) “Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J.Klapperich 14.6.1938 (Fukien)/ M. roeri m. G. Frey 1971/ Paratype Microserica roeri Frey, 1972 det. Ahrens 2016” (ZFMK), 25 ex. (not sexed) “Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J.Klapperich 15.6.1938 (Fukien)/ M. roeri m. G. Frey 1971/ Paratype Microserica roeri Frey, 1972 det. Ahrens 2016” (ZFMK), 27 ex. (not sexed) “Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J.Klapperich 16.6.1938 (Fukien)/ M. roeri m. G. Frey 1971/ Paratype Microserica roeri Frey, 1972 det. Ahrens 2016” (ZFMK), 58 ex. (not sexed) “Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J.Klapperich 17.6.1938 (Fukien)/ M. roeri m. G. Frey 1971/ Paratype Microserica roeri Frey, 1972 det. Ahrens 2016” (ZFMK), 9 ex. (not sexed) “Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J.Klapperich 18.6.1938 (Fukien)/ M. roeri m. G. Frey 1971/ Paratype Microserica roeri Frey, 1972 det. Ahrens 2016” (ZFMK), 1 ex. (not sexed) “Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J.Klapperich 20.6.1938 (Fukien)/ M. roeri m. G. Frey 1971/ Paratype Microserica roeri Frey, 1972 det. Ahrens 2016” (ZFMK), 1 ex. (not sexed) “Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J.Klapperich 21.6.1938 (Fukien)/ M. roeri m. G. Frey 1971/ Paratype Microserica roeri Frey, 1972 det. Ahrens 2016” (ZFMK), 1 ex. (not sexed) “Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J.Klapperich 9.7.1938 (Fukien)/ M. roeri m. G. Frey 1971/ Paratype Microserica roeri Frey, 1972 det. Ahrens 2016” (ZFMK), 1 ex. (not sexed) “Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J.Klapperich 27.7.1938 (Fukien)/ M. roeri m. G. Frey 1971/ Paratype Microserica roeri Frey, 1972 det. Ahrens 2016” (ZFMK), 1 ex. (not sexed) “Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J.Klapperich 8.8.1938 (Fukien)/ M. roeri m. G. Frey 1971/ Paratype Microserica roeri Frey, 1972 det. Ahrens 2016” (ZFMK), 4 ex. (not sexed) “Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J.Klapperich 9.8.1938 (Fukien)/ M. roeri m. G. Frey 1971/ Paratype Microserica roeri Frey, 1972 det. Ahrens 2016” (ZFMK), 1 ex. (not sexed) “Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J.Klapperich 22.8.1938 (Fukien)/ M. roeri m. G. Frey 1971/ Paratype Microserica roeri Frey, 1972 det. Ahrens 2016” (ZFMK).

8 ex. “China Fujian prov. Sangang env. 3.-5./.1991 M. Nikodým leg.” (ZFMK), 4 ex. “Chine 18.V.46 Kuatun, Fukien leg. Tschung-Sen” (MHNG), 18 ex. “Chine 1.VI.46 Kuatun, Fukien leg. Tschung-Sen” (MHNG), 4 ex. “Chine 4.VI.46 Kuatun, Fukien leg. Tschung-Sen” (MHNG), 3 ex. “Chine 8.VI.46 Kuatun, Fukien leg. Tschung-Sen” (MHNG), 12 ex. “Chine 10.VI.46 Kuatun, Fukien leg. Tschung-Sen” (MHNG), 6 ex. “Chine 12.VI.46 Kuatun, Fukien leg. Tschung-Sen” (MHNG), 57 ex. “Chine 15.VI.46 Kuatun, Fukien leg. Tschung-Sen” (MHNG), 78 ex. “Chine 20.VI.46 Kuatun, Fukien leg. Tschung-Sen” (MHNG), 14 ex. “Chine 29.VI.46 Kuatun, Fukien leg. Tschung-Sen” (MHNG), 37 ex. “Chine 28.VII.46 Kuatun, Fukien leg. Tschung-Sen” (MHNG), 6 ex. “Chine 4.VII.46 Kuatun, Fukien leg. Tschung-Sen” (MHNG), 24 ex. “Chine 6.VII.46 Kuatun, Fukien leg. Tschung-Sen” (MHNG), 24 ex. “Chine 7.VII.46 Kuatun, Fukien leg. Tschung-Sen” (MHNG), 36 ex. “Chine 14.VII.46 Kuatun, Fukien leg. Tschung-Sen” (MHNG), 18 ex. “Chine 22.VII.46 Kuatun, Fukien leg. Tschung-Sen” (MHNG), 3 ex. “Chine 14.VIII.46 Kuatun, Fukien leg. Tschung-Sen” (MHNG), 2 ex. “Reg. de Luc-Nam (Tonkin) L. Blaise/ Museum Paris (Coll. Ph. Francois) Coll. L. Bedel 1922” (MNHN), 4 ex. “Museum Paris Kouy-Tcheou P. Cavalerie 1910” (MNHN), 2 ex. “Museum Paris Kouy-Tcheou Reg. de Pin-Fa, P. Cavalerie 1908” (MNHN), 2 ex. “Museum Paris Kouy-Tcheou Kouy-Yang, P.P. Cavalerie et Fortunat 1906” (MNHN), 6 ex. “Hangchow 6-5-24/ J. F. Illingworth” (BPBM), 2 ex. “Kwangtung, S.C. Chukiang Lungtaushan 17.VI.1947/ J.L. Gressitt Collector” (BPBM), 1 ex. “S. China Kwangtung Loh-chang Dist. 1947/ J.L. Gressitt Colletor Bishop Museum” (BPBM), 3 ex. “S. China: Kwangtung Tsin-leong Shan 5.VI.1936/ L. &. M. Gressitt Collectors Bishop Museum” (BPBM), 1 ex. “S. China NE Kwangtung Yim-na Shan 10-15.VI.36/ J. L. Gressitt Collector Bishop Museum” (BPBM), 1 ex. “Fukien, S. China Kienyang: Nwangkeng 6.VI.42 T. C. Maa” (BPBM), 1 ex. “China: Taipe‘ v.1925/ D. T. Fullaway, Coll. Bishop Museum Acc. +1986.189” (BPBM), 2 ex. “Hong Kong: Hong Kong Island IV.1958/ N.L.H. Krauss Collector Bishop” (BPBM), 1 ex. “Fukien, S. China Shaowu: Tachulan 1000 m. 22.VII.42/ T. C. Maa Collector Bishop Mus.” (BPBM), 2 ex. “Fukien, S. China Kienyang City 1941-23.VI. Maa” (BPBM), 1 ex. “Fukien, S. China Kienyang: Kwang-keng to Tachulan 1943. Maa” (BPBM), 1 ex. “Fukien, S. China Shaowu: Tachulan 1000 m. T. Maa/ 1.VII.42” (BPBM), 1 ex. “Fukien, S. China Shaowu: Tachulan 1000 m. T. Maa/ 7.V.42” (BPBM), 2 ex. “Fukien, S. China Changting City 1940 3.VI. Maa” (BPBM), 1 ex. “Fukien, S. China Changting: Hotien 24.VII.1940/ T.C. Maa Collector Bishop” (BPBM), 1 ex. “Fukien, S. China Shahsien 15.VII.1940 T. Maa” (BPBM), 2 ex. “Kuatun (2300 m) 27,40 n.Br. 117,49 ö.L. J.Klapperich 17.6.1938 (Fukien)/ Neoserica obscura Bl. det G. Frey 1967/68” (CF), 3 ex. “Kiangsi, S. China Taiauhong, S. of Sungwu, 540 m VII-5-36 Gressitt” (BPBM), 1 ex. “Fukien, S. China Chungan Bohea Hills 12.VI.1941 T.C. Maa” (BPBM), 1 ex. “Foochow July‘24/ J.F. Illingworth” (BPBM), 2 ex. “Kiangsi, SE China Hong Shan 1000 m VI-25-36, Gressitt” (BPBM), 1 ex. “China, W Jiangxi Jinggang Shan-Ciping 2-14.VI.1994 E. Jendek & O. Sausa leg./ CS 18” (CP), 7 ex. “China, W Jiangxi Jinggang Shan Ciping env. 2-14.VI.1994” (NHMW), 46 ex. “China Hunan SE Ling Xian env. 26.31N 113.44E 15-18.VI.1994” (NHMW), 2 ex. “China Hunan S Chenzhou env. 25.49N 112.59E 19-21.VI.1994” (NHMW), 1 ex. “China Hunan SE Guidong env. 26.04N 113.56E 26-31.V.1994” (NHMW), 3 ex. “China Schf.” (ZMHB), 5 ex. “ China Canton” (ZMHB), 1 ex. “ Kiautschou China” (ZMHB), 1 ex. “China Canton V.-VII.11 Mell S.V.” (ZMHB), 3 ex. “China Tsha-jiu-san VII-IX.10 Mell S.V.” (ZMHB), 1 ex. “Prov.Fo-Kien (China)” (ZMHB), 1 ex. “Fockien Donckier” (ZMHB), 5 ex. “Museum Paris Chekiang Hang Tcheou A. Pichon 1925” (MNHN), 1 ex. “China, N Fujian, 8.-25,V. Wuyi Shan mts. ~10km W Xingcun pitfall traps, 27.65N 117.85E Jaroslav Turna leg., 2005” (ZFMK), 8 ex. “Kuatun (2300m) 27,40n.Br. 117,40o.L. J. Klapperich 17.6. 1938 (Fukien)/ ex. Coll. V. Balthasar National Museum Prague, Czech Republic” (NMPC), 2 ex. “Kuatun (2300m) 27,40n.Br. 117,40o.L. J. Klapperich 14.6. 1938 (Fukien)/ ex. Coll. V. Balthasar National Museum Prague, Czech Republic” (NMPC), 2 ex. “Kuatun (2300m) 27,40n.Br. 117,40o.L. J. Klapperich 16.6. 1938 (Fukien)/ ex. Coll. V. Balthasar National Museum Prague, Czech Republic” (NMPC), 1 ex. “Kuatun (2300m) 27,40n.Br. 117,40o.L. J. Klapperich 18.8. 1938 (Fukien)/ ex. Coll. V. Balthasar National Museum Prague, Czech Republic” (NMPC), 2 ex. “Kuatun (2300m) 27,40n.Br. 117,40o.L. J. Klapperich 25.5. 1938 (Fukien)/ ex. Coll. V. Balthasar National Museum Prague, Czech Republic” (NMPC), 5 ex. “Kuatun Fukien China 18.6.46 (Tschung Sen.)/ ex. Coll. V. Balthasar National Museum Prague, Czech Republic” (NMPC), 1 ex. “Kuatun Fukien China 15.6.46 (Tschung Sen.)/ ex. Coll. V. Balthasar National Museum Prague, Czech Republic” (NMPC), 1 ♂ “China: E Guizhou prov.; Fodingshan; Ganshi; 25km of Shiguian; 1300m; BOLM lgt.; 5.-9.vi.1997” (CP), 3 ex. “Datchulau China ‘39 TH Cheng/ July 39” (USNM), 2 ex. “Hangchow VI-22 1927 Coll. C.Y. Wong” (USNM), 3 ex. “Hangchow VI-23 1927 Coll. C.Y. Wong” (USNM), 1 ex. “Hangchow VI-24 1927 Coll. C.Y. Wong” (USNM), 1 ex. “Foochow China VII- 18 2519 Coll. C.C. Wee” (USNM), 1 ex. “Hangchow China./ VII-6 to VIII-17-1926 Coll. H.A. Jaynes” (USNM), 1 ex. “Hangchow China./ V-10-1926 Coll. H.A. Jaynes” (USNM), 1 ex. “Hangchow IX-20-1924/ J.F. Illingwerth Ex flower” (USNM), 1 ex. “Zakow China VII-16-1924” (USNM), 1 ex. “Zakow China./ III-24 to IV-15-1926 Coll. H.A. Jaynes” (USNM), 1 ex. “Foochow China CI-1928/ F.C. Hadden Collector” (USNM), 2 ex. “Chekiang China/ OL Cartwright collection 1959” (USNM), 1 ♂ “Guangdong, 9,10.VII.1965” (IZAS), 1 ♂ “Xiadao, Nanping, Fujian, 27.V.1963, leg. Zhang Youwei” (IZAS), 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀ “Hujiang, Lianxian County, Guangdong, 18.VI.1965, leg. Zhang Youwei” (IZAS), 1 ♂ “Guangdong, 7.VII.1965” (IZAS), 1 ♂ “Jiuniutang, Mao’ershan, Guangxi, 13.VII.1985, 1100m, leg. Liao Subai” (IZAS), 1 ♂ “Chong’an Xingcun, Fujian, 10.VII.1960, 200m, leg. Jiang Shengqiao” (IZAS), 1 ♂ “Xiangshui, Boluo, Guangdong, 31.V.1965, leg. Zhang Youwei” (IZAS), 1 ♂ “Guanping, Tongmuguan, Chong’an, Fujian, 13.VIII.1960, 900-1000m, leg. Jiang Shengqiao” (IZAS), 4 ex. “China: Zhejiang, Longquan City, 30.VI.1979” (SNUC).

Body length: 5.6 mm, length of elytra: 3.9 mm, body width: 3.6 mm. Body short-oval, black, elytra reddish brown, dorsal surface except anterior labroclypeus dull, pronotum and elytra glabrous.

Labroclypeus subtrapezoidal, distinctly wider than long, widest at base, lateral margins weakly convex, convergent anteriorly; anterior angles strongly rounded; anterior margin shallowly sinuate medially, margins moderately reflexed; surface weakly convex, shiny, base dull, coarsely and densely punctate, with numerous erect setae; frontoclypeal suture indistinctly incised, vanishing under dull toment; smooth area in front of eye convex, nearly as long as wide; ocular canthus short and triangular (1/3 of ocular diameter), sparsely punctate, with one or more terminal setae. Frons with fine and moderately dense punctures, with a few long erect setae beside eyes and behind frontoclypeal suture. Eyes small, ratio diameter/ interocular width: 0.41. Antenna with ten antennomeres, club (♂) with four antennomeres and straight, as long as remaining antennomeres combined. Mentum convexly elevated and flattened anteriorly.

Pronotum transverse, widest at base, lateral margins in basal half nearly straight and moderately convergent to middle, evenly convex and weakly convergent anteriorly; anterior angles distinctly produced and sharp, posterior angles blunt and weakly rounded at tip; anterior margin straight, with a fine complete marginal line; surface densely and finely punctate, glabrous, with minute setae in punctures (100× magnification); lateral border densely setose; hypomeron distinctly carinate basally, not produced ventrally. Scutellum triangular, with fine, dense punctures, glabrous.

Elytra short-oval, widest shortly behind middle, striae finely impressed, finely and densely punctate, intervals weakly convex, with sparse, fine punctures concentrated along striae, glabrous except a few single, short setae on odd intervals; epipleural edge robust, ending at nearly blunt external apical angle of elytra, epipleura densely setose; apical border without a fine fringe of microtrichomes (visible at 100× magnification).

Ventral surface dull, finely and densely punctate; metasternum nearly glabrous except a few long robust setae on disc, punctures with minute setae (100× magnification); metacoxa glabrous, with a few single setae laterally; abdominal sternites finely and densely punctate, with a transverse row of coarse punctures, each bearing a short robust seta, last sternite half as long as penultimate one. Mesosternum between mesocoxae as wide as the mesofemur, with a semi-circular ridge bearing long setae. Ratio of length of metepisternum/ metacoxa: 1/ 1.9. Pygidium dull, moderately convex, finely and densely punctate, without smooth midline, with a few long setae along apical margin.

Legs short; femora moderately shiny, with two rudimentary longitudinal rows of setae, finely and sparsely punctate, glabrous; metafemur with anterior margin acute, without serrated line behind anterior edge, posterior margin smooth ventrally, in apical half only weakly widened, posterior margin smooth dorsally. Metatibia wide and short, widest at middle, ratio of width/ length: 1/ 2.7; dorsal margin sharply carinate, with two groups of spines, basal group at one third, apical group at three quarters of metatibial length, basally with a few short single setae; lateral face weakly convex, finely and sparsely punctate, smooth along middle; ventral edge finely serrated, with three robust nearly equidistant setae; medial face smooth, apex interiorly near tarsal articulation bluntly truncate and slightly concavely sinuate. Tarsomeres ventrally with sparse, short setae, smooth, neither laterally nor dorsally carinate; metatarsomeres with a strongly serrated ridge ventrally, glabrous; first metatarsomere as long as following two tarsomeres combined and slightly longer than dorsal tibial spur. Protibia short, bidentate, distal tooth sharply pointed at apex; anterior claws symmetrical, basal tooth of inner claw sharply truncate at apex.

Aedeagus: Fig. 2E–G. Habitus: Fig. 2H.

The colour may vary from being totally black to reddish brown. Female: antennal club also composed of 4 antennomeres, however, the club is slightly shorter than in males and the first joint of the club is slightly shorter than the club; pygidium moderately convex, at middle strongly shiny and finely punctate.

The parameres of the lectotype of Neoserica obscura (Blanchard) are virtually identical in the shape with those of Microserica roeri Frey and Aserica chinensis Arrow. The latter two names are consequently proposed here as junior synonyms of Neoserica obscura.

Holotype: ♂ “China coll. Chev./ obscura Bl. Mit cotype vergl 4.I.98./ obscura Bl./coll. Brenske” (ZMHB).

Neoserica allobscura Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n. is in external appearance and genital morphology very similar to N. obscura. Neoserica allobscura differs by the less distinct pair of protuberances on the dorsoapical phallobase and the shape of the parameres: the right paramere is strongly curved in the middle and its basal lobe is longer than the rudimentary one of N. obscura; the dorsal lobe of the left paramere is displaced more basally and bent interiorly, while in N. obscura it is directly above the ventral lobe of the left paramere.

Body length: 6.9 mm, length of elytra: 3.9 mm, body width: 3.6 mm. Body short-oval, dark brown, elytra black, dorsal surface except anterior labroclypeus dull, pronotum and elytra glabrous.

Labroclypeus subtrapezoidal, distinctly wider than long, widest at base, lateral margins weakly convex, convergent anteriorly; anterior angles strongly rounded; anterior margin shallowly sinuate medially, margins moderately reflexed; surface weakly convex, shiny, base dull, densely punctate, coarse punctures mixed with minute ones, with numerous erect setae; frontoclypeal suture indistinctly incised, weakly curved medially; smooth area in front of eye convex, nearly as long as wide; ocular canthus short and triangular (1/3 of ocular diameter), sparsely punctate, with one or more terminal setae. Frons with fine and moderately dense punctures, with a few long erect setae beside eyes and behind frontoclypeal suture. Eyes small, ratio diameter/ interocular width: 0.42. Antenna with ten antennomeres, club (♂) with four antennomeres and straight, as long as remaining antennomeres combined. Mentum convexly elevated and flattened anteriorly.

Pronotum transverse, widest at base, lateral margins evenly convex and moderately convergent anteriorly; anterior angles distinctly produced and sharp, posterior angles blunt and weakly rounded at tip; anterior margin straight, with a fine complete marginal line; surface densely and finely punctate, glabrous, with minute setae in punctures (100× magnification); lateral border densely setose; hypomeron distinctly carinate basally, not produced ventrally. Scutellum triangular, with fine, dense punctures, glabrous.

Elytra short-oval, widest shortly behind middle, striae finely impressed, finely and densely punctate, intervals weakly convex, with sparse, fine punctures concentrated along striae, glabrous; epipleural edge robust, ending at nearly blunt external apical angle of elytra, epipleura densely setose; apical border without a fine fringe of microtrichomes (visible at 100× magnification).

Ventral surface dull, finely and densely punctate; metasternum nearly glabrous except a few long robust setae on disc, punctures with minute setae (100× magnification); metacoxa glabrous, with a few single setae laterally; abdominal sternites finely and densely punctate, with a transverse row of coarse punctures, each bearing a short robust seta, last sternite half as long as penultimate one. Mesosternum between mesocoxae as wide as the mesofemur, with a semi-circular ridge bearing long setae. Ratio of length of metepisternum/ metacoxa: 1/ 2.2. Pygidium dull, moderately convex, coarsely and densely punctate, without smooth midline, with a few long setae along apical margin.

Legs short; femora moderately shiny, with two rudimentary longitudinal rows of setae, finely and sparsely punctate, glabrous; metafemur with anterior margin acute, without serrated line behind anterior edge, posterior margin smooth ventrally, in apical half only weakly widened, posterior margin smooth dorsally. Metatibia wide and short, widest at middle, ratio of width/ length: 1/ 2.7; dorsal margin sharply carinate, with two groups of spines, basal group at one third, apical group at three quarters of metatibial length, basally with a few short single setae; lateral face weakly convex, finely and sparsely punctate, smooth along middle; ventral edge finely serrated, with three robust nearly equidistant setae; medial face smooth, apex interiorly near tarsal articulation bluntly truncate and slightly concavely sinuate. Tarsomeres ventrally with sparse, short setae, smooth, neither laterally nor dorsally carinate; metatarsomeres with a strongly serrated ridge ventrally, glabrous; first metatarsomere as long as following two tarsomeres combined and as long as dorsal tibial spur. Protibia short, bidentate, distal tooth sharply pointed at apex; anterior claws symmetrical, basal tooth of inner claw sharply truncate at apex.

Aedeagus: Fig. 2I–K. Habitus: Fig. 2L. Female unknown.

The name of the new species is derived from the Greek prefix “allo-” (other) and the Latin adjective “obscurus” (dark) with reference to the name and the similarity to N. obscura.

Lectotype (here designated): ♂ “Hainan Schmack/ Serica hainana var. type Brsk./ Coll. v. Schönfeldt” (SMFD). Paralectotypes: 4 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀ “Hainan Schmack/ Coll. v. Schönfeldt” (SMFD), 1 ♂ “hainana var. type/ Coll. v. Schönfeldt” (SMFD), 1 ♂ “Hainan Schmack/ Sericahainana type Brsk./ Coll. v. Schönfeldt/ hainana Brske” (SMFD), 1 ♀ “Hainan v.Schönfeldt/ Sericahainana type Brsk.” (ZMHB), 1 ♂ “19./ Hainan Schmack/ Sericahainana var. type Brsk./ Coll. v. Schönfeldt” (SMFD).

1 ♂ “Qiongzhong, Hainan, Guangdong, 17.VII.1960, 400m, leg. Zhang Xuezhong” (IZAS), 1 ♂, 1 ♀ “Bawangzhen, Changjiang, Hainan, 5-7.VI.2008, leg. Ba Yibin, Lang Juntong” (HBUM), 3 ♂♂ “Bawangzhen, Changjiang, Hainan, 5-7.VI.2008, leg. Ba Yibin, Lang Juntong” (HBUM).

Body length: 6.8 mm, length of elytra: 4.8 mm, body width: 4.2 mm. Body short-oval, black, elytra reddish brown, dorsal surface except anterior labroclypeus dull, pronotum and elytra glabrous.

Labroclypeus subtrapezoidal, distinctly wider than long, widest at base, lateral margins weakly convex, convergent anteriorly; anterior angles strongly rounded; anterior margin shallowly sinuate medially, margins moderately reflexed; surface weakly convex, shiny, base dull, coarsely and densely punctate, with numerous erect setae; frontoclypeal suture indistinctly incised, nearly vanishing under dull toment; smooth area in front of eye convex, nearly as long as wide; ocular canthus short and triangular (1/3 of ocular diameter), sparsely punctate, terminal setae in lectotype lacking. Frons with fine and moderately dense punctures, without erect setae. Eyes small, ratio diameter/ interocular width: 0.4. Antenna with ten antennomeres, yellowish, club (♂) with four antennomeres and straight, as long as remaining antennomeres combined. Mentum convexly elevated and flattened anteriorly.

Pronotum transverse, widest shortly before base, lateral margins in basal half nearly straight and moderately convergent to middle, evenly convex and weakly convergent anteriorly; anterior angles distinctly produced and sharp, posterior angles blunt and weakly rounded at tip; anterior margin straight, with a fine complete marginal line; surface densely and finely punctate, glabrous, with minute setae in punctures (100× magnification); lateral border densely setose; hypomeron distinctly carinate basally, not produced ventrally. Scutellum triangular, with fine, dense punctures, glabrous.

Elytra short-oval, widest shortly behind middle, striae finely impressed, finely and densely punctate, intervals weakly convex, with sparse, fine punctures concentrated along striae, glabrous except a few single, short setae on odd intervals; epipleural edge robust, ending at nearly blunt external apical angle of elytra, epipleura densely setose; apical border without a fine fringe of microtrichomes (visible at 100× magnification).

Ventral surface dull, finely and densely punctate; metasternum nearly glabrous except a few long robust setae on disc, punctures with minute setae (100× magnification); metacoxa glabrous, with a few single setae laterally; abdominal sternites finely and densely punctate, with a transverse row of coarse punctures, each bearing a short robust seta, last sternite half as long as penultimate one. Mesosternum between mesocoxae as wide as the mesofemur, with a semi-circular ridge bearing long setae. Ratio of length of metepisternum/ metacoxa: 1/ 2.0. Pygidium dull, moderately convex, finely and densely punctate, without smooth midline, with a few long setae along apical margin.

Legs short; femora moderately shiny, with two rudimentary longitudinal rows of setae, finely and sparsely punctate, glabrous; metafemur with anterior margin acute, without serrated line behind anterior edge, posterior margin smooth ventrally, in apical half only weakly widened, posterior margin smooth dorsally. Metatibia wide and short, widest at middle, ratio of width/ length: 1/ 2.8; dorsal margin sharply carinate, with two groups of spines, basal group at one third, apical group at three quarters of metatibial length, basally with a few short single setae; lateral face weakly convex, finely and sparsely punctate, smooth along middle; ventral edge finely serrated, with three robust nearly equidistant setae; medial face smooth, apex interiorly near tarsal articulation bluntly truncate and slightly concavely sinuate. Tarsomeres ventrally with sparse, short setae, smooth, neither laterally nor dorsally carinate; metatarsomeres with a strongly serrated ridge ventrally, glabrous; first metatarsomere slightly shorter than following two tarsomeres combined and slightly longer than dorsal tibial spur. Protibia short, bidentate, distal tooth sharply pointed at apex; anterior claws symmetrical, basal tooth of inner claw sharply truncate at apex.

Aedeagus: Fig. 3A–C. Habitus: Fig. 3D.

Figure 3. 

A–D Neoserica hainana (Brenske) (lectotype) E–H N. shoyungi Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n. (holotype) I–L N. sakoliana Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n. (holotype) A, E aedeagus, left side lateral view C, G aedeagus, right side lateral view B, F parameres, dorsal view D, H habitus. Scale bars: 0.5 mm. Habitus not to scale.

The colour varies from an entirely black body, or a blackish anterior body (head and pronotum) with reddish elytra, to a nearly entirely reddish body with dark head and anterior pronotum, dorsal surface sometimes with greenish shine. Female: pygidium moderately convex, at middle strongly shiny and finely punctate; antennal club slightly shorter than the remaining antennomeres combined, composed of 4 antennomeres.

Holotype: ♂ “Tianchi, Mt. Jianfengling, Hainan, 25.IV.1980, 750m, leg. Wang Shuyong” (IZAS). Paratypes: 1 ♂ “Mts. Jianfengling, Hainan, 1.IV.1984, leg. Lin Youdong” (IZAS), 1 ♀ “Mts. Jianfengling, Hainan, 10.IV.1980, 800m, leg. Wang Shuyong” (IZAS), 1 ♂ “Tianchi, Mt. Jianfengling, Hainan, 18.IV.1980, 700m, leg. Pu Fuji” (ZFMK).

Body length: 5.9 mm, length of elytra: 3.9 mm, body width: 3.6 mm. Body short-oval, dark brown partly reddish, dorsal surface except anterior labroclypeus moderately dull, pronotum and elytra glabrous.

Labroclypeus subtrapezoidal, distinctly wider than long, widest at base, lateral margins weakly convex, convergent anteriorly; anterior angles strongly rounded; anterior margin shallowly sinuate medially, margins distinctly reflexed; surface nearly flat, shiny including base, coarsely and densely punctate, behind anterior margin with a few even coarser punctures each bearing an erect seta; frontoclypeal suture distinctly incised, weakly curved medially; smooth area in front of eye convex, nearly as long as wide; ocular canthus moderately short and triangular (1/3 of ocular diameter), sparsely punctate, with one terminal seta. Frons with moderately coarse and dense punctures, with a few long erect setae beside eyes and behind frontoclypeal suture. Eyes small, ratio diameter/ interocular width: 0.47. Antenna with nine antennomeres, club (♂) with four antennomeres and straight, 1.2 times as long as remaining antennomeres combined. Mentum convexly elevated and flattened anteriorly.

Pronotum transverse, widest at base, lateral margins evenly convex and moderately convergent anteriorly; anterior angles distinctly produced and sharp, posterior angles blunt and weakly rounded at tip; anterior margin straight, with a fine complete marginal line; surface densely and moderately coarsely punctate, glabrous, with minute setae in punctures (100× magnification); lateral border densely setose; hypomeron distinctly carinate basally, not produced ventrally. Scutellum triangular, with moderately coarse and dense punctures, glabrous.

Elytra short-oval, widest shortly behind middle, striae finely impressed, finely and densely punctate, intervals moderately convex, with sparse, fine punctures concentrated along striae, glabrous except a few short setae on odd intervals; epipleural edge robust, ending at rounded external apical angle of elytra, epipleura densely setose; apical border without a fine fringe of microtrichomes (visible at 100× magnification).

Ventral surface dull, finely and densely punctate; metasternum with a few short setae and long robust setae on metasternal disc; metacoxa glabrous, with a few single setae laterally; abdominal sternites finely and densely punctate, with a transverse row of coarse punctures, each bearing a short robust seta, last sternite half as long as penultimate one. Mesosternum between mesocoxae as wide as the mesofemur, with a semi-circular ridge bearing long setae. Ratio of length of metepisternum/ metacoxa: 1/ 1.72. Pygidium dull, moderately convex, coarsely and densely punctate, without smooth midline, with a few long setae along apical margin.

Legs short; femora dull, with two rudimentary longitudinal rows of setae, finely and sparsely punctate, glabrous; metafemur shiny, with anterior margin acute, without serrated line behind anterior edge, posterior margin apically serrate ventrally, in apical half only weakly widened, posterior margin distinctly serrate dorsally. Metatibia wide and short, widest at middle, ratio of width/ length: 1/ 3.1; dorsal margin only in posterior quarter carinate, otherwise longitudinally convex, with two groups of spines, basal group at one third, apical group at three quarters of metatibial length, basally with a few short single setae; lateral face convex, finely and sparsely punctate, smooth along middle in posterior half; ventral edge finely serrated, with three robust nearly equidistant setae; medial face smooth, apex interiorly near tarsal articulation bluntly truncate and slightly concavely sinuate. Tarsomeres ventrally with sparse, short setae, smooth, neither laterally nor dorsally carinate; metatarsomeres with a strongly serrated ridge ventrally, glabrous; first metatarsomere slightly longer than following two tarsomeres combined and distinctly longer than dorsal tibial spur. Protibia short, bidentate, distal tooth sharply pointed at apex; anterior claws symmetrical, basal tooth of inner claw sharply truncate at apex.

Aedeagus: Fig. 3E–G. Habitus: Fig. 3H.

Neoserica shuyongi Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n. differs from all other species of the N. obscura group by the serrate posterior margin of metafemur, antenna composed of 9 antennomeres, shiny base of the clypeus and the shape of the aedeagus (Fig. 3E–G).

The new species is named after its collector, Wang Shuyong.

Among the paratypes no apparent size variation was found; colour varied from entirely reddish brown to dark brown. Female: pygidium less convex, antennal club in the paratype missing.

Holotype: ♂ “China: Hainan I., No-dong nr. Sa ko lia 12.VII.1935/ L. & M. Gressitt Collectors BISHOP Mus.” (BPBM). Paratypes: 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀ “Mts. Limushan, Qiongzhong, Hainan, 22-23.VII.2006, leg. Wang Jiliang, Gao Chao” (HBUM), 1 ♂ “Xiangshui, Boluo, Guangdong, 30.V.1965, leg. Zhang Youwei” (IZAS), 1 ♂ “Kwangtung, S. China, Tsung Hau, Mei-hsien (District), 19-21.VII.1933, leg. F. K. To” (SYUG), 1 ♂ “Liuwan Forestry Farm, Yulin Insects 0354, 25.V.1981, leg. Huang Xiaoming” (IZAS), 1 ♂ “Mt. Paiyangshan, Guangxi, 27.V.1984, leg. Lu Xiaoshan” (NWAFU), 1 ♂ “Hongchagou, Xishan Forestry Farm, Rong’an, Guangxi, 26.VII.2007, leg. Yang Ganyan” (IZAS), 1 ♂ “Xiangshui, Boluo, Guangdong, 30.V.1965, leg, Zhang Youwei” (IZAS), 1 ♂ “Xinzuochang, Boluo, Guangdong, 3.VI.1965, leg. Zhang Youwei” (IZAS), 1 ♂ “Mt. Diaoluoshan, Hainan, 22.IV.1980, 1000m, leg. Wang Shuyong” (IZAS), 1 v “Wanning, Hainan, Guangdong, 16.IV.1960, 10m, leg. Li Suofu”(ZFMK), 1 ♂ “Sean No.19, Yaosam (Kwangsi), 16.VII.1934, leg. H.C. Tao” (IZAS).

Neoserica sakoliana Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n. is in external appearance and genital morphology similar to N. allobscura. Neoserica sakoliana differs by the distinctly longer parameres.

Body length: 6.4 mm, length of elytra: 4.4 mm, body width: 4.2 mm. Body short-oval, dark brown, ventral face reddish brown, entire surface except anterior labroclypeus dull, head with some greenish shine, pronotum and elytra glabrous.

Labroclypeus subtrapezoidal, distinctly wider than long, widest at base, lateral margins weakly convex, convergent anteriorly; anterior angles strongly rounded; anterior margin shallowly sinuate medially, margins moderately reflexed; surface weakly convex, shiny, base dull, finely and densely punctate, mixed with a few larger punctures bearing each an erect seta; frontoclypeal suture distinctly incised, weakly curved medially; smooth area in front of eye convex, nearly as long as wide; ocular canthus short and triangular (1/3 of ocular diameter), sparsely punctate, with a terminal seta. Frons with fine and moderately dense punctures, with a few long erect setae beside eyes and behind lateral frontoclypeal suture. Eyes small, ratio diameter/ interocular width: 0.4. Antenna with ten antennomeres, club (♂) with four antennomeres and straight, slightly longer than remaining antennomeres combined. Mentum convexly elevated and flattened anteriorly.

Pronotum transverse, widest at base, lateral margins evenly convex and moderately convergent anteriorly; anterior angles distinctly produced and sharp, posterior angles blunt and weakly rounded at tip; anterior margin straight, with a fine complete marginal line; surface densely and finely punctate, glabrous, with minute setae in punctures (100× magnification); lateral border densely setose; hypomeron distinctly carinate basally, not produced ventrally. Scutellum triangular, with fine, dense punctures, on midline impunctate, glabrous.

Elytra short-oval, widest shortly behind middle, striae finely impressed, finely and densely punctate, intervals weakly convex, with sparse, fine punctures concentrated along striae, except a few robust setae on penultimate external intervals glabrous; epipleural edge robust, ending at nearly blunt external apical angle of elytra, epipleura densely setose; apical border without a fine fringe of microtrichomes (visible at 100× magnification).

Ventral surface dull, finely and densely punctate; metasternum nearly glabrous except a few long robust setae on disc, punctures with minute setae (100× magnification); metacoxa glabrous, with a few single setae laterally; abdominal sternites finely and densely punctate, with a transverse row of coarse punctures, each bearing a short robust seta, last sternite half as long as penultimate one. Mesosternum between mesocoxae as wide as mesofemur, with a semi-circular ridge bearing long setae. Ratio of length of metepisternum/ metacoxa: 1/ 2.2. Pygidium dull, moderately convex, coarsely and densely punctate, without smooth midline, with a few long setae along apical margin.

Legs short; femora moderately shiny, with two rudimentary longitudinal rows of setae, finely and sparsely punctate, glabrous; metafemur with anterior margin acute, without serrated line behind anterior edge, posterior margin smooth ventrally, in apical half only weakly widened, posterior margin smooth dorsally. Metatibia wide and short, widest at middle, ratio of width/ length: 1/ 2.6; dorsal margin sharply carinate, with two groups of spines, basal group at one third, apical group at three quarters of metatibial length, basally with a few short single setae; lateral face weakly convex, finely and sparsely punctate; ventral edge finely serrated, with three robust nearly equidistant setae; medial face smooth, apex interiorly near tarsal articulation bluntly truncate and slightly concavely sinuate. Tarsomeres ventrally with sparse, short setae, smooth, neither laterally nor dorsally carinate; metatarsomeres with a strongly serrated ridge ventrally, glabrous; first metatarsomere slightly shorter than following two tarsomeres combined and as long as dorsal tibial spur. Protibia short, bidentate, distal tooth sharply pointed at apex; anterior claws symmetrical, basal tooth of inner claw sharply truncate at apex.

Aedeagus: Fig. 3I–K. Habitus: Fig. 3L.

The name of the new species is derived from the type locality, Sa ko lia.

Body length: 6.4–8.1 mm, length of elytra: 4.4–5.2 mm, body width: 4.2–5.3 mm. Colour varies from entirely dark reddish brown to nearly black, often with dark pronotum and brown elytra. Female: antennal club composed of 4 antennomeres, first joint of club slightly shorter than the club, club slightly shorter than remaining antennomeres combined.

Holotype: ♂ “Hainan I. (C.): Ta Hian (TaSianKwang) 600m. VI-10-35 J.L. Gressitt” (BPBM). Paratypes: 1 ♂, 1 ♀ “Yinggen, Hainan, Guangdong, 10.VII.1960, 200m, leg. Zhang Xuezhong” (IZAS), 1 ♂ “Tongshi, Hainan, Guangdong, 31.VII.1960, 340m, leg. Li Suofu” (IZAS), 3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀ “Shuiman, Hainan, Guangdong, 29.V.1960, 640m, leg. Zhang Xuezhong” (IZAS, ZFMK), 1 ♂ “Tongshi, Hainan, Guangdong, 6.VIII.1960, 340m, leg. Li Suofu” (IZAS).

Neoserica tahianensis Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n. is in external appearance and genital morphology similar to N. obscura and N. allobscura. Neoserica tahianensis differs by the large ventral process of the phallobase and by the shape of its parameres: the right paramere is slightly longer than in N. obscura, the left one does not possess a dorsal lobe.

Body length: 6.5 mm, length of elytra: 4.3 mm, body width: 4.3 mm. Body short-oval, dark brown, elytra black, abdomen dark brown, dorsal surface except anterior labroclypeus dull, head and pronotum with some greenish shine, pronotum and elytra glabrous.

Labroclypeus subtrapezoidal, distinctly wider than long, widest at base, lateral margins weakly convex, convergent anteriorly; anterior angles strongly rounded; anterior margin shallowly sinuate medially, margins moderately reflexed; surface weakly convex, shiny, base dull, finely and densely punctate, mixed with a few larger punctures bearing each an erect seta; frontoclypeal suture distinctly incised, weakly curved medially; smooth area in front of eye convex, nearly as long as wide; ocular canthus short and triangular (1/3 of ocular diameter), sparsely punctate, without terminal seta. Frons with fine and moderately dense punctures, with a few long erect setae beside eyes and behind lateral frontoclypeal suture. Eyes small, ratio diameter/ interocular width: 0.42. Antenna with ten antennomeres, club (♂) with four antennomeres and straight, slightly longer than remaining antennomeres combined. Mentum convexly elevated and flattened anteriorly.

Pronotum transverse, widest at base, lateral margins evenly convex and moderately convergent anteriorly; anterior angles distinctly produced and sharp, posterior angles blunt and weakly rounded at tip; anterior margin straight, with a fine complete marginal line; surface densely and finely punctate, glabrous, with minute setae in punctures (100× magnification); lateral border densely setose; hypomeron distinctly carinate basally, not produced ventrally. Scutellum triangular, with fine, dense punctures, glabrous.

Elytra short-oval, widest shortly behind middle, striae finely impressed, finely and densely punctate, intervals weakly convex, with sparse, fine punctures concentrated along striae, except a few robust setae on sutural interval glabrous; epipleural edge robust, ending at nearly blunt external apical angle of elytra, epipleura densely setose; apical border without a fine fringe of microtrichomes (visible at 100× magnification).

Ventral surface dull, finely and densely punctate; metasternum nearly glabrous except a few long robust setae on disc, punctures with minute setae (100× magnification); metacoxa glabrous, with a few single setae laterally; abdominal sternites finely and densely punctate, with a transverse row of coarse punctures, each bearing a short robust seta, last sternite half as long as penultimate one. Mesosternum between mesocoxae as wide as the mesofemur, with a semi-circular ridge bearing long setae. Ratio of length of metepisternum/ metacoxa: 1/ 2.2. Pygidium dull, moderately convex, coarsely and densely punctate, without smooth midline, with a few long setae along apical margin.

Legs short; femora moderately shiny, with two rudimentary longitudinal rows of setae, finely and sparsely punctate, glabrous; metafemur with anterior margin acute, without serrated line behind anterior edge, posterior margin smooth ventrally, in apical half only weakly widened, posterior margin smooth dorsally. Metatibia wide and short, widest at middle, ratio of width/ length: 1/ 2.7; dorsal margin sharply carinate, with two groups of spines, basal group at one third, apical group at three quarters of metatibial length, basally with a few short single setae; lateral face weakly convex, finely and sparsely punctate; ventral edge finely serrated, with three robust nearly equidistant setae; medial face smooth, apex interiorly near tarsal articulation bluntly truncate and slightly concavely sinuate. Tarsomeres ventrally with sparse, short setae, smooth, neither laterally nor dorsally carinate; metatarsomeres with a strongly serrated ridge ventrally, glabrous; first metatarsomere slightly shorter than following two tarsomeres combined and slightly shorter than dorsal tibial spur. Protibia short, bidentate, distal tooth sharply pointed at apex; anterior claws symmetrical, basal tooth of inner claw sharply truncate at apex.

Aedeagus: Fig. 4A–C. Habitus: Fig. 4D.

Figure 4. 

A–D Neoserica tahianensis Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n. (holotype) E–H N. silvestris Brenske (China: Nu Shan) A, E aedeagus, left side lateral view C, G aedeagus, right side lateral view B, F parameres, dorsal view D, H habitus. Scale bars: 0.5 mm. Habitus not to scale.

The name of the new species is derived from the type locality, Ta Hian.

Body length: 6.5–7.1 mm, length of elytra: 4.3–4.6 mm, body width: 4.3–4.7 mm. Colour varies from entirely reddish brown to nearly completely black, often reddish elytra and pronotum with a dark margin. Female: Antennal club composed of 4 antennomeres, first joint of club slightly shorter than the club, club slightly shorter than remaining antennomeres combined.

Syntypes: 2 ♂♂ “Ho-chan/ coll. Thery” (BMNH), 1 ♀ “China Ho-chan/ Serica silvestris typ. Brsk./ coll. Brenske” (ZMHB).

CHINA: 1 ex. “China: (Yunnan) Nujiang Lisu Aut. Pref., Nu Shan, 7 km NNW Caojian, 2420m, 25°43'29"N 99°07'57"E (shrubs, litter, moss shifted) 11.VI.2007 leg. D. Wrase/ DA1553” (ZFMK), 4 ex. “China Sichuan Moxi, VI.1993 M. Hackel lgt.” (CN), 1 ex. (♀) “China: Sichuan; Moxi; 29.13N 102.10E, 1600m, 2.vii.1998/ 1998 China Expedition J. Farkac, D. Kral, A. Smetana & J. Schneider” (CP), 8 ex. “Sichuan 1950 m Luding, Xin Shing 1.VI.1990 A. Vigna leg.” (CS), 1 ex. “Sichuan, Moxi Gongashan Mts. 28.VI.-2.VII.1994 Bolm lgt. 1650 m” (CP), 1 ex. “China, E Hubei, 7-10.V. Dabie Shan, 31.1N 115.8E Wujiashan forest park Jaroslav Turna leg., 2004” (ZFMK), 3 ♂♂ “China: Sichuan; Wolong Reserve, Sigulian Shan, 31°09'N 103°06'E v.2006, 1500-1800m V. Siniaev” (ZFMK), 12 ex. “Yunnan 2900-3500m 27.01N 100.12E 1993 Yulongshan mts. 24-26/5. Vit Kuban leg.” (CP), 5 ex. “Yunnan 2200-2500m 24.57N 98.45E 8-16/5 Gaoligong mts. Vit Kuban leg. 1995” (CP), 2 ex. “C-China, Shaanxi, Qinling Shan, 6km E of Xunyangba 1000-1300m, 23.V.-13.VI. Leg. C. Holzschuh 2000” (CP), 6 ex. “C China, W Sichuan, Luding Xian, Moxi, 9-14.vii.1999, V. Benes leg.” (CP), 1 ex. “China-Shaanxi, Daba Shan, Shou Man vil., 32°14'N, 108°34'E, 25.v.-14.vi.2000, 1000m, Siniaev & Plutenko leg.” (CP), 1 ex. “China: Yunnan prov., Gaoligongshan mts.; 90km W of Baoshan; S. Becvar leg.; 26.-29.v.1995” (CP), 2 ex. “China, 1000-1300m, Shaanxi, Qinling mts., Xunyangba (6km E) 23,v.-13.vi.1998, J.H. Mashal leg. (CP), 1 ex. (♀) “China, Daxue Shan Mts., Sichuan, Gongga Shan Mt., Moxi, 11-13.vii.1999, 1700m, 29°39'N, 102°06'E, V. Siniaev & A. Plutenko lgt.” (CP), 1 ex. “China: N-Yunnan Baiyungshan (Bai Railing Mts.) 2400 m Yong Ren, VII-2003 leg. Ying et al.” (ZFMK), 1 ♂ “China: Hunan; Mupu Mt. 1600m, Pingjiang VIII-2003, leg. Li et al.” (ZFMK), 2 ♀♀ “China West Sichuan Moximian Luding Co. 13.-18.7.94 Benes” (ZFMK), 2 ex. (♀) “Yunnan 2000-3000m 25.11N 100.24E Weibaoshan mts. W slope 25-28/6.92 Vit Kuban leg.” (ZFMK), 1 ex. “Den Shiang Uen nr Ningyuenfu/ viii. 9-10-’28 8000-9500ft./ China DC Graham” (USNM), 1 ex. Chengtu 1933/ Szechwan China DC Graham XI-28 alt. 1700ft.” (USNM), 1 ex. “Yachow dist. May ‘28 Coll’r Chen Gih Uen/ Szechuen China DC Graham” (USNM), 1 ex. “Kuanshan Szechwan China DC Graham 19-20-33 alt. 2200-5200ft.” (USNM), 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀ “Heilongtan, Kunming, Yunnan, 5.IV.1956, 1900m, leg. Huang Keren etc.” (IZAS), 1 ♂ “Heilongtan, Kunming, Yunnan, 5.IV.1956, 1900m, leg. Huang Keren” (IZAS), 1 ♂ “Lomgmenhe, Xingshan, Hubei, 21.VI.1993, 1260m, leg. Li Hongxing” (IZAS), 1 ♂ “Kunming, Yunnan, 7.VI.1955, 1900m, leg. Li Xiwen” (IZAS), 1 ♂ “Menghai, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, 18.VII.1958, 1200-1600m, leg. Wang Shuyong” (IZAS), 1 ♂ “Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Bijie, Guizhou, leg. Yang, No. 55” (IZAS), 1 ♂ “Botany Garden, Guiyang, Guizhou, 1981” (IZAS), 1 ♂ “Louguantai, Qinling, 30.V.1951” (NWAFU), 1 ♂ “Mt. Taishan, Shangdong, 31.V.1956” (IZAS), 1 ♂ “Xinxing, Luding, Sichuan, 15.VI.1983, 1900m, leg. Chen Yuanqing” (IZAS), 1 ♂ “Yunlong, Yunnan, 20.VI.1981, 2450m, leg. Liao Subai” (IZAS), 1 ♂ “Mts. Lushan, Yiyuan, Shandong, 19.V.2007, leg. Wang Fengyan, Wang Jiliang, Wu Qiqi” (HBUM). MYANMAR: 2 ♂♂ “Myanmar (Burma) Provinz Kachin State Kanphat/ Grenze zu China 24.V.2006 leg. Michael Langer, Stefan Naumann & Swen Loeffler coll. M. Langer/ Nachtfang/ 1642m N26°08'512" E098°34'582" “ (ZFMK), 1 ♂ “Myanmar (Burma) Provinz Kachin State ca 20 km N von Panwar 23.V.2006 leg. Michael Langer, Stefan Naumann & Swen Loeffler coll. M. Langer/ Nachtfang/ 2180m N25°43'302" E098°23'353" “ (ZFMK).

Body length: 8.1 mm, length of elytra: 4.0 mm, body width: 3.8 mm. Body short-oval, black to dark brown, antenna yellow, dorsal surface except labroclypeus dull or with iridescent or greenish shine, pronotum and elytra glabrous.

Labroclypeus subtrapezoidal, distinctly wider than long, widest at base, lateral margins strongly convex, convergent anteriorly; anterior angles strongly rounded; anterior margin distinctly sinuate medially, margins moderately reflexed; surface with a convex transverse ridge, moderately shiny, coarsely and very densely punctate, with a few erect setae anteriorly; frontoclypeal suture finely incised, evenly curved; smooth area in front of eye convex, 1.5 times as wide as long; ocular canthus short and triangular (1/3 of ocular diameter), densely and finely punctate, with one terminal seta. Frons with fine and sparse punctures, with two long erect setae beside eyes. Eyes small, ratio diameter/ interocular width: 0.51. Antenna with ten antennomeres, club (♂) with four antennomeres and straight, slightly longer than remaining antennomeres combined. Mentum convexly elevated and flattened anteriorly.

Pronotum transverse, widest at base, lateral margins evenly convex and weakly convergent anteriorly; anterior angles distinctly produced and sharp, posterior angles blunt and moderately rounded at tip; anterior margin convex, with a very fine but complete marginal line; surface densely and finely punctate, glabrous, with minute setae in punctures (100× magnification); lateral border densely setose; hypomeron distinctly carinate basally, not produced ventrally. Scutellum triangular, with fine, dense punctures, glabrous.

Elytra oval, widest in posterior third, striae finely impressed, finely and densely punctate, intervals weakly convex, with dense, fine punctures concentrated along striae, glabrous except a few single, short setae on penultimate lateral interval; epipleural edge robust, ending at convex external apical angle of elytra, epipleura densely setose; apical border with a fine fringe of microtrichomes (visible at 100× magnification).

Ventral surface dull, finely and densely punctate; metasternum nearly glabrous except a few long robust setae on disc, punctures with minute setae (100× magnification); metacoxa glabrous, with a few single setae laterally; abdominal sternites finely and densely punctate, with a transverse row of coarse punctures, each bearing a short robust seta, last sternite half as long as penultimate one. Mesosternum between mesocoxae as wide as the mesofemur, with a semi-circular ridge bearing long setae. Ratio of length of metepisternum/ metacoxa: 1/ 1.49. Pygidium dull, strongly convex, finely and densely punctate, without smooth midline, with a few long setae along apical margin.

Legs short; femora moderately shiny, with two longitudinal rows of setae, finely and sparsely punctate, glabrous; metafemur with anterior margin acute, with a continuous, serrated line behind anterior edge, posterior margin smooth ventrally, in apical half only weakly widened, posterior margin smooth dorsally. Metatibia moderately wide and short, widest at middle, ratio of width/ length: 1/ 2.95; dorsal margin sharply carinate, with two groups of spines, basal group shortly behind middle, apical group at 4/5 of metatibial length, in basal half with a serrated line beside dorsal margin ending at basal group of spines, beside it with a few single short setae; lateral face longitudinally convex, finely and densely punctate, smooth along middle; ventral edge finely serrated, with three robust nearly equidistant setae; medial face smooth, apex interiorly near tarsal articulation bluntly truncate and slightly concavely sinuate. Tarsomeres sparsely and finely punctate dorsally, with sparse, short setae ventrally, neither laterally nor dorsally carinate; metatarsomeres with a strongly serrated ridge ventrally, glabrous; first metatarsomere slightly shorter than following two tarsomeres combined and one third of its length longer than dorsal tibial spur. Protibia short, bidentate, distal tooth sharply pointed at apex, external margin bluntly widened at middle; anterior claws symmetrical, basal tooth of inner claw sharply truncate at apex.

Aedeagus: Fig. 4E–G. Habitus: Fig. 4H.

The colour varies from totally black or reddish brown to black with reddish brown elytra. Female: Antennal club also composed of 3 antennomeres, however, the club is slightly shorter than in males, and the first joint of club is slightly shorter.

Syntype: ♂ “N. E. Burma Kambaiti 7000 ft. 24/5.1934/ N. E. Burma R. Malaise B. M. 1945-71/Co-Type/ Aserica minor Arrow co-type” (BMNH).

1 ♂ “China, W Yunnan prov., mts. 60km E Tengchong, 2200m, 19.-22.v.2006, S. Murzin & I. Shokhin” (CP).

Body length: 7.2 mm, length of elytra: 5.2 mm, body width: 4.4 mm. Body short-oval, black to dark brown, antenna yellow, dorsal surface except labroclypeus dull, pronotum and elytra glabrous.

Labroclypeus subtrapezoidal, distinctly wider than long, widest at base, lateral margins weakly convex, convergent anteriorly; anterior angles moderately rounded; anterior margin distinctly sinuate medially, margins moderately reflexed; surface nearly flat, moderately shiny, coarsely and very densely punctate, with a few erect setae anteriorly; frontoclypeal suture finely incised, convexly bent at middle; smooth area in front of eye convex, 1.2 times as wide as long; ocular canthus short and triangular (1/3 of ocular diameter), densely and finely punctate, with one terminal seta. Frons with coarse and dense punctures, glabrous. Eyes small, ratio diameter/ interocular width: 0.51. Antenna with ten antennomeres, club (♂) with four antennomeres and straight, 1.7 times as long as remaining antennomeres combined. Mentum convexly elevated and flattened anteriorly.

Pronotum transverse, widest at base, lateral margins in basal half nearly straight and moderately convergent, in anterior half evenly convex and weakly convergent anteriorly; anterior angles distinctly produced and sharp, posterior angles blunt and moderately rounded at tip; anterior margin convex, with a very fine but complete marginal line; surface densely and finely punctate, glabrous, with minute setae in punctures (100× magnification); lateral border densely setose; hypomeron distinctly carinate basally, not produced ventrally. Scutellum triangular, with fine, dense punctures, glabrous.

Elytra oval, widest in posterior third, striae finely impressed, finely and densely punctate, intervals weakly convex, with dense, fine punctures concentrated along striae, glabrous except a few single, short setae on penultimate lateral interval; epipleural edge robust, ending at convex external apical angle of elytra, epipleura densely setose; apical border with a fine fringe of microtrichomes (visible at 100× magnification).

Ventral surface dull, finely and densely punctate; metasternum nearly glabrous except a few long robust setae on disc, punctures with minute setae (100× magnification); metacoxa glabrous, with a few single setae laterally; abdominal sternites finely and densely punctate, with a transverse row of coarse punctures, each bearing a short robust seta, last sternite half as long as penultimate one. Mesosternum between mesocoxae as wide as the mesofemur, with a semi-circular ridge bearing long setae. Ratio of length of metepisternum/ metacoxa: 1/ 1.52. Pygidium dull, strongly convex, finely and densely punctate, without smooth midline, with a few long setae along apical margin.

Legs moderately long; femora moderately shiny, with two longitudinal rows of setae, finely and sparsely punctate, glabrous; metafemur with anterior margin acute, with a continuous, serrated line behind anterior edge, posterior margin smooth ventrally, in apical half only weakly widened, posterior margin smooth dorsally. Metatibia narrow and moderately long, widest at middle, ratio of width/ length: 1/ 3.35; dorsal margin sharply carinate, with two groups of spines, basal group shortly behind middle, apical group at 4/5 of metatibial length, in basal half with a serrated line beside dorsal margin ending at basal group of spines, beside it with a few single short setae; lateral face longitudinally convex, finely and densely punctate, smooth along middle; ventral edge finely serrated, with three robust nearly equidistant setae; medial face smooth, apex interiorly near tarsal articulation bluntly truncate and slightly concavely sinuate. Tarsomeres sparsely and finely punctate dorsally, with sparse, short setae ventrally, neither laterally nor dorsally carinate; metatarsomeres with a strongly serrated ridge ventrally, glabrous; first metatarsomere slightly shorter than following two tarsomeres combined and one third of its length longer than dorsal tibial spur. Protibia short, bidentate, distal tooth sharply pointed at apex, external margin bluntly widened at middle; anterior claws symmetrical, basal tooth of inner claw sharply truncate at apex.

Aedeagus: Fig. 5A–C. Habitus: Fig. 5D. Female unknown.

Figure 5. 

A–D Neoserica minor (Arrow) (China: 60km E Tengchong), E–H N. pseudosilvestris Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n. (holotype). A, E aedeagus, left side lateral view C, G aedeagus, right side lateral view B, F parameres, dorsal view D, H habitus. Scale bars: 0.5 mm. Habitus not to scale.

Holotype: ♂ “[China] Yunnan, Yakou, 2012-V-11/ LW-1319” (IZAS).

Neoserica pseudosilvestris Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n. is in external appearance very similar to N. minor (Arrow). The new species differs by the longer left paramere being more widely sinuated and having the tip not straight but curved interiorly.

Body length: 8.0 mm, length of elytra: 6.1 mm, body width: 5.1 mm. Body short-oval, black to dark brown, antenna yellow, dorsal surface except labroclypeus dull, pronotum and elytra glabrous.

Labroclypeus subtrapezoidal, distinctly wider than long, widest at base, lateral margins strongly convex, convergent anteriorly; anterior angles moderately rounded; anterior margin distinctly sinuate medially, margins moderately reflexed; surface nearly flat, shiny, finely and very densely punctate, with a few erect setae anteriorly; frontoclypeal suture finely incised, convexly bent at middle; smooth area in front of eye convex, 1.3 times as wide as long; ocular canthus long and subtriangular (nearly half of ocular diameter), densely and finely punctate, with one terminal seta. Frons with moderately coarse and dense punctures, with two single erect setae beside eyes. Eyes small, ratio diameter/ interocular width: 0.54. Antenna with ten antennomeres, club (♂) with four antennomeres and straight, 1.7 times as long as remaining antennomeres combined. Mentum convexly elevated and flattened anteriorly.

Pronotum transverse, widest at base, lateral margins evenly convex and weakly convergent anteriorly; anterior angles distinctly produced and sharp, posterior angles blunt and moderately rounded at tip; anterior margin convex, with a very fine but complete marginal line; surface densely and finely punctate, with minute setae in punctures (100× magnification); lateral border densely setose; hypomeron distinctly carinate basally, not produced ventrally. Scutellum triangular, with fine, dense punctures, punctures on basal midline less dense, with minute setae in punctures.

Elytra oval, widest in posterior third, striae finely impressed, finely and densely punctate, intervals weakly convex, with dense, fine punctures concentrated along striae, glabrous except a few single, short setae on penultimate lateral interval; epipleural edge robust, ending at convex external apical angle of elytra, epipleura densely setose; apical border with a fine fringe of microtrichomes (visible at 100× magnification).

Ventral surface dull, finely and densely punctate; metasternum nearly glabrous except a few long robust setae on disc, punctures with minute setae (100× magnification); metacoxa glabrous, with a few single setae laterally; abdominal sternites finely and densely punctate, with a transverse row of coarse punctures, each bearing a short robust seta, last sternite half as long as penultimate one. Mesosternum between mesocoxae as wide as the mesofemur, with a semi-circular ridge bearing long setae. Ratio of length of metepisternum/ metacoxa: 1/ 1.5. Pygidium dull, strongly convex, coarsely and densely punctate, without smooth midline, with a few long setae on apical quarter, otherwise punctures with minute setae.

Legs moderately long; femora moderately shiny, with two longitudinal rows of setae, finely and sparsely punctate, glabrous; metafemur with anterior margin acute, with a continuous, serrated line behind anterior edge, posterior margin smooth ventrally, in apical half only weakly widened, posterior margin smooth dorsally. Metatibia narrow and moderately long, widest at middle, ratio of width/ length: 1/ 3.75; dorsal margin sharply carinate, with two groups of spines, basal group at 3/5, apical group at 4/5 of metatibial length, in basal half with a serrated line beside dorsal margin ending at basal group of spines, beside it with a few single short setae; lateral face longitudinally convex, finely and densely punctate, smooth along middle; ventral edge finely serrated, with three robust nearly equidistant setae; medial face smooth, apex interiorly near tarsal articulation bluntly truncate and slightly concavely sinuate. Tarsomeres sparsely and finely punctate dorsally, with sparse, short setae ventrally, neither laterally nor dorsally carinate; metatarsomeres with a strongly serrated ridge ventrally, glabrous; first metatarsomere slightly shorter than following two tarsomeres combined and one third of its length longer than dorsal tibial spur. Protibia short, bidentate, distal tooth sharply pointed at apex, external margin bluntly widened at middle; anterior claws symmetrical, basal tooth of inner claw sharply truncate at apex.

Aedeagus: Fig. 5E–G. Habitus: Fig. 5H. Female unknown.

The name of the new species is the combined Greek prefix “pseudo-” (false) and the species name “silvestris” (with reference to the resemblance to N. silvestris).

Figure 6. 

Distribution of the species of the Neoserica obscura, N. lubrica and N. silvestris groups [in China].