A taxonomic study on semifumata species-group of Fissocantharis Pic, with description of six new species from China and Myanmar (Coleoptera, Cantharidae)

Abstract The cantharid Fissocantharis semifumata species-groupis reviewed. Fissocantharis semifumata (Fairmaire, 1889) is redescribed and illustrated. The type series of Fissocantharis fissa (Wittmer, 1997) is shown to consist of 3 species and clarified, except the holotype, the two paratypes become invalid. Fissocantharis grahami (Wittmer, 1997) is attributed to this species group. Six new species are described and illustrated, Fissocanthais yui sp. n. (CHINA: Yunnan), Fissocantharis semimetallica sp. n. (CHINA: Yunnan; MYANMAR: Kachin), Fissocantharis bicolorata sp. n. (CHINA: Sichuan), Fissocantharis maculiceps sp. n. (CHINA: Gansu), Fissocantharis bimaculata sp. n. (CHINA: Sichuan) and Fissocantharis flava sp. n. (CHINA: Sichuan, Guizhou). The number of species in the Fissocantharis semifumata species-groupis increased from 4 to 11, and a key to all species is provided.

The depositories of all material are noted at the end of their localities in round brackets ( ).
The aedeagi are detached from the body under a stereoscopic microscope and kept in 10% KOH solution for several minutes, then cleared in 75% alcohol and observed under a compound light microscope. Line illustrations are drawn with the aid of a camera lucida mounted on a Nikon SMZ 800 stereomicroscope. The scanning electronic micrographs are edited in CORELDRAW 12 and ADOBE PHOTOSHOP 8.0.1. The habitus photos are taken by Canon 450D digital camera with a Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro Lens. The body length is measured from the anterior margin of clypeus to apex of elytron, and width is at the humeri of the conjoint elytra. Absolute measurements are used in millimetres (mm). Head with a black marking on vertex; aedeagus: conjoint dorsal plate of parameres with median emargination of apical margin as deep as lateral ones .  Pic, 1926a: 356. -Wittmer, 1989. Rhagonycha nigrosubapicalis Pic, 1926b: 5. -Wittmer, 1989: 219 (syn.  2100-3100m, 25.vi.19551♂, Sichuan, Chudian, 1783m, 23.vi.1957. Distribution. China (Gansu, Sichuan). (Figs 1-3). Head yellow, apices of mandibles, terminal labial and maxillary palpomeres dark brown, antennae black, antennomeres I yellow, slightly darkened at apices, prothorax and scutellum yellow, elytra mostly black, light yellow at bases and lateral margins, of which inner margins slightly wider on anterior than   Wittmer, 1997 posterior part and distinctly wider than outer margins, legs yellow, femora darkened at apices, tibiae black along upper sides, tarsi black, meso-and metasterna and abdomen black, last 2 abdominal ventrites yellow.

Redescription. Male
Head subquadrate, evenly narrowed behind eyes, densely and finely punctate, eyes moderately protruding, breadth across eyes slightly wider than anterior margin of pronotum, terminal maxillary palpomeres long-triangular, widest near apices, antennae filiform and simple, extending to apical one-third of elytra, antennomeres II slightly widened apically, about 1.5 times as long as wide at apices, III about twice as long as II, V longest, XI slightly longer than X.
Pronotum subquadrate, slightly wider than long, widest at base, anterior margin arcuate, lateral margins diverging posteriorly, posterior margin almost straight, anterior angles rounded, posterior angles nearly vertical, disc densely and finely punctate as that on head, distinctly convex on posterolateral parts. Elytra about 4 times longer than pronotum, 3 times longer than humeral width, lateral margins distinctly diverging posteriorly, disc slightly sparsely and largely punctate than that on pronotum.
Legs: all tarsal claws bifid, with lower claws slightly shorter than upper ones. Aedeagus (Figs 11-13): conjoint dorsal plate of parameres with median emargination of apical margin wide and distinctly deeper than lateral ones, protuberances between median and lateral emarginations narrow and almost half length of ventral process of each paramere in dorsal view; ventral process of each paramere narrow, slightly turned outwards at apex in lateral view; median lobe without any sclerotized projection in dorsum.
Female. Body larger, eyes less protruding and antennae shorter than that of males, pronotum distinctly wider than long, disc slightly convex, tarsal claws with lower claws distinctly shorter than upper ones.
Distribution. China (Shaanxi, Hubei). Supplementary description. Male (Fig. 4). Elytra metallic blue, light yellow at bases and lateral margins, of which inner margins slightly wider on anterior than posterior part and distinctly wider than outer margins. Aedeagus: conjoint dorsal plate of parameres with median emargination of apical margin wide and deeper than lateral ones, protuberances between median and lateral emarginations narrowed apically and rounded at apices, about one-fourth length of ventral process of each paramere in dorsal view; ventral process of each paramere slender; median lobe presenting with a sclerotized projection in middle of dorsum, which tapered apically and bent dorsally at apex.
Female. Body larger, eyes less protruding, antennae shorter and narrower than that of males, pronotum with disc slightly convex, elytra metallic blue, light yellow at bases of outer margins, all tarsal claws each with a triangular appendiculate.
Remarks. In the original manuscript by Wittmer (1997), the elytra of the type male was described as being partly black, which actually is metallic blue based on the examination of a series of additional specimens at our disposal. Also, it is the first time to describe the female for this species here.
Description. Male (Fig. 5). Head yellow, dorsum behind eyes black, apices of mandibles brown, terminal labial and maxillary palpomeres black, antennae black, antennomeres I-V yellow, darkened at apices, pronotum yellow, with a large black marking in middle, which extending from anterior to posterior margin and wider on posterior than anterior part, scutellum yellow, elytra metallic blue, light yellow at bases of outer margins, legs yellow, femora and tibiae darkened at apices, tarsi black, ventral parts of thorax and abdomen black, last 3 abdominal ventrites yellow.
Head subquadrate, evenly narrowed behind eyes, slightly depressed on vertex, dorsum densely and finely punctate, eyes slightly protruding, breadth across eyes wider than anterior margin of pronotum, terminal maxillary palpomeres slender, slightly widened near apices, antennae filiform and simple, extending to middle of elytra, antennomeres II about twice as long as wide, III one-third longer than II, XI slightly longer than X.
Pronotum subquadrate, almost as long as wide, widest at base, anterior margin arcuate, lateral margins slightly diverging posteriorly, posterior margin almost straight, anterior angles rounded, posterior angles nearly vertical, disc densely and finely punctate as that on head, convex on posterolateral parts. Elytra about 5 times longer than pronotum, 4 times longer than humeral width, lateral margins parallel, disc densely and slightly largely punctate than that on pronotum.
Legs: all tarsal claws bifid, with lower claws slightly shorter than upper ones. Aedeagus (Figs 14-16): conjoint dorsal plate of parameres with median emargination of apical margin slightly wide and distinctly deeper than lateral ones, protuberances between median and lateral emarginations slightly wide and nearly truncated at apices, about one-fourth length of ventral process of each paramere in dorsal view; ventral process of each paramere slender, slightly turned outwards in lateral view; median lobe presenting with a sclerotized lingulate projection in middle of dorsum.

Diagnosis.
This new species is similar to F. fissa (Wittmer, 1997), but can be distinguished by the femora black along apical two-thirds of upper sides, aedeagus: ventral process of each paramere distinctly turned outwards in lateral view, median lobe without any sclerotized projection in dorsum.
Description. Male (Fig. 6). Head light yellow, dorsum behind eyes black, apices of mandibles dark brown, labial and maxillary palpomeres darkened, gula black, antennae black, pronotum black, light yellow at anterior and lateral margins, of which wider on anterior than posterior part, scutellum black, with very narrow light yellow lateral and apical margins, elytra metallic blue, light yellow at humeri and lateral margins, of which inner margins slightly wider than outer ones, legs black, coxae, trochanters and femora light yellow, femora black along apical two-thirds of upper sides, ventral parts of thorax and abdomen black, last abdominal ventrite light yellow.
Head subquadrate, evenly narrowed behind eyes, dorsum densely and finely punctate, eyes strongly protruding, breadth across eyes distinctly wider than anterior margin of pronotum, terminal maxillary palpomeres long-triangular, widest near apices, antennae filiform and simple, extending to apical one-third of elytra, antennomeres II slightly widened apically, about 3 times as long as wide at apices, III one-third longer than II, V longest, XI slightly shorter than X.
Pronotum subquadrate, almost as long as wide, widest at base, anterior margin arcuate, lateral margins distinctly diverging posteriorly, posterior margin almost straight, anterior angles rounded, posterior angles nearly vertical, disc densely and finely punctate as that on head, distinctly convex on posterolateral parts. Elytra about 5 times longer than pronotum, 4 times longer than humeral width, lateral margins parallel, disc slightly sparsely and largely punctate than that on pronotum.
Legs: all tarsal claws bifid, with lower claws slightly shorter than upper ones. Aedeagus (Figs 17-19): conjoint dorsal plate of parameres with median emargination of apical margin wide and distinctly deeper than lateral ones, protuberances between emarginations slightly narrow, about one-fourth length of ventral process of each paramere in dorsal view; ventral process of each paramere slender, distinctly turned outwards in lateral view; median lobe without any sclerotized projection in dorsum.
Female. Body larger, eyes less protruding, antennae shorter and narrower, pronotum wider than that of males, head mostly black, elytra with lateral margins diverging posteriorly, legs with coxae and femora black, light yellow at bases of ventral sides of femora, all tarsal claws each with a triangular appendiculate.
Type series variation. Sometimes head and pronotum entirely light yellow, elytra light yellow almost at basal half part. Body length: 8.5-12.0 mm; width: 1.5-2.5 mm.
Etymology. This new specific name is derived from Latin semi (half ) and Greek metall (metallic), referring its elytra partly metallic blue.
Remarks. One male paratype (CHINA, Yunnan) with left antennomeres VIII-XI, right protarsomeres II-V, right mesoleg, left mesotarsomeres II-V, right metatarsi and left metatarsomeres III-V and one female paratype with left antennomeres VII-XI, right VIII-XI and right metatarsus are missing.  (Fairmaire, 1889), but differs in the following characters: elytra with different coloration in both sexes, mixed black with light yellow in male, while entirely lightly yellow in female, lateral margins nearly parallel in male; aedeagus: conjoint dorsal plate of parameres with median emargination of apical margin slightly narrow, protuberances between median and lateral emarginations slightly wide.
Description. Male (Fig. 7). Head reddish brown, clypeus light yellow, mouthparts dark brown, antennae black, pronotum and scutellum reddish brown, elytra black, light yellow at bases and lateral margins, of which inner margins wider than outer ones, legs black, femora light brown at inner sides, ventral parts of thorax and abdomen black, last 2 abdominal ventrites light yellow.
Head subquadrate, evenly narrowed behind eyes, dorsum densely and finely punctate, eyes moderately protruding, breadth across eyes slightly wider than anterior margin of pronotum, terminal maxillary palpomeres long-triangular, widest near apices, antennae filiform and simple, extending to apical one-third of elytra, antennomeres II about 1.5 times as long as wide at apices, III one-third longer than II, V longest, XI slightly shorter than X.
Pronotum subquadrate, slightly wider than long, widest at base, anterior margin arcuate, lateral margins diverging posteriorly, posterior margin almost straight, anterior angles rounded, posterior angles nearly vertical, disc densely and finely punctate as that on head, distinctly convex on posterolateral parts. Elytra about 5 times longer than pronotum, 4 times longer than humeral width, lateral margins nearly parallel, disc slightly sparsely and largely punctate than that on pronotum.
Legs: all tarsal claws bifid, with upper claws almost as long as lower ones. Aedeagus (Figs 20-22): conjoint dorsal plate of parameres with median emargination of apical margin slightly narrow and deeper than lateral ones, protuberances between median and lateral emarginations slightly wide and rounded at apices, about half length of ventral process of each paramere in dorsal view; ventral process of each paramere narrow, slightly turned outwards at apex in lateral view; median lobe without any sclerotized projection in dorsum.
Female. Body larger, eyes less protruding, antennae narrower and shorter than that of males, pronotum distinctly wider than long, elytra entirely light yellow, with lateral margins diverging posteriorly, tarsal claws with lower claws distinctly shorter than upper ones.
Etymology. This new specific name is derived from Latin bi-(two) and color (coloration), referring to it being sexually dimorphic in coloration of elytra. Distribution. China (Gansu). Diagnosis. This new species is similar to F. fissiformis (Švihla, 2005), but can be distinguished by the aedeagus: conjoint dorsal plate of parameres with median emargination of apical margin narrow and almost as deep as lateral ones, protuberances between median and lateral emarginations wide and nearly parallel-sided; ventral process of each paramere wide.
Description. Male (Fig. 8). Head yellow, with a inverse-trapeziform black marking on vertex, clypeus and mouthparts light yellow, apices of mandibles, terminal labial and maxillary palpomeres dark brown, antennae black, pronotum yellow, scutellun light yellow, elytra light yellow, slightly darkened at apices, legs yellow, femora slightly darkened at api-ces , tibiae black along upper sides, tarsi black, ventral parts of thorax and abdomen black, posterior and lateral margins of each abdominal ventrite and the whole last ventrite yellow.
Head subquadrate, evenly narrowed behind eyes, dorsum densely and finely punctate, eyes slightly protruding, breadth across eyes wider than anterior margin of pronotum, terminal maxillary palpomeres long-triangular, widest near apices, antennae filiform and simple, extending to middle of elytra, antennomeres II about twice as long as wide, III about twice as long as II, V longest, XI slightly longer than X.
Pronotum subquadrate, slightly wider than long, widest at base, anterior margin arcuate, lateral margins diverging posteriorly, posterior margin almost straight, anterior angles rounded, posterior angles nearly vertical, disc densely and finely punctate as that on head, slightly convex on posterolateral parts. Elytra about 5 times longer than pronotum, 4 times longer than humeral width, lateral margins slightly diverging posteriorly, disc slightly sparsely and largely punctate than that on pronotum.
Legs: all tarsal claws bifid, with lower claws slightly shorter than upper ones. Aedeagus : conjoint dorsal plate of parameres with median emargination of apical margin narrow and almost as deep as lateral ones, protuberances between median and lateral emarginations wide and nearly parallel-sided and rounded at apices, about half length of ventral process of each paramere in dorsal view; ventral process of each paramere wide, slightly turned outwards at apex in lateral view; median lobe without any sclerotized projection in dorsum.
Female. Body larger, eyes less protruding, antennae shorter and narrower than that of males, pronotum with disc slightly convex, elytra with lateral margins slightly diverging posteriorly, tarsal claws with lower claws distinctly shorter than upper ones.
Variation in type series. Sometimes head with a small rounded black marking on vertex, elytra entirely light yellow, legs with femora and tibiae entirely yellow. Body length: 7.0-9.0 mm; width: 1.6-2.0 mm.
Etymology. This new specific name is derived from Latin macula (marking) and ceps (head), referring to its head with a black marking on vertex.
Distribution. China (Sichuan). Diagnosis. This new species is related to F. semifumatoides (Švihla, 2005), but distinguishable by the pronotum distinctly wider than long; elytra each with a black marking at apex, lateral margins distinctly diverging posteriorly. (Fig. 9). Body yellow, mouthparts dark brown, antennae black, elytra each with a large rounded black marking at apex, femora slightly darkened at apices, tibiae black along upper sides, tarsi black, meso-and metasterna and abdomen black, posterior and lateral margins of each abdominal ventrite and the whole last ventrite yellow.

Description. Male
Head subquadrate, evenly narrowed behind eyes, dorsum densely and finely punctate, eyes moderately protruding, breadth across eyes slightly narrower than anterior margin of pronotum, terminal maxillary palpomeres long-triangular, widest near apices, antennae filiform and simple, extending to apical one-fifth of elytra, antennomeres II slightly widened apically, about twice as long as wide at apices, III about twice as long as II, V longest, XI slightly shorter than X.
Pronotum subquadrate, distinctly wider than long, widest at base, anterior margin arcuate, lateral margins diverging posteriorly, posterior margin almost straight, anterior angles rounded, posterior angles nearly vertical, disc densely and finely punctate as that on head, distinctly convex on posterolateral parts. Elytra about 5 times longer than pronotum, 2.5 times longer than humeral width, lateral margins distinctly diverging posteriorly, disc slightly sparsely and largely punctate than that on pronotum.
Legs: pro-and mesotarsal claws bifid, with lower claws slightly shorter than upper ones. Aedeagus (Figs 26-28): conjoint dorsal plate of parameres with median emargination of apical margin narrow and distinctly deeper than lateral ones, protuberances between median and lateral emarginations wide and rounded at apices, almost as long as ventral process of each paramere in dorsal view; ventral process of each paramere wide, slightly turned outwards at apex in lateral view; median lobe without any sclerotized projection in dorsum.

Female. Unknown.
Etymology. This new specific name is derived from Latin bi-(two) and macula (marking), referring to its elytra each with a black marking at apex.

Distribution. China (Sichuan, Guizhou).
Diagnosis. This new species is similar to F. bimaculata sp. n., but differs in the following characters: pronotum slightly wider than long in male; elytra entirely yellow; aedeagus: conjoint dorsal plate of parameres with median emargination of apical margin slightly wide and inverse-trapeziform, protuberances between median and lateral emarginations truncated at apices.
Description. Male (Fig. 10). Body yellow, apices of mandibles dark brown, antennae black, antennomeres I yellow, slightly darkened at apices, femora black at apices, tibiae black along upper sides, tarsi black, metasternum and abdomen black, posterior and lateral margins of each abdominal ventrite and the whole last 2 ventrites yellow.
Head subquadrate, evenly narrowed behind eyes, dorsum densely and finely punctate, eyes moderately protruding, breadth across eyes slightly wider than anterior margin of pronotum, terminal maxillary palpomeres long-triangular, widest near apices, antennae filiform and simple, extending to apical one-fourth of elytra, antennomeres II slightly widened apically, about twice as long as wide at apices, III about twice as long as II, V longest, XI slightly longer than X.
Pronotum subquadrate, slightly wider than long, widest at base, anterior margin arcuate, lateral margins diverging posteriorly, posterior margin almost straight, anterior angles rounded, posterior angles nearly vertical, disc densely and finely punctate as that on head, distinctly convex on posterolateral parts. Elytra about 5 times longer than pronotum, 2.5 times longer than humeral width, lateral margins distinctly diverging posteriorly, disc slightly sparsely and largely punctate than that on pronotum. Legs: all tarsal claws bifid, with lower claws slightly shorter than upper ones. Aedeagus (Figs 29-31): conjoint dorsal plate of parameres with median emargination of apical margin slightly wide and inverse-trapeziform, distinctly deeper than lateral ones, protuberances between median and lateral emarginations wide and truncated at apices, almost as long as ventral process of each paramere in dorsal view; ventral process of each paramere wide, slightly turned outwards at apex in lateral view; median lobe without any sclerotized projection in dorsum.
Female. Body larger, eyes less protruding than that of males, pronotum distinctly wider than long, disc slightly convex, tarsal claws with lower claws distinctly shorter than upper ones.
Etymology. This new specific name is derived from Latin flavus (yellow), referring to its yellow elytra.
Remarks. The female paratype with right antenna, left antennomeres III-XI, left metatarsomere V and right metatarsomeres III-V are missing.