A key to known species of Episcapha (subgenus Ephicaspa Chûjô) (Coleoptera, Erotylidae, Megalodacnini), with the description of two new species

Abstract Two new species Episcapha (Ephicaspa) lushuiensis sp. n. and Episcapha (Ephicaspa) quadriconcava sp. n. are described and illustrated from China. A key to known species of subgenus Ephicaspa is provided. A map of the collecting sites is given.

In the current work, two new species of the subgenus Ephicaspa are described and illustrated. One new species, Episcapha (Ephicaspa) lushuiensis sp. n., was collected from Yunnan Province, China. The other new species, Episcapha (Ephicaspa) quadriconcava sp. n., was collected from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. A key to species of subgenus Ephicaspa is provided. A map (Fig. 23) of the collecting sites is given.

Methods
The specimens were collected by chopping deadwood in forests. They were killed with ethyl acetate and dried. The morphological examinations were carried out with a stereomicroscope. For an examination of the male or female genitalia, the last three abdominal segments were detached from the body after softening in hot water. For clearing, it was boiled for 5 minutes in 5% solution of potassium hydroxide, and then, washed in distilled water. Morphological figures were prepared using a Nikon SMZ1500 stereomicroscope. All measurements are given in millimetres. The habitus photos were taken with a Leica M205A camera. Holotypes and paratypes are deposited in the Museum of Hebei University (MHU), Hebei, P. R. China.
The measurements of proportions are abbreviated as follows: bl/bw -body length/width ratio; pl/pw -pronotum length/width ratio.  Fig. 1) strongly elongate, length: 6.5-8.0mm; width: 2.3-3.0mm (bl/bw = 2.59-2.72; average = 2.63); general color black, moderately shining; mouthparts and tarsi brown to reddish brown. Each elytron with 2 orange bands; anterior band extending obliquely from humerus to near the suture, abruptly narrowed in middle, with 3 teeth on anterior border, reaching the base at the humeral angle; posterior band at four fifths length of elytron, extending from the suture to near the lateral border, with 3 teeth at anterior border, with posterior border slightly curved. Head (Fig. 2) strongly and sparsely punctured on vertex, with ocular lines. Clypeus finely and closely punctured, with anterior border nearly straight, with a fovea on each side of the base. Eyes large, moderately prominent laterally. Antennae ( Fig. 3) long, extending a little behind posterior border of pronotum; antennomere III about 1.3 times as long as IV; antennomere VIII slightly wider than VII, about 1.2 times as wide as long; antennomeres IX hemispherical; antennomere X almost asymmetrical triangular; antennomere XI roundly quadrate, slightly constricted in middle; relative lengths of antennomeres II-XI: 8.0: 14.5: 11.5: 12.0: 11.0: 12.0: 10.0: 12.0: 12.0: 15.0. Mentum ( Fig. 4) pentagonal, pointed apically, with coarse punctures and setae; submentum roundly and roughly punctured. Pronotum (Fig. 5) widest at base (pl/pw = 0.72-0.80; average = 0.75); sides almost parallel on posterior half, and slightly narrowing toward apex. Pronotum distinctly punctured on median area, slightly decreasing in size and increasing in density toward lateral areas. Anterior angles roundly projected; posterior angles nearly rectangulate. Prosternum (Fig. 6) strongly and rather closely punctured on the lateral areas, strongly and sparsely punctured on median area, with a longitudinal depression in the middle of base area. Prosternal process dilated apically; strongly emarginated at apical border. prosternal femoral lines convergent anteriorly.
Scutellum broadly pentagonal, finely and sparely punctured. Elytra widest near base, then gradually narrowing to apex; each elytron with 8 striae; intervals with fine and sparse punctures, which are much finer than those in striae.
Mesoventrites (Fig. 7) finely and sparsely punctured, with an n-shaped depression medially. Aedeagus (Fig. 8) slightly curved; median lobe narrow, with apex truncate in lateral view; median strut long, about 2.0 times as long as median lobe. Anterior end of internal sac as in Fig. 9.
Distribution. Known only from the type locality (China: Yunnan Province, Lushui County).
Diagnosis. This new species is closest to Episcapha (Ephicaspa) asahinai Chûjô, 1936 due to similar form and color of the body. The new species can be distinguished from Episcapha (Ephicaspa) asahinai by antennomere III more than 1.8 times as long as II, prosternal femoral lines convergent anteriorly, body beneath with golden pubescence. Episcapha (Ephicaspa) asahinai with antennomere III about 1.5 times as long as II, prosternal femoral lines almost straight and parallel in front of the prosternal cavity, body beneath covered with grayish pubescence.
Etymology. The specific name derives from the type locality: Lushui County. Description. Body (Fig. 12) elongate, length: 8.5-9.1 mm; width: 3.3-3.6 mm (bl/bw = 2.53-2.58; average = 2.56); general color black and shining; mouthparts and tarsi brown. Each elytron with 2 orange bands; anterior band extending obliquely from humerus to the middle of striae I and II, with 3 teeth at anterior and posterior borders, not reaching base at humeral angle; posterior band at four fifths length of elytron, almost quadrate, extending from the suture to near the lateral border.
Pronotum (Fig. 16) widest at middle (pl/pw = 0.59-0.63; average = 0.61); sides almost parallel on posterior half, and narrowing toward apex. Pronotum distinctly punctured on median area; finely and closely punctured on the lateral areas; with a transverse depression at base. Anterior angles projected; posterior angles obtuse. Prosternum ( Fig. 17) coarsely and densely punctured on lateral areas, almost confluent and forming oblique rugae; surface with golden pubescence. Prosternal process dilated apically; strongly emarginated at apical border; distinctly depressed in the middle. Prosternal femoral lines extended a little in front of the prosternal cavity, almost straight and parallel.
Scutellum pentagonal, with fine and spare punctures. Elytra widest at one fourth from base, then gradually narrowing to apex; each elytron with 7 striae; intervals with fine punctures. Mesoventrite (Fig. 18) finely and sparsely punctured, with a median quadrate depression; surface with pubescence. Aedeagus (Fig. 19) with median lobe moderately curved, narrowing to a point in lateral view; median strut long, about 1.5 times as long as median lobe. Anterior end of internal sac as in Fig. 20.
Distribution. Known only from the type locality (China: Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Leye County).
Diagnosis. Episcapha (Ephicaspa) quadriconcava is closest to Episcapha (Ephicaspa) yunnanensis Li & Ren, 2006, due to the similar form and color of the body in both species. The new species can be distinguished from Episcapha (Ephicaspa) yunnanensis by the head without ocular lines, pronotum widest at middle, mesoventrite with a median quadrate depression, aedeagus with median lobe narrowing to a point in lateral view. Episcapha (Ephicaspa) yunnanensis with ocular lines on head, pronotum widest at base, mesoventrite with a median trapezoidal depression, aedeagus with median lobe hooked at apex in lateral view.
Etymology. The species is named with a quadrate depression on the median of mesoventrite. Prosternal femoral lines convergent anteriorly in front of the prosternal cavity (Fig. 6)  -Mesoventrite with a median quadrate depression (Fig. 18); aedeagus with median lobe narrowing to a point in lateral view (Fig. 19)