Zyras (Zyras) rutrilobatus Assing 2017, spec. nov.

Zyras (Zyras) rutrilobatus spec. nov.

urn:lsid: zoobank.org:act: 67BAD12F-50BC-4983-A8BC-363FA67F01F1

(Figs 9, 31, 45, 81–86)

Type material examined: Holotype ♂: “N LAOS, 1300– 1500 m, Phongsali Prov., Phongsali env., 2004, 1–15 May, Lao collector leg. / Holotypus ♂ Zyras rutrilobatus sp. n., det. V. Assing 2017” (cMar).

Etymology: The specific epithet (derived from the Latin noun rutrum: shovel) is an adjective and alludes to the shovel-shaped ventral process of the aedeagus.

Description: Body length 6.0 mm; length of forebody 2.8 mm. Coloration (Figs 9, 31, 45): forebody black; abdomen black with the paratergites and the posterior margins of the posterior tergites paler brown; legs yellowish with the pro- and mesofemora, and the apical halves of the metafemora dark-brown; antennae blackishbrown with antennomeres I–II reddish-brown, X brown, and XI reddish-brown; maxillary palpi pale-brown with the apical palpomere yellowish-red.

Head (Fig. 31) distinctly transverse; punctation moderately coarse and very sparse; median dorsal portion extensively impunctate. Eyes large, much longer than postocular region in dorsal view. Antenna (Fig. 9) 2.3 mm long and slender; antennomeres IV–VII distinctly oblong, VIII weakly oblong, IX approximately as long as broad, X weakly transverse, and XI nearly as long as the combined length of IX and X.

Pronotum (Fig. 31) strongly transverse, 1.21 times as broad as long and 1.30 times as broad as head, broadest in anterior half; posterior angles obtusely marked; lateral margins not sinuate in posterior half in dorsal view; punctation moderately coarse and very irregularly distributed, laterally with extensive impunctate patches; pubescence long, pale, and sub-erect.

Elytra (Fig. 31) nearly 0.9 times as long as pronotum, distinctly dilated posteriad; punctation rather sparse and moderately coarse, somewhat sparser posteriorly than anteriorly; pubescence similar to that of pronotum. Hind wings present. Metatarsomere I as long as the combined length of II–IV.

Abdomen (Fig. 45) distinctly narrower than elytra, with deep anterior impressions on tergites III–V; tergites III–V each with a transverse row of moderately coarse and rather weakly defined puncture-like impressions in anterior impressions; tergite III with 1–2 lateral setiferous punctures on either side and with numerous setiferous punctures at or near posterior margin; tergites IV–V with a lateral setiferous puncture on either side, with a median pair of setiferous punctures, and with numerous setiferous punctures at posterior margins; tergite VI with a narrow transverse band of sparse non-setiferous punctures anteriorly, with few lateral setiferous punctures on either side, with a median pair of setiferous punctures in posterior portion, and with numerous setiferous punctures at posterior margin; tergite VII with a narrow transverse band of sparse non-setiferous punctures anteriorly and with two transverse rows of setiferous punctures posteriorly, posterior margin with palisade fringe; posterior margin of tergite VIII weakly concave in the middle (Fig. 84).

♂: sternite VIII (Fig. 85) longer than tergite VIII, wegdeshaped, and with truncate posterior margin (Fig. 86); median lobe of aedeagus (Figs 81–82) nearly 0.9 mm long and with ventral process of distinctive shape; paramere (Fig. 83) 0.95 mm long and with very long, somewhat flattened apical lobe.

♀: unknown.

Comparative notes: Based on the morphology of the median lobe of the aedeagus, the derived shape of the paramere (very long and flattened apical lobe), the modifications of the male sternite VIII, and external characters (long and slender antennae; body glossy with sparse punctation and long pubescence), Z. rutrilobatus is closely related to Z. glabricollis SCHEERPELTZ, 1965, Z. nitens CAMERON, 1944, Z. truncatus ASSING, 2017, and allied species. The geographically closest species of this group is Z. nitens (Peninsular Malaysia), from which Z. rutrilobatus differs by a much broader, larger, and more robust body, a much more transverse pronotum, darker coloration of the body, the femora, and the antennae, more massive antennae, more finely punctate elytra, a larger median lobe of the aedeagus with a ventral process of completely different shape, and by the longer apical lobe of the paramere. For illustrations of Z. nitens see ASSING (2017).

Distribution and natural history: The type locality is situated near Phongsali in North Laos at an altitude of 1300–1500 m.