Lamiogethes hastipenis Liu & Yang & Huang & Cline & Sabatelli & Audisio 2020, sp. n.

Lamiogethes hastipenis sp. n.

(Figs. 1b, 2 c–d, 3e, 5)

Diagnosis. Vaguely similar in external body shape and color to the rare Palearctic species L. buyssoni (Brisout de Barneville, 1882) (in the L. difficilis species group: Audisio 1993). Male protarsi wide, but markedly narrower than in the closely related L. falcatus sp. n., ca. 0.9× as wide as maximum width of the antennal club (Figs. 1b, 3e), ratio WFTA/LFTA ≈ 0.28. Male metatibiae normally shaped, not arcuately sinuate along inner edge (Fig. 1b) and rather rectilinear along most of their outer edge. Male genitalia distinctively shaped, with elongate, subparallel-sided and deeply incised tegmen (Fig. 2c), aedeagal median lobe peculiarly large,>3× longer than wide, maximum width proximad, and peculiar, sword-tip-shaped distal apex (Fig. 2d), similar to L. falcatus sp. n.

Description. Size (male holotype): body length 2.30 mm, width 1.32 mm.

Body color and pubescence: uniformly dark brown, tegument shiny. Legs brown to dark brown, with paler tarsal plates, antennae brown to dark brown with paler second and third antennomeres. Pubescence pale golden, moderately long and sparse, not concealing tegument, each individual seta ca. 0.80× as long as second antennomere (Fig. 1b).

Dorsal habitus: body shape (Fig. 1b) vaguely similar to L. buyssoni. Clypeus with truncate anterior margin. Dorsal punctures on pronotum rather fine and deep, each puncture separated from another by ca. 1.2–1.6 diameter; space between punctures smooth and shining. Dorsal punctures on elytra rather large, separated by ca. 1.2–1.5 diameter; space between punctures smooth and shining. Ratio LPR1/LELY = 0.50; ratio WPR1/LPR1 = 1.82; ratio WPR2/LPR1 = 1.68; ratio WPR2/WPR1 = 0.93; ratio LELY/WELY = 1.02; ratio WPR1/WPRA = 1.70; ratio WPR1/WELY = 0.92; ratio WPR2/WELY = 0.85.

Ventral habitus: combined outer edges of antennal grooves almost straight, parallel-sided along most of length. Prosternal process slightly wider than length of antennal club, with fine and sparse punctation. Male metaventrite markedly and widely impressed, with a rather deep semi-circular transverse impression, occupying nearly posterior two-thirds. Last visible ventrite with a small, shining tubercle in middle of posterior edge.

Appendages: antennae short (Fig. 1b); ratio ANLE/HWEA = 0.80; ratio CLLE/W10J = 1.40; ratio L03J/W03J = 2.00; ratio L03J/L02J = 0.85; ratio L03J/L04J = 2.45; ratio WFTA/LFTA ≈ 0.28; ratio LETI/WITI ≈ 3.30. Protibiae with a series of 3–5 moderately sharp teeth, increasing in size from first to penultimate, similarly shaped as the Palearctic species L. difficilis (Fig. 3e). Metatibiae simple, not arcuately curved nor sinuate along inner side (Fig. 1b).

Male genitalia: distinctively shaped, with elongate and subparallel-sided tegmen (Fig. 2c), widest in middle, medial distal excision deep, narrowly V-shaped (ratio DTIN/LETE ≈ 0.45), inner margins of excision with an obtuse gibbosity close to base; ratio LETE/WITE ≈ 2.05. Median lobe of aedeagus large and long, ratio LEAE/WIAE>3 (>3× longer than wide; Fig. 2d), maximum width close to proximal base, with abruptly narrowed, sword-tip-shaped distal apex, and markedly concave proximal apex.

Female: unknown.

Variation: body size 2.30–2.35 mm (length) and 1.32–1.35 mm (width).

Examined material. Holotype, ♂: China: Hubei, Shennongjia National Forest Park, Shennong peak Scenic Area, sparsely forested and bushy area below the trail gate, ca. 2500 m a.s.l., ca. 31°16’12”N 110°10’12”E, 16.vi.2017, Audisio & Liu lgt, beating flowering bushes of Rubus rosifolius Sm. (Rosaceae), (NWAU). Paratype: same data as holotype, 1 ♂ (CAR-MZUR).

Distribution. S China (Hubei) (Fig. 5).

Host-plants. Unknown, but certainly among Lamiaceae. The above cited Rubus rosifolius (Rosaceae) was an occasional food-plant before or after the flowering season of the species’ larval host. Some other Chinese species of the somewhat related Lamiogethes kasparyani group, appear to be associated as larvae to Lamium spp. (Lamiaceae) and related genera (Audisio et al. 2005; Liu et al. unpublished data).

Habitat. Locality data suggest this species prefers the edges of high altitude sparsely forested and bushy areas.

Phenology. The few available specimens were collected in middle June, which likely indicates adult activity at least from May to July.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin hasta (= lance), due to its peculiarly lance-shaped or sword-tip-shaped apex of the median lobe of aedeagus (Fig. 2d).

Taxonomic remarks. As reported above, this new species is vaguely similar in external shape to L. buyssoni from Europe (see Audisio 1993), as well as to other E Palearctic species of the genus, but is more closely related to L. falcatus sp. n. described above, sharing with the latter an overall similar body shape and size, type of punctation, and peculiarly sword-tip-shaped distal apex of the median lobe of aedeagus. Male specimens of the latter species are different in possessing metatibiae arcuately curved (simple in L. hastipenis), much wider protarsi and protibiae, less strongly impressed metaventrite, and markedly different tegmen. As discussed above, L. falcatus sp. n., L. hastipenis sp. n., L. sagittalis sp. n. and L. unditibiis sp. n. belong to the same species complex, also including L. ancestor from central E China.