Frischianus strigaticollis Frisch, sp. nov.

(Figs 58, 187–189, 232, 267)

Type specimens: India: Holotype ♂, Kerala, Pambanar-Peermade, 950 m, 5.–9.XI.1972, leg. Besuchet, Löbl & Mussard (MHNG). Paratypes (67 specimens): Kerala: 7 ♂, 9 ♀, same data as holotype (MFNB, MHNG); 5 ♂, 1 ♀, 5 km E Kumily (Cardamom Hills), 1000 m, 6.XI.1972, leg. Besuchet, Löbl & Mussard (MFNB, MHNG); 1 ♀, Nelliampathi Hills, 900 m, 30.XI.1972, leg. Besuchet, Löbl & Mussard (MHNG); 2 ♂, Kumily, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, 2.IX.1989, leg. Riedel (SMNS); 3 ♂, 10 km SW Kumily: Vallakadavu (Cardamom Hills) (09°31'N, 77°7'E), 1000 m, 24.XII.1993, leg. Boukal & Kejval (NHMW). Tamil Nadu: 22 ♂, 9 ♀, 18 km N Valparai (Anaimalai Hills), 1250 m, 18.XI.1972, leg. Besuchet, Löbl & Mussard (MFNB, MHNG); 4 ♂, 4 ♀, Valparai (Anaimalai Hills), 1100 m, 20.XI.1972, leg. Besuchet, Löbl & Mussard (MFNB, MHNG).

Description: Habitus (Fig. 58). Pterodimorphous with small eyes and palisade fringe of abdominal tergite VII in both macropterous and micropterous specimens. Macropterous specimens: elytra somewhat wider than pronotal width; elytral sutural length subequal to pronotal length; metathoracic wings fully developed. Micropterous specimens: elytral width equal to pronotal width; elytral sutural length subequal to or up to 0.2 times shorter than pronotum; elytra with shallow, transverse, subbasal depression; metathoracic wings reduced in length to varying degrees, in examined specimens longer than elytral sutural length. Body color unicolored medium brown to blackish brown, or medium brown with elytra darker brown posteriorly in variable extent; tip of abdomen, antennae, palps, and legs light brown to medium brown. Labral denticulation variable, types 1 to 3; submedial denticles usually pointed, longer than pointed (cf. Fig. 10) to widely obtuse (Fig. 14) sublateral denticles. Forebody surface microsculpture type 4 (Fig. 4), but cephalic punctation finer than in Fig. 4a and pronotal furrows and ridges much finer, denser, and less distinct than in Fig. 4b. Sutural elytral row of punctures shallow, short, usually not exceeding anterior half of elytral sutural length; medial and lateral elytral row of punctures reduced to few, indistinct punctures. Total body length 3.0– 3.3 mm; forebody length 1.5–1.7 mm.

Male: Abdominal sternite VII without modification. Abdominal sternite VIII in about posterior 0.15 of length with narrow incision (Fig. 232).

Aedeagus (Figs 187–189) symmetrical. Dorsal lobe movably attached, in lateral view thin and straight (Fig. 187), in dorsal view triangular and gradually tapered toward somewhat dextrad curved, thin, subacute apical end (Fig. 189). Ventral process situated close to postforamen, in lateral view slender, slightly curved distad, with strong, dorsal subapical tooth and moderately ventrad curved apical end (Fig. 187), in ventral view about half as wide as aedeagus, parallel with wide, round apical end (Fig. 188). Endophallic sclerite triangular, protruding beyond ostium distoventrally (Fig. 187), in ventral view with transverse, rectangular apical end (Fig. 188). Aedeagus in lateral view with ventral margin distal of ventral process almost straight (Fig. 187), in dorsal view very narrow with slightly concave lateral margins (Fig. 189). Ostium of aedeagus with convex lateral margins (Fig. 187). Length of aedeagus 0.46–0.5 mm.

Female: Gonocoxal plate from enlarged anterior portion strongly narrowed toward subparallel, setose posterior fourth with concavely emarginate posterior margin; enlarged anterior portion of gonocoxal plate membranous and hyaline with strongly sclerotized, sublateral bands densely lined with medioposteriorly pointing spinules in few, loose, irregular rows (Fig. 267).

Distribution: Frischianus strigaticollis is distributed across the mountains of Southwest India and recorded from the Nelliampathi Hills in Tamil Nadu as far south as the Cardamom Hills, Kerala.

Etymology: The epithet strigaticollis [adjective, Latin, composed of the adjective strigatus (striped) and the noun collum (neck)] refers to the longitudinally lineate, strigate sculpture of the pronotal surface of this new species (Fig. 58).