Sulabanus similis Dvorak & Bocak, 2007, sp. nov.

Sulabanus similis sp. nov.

(Figs. 51–52)

Type material. Holotype. Male. S. Sulawesi, 25 km E, Mamasa, 1100 m, 119.28.39E, 3.02.10S, 22-24 July 1999, Bolm lgt. 21 paratypes. 18 males, S. Sulawesi, 25km E Mamasa (Kalama), 119.28.39E, 3.02.10S, 1-3 July 2001, Bolm lgt.; 3 males, S. Sulawesi, 8 km W Mamasa (Nepe), 119.29.32E, 2.56.13S, 29-31 June 2001, Bolm lgt. (LMBC).

Differential diagnosis. Sulabanus similis is the only representative of this species group, which is based on the shape of the apical part of the phallus, excluding it from the S. pendolensis and S. major groups. This species can also be recognized by the very small eyes which are comparable only to those of S. major and S. niger. The yellow patch on the elytra is shared with S. major which differs in yellow thoracic ventrites. Sulabanus niger is completely dark brown to black and therefore easily distinguished from S. similis by general appearance.

Description. Body dark brown to black, only elytra with yellow bright transverse patch in humeral third. Head partly hidden by pronotum. Frontal interocular distance 1.86 times eye diameter. Pronotum flat, 1.1 times wider that long. Elytra parallel–sided, 3.6 times longer than width at humeri. Phallus robust, short, with simple, narrowed apical part (Figs. 51–52).

Measurements. BL 6.75 mm, HW 1.6 mm, PL 1.0 mm, PW 1.1 mm, Ediam 0.30 mm, Edist 0.56 mm, EL 5.75 mm.

Distribution. Sulawesi, known only from the type locality in the environs of Mamasa.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the similarity of this species and several other species of Sulabanus. Although S. similis and several other species share a yellow transverse patch on the elytra, the morphology of their male genitalia indicate that these species are only distantly related.