Chrysodema (Gelaeus) oborili subsp. laratensis Frank & Sekerka 2016, subsp. nov.

Chrysodema (Gelaeus) oborili laratensis subsp. nov.

(Figs 21–23, 61)

Gelaeus Iris var. cupripennis Théry, 1935: 248 (unavailable infrasubspecific name). BELLAMY (2008):532 (catalogue, listed as synonym of C. iris).

Chrysodema moluensis Novak, 2010: 107 (partim, incl. colour Figs 2–3).

Type locality. Indonesia, Maluku Province, Tanimbar Islands, Larat Island.

Type material. HOLOTYPE: ♂, ‘ Larat - Ins. / (Tenimber I.) [w, p]’ (NMPC). PARATYPES (7 ♂♂ 19 ♀♀): 5 ♂♂ 15 ♀♀, ‘Larat - Ins. / (Tenimber I.) [w, p] // Coll. / Jul. Moser [w, p]’ (5 ♂♂ 14 ♀♀ MFNB, 1 ♀ DFPC); 2 ♂♂ 2 ♀♀, ‘Indonesia, S MOLLUCAS / Tanimbar Isls, 0-50 M / LARAT ISLAND, 2.2008 / local collectors lgt. [w, p]’ (2 ♂♂ 1 ♀ DFPC, 1 ♀ SJPC); 1 ♀, Tanimbar, feb. 2003 [w, p]’ (DFPC); 1 ♀, Tanimbar, 03/ 2003 [w, h]’ (DFPC). All specimens provided with an additional red printed label:‘ HOLOTYPE [or PARATYPE respectively] [sex] / Chrysodema (Gelaeus) / oborili / laratensis subsp. nov. / David Frank & / Lukáš Sekerka des. 2016 [year handwritten]’.

Description of holotype. Well preserved ♂ specimen missing left two distal antennomeres and left hind leg. Length 27.00 mm, width 9.50 mm, length/width ratio: 2.84.

Head and pronotum olive green, latter with barely visible violet reflections along anterior margin and anterior corners. Scutellum olive green. Elytra bronze centrally, gradually changing laterally and apically to copper and dark violet (Fig. 21), lateral serrations and apex dark teal (Fig. 23). Ventral side and legs as in nominotypical subspecies (Fig. 22).

Pronotum as in nominotypical subspecies.

Elytra as in nominotypical subspecies, only intervals distinctly more elevated (Figs 21, 23).

Legs and ventral side as in nominotypical subspecies (Fig. 22).

Aedeagus (Fig. 61) length 7.55 mm, width 1.53 mm, length/width ratio: 4.93. Apices of parameres obliquely truncate. Penis elongate, subparallel-sided.

Variation. Body ♂♂ (n = 8) length: 26.25–28.25 mm, width: 9.00–10.00 mm, length/ width ratio: 2.79–2.86(3.03); ♀♀ (n = 19) length: (21.00)25.25–34.25(36.50) mm, width: (7.50)9.00–13.00 mm, length/width ratio: 2.67–2.92. Structure of pronotum quite variable, principal and medial impressions from shallow to moderately deep, latter sometimes slightly coarser punctate, principal impressions always appears impunctate except of inner row. Basal impressions always deep, variously open and connected with principal impression. Pronotum from uniformly olive green to partly violet; most specimens with green pronotum at most with slight violet reflections. Elytra from bronze to nearly copper, always with gradually darker lateroapical margins. Ventral side often with violet, purple or copper reflections. Aeadeagus (n = 5) length: 7.34–7.75 mm, width 1.38–1.53 mm, length/width ratio: 4.93–5.42.

Differential diagnosis. Chrysodema (G.) oborili laratensis subsp nov. is on average narrower than the nominotypical subspecies (see body length/width ratios in Variation) and has much more convex elytra in lateral view (see Figs 20 vs 23). Additionally it has brighter colouration of elytra with whole central portion bronze to copper while the nominotypical subspecies is less shiny and has dark-violet body with only more or less bronze intervals.

Etymology. This subspecies is named after its type locality Larat Island, the subspecies epithet being an adjective.

Distribution. Indonesia, Maluku Prov.: Tanimbar Isls.: Larat Is.

Remarks. THÉRY (1935: 248) described Gelaeus iris var. cupripennis, however, in the same work he described also a subspecies Gelaeus walkeri wetteriana therefore the variety cupripennis is infrasubspecific name according to the Article 45.6.4 (ICZN 1999). Nor was it validated before 1985 (Article 45.6.4.1) and hence it is an unavailable name according to ICZN (1999).

THÉRY (1935: 248) separated his variety cupripennis based on uniformly copper coloured elytra while C. (G.) iris has iridescent pattern on elytra. He mentioned only ‘Tenimber’ in catalogue as the distribution of this variety. We were unable to locate any original ‘type’ specimens for this variety. However, the historical series from Larat (ex collection of J. Moser; MFNB) was loaned to us under the latter name. We presume that the var. cupripennis is the same as C. (G.) oborili laratensis subsp. nov. because most specimens have copper or bronze elytra, which are distinctly darker in C. (G.) oborili oborili and iridescent in C. (G.) iris.