Paracupta (Chalcotaenia) laperousei Frank, 2024, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Frank, David
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Buprestidae
Paracupta
Paracupta laperousei

description: Paracupta (Chalcotaenia) laperousei sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 662E26ED-3F76-43BD-96A6-3D4FE31BB271
(Figs 48–53, 60, 61, 69, 70, 71, 77, 78)
Paracupta xanthocera [misidentification, see ‘Remarks’]: Akiyama & Ohmomo (2000): Pl. 40, Figs 412-1, 412-2 (iconography).
Paracupta (Paracupta) xanthocera [misidentification, see ‘Remarks’]: Hołyński (2014) [misidentification]: 409 Fig. 10 (= P. (C.) laperousei sp. nov.).
Type locality. Indonesia, North Maluku Province, Bacan Island.
Type material examined. HOLOTYPE: ♂ (25.25 × 7.75 mm; Figs 48–50, 60, 69), ‘Batjan | Duh [? illegible] [w, h] || ex coll. S. Bílý | National Museum | Prague, Czech Republic [w, p] || cum typo | comparavit | 2006 | Sv. Bílý [w, p/h] || Paracupta | laperousei | Théry | det. Sv. Bílý [w, h/p] || this species name | is not | described | Vít Kubáň det. 2008 [w, h/p] || Paracupta | (Paracupta) | xanthocera | (Boisduval, 1835) | Vít. Kubáň det. 2012 [w, p]’ (NMPC).
PARATYPES (1 ♂, 55 ♀♀): INDONESIA: NORTH MALUKU PROv.: Bacan Island: ♀ ‘ Paracupta | Xanthocera | Boisd | Batchian [y, h] ||Ex Musaeo | JAMES THOMSON [w(c), p; black border] || MUSÉUM PARIS | 1935 | Coll. A. THÉRY [pink, p] || Xanthocera | Boisd. | Nlle Guin. [w(c), h; red border; label was in box in front of specimen]’ (MNHN); ♀ ‘ Batchian [w, h] || MUSÉUM PARIS | 1952 | COLL R OBERTHUR [w, p]’ (MNHN); ♀ ‘ Molucc. | Batchian [w(c), h] || MUSÉUM PARIS | 1952 | COLL R OBERTHUR [w, p]’ (MNHN); ♀ ‘ Bac [an] | Wallace [w, h/p] || Saunders. | 74–18. [w, p]’ (BMNH); ♀ ‘ Batchian [w, h] || Xanthocera [w, h] || Paracupta | xanthocera | Boisd. [w, p] || Paracupta | xanthocera | Boisd. | Det. Dr. Obenberger [w, h/p] || Paracupta | (Paracupta) | xanthocera var. | (Boisduval, 1835) | Vít. Kubáň det. 2012 [w, p]’ (NMPC, Fig. 41); 4 ♀♀ ‘ Batjan [w(c), h] || Coll.| Jul.Moser [w, p] || Paracupta | toxopeusi Ob. | [= xanthocera auct.] | det. S. Gottwald 2015 [w, p]’ (MFNB); ♀ ‘ Batjan [w(c), h] || coll. Hauser [w, p] || Chalcot. | Lamberti C. G. | St. [w(c), h] || Paracupta | toxopeusi Ob. | [= xanthocera auct.] | det. S. Gottwald 2015 [w, p]’ (MFNB); ♀ ‘6578 [w, h; red letters] || [original label] Coll.-Meyer-Darcis | Patria | Batjan [w, p/h; red stamp Tring.]; [newer label] Coll.Dr.A.Frh.v.Hoscheck [w, p] [original label is glued on newer label] || Coll.G. Frey | NMB [blue, p] || xanthocera | Bsd. | Det. Hoschek. [w, h/p; black border]’ (NHMB, coll. Frey); ♀ ‘Insel | Batjan [w, p] || Coll.G. Frey | NMB [blue, p] || Paracupta | xanthocera | Boisd. [w, h]’ (NHMB, coll. Frey); ♀ ‘ Batchian [w, h] || Collection | T. LANDER | MHNG 2014 [w, p]’ (MHNG, ex coll. Lander); ♀ ‘ MOLUQUES | Bacan | Coll. T. LANDER [w, h/p] || Collection | T. LANDER | MHNG 2014 [w, p]’ (MHNG, ex coll. Lander); ♀ ‘Insel | Batjan [w, p] || coll. R B HOŁYŃSKI | BP enw [w, h] || Paracupta | xanthocera | (BDV.) | det. R.Holynski | 1993 [w, p/h]’ (RHMP, figured in Hołyński 2014: 409, Fig. 10 as P. (P.) xanthocera); ♀ ‘Stauding. | Batchian [w, h; black border] || Coll. S. Gottwald (Berlin) | ex Coll. Thierry | NEEF DE SAINVAL | (Ellezelles, BE) [w, p] || Xanthocera | Boisd. [w, h]’ (SGBG); ♀ ‘ Moluques | Batchian | J. Waterstradt | 1902 [w(c), p; black border] || ex coll. S. Bílý | National Museum | Prague, Czech Republic [w, p] || Paracupta | (Paracupta) | xanthocera | (Boisduval, 1835) | Vít. Kubáň det. 2012 [w, p]’ (NMPC, ex coll. Bílý); ♀ ‘ Moluques | Batchian | J. Waterstradt | 1902 [w(c), p (black border)] || R. Mus. Hist. Nat. | Belg. I.G. 12.595 [w, p] || Paracupta | Xanthocera | Boisd. [w, h] || Le Moult vend. | Paracupta | xanthocera Boisd. [w, p/h]’ (IRSN); 2 ♀♀ ‘ Moluques | Batchian | J. Waterstradt | 1902 [w(c), p (black border)] || Paracupta | toxopeusi Ob. | [= xanthocera auct.] | det. S. Gottwald 2015 [w, p]’ (MFNB); ♀ ‘ Indonesia, | Batchan Island | V.2000 [w, p] || Coll. S. Gottwald (Berlin) | ex Coll. Thierry | NEEF DE SAINVAL | (Ellezelles, BE) [w, p]’ (SGBG); ♀ ‘ Bacan | Sept. 2002 [w, p] || ex coll. Vít Kubáň | National Museum | Prague, Czech Republic [w, p] || Paracupta | (Paracupta) | xanthocera | (Boisduval, 1835) | Vít. Kubáň det. 2012 [w, p]’ (NMPC, ex coll. Kubáň); ♀ ‘ Indonesia, N.Mollucas | BACAN ISL, MAKIAN VILL | 9.2002, local collectors lgt [w, p] || Coll. | S. GOTTWALD | (Berlin) [w, p] || Paracupta | toxopeusi Ob. | [= xanthocera auct.] | det. S. Gottwald 2006 [w, p]’ (SGBG); ♀ ‘ Indonesia, N.Mollucas | BACAN ISL, MAKIAN VILL | 9.2002, local collectors lgt [w, p] || Coll. | S. GOTTWALD | (Berlin) [w, p] || Paracupta | toxopeusi Ob. | [= xanthocera auct.] | det. S. Gottwald 2008 [w, p]’ (SGBG); ♀ ‘INDONESIA | Bacan | XII.2002 | local collector [w, p/h] || ex coll. S. Bílý | National Museum | Prague, Czech Republic [w, p] || Paracupta | (Paracupta) | xanthocera | (Boisduval, 1835) | Vít. Kubáň det. 2012 [w, p]’ (NMPC, ex coll. Bílý); ♀ ‘INDONESIA | Bacan | XII.2002 | local collector [w, p/h]’ (DFPC); ♀ ‘Batchan Isl. | Indonesia | Mar. '05 [w, p] || ex Coll. | M. H. HEMPEL | (München) [w, p] || Coll. | S. GOTTWALD | (Berlin) [w, p] || Paracupta | xanthocera | Boisduval [w, p] || Paracupta | toxopeusi Ob. | [= xanthocera auct.] | det. S. Gottwald 2016 [w, p]’ (SGBG); ♀ ‘INDONESIA | Bacan | V.2005 | local collector [w, p/h] || ex coll. S. Bílý | National Museum | Prague, Czech Republic [w, p] || Paracupta | (Paracupta) | xanthocera | (Boisduval, 1835) | Vít. Kubáň det. 2012 [w, p]’ (NMPC, ex coll. Bílý); ♀ ‘ Indonesia | Bacan Isl. | V.2012 [w, h]’ (FBRG). Halmahera Island: ♀ ‘ Halmaheira [w, h] || MUSÉUM PARIS | 1952 | COLL R OBERTHUR [w, p]’ (MNHN); 2 ♀♀ ‘ Halmaheira | Meyer D. [w, h (Kerremans' handwritting)] || MUSEUM PARIS | COLL. CH. KERREMANS | 1923 [y, p] || xanthocera | Boisd. [w, h (Kerremans' handwritting)]’ (MNHN); ♀ ‘[small gold quarter label without data] || 129. [w, h] || Chalcotaenia | lamberti | Halmaheira [w(c); h] || MUSÉUM PARIS | 1935 | Coll. A. THÉRY [pink, p]’ (MNHN); ♀ ‘ Halmaheira [w, p; black border] || Paracupta | (Paracupta) | xanthocera var. | (Boisduval, 1835) | Vít. Kubáň det. 2012 [w, p]’ (NMPC); ♀ ‘63193 [w(c), p; historical collection catalogue number] || Halmahera | (Staudinger) [gray, h] || Hist.- Coll. (Coleoptera) | Nr. 63193 | Chalcophora xanthocera | Halmahera | Von Dr. Staudinger gekauft | Zool. Mus. Berlin [violet, p; black border] || Paracupta | toxopeusi Ob. | [= xanthocera auct.] | det. S. Gottwald 2015 [w, p]’ (MFNB); 2 ♀♀ ‘ Halmaheira [w(c), h] || Coll.| Jul.Moser [w, p] || Paracupta | toxopeusi Ob. | [= xanthocera auct.] | det. S. Gottwald 2015 [w, p]’ (♀ MFNB; ♀ DFPC); 1 ♂, 7 ♀♀ ‘ Moluques | Halmaheira | Coll.Bruijn 1877 [w, p; black border] || MUSÉUM PARIS | 1952 | COLL R OBERTHUR [w, p]’ (MNHN, ♂ Figs 45, 70, 71); ♀ ‘6579 [w, h; red letters] || [original label] Moluques | Halmaheira | Coll.Bruijn 1877 [w, p; black border]; [newer label] Coll. Dr.A.Frh.v.Hoscheck [w, p] [original label is glued on newer label]’ (IRSN); ♀ ‘ Moluques | Halmaheira | Coll. Bruijn 1877 [w, p; black border] || R. Mus. Hist. Nat. | Belg. I.G. 12.595 [w, p] || Moluques | Halmaheira | Coll.Bruijn 1877 [w, p; black border] || R. Mus. Hist. Nat. | Belg. I.G. 12.595 [w, p]’ (IRSN); ♀ ‘ Moluques | Halmaheira | Coll. Bruijn 1877 [w, p; black border] || Coll. S. Gottwald (Berlin) | ex Coll. Thierry | NEEF DE SAINVAL | (Ellezelles, BE) [w, p] || Paracupta | xanthocera | Bdv. [w, h]’ (SGBG); ♀ ‘ Moluques | Halmaheira | Coll.Bruijn 1877 [w, p; black border] || coll. R B HOŁYŃSKI | BP env [w, h] || Paracupta | xanthocera | (BDV.) | det. R.Holynski | 1993 [w, p/h]’ (RHMP); ♀ ‘[small gold w(c) label without data] || MUSEUM PARIS | MOLUQUES | GILOLO | RAFFRAY & MAINDRON | 1878 [w(c); p; black border] || Paracupta | xanthocera | Boisdv. | Kerremans det. 1909. [w, h (Kerremans' handwritting)]’ (MNHN); ♀ ‘ Indonesia, N.Mollucas | HALMAHERA ISL., 12.2005 | Mt. Ibu env., local collectors lgt [w, p] || Coll. | S. GOTTWALD | (Berlin) [w, p] || Paracupta | toxopeusi Ob. | [= xanthocera auct.] | det. S. Gottwald 2008 [w, p]’ (SGBG). Mandioli Island: ♀ ‘MANDIOLI 500m- 6km | N. OUEST DE GALALA | N. MOLUQUES 5DEC [19]90 | INDONESIE | VAN DE MERGHEL LEG [w, p] || Coll. S. Gottwald (Berlin) | ex Coll. Thierry | NEEF DE SAINVAL | (Ellezelles, BE) [w, p]’ (SGBG). ‘Moluques’: ♀ ‘ Moluques | Oberth. [w, h (Kerremans' handwritting)] || Coll.G. Frey | NMB [blue, p] || VU PAR KERREMANS | xanthocera Boisd. | POUR SA MONOGRAPHIE [w(c), p/h; black border]’ (NHMB); ♀ ‘ Moluques | H. Deyr. [w, h (Kerremans' handwritting)] || Kerremans. | 1903–59. [w, p] || xanthocera | Boisd. [w, h (Kerremans' handwritting)]’ (BMNH).
Original specimens of unpublished manuscript name (see ‘RemarKs’). Paracupta laperousei Théry: ♀ (30.50 × 9.50 mm; Figs 51, 77), ‘[small gray quarter label without data] || I. Batjian | Coll Van. de Pool [w(c); h] || Paracupta | Laperousei | Thery | TYPE [w, h/p—red letters]’ (MNHN); ♀ (31.75 × 10.25 mm; Figs 52, 61), [small gold quarter label without data] || Ile | Batjian [w; h; black border] || COTYPE [w, p; red letters] || MUSÉUM PARIS | COLL. GÉNÉRALE [pink, p] || Paracupta | Laperousei | Thery | A. Descarpentries det. [w, h/p]’ (MNHN).
Both specimens were provided with an additional red printed label: ‘ Paracupta | laperousei THÉRY | unpublished manuscript name | David Frank VI.2023 [date handwritten]’.
All specimens were provided with an additional red printed label: ‘ HOLOTYPE [or PARATYPE respectively] [sex] | Paracupta (Chalcotaenia) | laperousei sp. nov. | David Frank det. I. 2024 [date handwritten]’.
Additional material examined (5 ♀♀) [see ‘RemarKs’]. INDONESIA: NORTH MALUKU PROv.: Obi, Nat [ive]. Collect [or]., 1903, ♀ (MNHN). ‘ NEW GUINEA ’: Nelle Guinée, ♀ (IRSN); Nll Guinée, v. d. Poll, 2 ♀♀ (MNHN); Nelle Guinée, ♀ (DFPC).
Description of holotype. Well preserved ♂ specimen, only left fore leg without tarsus and right middle leg without last tarsomere. Length 25.25 mm, width 7.75 mm, length/width ratio: 3.26.
Body navicular, black with dark green reflections, sulci on pronotum and macropunctures green-bronze. Four weak costae on each elytron. Ventral side dark green with bronze reflections, partly black, legs dark green.
Head black with dark green reflections, macropunctate and sparsely micropunctate. Eyes large, oval. Frons 1.9× as wide as diameter of eye, impressed with medial sulcus, macropunctate, sparsely pubescent. Labrum dark brown, pubescent. Antennae serrate from antennomere IV. Antennomere I dark green, metallic, sparsely macropunctate and pubescent, radicula yellow-brown. Antennomere II dark at basal half yellow-brown at apical half, antennomeres from III yellow-brown, sparsely pubescent. Antennomere II ca. 3× shorter than III. Antennomeres IV–X triangular, XI oval. Maxillae, labium, maxillary palpi and labial palpi dark brown, densely pubescent.
Pronotum trapezoidal, narrowing anteriad with almost straight sides, widest at base, 1.3× as wide as long. Anterior margin arcuate, lobe not protruding, densely pubescent. Black with dark green reflections, macropunctate and micropunctate. Five longitudal sulci and macropunctures green-bronze. Lateral margin black with violet reflections, shiny. Basal margin bisinuate.
Scutellum small, trapezoidal, black-violet with green reflections, shiny.
Elytra slightly wider than pronotum at base, almost parallel at basal half, narrowing from mid-length to apex, convex in lateral view. Lateral margins moderately arcuate below humeral calli, serrate at apical third. Basic colour black to black-violet at central basal part, macropunctures green-bronze. Four weak costae on each elytron, 1 st costa parallel to suture, 2 nd almost joined to 1 st before apex. 3 rd costa joined to 2 nd at apical fifth. 4 th costa starting at basal fifth, separated but reaching to apex where it is almost joined to 2 nd. Suture and costae sparsely macropunctate and micropunctate, intercostal intervals irregularly very densely macropunctate, sparsely micropunctate and with sparse short pubescence. Arrangement of macropunctures creates very slightly indicated intercostae in 3 rd and 4 th intercostal intervals. Epipleura horizontal, dark green, black at apical third, sparsely macropunctate and pubescent.
Legs dark green, metallic. Femora densely macropunctate and pubescent on inner side, sparsely on outer side, tibiae regularly macropunctate, very densely pubescent at inner apical parts, regularly elsewhere. Tibiae with two apical ventral spurs. Tarsomeres I–IV yellow-brown, tarsomere V dark green, metallic, tarsal claws divergent and simple.
Ventral side dark green with black parts, metallic. Hypomeron irregularly macropunctate, prosternum slightly furrowed. Anterior margin of prosternum densely pubescent. Prosternal process almost parallel-sided, arcuately narrowed at apex, approximately 3.3× as long as wide, sparsely macropunctate and pubescent. Metasternum sparsely macropunctate at central part, densely and finely macropunctate with pubescence on sides. Abdominal ventrites I–V centrally sparsely macropunctate, laterally densely and finely macropunctate with short pubescence. Black stripe at distal part of ventrites reaches 1/3 on ventrite II, 1/2 on on ventrite III, 2/3 on ventrite IV and covers almost whole of ventrite V. Yellow wax spots at laterobasal parts of ventrites II–V. Apical part with large ‘V’ shaped notch.
Aedeagus narrowly regularly navicular, widest at apical third, length: 6.77 mm, width: 1.18 mm, length/width ratio: 5.74. Parameres open at apical half, apices of parameres on outer sides roundly narrowed to a point; penis widest at base, apex roundly narrowed (Fig. 69).
Variation. Body ♂♂ (n = 2) length: 25.25–27.75 mm, width: 7.75–8.75 mm, length/width ratio: 3.17–3.26; ♀♀ (n = 46): length: 25.75–34.25 (average 29.70) mm, width: 8.00–10.75 (average 9.39) mm, length/width ratio: 3.03– 3.35 (average 3.16). Colour of macropunctures from green-bonze to violet-bronze, rarely green. Macropunctures are variable in size as well as in density. Aedeagus (n = 2) length: 6.77–7.45 mm, width: 1.18–1.36 mm, length/width ratio: 5.47–5.74.
Differential diagnosis. Paracupta (C.) laperousei can be distinguished from similar P. (C.) horaki by dark green and moderately shiny ventral side with large black areas, ♀ ventrite V with small ‘U’ shaped notch and parameres open from mid-length [P. (C.) horaki has strongly shiny golden-green ventral side, ♀ ventrite V with broad (almost trapezoidal) notch and parameres open from apical third]. This species is generally darker. From P. (C.) toxopeusi, it can be distinguished by five sulci on pronotum [P. (C.) toxopeusi has well developed only medial sulcus]. The other species have metallic tarsi. For additional characters see Key to species.
Etymology. This species is named after a French naval officer and explorer Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse (1741–1788?). Because there are (type) specimens in MNHN with this unpublished Théry’s name and several other specimens are determined as such, I decided to use this name too.
Distribution. Indonesia, North Maluku Province, Bacan Island, Halmahera Is., Mandioli Is., Obi Is. and probably also Kasiruta Is. [see ‘Remarks’] (Fig. 78).
Remarks. Akiyama & Ohmomo (2000) published photos of Paracupta xanthocera (♀ from Bacan Is. and ♀ from Kasiruta Is.) but both specimens belong to P. (C.) laperousei. Based on those data Kasiruta Is. is mentioned in ‘Distribution’.
Hołyński (2014) published a photo of Paracupta xanthocera from Bacan Is. I examined this specimen and it belongs to P. (C.) laperousei.
I examined one specimen from Obi Is. Although I have seen quite a lot of material from Obi Is., never a specimen of this genus. The occurrence of P. (C.) laperousei is possible but should be verified with new material. This specimen is not included in the type series.
I examined four old specimens with locality ‘ Nouvelle Guinée’. Its occurrence on New Guinea is possible but it is necessary to be verified with new material. These specimens also are not included in the type series.
An evidently erroneously localized specimen with locality ‘Australie’ (♀ MNHN) and specimens without locality data are not listed in examined material.
description: Published as part of Frank, David, 2024, Revision of the subgenus Chalcotaenia of Paracupta (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Chrysochroinae) and specification of Buprestis xanthocera Boisduval, 1835 as the type-species of the genus Paracupta, pp. 535-568 in Zootaxa 5555 (4) on pages 555-559, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5555.4.3, http://zenodo.org/record/14594963