Allenipeplus Kirejtshuk & Kovalev, 2016, gen. nov.
Creators: name: Kirejtshuk, Alexander G.
name: Kovalev, Alexey V.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Nitidulidae
Allenipeplus

description: Allenipeplus gen. nov.
Type species: Allenipeplus philippinensis sp. nov.
Etymology. The name of this genus is formed from the name of a colleague, Albert Allen, who provided the authors with two holotypes of the species here described and the generic root ‘peplus’ (πέπλΟς —robe or something like that) (as in Brachypeplus, Maynipeplus, Xanthopeplus, etc.). Gender masculine.
Description. Body medium to large sized (8.6 – 14.7 mm), narrow and elongate, moderately convex to subflattened dorsally and more convex ventrally. Integument finely and sparsely punctured, smoothly microreticulate; elytral punctation diffuse; dorsal hairs very short, sparse and somewhat conspicuous. Head slightly convex and gradually narrowed to base, moderately projecting anteriorly; with rather small and extremely finely faceted eyes located rather anteriorly, temples long and not abruptly delimited, labrum with subtruncate anterior edge and and not divided by clear median suture into lobes (only its remains looking as more or less expressed line); mandibles stout with tridentate apices; antennal grooves rectilinearly and strongly convergent posteriorly, with distinct margins; mentum very wide and with anterior lateral angles more or less projecting anteriorly; pregenal process at hypostomal sinus moderately narrow and slightly curved. Terminal labial palpomere subcylindrical and 2.0–3.5× as long as wide; terminal maxillary palpomere subcylindrical and 2.5–4.5× as long as wide. Antennae with 11 antennomeres, bearing a club composed of 3 antennomeres. Pronotum slightly transverse, subquadrangular or somewhat widened anteriorly, subflattened on disc and gently sloping at narrowly bordered sides in anterior part and widely explanate to shallowly depressed at base, anterior angles widely rounded and posterior angles more well defined; anterior margin shallowly bi-emarginate and slightly convex at middle or nearly straight and posterior margin slightly convex. Elytra with truncate apices, leaving last three abdominal segments completely exposed, sides moderately sloping and narrowly bordered, lateral carinae clearly visible from above. Laterosternites comparatively narrow and subparallel-sided. Spiracles of three preapical abdominal segments rather long and located at base of segments (Fig. 5). Three last tergites medially convex and widely depressed at sides. Female pygidium much longer than wide, widely rounded at finely crenellate apex. Prosternal process subflattened, very slightly curved along procoxae and slightly widened at rounded apex. Procoxae moderately, but meso- and metacoxae narrowly separated. Mesothorax medially flattened and almost not excavate, but at sides with distinct isolated depressions for mesofemora. Metaventrite with a distinct median suture (discrimen) in posterior three-fourths and submesocoxal lines strongly adhered to posterior edge of mesocoxae. Metepisterna with rectilinear sides. Each of abdominal ventrites 1 and 2 about half as long as each of ventrites 3 and 4; hypopygidium much longer than each of previous ventrites. Female pygidium very widely rounded before subtruncate apex and with crenellate apical edge. Legs more or less of usual shape. Tibiae subtriangular, almost as wide as antennal club and with rather short spurs. Femora rather wide with very convex posterior edge of profemur and very convex anterior edge of meso- and metafemora. Tarsi with rather widely lobed tarsomeres 1 – 3, protarsi wider than meso- and metatarsi. Ovipositor heavily sclerotized, inner and outer lobes of valvifer (gonocoxites) well isolated, inner lobes fused with paraprocts, short styli located far from acuminate apex of ovipositor.
Note. The bodies of all the specimens of the new genus examined have sclerites with more or less conspicuous short hairs, while hairs on most sclerites seem to be lost (probably during preparation of these specimens for mounting).
Composition. The new genus includes the type species, as well as A. alius sp. nov., A. harmonicus sp. nov. and A. vitellinus sp. nov.
Diagnosis. This new genus is distinct among cillaeines by its comparatively small eyes and rather long temples which can be compared only with those in Ithyphenes Murray, 1864 and Platynema Ritsema, 1885 (see below). It is externally similar to the genus Cillaeus Laporte de Castelnau, 1835 (including Cillaeopsis Grouvelle, 1899) and Cillaeus- like genera and subgenera (Carpophilops Grouvelle, 1898, Halepopeplus Murray, 1864 (= Chalepopeplus Gemminger & Harold, 1868), Liparopeplus Murray, 1864, Paracillaeopsis Kirejtshuk, 2001, Tokocillaeus Kirejtshuk, 2001, Xanthopeplus Fairmaire, 1880) by its elongate subparallel-sided and not strongly convex body, more or less (sub)quadrate pronotum (although some members of the aforementioned groups demonstrate rather arcuate pronotal sides), simple labrum at most with a clear median suture (usually only line remains), at least three abdominal segments uncovered by elytra, three preapical abdominal segments with more or less long and oblong spiracles and slightly convex underside. However, Allenipeplus gen. nov. differs from all of them, in addition to the peculiar eyes and temples, in the paramedian depressions on uncovered abdominal tergites at the laterosternites, laterosternites subparallel-sided in posterior 2/3, prosternal process very slightly widened before apex (behind procoxae), crenellate posterior edge of the pygidium and hypopygidium, and also from:
- Cillaeus, Paracillaeopsis and Xanthopeplus (Fig. 29), known mostly from the Eastern Hemisphere, in the diffuse elytral punctation; from first and third also in the fine and short but conspicuous pubescence; from second also in the not so conspicuous hairs;
- Carpophilops (Fig. 27), from the Neotropical Region, in the longer body, diffuse elytral punctation, steeply sloping elytral sides, and elongate sclerites of the apical visible abdominal segment;
- Neotropical Halepopeplus (Fig. 30) in the diffuse elytral punctation, fine and short but conspicuous dorsal pubescence, and longer antennomeres 2 and 3;
- Afrotropical Liparopeplus (Fig. 26) in the longer body, diffuse elytral punctation, elongate sclerites of the apical visible abdominal segment and presence of dense and long hairs on apex of hypopygidium;
- Neotropical Tokocillaeus in the more widely separated mesocoxae.
In addition, Allenipeplus gen. nov. has a considerable similarity with Macrostola Murray, 1864 (Fig. 28), distributed in Central and South America, due to the latter having a long body and other characters comparable with those in the above mentioned groups, except the rather narrow subparallel-sided laterosternites and extremely large eyes. Nevertheless, the latter differs from the new genus in the rather convex forebody lacking pubescence, subquadrangular labrum without suture, seriate elytral punctation, gently convex exposed abdominal tergites, prosternal process strongly widened behind procoxae, convex inner edge of the metepisterna, transverse sclerites of the apical visible abdominal segment, and not crenellate posterior edge of the female pygidium.
The new genus has also a certain similarity with other cillaeine genera, although each of them is distinct from Allenipeplus gen. nov. by the following characteristics:
- Papuan Adocimus Murray, 1864 (Fig. 31) has the body with not pubescent dorsum and more convex underside, very long antennal club, not explanate pronotal and elytral sides (with their lateral carinae not visible from above), terminal maxillary and labial palpomeres rather narrowing apically and comparatively short, genal processes along outer edge of hypostomal sinuses rather wide, prosternal process rather widened before emarginate apex, exposed abdominal tergites only weakly depressed at the laterosternites, lack of antennal grooves on the underside of the head, as well as paramedian depressions on the mesothorax, transverse sclerites of the apical visible abdominal segment, widely separated meso- and metacoxae;
- Hawaiian Apetasimus Sharp, 1908 (based on the original description (Sharp & Scott 1908) and Ewing 2006)— wider and subflattened oval body, shorter terminal maxillary palpomere, pronotal and elytral sides more or less widely (sub)explanate, pronotum widest more or less at base and narrowing anteriorly, prosternal process rather widened before emarginate apex, more or less striate elytral punctation (sometimes striae are not expressed and rows of punctures are becoming irregular), lack of paramedian depressions on the mesothorax, rather widely separated metacoxae, more or less transverse sclerites of the last visible abdominal segment and not crenellate posterior edge of the female pygidium;
- Brachypeplus Erichson, 1842 (including Selis Murray, 1864), widespread in most areas with subtropical and tropical climate, has conspicuous pubescence, seriate elytral punctation, widely subexplanate or explanate pronotal sides, prosternal process more or less widened before apex (behind procoxae), transverse sclerites of the apical visible abdominal segment, not crenellate posterior edge of the female pygidium and usually widely separated meso- and metacoxae;
- Australian Brittonema Kirejtshuk, 2011 has a more flattened body with conspicuous pubescence, seriate elytral punctation, short terminal labial palpomere, anterior angles of the mentum rounded and not strongly projecting anteriorly, widely subexplanate or explanate pronotal sides, prosternal process rather widened before apex (behind procoxae), lack of paramedian depressions at the edges of laterosternites, comparatively wide laterosternites widened posteriorly and all pairs of coxae subequally separated;
- Neotropical Campsopyga Murray, 1864 has a comparatively wide and subflattened body lacking pubescence, a short terminal labial palpomere, exposed abdominal tergites not depressed at the laterosternites, laterosternites strongly widened posteriorly, prosternal process widened behind procoxae and subflattened, lack of paramedian depressions on the mesothorax, transverse sclerites of the apical visible abdominal segment and not crenellate posterior edge of the female pygidium;
- Hawaiian Cillaeopeplus Sharp, 1908 (including Notopeplus Sharp, 1908) [based on original descriptions of Sharp (1878), Sharp & Scott (1908) and Ford (1958) and also Ewing (2007)] has a subflattened body without dorsal pubescence, a short terminal labial palpomere, explanate pronotal and elytral sides, seriate elytral punctation, uncovered abdominal tergites gently convex, laterosternites wide and strongly widened posteriorly, prosternal process widened behind procoxae, transverse sclerites of the apical visible abdominal segment and not crenellate posterior edge of the female pygidium;
- Colopterus Erichson, 1842 (including Cyllopodes Murray, 1864), common in Western Hemisphere and with two species known from East India, Indochina and Malayan Province, has an oval, rather wide, usually moderately to strongly pubescent and subflattened body, frequently a very long antennal club, the terminal labial palpomere wide and frequently transverse, exposed abdominal tergites not depressed at the laterosternites, prosternal process short and strongly curved along procoxae, lack of paramedian depressions on the mesothorax, rather transverse sclerites of the apical visible abdominal segment and not crenellate posterior edge of the female pygidium;
- Conotelus Erichson, 1843, from the Western Hemisphere, has a small, very narrow and convex body, particularly convex ventrally, a short terminal labial palpomere, coarse dorsal punctation with longitudinal grooves on the elytra, exposed abdominal tergites gently convex, prosternal process widened behind the procoxae, rather weak and very short paramedian depressions on the mesothorax, and not crenellate posterior edge of the female pygidium;
- Hawaiian Eupetinus Sharp, 1908 has a wider and subflattened oval body with very coarse and dense dorsal punctation, a shorter (distinctly transverse) terminal maxillary palpomere, very widely explanate pronotal and elytral sides, pronotum with arcuate lateral edges (not subquadrate) and narrowing anteriorly and posteriorly, prosternal process strongly widened before transverse apex, lack of paramedian depressions on the mesothorax, exposed abdominal tergites only weakly depressed at the laterosternites, striate elytral punctation, widely separated metacoxae, laterosternites wide and strongly widened posteriorly, a rather long abdominal ventrite 1 and not crenellate posterior edge of the female pygidium;
- Hawaiian Gonioryctus Sharp, 1878 and Orthostolus Sharp, 1908 (comparison with latter based on the original description (Sharp & Scott 1908) and after Ewing 2007) have a wider and subflattened oval body with very dense and shallow dorsal punctation, very short antennomere 2 (pedicel), very widely explanate pronotal and elytral sides, pronotum with arcuate lateral edges (not subquadrate) and narrowing anteriorly, prosternal process somewhat widened before transverse apex (and in Orthostolus also strongly curved before apex), lack of paramedian depressions on the mesothorax, exposed abdominal tergites only weakly depressed at the laterosternites, striate elytral punctation, laterosternites wide and strongly widened posteriorly and not crenellate posterior edge of the female pygidium;
- Neotropical Grammorus Murray, 1868 has a small and subflattened body, very long antennal club, bilobed labrum, coarse dorsal punctation with four longitudinal rows on pronotum and eight longitudinal rows on each elytron, only two abdominal segments exposed with tergites gently convex, laterosternites strongly widened posteriorly, prosternal process strongly curved along procoxae and widened behind them, lack of paramedian depressions on the mesothorax, transverse sclerites of the apical visible abdominal segment and not crenellate posterior edge of the female pygidium;
- Afrotropical Grouvellepeplus Kirejtshuk, 2001 has a suboval, wide and flattened body, seriate elytral punctation, widely explanate pronotal sides, prosternal process strongly curved along procoxae and widened behind them, apex of the latter roof-like and with angular posterior edge, transverse apex of scutellar shield, exposed abdominal segments not depressed at the laterosternites, separated meso- and metacoxae, transverse sclerites of the apical visible abdominal segment and not crenellate posterior edge of the female pygidium;
- Madagascan Idosoronia Schaufuss, 1891 has a wide and oblong body, rather conspicuous and partly squamose dorsal pubescence arranged in longitudinal rows on elytra, a subtriangular and rather transverse head widest behind eyes at base, comparatively long antennae with elongate club, strongly transverse pronotum with widely explanate sides, combined width of elytra much greater than their length and moderately wide abdominal laterosternites;
- Indo-Malayan Ithyphenes and Platynema (Figs. 32–34) have a flattened and not pubescent forebody, anterior edge of frons and/or labrum of a complex configuration, pregenal processes along outer edge of hypostomal sinuses rather wide, not explanate pronotal and elytral sides (lateral carinae of pronotum and elytra at least not visible from above or frequently reduced), prosternal process strongly and widened before transverse apex, exposed abdominal tergites only weakly or not depressed at the laterosternites, lack of antennal grooves on the underside of the head, paramedian depressions on the mesothorax, and widely separated meso- and metacoxae;
- African Leiopeplus Murray, 1864 (currently becoming subcosmopolitan thanks to introduction of quarantine species with wood and stored products) has a rather wide and subflattened forebody lacking pubescence, the penultimate labial palpomere strongly swollen and terminal labial palpomere wide and frequently transverse, widely explanate pronotal sides, prosternal process widened behind procoxae and subflattened, seriate elytral punctation, comparatively widely separated meso- and metacoxae, exposed abdominal tergites not depressed at the laterosternites, laterosternites strongly widened posteriorly, prosternal process widened behind procoxae, transverse sclerites of the apical visible abdominal segment and not crenellate posterior edge of the female pygidium;
- Patagonian Macrostolops Grouvelle, 1916 and Teloconus Grouvelle, 1916 [based on original descriptions (Grouvelle 1916)] have more oval body with a strongly acuminate abdominal apex and without hairs on dorsum, a rather long antennal club (2.5–3.0× as long as wide), striate elytral punctation and wide laterosternites;
- Australian Onicotis Murray, 1864 has an oval, not so long and subflattened body, scape with long external process, pregenal process along hypostomal sinuses strongly extended anteriorly and forming with anterior mandibular edges and scapes a gently curved outline, coarse dorsal punctation with longitudinal grooves on elytra, widely subexplanate pronotal and elytral sides, very narrow prosternal process, uncovered abdominal tergites gently convex, laterosternites very wide and widened posteriorly, lack of paramedian depressions on the mesothorax, epipleura sloping laterally, transverse sclerites of the apical visible abdominal segment and not crenellate posterior edge of the female pygidium;
- Hawaiian Prosopeus Murray, 1864 has an oval, subflattened body lacking pubescence, a short (transverse) terminal labial palpomere, widely (sub)explanate pronotal and elytral sides, exposed abdominal tergites gently convex, laterosternites comparatively wide and widened posteriorly, prosternal process strongly widened behind procoxae and its apex with concave posterior edge, lack of paramedian depressions on the mesothorax, and not crenellate posterior edge of the female pygidium;
Biology. Bionomy of the species of this new genus remains unknown; however, their associations with interstices
in trees and/or tree ferns can be supposed based on labels under the holotypes and usual habitats of many other
cillaeines.
description: Published as part of Kirejtshuk, Alexander G. & Kovalev, Alexey V., 2016, A new genus of the subfamily Cillaeinae (Coleoptera, Nitidulidae) from the Philippines and New Guinea with notes on the taxonomy and phylogeny of the subfamily, pp. 226-242 in Zootaxa 4205 (3) on pages 227-230, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4205.3.3, http://zenodo.org/record/194280