Euops paratibialis Riedel 2006, sp. n.
Creators: name: Riedel, Alexander
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2006
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Attelabidae
Euops
Euops paratibialis

description: Euops paratibialis sp. n.   
(Figs 18–25, 41, 44–45, 55, 71, 75, 78, 82, 88, 90, 132, 162–163, 186, 203, 218, 225)  
Diagnosis  
Metatibia much larger than mesotibia (Fig. 20). Elytron at humerus with minute denticle. Male: TA of aedeagus (Figs 88, 90) with moderately long flagellum; scleritecomplex at base of flagellum in repose subparallel with apodeme of aedeagus. Apical scoop of pedon subtrapezoid or subtriangular, without distinct median extension. (Fig. 162). Tergite VIII apically weakly concave. Female: Setose patch of venter consisting of 3 single rows of modified setae. Tergite VIII apically subtruncate, very weakly concave. Length of ductus spermathecae plus spermatheca 2.7–3.7 X as long as tergite VIII.  
Range (Fig. 225)  
Japen­Waropen Prov. (Wapoga Riv.), Jayawijaya Prov. (Karubaga, Angguruk, Emdoman, Borme), Jayapura Prov. (Lereh, Cyclops Mts.), Sandaun Prov. (Mianmin), Western Highlands Prov. (Jimmi Vall.). Elevation: 100–1300 m.  
Material examined  
 Holotype: WEST NEW GUINEA, Jayawijaya Prov., Emdoman, 800–1200 m, 14– 15.IX.1992, leg. A.Riedel (MZB). Paratypes: WEST NEW GUINEA, Japen­Waropen Prov.: 1 male, Japen Isl., Serui, Mantembu, 300–800 m, 6–9.XI.1991, leg. A.Riedel (ARC); 1 male, Wapoga Riv., Kwadewa, logging road, Km 80, ca. 100 m, 1–2.III.1999, leg. A.Riedel (ARC); Jayawijaya Prov.: 2 males, 1 female, Emdoman, 800–1200 m, 14– 15.IX.1992, leg. A.Riedel (ARC); 3 females (1 marked as “ allotype ”), Emdoman, 900– 1200 m, 29.IX.1993, leg. A.Riedel (ARC, MZB); 1 female, Swart Vall., Karubaga, 1300 m, " Glochidion " 7.XI.1958, leg. J.L.Gressitt (BPBM); 2 male, 2 female, Borme, 1000–1300 m, 13–18.VIII.1992, leg. A.Riedel (ARC); 1 male, Borme, 1000–1450 m, 12– 15.VIII.1992, leg. A.Riedel (ARC); Jayapura Prov.: 3 males, Sentani, Cyclops Mts., 1100– 1600 m, 5.X.1991, leg. A.Riedel (ARC); 2 males, 1 female, Sentani, Cyclops Mts., 950– 1450 m, 3.X.1991, leg. A.Riedel (ARC); 1 male, Lereh, 300–550 m, 25.I.1996, leg. A.Riedel (ARC); PAPUA NEW GUINEA, Sandaun Prov.: 2 males, 1 female, N Mianmin, 700–1100 m, 20.V.1998, leg. A.Riedel (ARC); 1 female, N Mianmin, 800–1200 m, 19.V.1998, leg. A.Riedel (ARC); Western Highlands Prov.: 1 male, Korop, Upper Jimmi V., 1300 m, 12.VII.1955, leg. J.L.Gressitt (BPBM).   
Other material examined: Madang Prov.: 1 female, Adelbert Mts., Wanuma, 800– 1000 m, 25.X.1958, leg. J.L.Gressitt (BPBM); 1 female, Adelbert Mts., Wanuma, 800– 1000 m, 26.X.1958, leg. J.L.Gressitt (BPBM).  
Description  
 Holotype, male. Length, pronotum + elytron: 3.08 mm. Coloration (Fig. 18) largely black; rostrum, tibiae, tarsi and abdomen ferruginous; elytron at base black with bluish oily lustre, towards apex becoming deep ferruginous; scutellum black without bluish lustre; funicle and club of antenna light ferruginous. Head. As in Figs 41, 44. Gena 0.80 X as long as width of head immediately behind eyes. Contours of genae in dorsal view markedly converging anteriad. Vertex subglabrous, dorsally microreticulate, without punctures. Eyes in dorsal view almost continuous with lateral contour of head. Profile of vertex without constriction behind eye. Ventral surface of head in front of gular region smooth, without median furrow. Rostrum 1.85 X as long as mouthparts; at widest point 1.50 X wider than at base; in profile dorsal contour above antennal insertion with weak rounded prominence, anteriorly in weakly convex line to apex; ventral contour continuous with head, weakly sinuate to apex; ventrally on submentum with numerous long, stiff, suberect setae. Mouthparts. Prementum at base 1.7 X wider than long, ca. 2.6 X wider than at apex; with straight lateral margins converging apicad; apical processes long, acute, of equal length, on same level dorsoventrally. Antenna slender, as in Fig. 71. Prothorax 0.88 X as long as wide; preapical constriction absent; disc evenly convex, microreticulate, impunctate; sides with few, large, shallow punctures. Metanotum with pair of distinct lateral lobes. Elytron 2.18 X longer than wide; at humerus with minute denticle; striae moderately impressed at base, becoming effaced towards apex. Thoracic venter. Height of pterothorax 0.79 X length of elytron. Procoxa in anterior aspect 1.16 X as long as wide; externally with spine projecting dorsad, supporting base of profemur when in obliquely dorsad position (Fig. 19). Trochanter of foreleg ventrally pointed, projecting beyond base of femur. Legs. Profemur (Fig. 75) strongly asymmetrically clavate, strongly swollen, thickest at 0.36 of length from apex; with distinct stalk in basal 0.28; at middle of basal stalk dorsal edge with angulate extension, femur seemingly bent ventrad; ventral surface in apical quarter with very low knob opposing tibia. Protibia evenly moderately curved ventrad; ventral contour parallel to dorsal contour. Mesotibia (Fig. 78) on posterior surface subapically with indistinct, posteriad directed carina. Mesotarsus (Fig. 82) relatively short, curved anteriad, 2.2 X as long as wide. Metatibia (Fig. 20) with greatly enlarged lateral surface, in apical quarter dorsally broadly rounded; much larger than mesotibia; posterior (inner) surface with dense, suberect, black setae. Abdomen. Ventral contour anteriorly straight in lateral view, evenly rounded to constriction between sternite VI and VII. Venter subglabrous; sternite VI without median knob or swelling in front of posterior margin. Pygidium 1.06 X wider than long; microreticulate throughout; densely, moderately deeply punctate. Genitalia. Tergite VIII apically weakly concave. Sternite VIII as in Fig. 186; base with sublateral incisions, thus at middle and sides with subangulate extensions. Tegminal plate (Fig. 132) broad, with sides subparallel towards apex; apical edge broad, rounded, glabrous; subapically on ventral surface with 2 densely setose patches of long setae. Aedeagus (Fig. 88). Apical scoop of pedon (Fig. 162) ca. 0.73 X as long as wide, with lateral margins converging in straight line; apex truncate. Tectum (Fig. 163) with lateral frame in basal half converging, in apical half subparallel to broad subangulate apex; subapically with angulate lateral extensions. TA as in Figs 23, 88, 90; consisting of tubuliform, undivided flagellum; frame of TA transformed into sclerite resembling an inverted U, positioned in basal third of aedeagus, functionally detached of ductus ejaculatorius / flagellum­complex; flagellum shorter and thicker than in E. tibialis, contained in basal 1/2 of aedeagus; without distinct dorsal plate; internal support structures of ductus ejaculatorius vestigial (Fig. 90); median sclerite at base of flagellum elongate, in repose subparallel with apodeme of aedeagus. Cuticle of endophallus without denticles or setae; in mid portion with subrectangular, weakly sclerotized sclerite; further in front with pair of elongate, weakly sclerotized sclerites.   
 Allotype, female. Same as holotype except: length, pronotum + elytron: 3.30 mm. Head as in Figs 45, 55. Gena 0.71 X as long as width of head immediately behind eyes. Profile of vertex without constriction behind eye. Rostrum 1.77 X as long as mouthparts; at widest point 1.53 X wider than at base. Prothorax 0.85 X as long as wide. Disk at middle without transverse impression. Elytron 2.17 X longer than wide. Thoracic venter. Height of pterothorax 0.83 X length of elytron. Procoxa in anterior aspect 0.87 X as long as wide. Legs. Profemur moderately swollen; weakly asymmetrically clavate; basal stalk indistinct, without angulation, its dorsal edge lined with weak denticles; dorsal contour straight at very base, continuing in evenly convex line to apex; ventral contour in straight line to angulation at apical 0.38, continuing weakly concave to apex; ventral surface smooth, without protrusion. Protibia straight; ventral contour bisinuate, basally and apically concave, at middle convex; ventral surface weakly denticulate at middle, densely setose with suberect setae; tibial apex with uncus and distinct premucro; premucro in ventral position. Abdomen. Setose patch of venter 0.78 X as long as wide, consisting of 3 single rows of modified setae (Figs 21–22). Pygidium 1.08 X wider than long. Genitalia. Sternite VIII as in Fig. 203. Tergite VIII apically subtruncate, very weakly concave. Spermatheca as in Fig. 218; basally with long siphon­like extension subequal in length to remainder of spermatheca; this siphon internally annulate; body tapering towards pointed apex; spermathecal gland heavily sclerotized. Length of ductus spermathecae plus spermatheca 3.0 X as long as tergite VIII.   
Intraspecific variation  
Length, pronotum + elytron: 2.75–3.55 mm (n=28, =3.10 ± 0.23). Prothorax 0.82– 0.89 X as long as wide in males (n=16, =0.86 ± 0.02), 0.84–0.88 X as long as wide in females (n=12, =0.86 ± 0.01). Elytron 2.10–2.30 X longer than wide in males (n=15, =2.21 ± 0.06), 2.17–2.26 X longer than wide in females (n=12, =2.21 ± 0.03); humeral denticle more or less distinct, but present in all specimens; striae moderately or weakly impressed at base. Thoracic venter. Height of pterothorax 0.77–0.83 X length of elytron in males (n=15, =0.80 ± 0.02), 0.79–0.83 X length of elytron in females (n=12, =0.82 ± 0.01). Abdomen. Pygidium 0.96–1.10 X wider than long in males (n=14, =1.04 ± 0.04), 1.05–1.20 X wider than long in females (n=12, =1.14 ± 0.05). Female patch of modified setae 0.74–1.00 X as long as wide (n=11, =0.85 ± 0.10). Male genitalia: Base of sternite VIII angulate or rounded. Tegminal plate in male from Mianmin somewhat narrower than average; usually with sides subparallel, but weakly converging in males from Borme; setae at apex usually long, but relatively short in male from Japen. Aedeagus up to 1.5 X longer in specimens from Borme and Japen compared to holotype. Apical scoop of pedon usually subtriangular, with straight or weakly concave lines; rarely subtrapezoid as in holotype. Flagellum usually relatively short and evenly curved; in specimens from Borme and Japen longer and sinuate. Female genitalia. Sternite VIII apically more or less strongly rounded; medioapical area more or less sclerotized, in some specimens almost hyaline. Length of ductus spermathecae plus spermatheca 2.7–3.7 X as long as tergite VIII (n=6, =3.2 ± 0.35).  
Remark  
 This species is extremely similar to E. tibialis, and can be distinguished by genital characters only. Both are sympatric in two localities at least, so there can be little doubt about their validity as separate species. Reliable characters to separate them are the male Ternite VIII (apically with notch versus weakly concave) and the transfer apparatus, i.e., the shape and the position of the sclerite­complex at the base of the flagellum. However, other characters that are distinct in the majority of specimens do not hold in some males from Borme and Japen: they have a relatively long flagellum similar in length to E. tibialis. The tegminal plate of the males from Borme have weakly converging sides, although not as distinctly converging as in E. tibialis. The apical scoop of the pedon exhibits some variability in E. paratibialis, again approaching somewhat the otherwise quite distinctive shape in E. tibialis. Further investigations would be needed to clarify this situation. Are these observations due to variability in E. paratibialis ? Are there hybrids between E. paratibialis and E. tibialis ? Or, are there even more species hidden in a complex now lumped as E. paratibialis ? The answer can be given only if more material becomes available. Surely, comparative data on the biology and reproductive behavior of E. paratibialis and E. tibialis would be most helpful.   
Etymological note  
 This epithet is based on a combination of the Greek prefix para ­ (next to; near by) and the specific epithet of E. tibialis, a sibling species.
description: Published as part of Riedel, Alexander, 2006, Revision of the subgenus Metaeuops Legalov of Euops Schoenherr (Coleoptera, Curculionoidea, Attelabidae) from the Papuan region, pp. 1-102 in Zootaxa 1181 (1) on pages 57-61, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1181.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/5058933