Bouchardium Kamiński 2024, gen. nov.

Bouchardium gen. nov.

Type species. Bouchardium chillygonzalesi sp. nov.; here designated.

Diagnosis. The specific structure of the prosternum (elongate and projecting tip of prosternum, in lateral view, Figs 1A, 3F, K), elytra (presence of sharp lateral costae, Figs 1–3), and scutellum (apex with deep transverse grooves, Fig. 3A–C) place Bouchardium close to the following genera (Kamiński et al. 2021, Gearner et al. 2022): Amiantus Fåhraeus, 1870, Arturium Koch, 1951, Brachyphrynus Fairmaire, 1882, Dichtha, Distretus Haag-Rutenberg, 1871, Euphrynus Fairmaire, 1897, Glyptophrynus Fairmaire, 1899, Melanolophus Fairmaire, 1882, Phrynocolus Lacordaire, 1859, Phrynophanes Koch, 1951, and Physophrynus Fairmaire, 1882. Among these, Bouchardium displays the greatest affinity towards Distretus and Dichtha as all share a similar structure of elytra (sharply carinate humeral edge and flattened surface of elytra). Nevertheless, Bouchardium can be differentiated from all of the abovementioned genera, including Dichtha and Distretus, by a unique arrangement of pronotal punctures (sides of the pronotal disc with large, confluent punctures; center of the disc with small punctures, 4–5 diameters apart vs pronotal disc evenly covered with large sometimes confluent punctures— Figs 2A, F, 3D, F, G, I) and subquadrate shape of the body (frontal/posterior views) (Fig. 1C, 2C, D, 3E).

Notes. According to Kamiński et al. (2022), the morphology of female terminalia is relatively invariable within the ‘ Dichtha clade’. All analyzed members of this grouping, including Bouchardium chillygonzalesi sp. nov., B. cubicum (Guérin-Méneville, 1845) comb. nov. and B. mariae sp. nov. possess 3-lobed ovipositors, where the merged lobes 1 (valvifer) and 2 are strongly emarginate basally. Proctigers were reported to be widely indented medially, while bursae were simple (no sclerites were detected) and accompanied by multibranched spermatheca. Finally, spicula ventrali were reported to be Y-shaped (Fig. 4C). Nevertheless, some variability of the apical coxites (c4 plates) has been recovered for different Bouchardium species. In particular, the c4 plates of the newly described B. chillygonzalesi sp. nov. are relatively short and only slightly projected above the outline of the c3 plate (Fig. 4A, B). In the case of B. cubicum and B. mariae sp. nov. the c4 plates are elongated (Fig. 4D).

The aedeagal morphology is relatively invariable within the subtribe Molurina (Kamiński et al. 2021). Up to now, the shape of male terminalia has not been used for diagnostic purposes at the species or generic levels. Morphology of aedeagal tegmen and spiculum gastrale of Bouchardium mariae sp nov. is illustrated in Fig. 2I, J. Present investigation did not reveal any substantial differences in male terminalia morphology between that species and its other congeners.

Distribution. Botswana (Eastern part of the Country), Mozambique, South Africa (Provinces: Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West), Zimbabwe (Southern part of the Country) (Fig. 5).

Etymology. This genus is named in honor of Dr. Patrice Bouchard (Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes,Agriculture andAgri-Food Canada,Ottawa,Ontario,Canada), a specialist in Tenebrionidae and zoological nomenclature in gratitude for his professional support during the first years of my career.

Species included (3) . B. chillygonzalesi sp. nov., B. cubicum (Guérin-Méneville, 1845) comb. nov., B. mariae sp. nov.

1. Prosternal process with elongate appendages (Fig. 1E). Elytral disc relatively narrow leaving sides of the epipleura exposed in dorsal view (Fig. 1B). Ovipositor with short c4 plates (not extending beyond the tip of c3) (Fig. 4A, B)................................................................................................. B. chillygonzalesi sp. nov.

-. Prosternal process rounded (in lateral view) (Fig. 2G). Elytral disc relatively wide covering sides of epipleura in dorsal view (Fig. 1B). Ovipositor with elongate c4 plates (extending beyond the tip of c3) (Fig. 4D)............................. 2

2. Elytra entirely black. Elytral disc relatively flat (Fig. 3E).................................... B. cubicum comb. nov.

-. Elytra with two red stripes along the sides of the disc. Elytral disc convex (Fig. 2A, C, D).............. B. mariae sp. nov.