Thopeutica (Thopeutica) petertaylori Medina, Cabras and Wiesner 2019, new species

Thopeutica (Thopeutica) petertaylori Medina, Cabras and Wiesner, new species

(Fig. 1)

Type depository. Holotype ♂ in UMCRC, 7 paratype ♂ and 5 paratype ♀ in UMCRC, 1 paratype ♂ and 2 paratype ♀ in JWGC.

Type status. Holotype ♂: Philippines, Mindanao, / Compostela Valley, / New Bataan, Cagan, / x.2012, M. Medina leg.”, “ HOLOTYPE / Thopeutica (Thopeutica) / petertaylori n. sp. /ded. Medina, Cabras & Wiesner 2019 [printed, red]”.

Paratypes. 7 ♂ and 5 ♀ with same label data in UMCRC and “ PARATYPE / Thopeutica (Thopeutica) / petertaylori n. sp. /ded. Medina, Cabras & Wiesner 2019 [printed, red]”. One ♂ and 2 ♀ with the follow- ing label data: “ Philippines, Mindanao, / Compostela Valley, / New Bataan, Cagan, / x.2012, M. Medina leg.”, “ PARATYPE / Thopeutica (Thopeutica) / petertaylori n. sp. /ded. Medina, Cabras & Wiesner 2019 [printed, red]”.

Distribution. Philippines (Mindanao: Compostela Valley province).

Etymology. The new species is dedicated to Dr. Peter Charles Taylor, an adjunct professor of Murdoch University Western Australia, and the chair of the International Transformative Education & Research Network (ITERN) whose advocacies include empowering citizens towards global biodiversity conservation.

Diagnosis. Thopeutica (Thopeutica) petertaylori is a member of stem 5 of the stenodera-group (Cassola and Ward 2004: 10) and quite similar to T. anichtchenkoi Wiesner, 2015. From the latter it differs by the massive tip of the aedeagus, the absence of the mirror-spot on the elytra of the females and the severely reduced sutural spine of the female elytra.

Description. Size: Total length (without labrum) 9.0–11.0 mm, (mean = 10.25 mm, n = 12). Head: fully metallic, with two orbital setae, white, gold above, greenish on clypeus, bluish green genae; vertex distinctly depressed between compound eyes, without anterior pits, surface generally covered with wavy striae. Labrum (male Fig. 2, female Fig. 3) metallic green, brownish at the front, with 8 setae, 3.5 times wider than long, tridentate, center tooth protruding, 2.5 times longer than the side teeth. Mandibles testaceous at base, white colored at lateral side from base until half of the tenebra, teeth dark brown, without green metallic reflections. Labial palpi segments one and two white, third testaceous, labial terminal segment fully dark. Antennae slender, extending back to the middle dot of the elytra in males, shorter in females; scape and first to third antennomeres metallic green, glabrous, a single seta near the tip; fourth to eleventh dark brown to nearly black, finely pubescent. Thorax: Pronotum glabrous, as long as wide, slightly globose at the side, constricted in front and back; metallic green abaxial surface, adaxial greenish at the side, black at the center, dark coppery near constrictions. Sterna and episterna glabrous, coppery and dark green. Elytra: (male Fig. 4, female Fig. 5) Almost as wide as eyes and head together, parallel-sided, slightly enlarge in the middle, roundish metallic coppery punctures throughout, color coppery black, with metallic greenish reflections at the margin. Elytral marking consists of six dots: a roundish humeral, subhumeral, medial, subapical, and triangular middle dot. Elytral apex with microserration and prominent sutural spine, restricted in the females. Ventral aspect: Abdomen metallic bluish-green, sterna and mesepisterna highly pubescent at the side, diminishing towards the center. Trochanters brown, glabrous. Legs: Femur dark to metallic green, tibia, tarsus, unguiculus dark brown with rows of spiniform setae. Aedeagus: (Fig. 6) 3.5 mm long, inflated after base, bottle-shaped tapering towards the apex, tip elongated and forming a prominent hook.

Habitat. The type specimens were collected using light trapping method installed near the river in Barangay Cagan, New Bataan, Compostela Valley [7° 25′ 28.23″ N; 126° 09′ 30.00″ E] 1200 m asl. The habitat is open area with direct sunlight with relatively high moisture due to its elevation (Fig. 7 and 8).