Antecessorirhyparus octovirgatus ( Schmidt, 1916 )

Antecessorirhyparus octovirgatus ( Schmidt, 1916) View in CoL

Figures 1–4 View FIGURES 1–4

Rhyparus octovirgatus Schmidt, 1916: 101 View in CoL . Type locality: Fiji, Viti Levu .

Antecessorirhyparus octovirgatus ( Schmidt, 1916) View in CoL . Minkina 2020a: 37 (redescription, combination).

Diagnosis. Antecessorirhyparus octovirgatus is distinguished by its small, parallel-sided body, length 3.7–5.0 mm ( Figs. 1–3 View FIGURES 1–4 ). Pronotum with paramedian costae straight and weakly converging anteriorly ( Fig. 4 View FIGURES 1–4 ); all intercostal areas flattened, dull, with only minute punctures; lateral margin weakly sinuate, lobes small. Elytron length two times pronotal length; discomedian costa with a caudal tuft of setae long; intercostal areas convex, almost same height as costae; and caudal bulb interrupting juxtasutural costa, which does not attain elytral apex.

Distribution. Fiji ( Viti Levu).

Material examined. Holotype female from Fiji, Viti Levu, is deposited in Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden, labeled NHRS-GULI 000070205, and illustrated by Minkina (2020a). A second female was examined: Fiji: Viti Levu, Mount Victoria, W.M. Mann (1 FSCA). There is no date of collection on the second specimen, but likely 1915–1916 ( Mann 1921).

Comment. As expected, there is variation between the two specimens of A. octovirgatus , including the body size (holotype being larger), body color (holotype being nearly black), as well as subtle differences in prominence of costae, puncture sizes, curvature of caudal bulbs, etc. (compare Figs. 1–4 View FIGURES 1–4 with illustrations in Minkina 2020a). More materials are needed to evaluate these variations. They are within acceptable limits to consider these the same species.