Phloiotrya similis, Yang & Zeng, 2025

Phloiotrya similis sp. nov.

Fig. 2 View Figure 2

Material examined.

Holotype: • “ May 5, 2017 / China, Guizhou Province, Leishan County, Queniao Village / Flight Intercept Trap # 1 / leg. Shulin Yang ”. 26°24.09'N, 108°13.50'E, 1 ♂, LS 17-0917 GoogleMaps ; Paratypes: • “ May 24, 2019 / China, Guizhou Province, County, Queniao Village , Flight Intercept Trap # 5 / leg. Shulin Yang ”. 26°24.27'N, 108°13.43'E, 1 ♀, LS 19-1562 GoogleMaps . • “ May 24, 2019 / China, Guizhou Province, Leishan County, Queniao Village / Flight Intercept Trap # 4 / leg. Shulin Yang ”. 26°24.07'N, 108°13.58'E, 1 ♂, LS 19-1010 GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis.

The new species is most similar to its congener, Phloiotrya rugicollis Marseul, 1876 (Fig. 3 View Figure 3 ), the only previously described Phloiotrya species documented with full margined lateral pronotum sides and hair tufts on male abdominal ventrites 1–4 ( Nikitsky 1992; Jung 2019). The new species also has hair tufts on male abdominal ventrites 1–4, but it can be distinguished from P. rugicollis by the characters of the lateral margins of pronotum and male genitalia. The lateral pronotum margins present only in basal 1 / 3 of pronotum in P. similis sp. nov., while the margins completely extend to anterior angles in P. rugicollis (Fig. 3 b, c View Figure 3 ). The median lobe of aedeagus is longer than the parameres, and the parameres are gradually constricted, then apically rounded, in P. similis sp. nov., while the length of the median lobe about equals the length of the parameres, and the parameres are abruptly constricted and apically pointed in P. rugicollis (illustrated by Jung (2019)). Phloiotrya similis sp. nov. differs from other congeners by its densely granulated and slightly depressed, peeling-like middle part of the pronotum, and the dense hair tufts on abdominal ventrites 1–4 in the male.

Description.

Male (Fig. 2 a – e View Figure 2 ), body oblong; length 10.8–11.7 mm (head concealed under pronotum, and length measured from anterior margin of the pronotum to the apices of elytra), width 2.8–3.0 mm (widest at basal elytra after humeri); black to dark brown, except yellow to yellowish orange on labrum, anteclypeus, procoxae, and basal and ventral sides of profemur; densely punctate, with decumbent, pale yellow setae; setae longer on frons, pronotum, and abdominal ventrites except the hair tufts. Head (Fig. 2 d View Figure 2 ) about as long as wide, densely punctured, with long, decumbent yellow hairs on frons, anterior of vertex, and posterior of eyes; terminal maxillary palpomere cultriform, longer than other maxillary palpomeres; antenna short, not reaching middle of elytra, brownish black, ratios of antennomeres 1: 0.65: 1.0: 1.0: 0.9: 0.9: 0.85: 0.8: 0.75: 0.75: 1.0. Thorax. Pronotum 2.2–2.7 mm long, widest at basal 1 / 3, 2.1–2.7 mm, 1.6–2.2 mm at apical margin, nearly parallel-sided, slightly constricted apically and apical 1 / 4 rounded; with large, irregular granules at middle of pronotum; centre of the granular area slightly depressed and appearing as if peeled off; lateral margins present only in basal 1 / 3 of pronotum (Fig. 2 e View Figure 2 ); scutellum subquadrate, rounded apically, with dense, pale hairs. Elytra slightly wider than pronotum, parallel-sided at basal 3 / 4, then gradually tapering towards apices, rounded apically. Legs slender, tarsomeres 1–3 of pro-tarsi slightly widened; prosternal process short and indistinct; mesosternal process short, triangular, pointed apically. Abdomen. Centre of abdominal ventrite 1–4 with a pair of connected, dense, yellow hair tufts (Fig. 2 b View Figure 2 ). Genitalia (Fig. 2 f, g View Figure 2 ). Aedeagus elongate; median lobe slightly longer than parameres, gradually tapering and pointed apically; parameres nearly parallel, rounded apically. Female (Fig. 2 c View Figure 2 ), length 12.4 mm, width 3.1 mm; generally resembling male but differing from male in lacking hair tufts on abdominal ventrites 1–4 and tarsomeres 1–3 of pro-tarsi not expanded.

Etymology.

The specific name refers to the new species’ similarity to its close congener, P. rugicollis . Latin, similis , meaning “similar”. An adjective.

Collection circumstances.

Specimens of this new species were collected in an evergreen broadleaf forest of Quercus multinervis (W. C. Cheng & T. Hong) J. Q. Li , Fagus longipetiolata Seemen and Fagus lucida Rehder & E. H. Wilson , near a large tea farm of the village Queniao (Fig. 4 a View Figure 4 ).

Distribution.

China: Guizhou Province: Leishan County: Mount Leigong.

Additional material examined.