Tuberstira, Zhou & Yan & Chen, 2025

Tuberstira gen. nov.

Figs 1 View Figure 1 , 2 View Figure 2

Type species.

Tuberstira pennis sp. nov., by present designation.

Diagnosis.

Eyes remarkably large, nearly contiguous ventrally (Fig. 2 A, B View Figure 2 ); pronotum with central disc distinctively elevated (Fig. 2 C, G View Figure 2 ); elytra corrugated, with large setigerous tubercles in intervals (Fig. 2 E, H View Figure 2 ); femora with sparse coarse punctures (Fig. 2 H View Figure 2 ); parameres with distinctly transversely expanded apical portion in lateral view (Fig. 1 F, H View Figure 1 ). The new genus exhibits slight resemblance to Casnonidea Fairmaire, 1882 and Sora Walker, 1859 (same subtribe), but differs from both genera by: head round, with mouthparts moderately protruding forward, mandibles weak (head elongate, with mouthparts strongly protruding forward, mandibles stout in Casnonidea and Sora ); pronotum with central disc elevated (pronotum with central disc not elevated in Casnonidea and Sora ); elytra intervals with setigerous tubercles (elytral intervals impunctate or with few setigerous punctures); femora with sparse coarse punctures (femora impunctate or with sparse minute punctures in Casnonidea and Sora ) ( Borchmann 1936; Zhou and Chen 2024). Similar elytral tubercles occur in other Lagriini genera, such as Kaindilagria Merkl, 1988 and Tomogria Merkl, 1988 , but these taxa belong to the subtribe Lagriina ( Merkl 1988) .

Description.

Male (Figs 1 A, B View Figure 1 , 2 H View Figure 2 ). Body elongate, dorsal surface nearly glabrous. Head round. Mouthparts moderately protruding forward; terminal maxillary palpus triangularly elongate; mandibles weak, bending inward, embracing labrum; labrum usually cordiform; labro-epistomal membrane exposed; epistome elevated, higher than labrum. Frons flattened between eyes, with anterior portions gently elevated; frontal canthus moderately swelling. Eyes large, bulging, with anterior margin slightly invaded by frontal canthus, nearly contiguous ventrally. Antennae usually filiform, reaching metacoxae when directed backward, antennomere XI lengthened.

Prothorax widest at base, subequal to head, constricted before base. Pronotum uneven and punctate, with disc elevated centrally; anterior angles obtuse, posterior angles acute; anterior margin moderately arched backward, posterior margin slightly arched forward, both with carina distinctively elevated, lateral portions roundly bending toward ventral surface with the margins invisible in dorsal view. Prosternal process narrow and elevated between coxae, but not as high as coxae, broadened past coxae, and roundly triangular posteriorly (Fig. 2 F View Figure 2 ).

Scutellar shield linguiform, impunctate. Elytra corrugated, with subparallel lateral margins; surface uneven, punctate-striate, strial rows with punctures not contiguous; intervals with setigerous tubercles; humeral callosity not prominent, with dense punctures, rounded in dorsal view, separated from disc by deep impression; elytral margins visible in dorsal view except for the portions beneath humeral callosity; epipleura impunctate, narrow, gradually narrowing toward apex. Metaventrite emarginate apically, convex, higher than metacoxae.

Legs slender; femora slightly clavate, more or less flattened, with sparse coarse punctures; metatarsomere I longest, about as long as metatarsomeres II – IV combined. Abdominal ventrites almost impunctate; ventrite 6 visible.

Female (Fig. 1 C, D View Figure 1 ). Body wider. The ratio of interocular distance and eye diameter larger, antennomere XI shorter, the ratio of antennomere XI and the combined length of four preceding antennomeres smaller; the ratio of prothorax length and width smaller; the ratio of elytral length and width smaller.

Etymology.

The generic name is a combination of the Latin word “ tuber ” and the customary suffix “ - stira ” for Statirina genera, referring to the prominent setigerous tubercles in the elytral intervals. The name is feminine in gender.

Distribution.

China: Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Hainan.