Hemipeplus nigerrimus KC & Pollock, 2025

Hemipeplus nigerrimus KC & Pollock , sp. nov.

http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:9149255B-69C8-4043-89A9-01C4E4158FB0

(Figs 56, 65)

Type Material. Holotype, male, labeled: ‘ Philippinen Mindanao, Surigao leg. Böttcher [underside of label] 30.8. 1916 / Zool. Mus. Berlin / [green label] ♂ / [red label] HOLOTYPE ♂ Hemipeplus nigerrimus KC & Pollock’, in ZMHB. Two paratypes: 1 specimen, sex unknown, labeled: ‘ Philippinen Mindanao, Surigao leg. Böttcher [underside of label] 30.8.1916 / klematanicus Gestro [handwritten in red ink]’, in ZMHB; 1 specimen, sex unknown, labeled: ‘ Philippinen Mindanao, Surigao leg. Böttcher [underside of label] 28.8.1916 ’, in ZMHB .

Derivation of Specific Epithet. The specific name (adjective in the nominative case, in gender agreement with substantive) is given in allusion to the holotype’s darker body color, distinguishing it from H. klematanicus and prompting a detailed examination of these darker specimens.

Diagnosis. Hemipeplus nigerrimus sp. nov. can be distinguished from the similar-appearing H. klematanicus (Fig. 46) by its relatively smaller eyes, less acutely pointed posterior pronotal angles, and darker color. Hemipeplus nigerrimus sp. nov. has the following diagnostic features: temples short and angulate; scape moniliform, apically dilated; eyes moderately large (as long as scape + pedicel), moderately wide and moderately convex; pronotum subcordiform; anterior emargination distinct; anterior half slightly wider than posterior half; pronotal pad narrow, moderately distinct; anterior pronotal angles rounded, posterior angles slightly obtuse to square, more angled than rounded (never pointed acutely as in H. klematanicus ); pronotal lobe indistinct with faint median notch; body long; elytra convex; color dull, uniformly rufopiceous to darker head and pronotum; distribution: Philippines (Mindanao).

FIGURE 56. Hemipeplus nigerrimus sp. nov. (Holotype). A. Dorsal habitus (with scale bar); B. Dorsal head and prothorax; C. Lateral view of head and prothorax; D. Male genitalia dorsal view with spiculum gastrale; E. Tegmen dorsal view (with scale bar); F. Tegmen lateral view with one paramere removed.

Description. Measurements (in mm)—GHW: 0.50–0.56; HL: 0.45–0.52; AL: 0.85–1.01; GPW: 0.55–0.63; PL: 0.47–0.52; GEW: 0.60–0.66; EL: 2.63–2.96; TL: 3.55–4.00.

Head (Fig. 56B) wide (GHW/HL: 1.08–1.11); eyes moderately large (as long as scape + pedicel), moderately wide and moderately convex; temples short and angulate; occiput with strongly raised areas; antennae about subequal to head and pronotum length combined; antennal scape moniliform, apically dilated; pedicel small moniliform; antennomere III more elongate and apically dilated; IV shorter, moniliform; V–X subtriangular or bowl shaped, each wider than the next; XI subpyriform with apex narrowed after the notch; lateral mandibular tooth absent. Pronotum (Fig. 56B) wide (GPW/PL: 1.17–1.21); anterior margin with distinct emargination; anterolateral angles rounded, produced; lateral margins sinuate; posterior half much more contracted than anterior half; posterolateral angles slightly obtuse to square, more angled than rounded but not pointed (Fig. 56B); pronotal lobe indistinct with faint median notch; pronotal pad (Fig. 56C) narrow, moderately distinct; pronotal pits moderately deep with moderately developed grooves. Scutellar shield elliptical, transverse, less than twice as wide as long. Elytra (Fig. 56A) long (EL/GEW: 4.38–4.48), convex; vestiture short and dense; apical patch broad and slightly darker than elytra. Ventral surface. Prosternal process short, not extending posterior of procoxae; hypomeral edges narrowly separated; mesosternal process narrow and linear. Color dull, uniformly rufopiceous to head and pronotum darker than other dorsal parts.

Male Genitalia (Figs 56D–F). (Tegmen length = 0.35 mm (n = 1)) This is the only species in the Austro-Oriental region in which the apices of parameres are not arcuate or bulged, and are straight; lobe of basale long, slender with blunt apex; shoulders obtusely angled with moderate slant; apicale and basale with distinct suture; parameres with bases thicker than apices; apices straight without distinct curves; penis much longer than tegmen, medially widened.

Variation. Specimens vary in the intensity of darkness of the body color.

Remarks. Hemipeplus nigerrimus sp. nov. is similar to H. klematanicus (Fig. 46) (particularly the rufopiceous forms of H. klematanicus ); however, the genitalia are distinct between the two species (Figs 46D–F, 56D–F).

Geographical Distribution (Fig. 65). Philippines (Mindanao).