Hemipeplus nuciferae Arrow, 1930

Hemipeplus nuciferae Arrow, 1930

(Figs 52, 65)

Hemipeplus nuciferae Arrow, 1930: 229 .— Kamiya, 1963: 14.

Taxonomic Note. Although the second author designated the lectotype in 1997, the designation was never published. This designation serves to stabilize the taxonomy of H. nuciferae and provide a clear reference for subsequent studies.

Type Material. Lectotype (here designated; Article 74 ( ICZN 1999)), male, labeled: ‘[round label with red margin] Type / DUTCH E. Indies, Sangi. 1928. A. Ryne. On unfolded leaves of coconut. / Pres. By. Imp. Bur. Ent. Brit. Mus. 1926—376 / Hemipeplus Coll. 4087 Det. G.E. Bryant / Hemipeplus nuciferae , type arrow / [red label] LECTOTYPE Hemipeplus nuciferae Arrow Designated by D.A. Pollock 1997 / [with a barcode] NHMUK 014663489 / [green label] ♂ ’, in BMNH. Paralectotype, sex unknown, labeled: ‘[round label with yellow margin] Co-type / DUTCH, E. Indies, Sangi. 1928. A. Ryne. On unfolded leaves of coconut. / Pres. By. Imp. Bur. Ent. Brit. Mus. 1926—376 / Hemipeplus sp. [something illegible] marginipennis, LEC Det. G.E. Bryant / Hemipeplus nuciferae co-type arrow’, in BMNH.

Other Material Examined. INDONESIA. Northern Sulawesi. Dumoga-Bone NP (now Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park ),? 19.vii.1985, Tray 35, Fog 15, 400 m, BMNH , Plot C, E. Ent. Soc. London. Project Wallace, BM 1985–10 , ( BMNH, 1♀, 1♂) . South East Sulawesi. Kolaka ,?. xi.1930, R. Awibowo leg. , on coconut leaves, ( BMNH, 2).

Diagnosis. Hemipeplus nuciferae can be distinguished from the similar-appearing H. enarotaliensis sp. nov. (Fig. 51) by its wider, more emarginate anterior pronotal margin and paler color. Hemipeplus nuciferae has the following diagnostic features: temples short and angulate; scape short, moniliform; eyes large (longer than scape + pedicel), wide and convex; pronotum subcordiform; anterior emargination shallow but distinct; anterior half produced, much wider than posterior half; pronotal pad distinct; pronotal angles rounded; pronotal lobe truncate without median notch; body long; elytra slightly convex; color dull, rufotestaceous; distribution: Indonesia ( Sulawesi).

Re-description. Measurements (in mm)—GHW: 0.54–0.60; HL: 0.47–0.57; AL: 0.80–0.90; GPW: 0.58–0.64; PL: 0.47–0.52; GEW: 0.67–0.73; EL: 2.63–2.72; TL: 3.57–3.81.

Head (Fig. 52B) wide (GHW/HL: 1.05–1.15); eyes large (longer than scape + pedicel), wide and convex; temples short and angulate; occiput with raised areas; antennae shorter than head and pronotum length combined; antennal scape moniliform, apically dilated; pedicel small moniliform; antennomere III more elongate and apically dilated; IV shorter and moniliform, apically dilated; V larger, moniliform; VI–X subtriangular or bowl shaped, each wider than the next; XI subpyriform with apex narrowed after the notch; lateral mandibular tooth absent. Pronotum (Fig. 52B) wide (GPW/PL: 1.23); anterior margin with shallow emargination; anterolateral angles rounded, produced; posterior half contracted; posterolateral margins subparallel; posterolateral angles obtuse, rounded, not produced; pronotal lobe indistinct/truncate without median notch; pronotal pad (Fig. 52C) distinct; pronotal pits moderately deep with moderate grooves. Scutellar shield transverse, elliptical to

FIGURE 52. Hemipeplus nuciferae Arrow, 1930 ( Lectotype). 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.

subpentagonal, less than twice as wide as long. Elytra (Fig. 52A) long (EL/GEW: 3.73–3.93), slightly convex; vestiture short and dense; apical patch long and broad, rufopiceous. Ventral surface. Prosternal process short, not extending posterior of procoxae; hypomeral edges fused; mesosternal process narrow and linear. Color dull, uniformly rufotestaceous, head and pronotum darker in one specimen; ventrally uniformly rufotestaceous with palpi, glossal sclerite, galea, and tarsi paler.

Male Genitalia (Figs 52D–F). (Tegmen length = 0.33 mm (n = 1)) Lobe of basale moderately long, apically dilated and narrowed at the tip; shoulders slanted, obtusely angled; parameres sinuate with apical half slightly bulged, tips moderately sharp and narrowed, subtriangular; penis longer than tegmen.

Variation. One specimen from Sulawesi has a darker head and pronotum and slightly darker elytra than the other specimens examined.

Geographical Distribution (Fig. 65). Indonesia ( Sulawesi).

Natural History. According to specimen label data and Arrow (1930), H. nuciferae was found associated with young unexpanded coconut leaves.