Hemipeplus philippinensis KC & Pollock, 2025

Hemipeplus philippinensis KC & Pollock , sp. nov.

http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:1275E5E8-2012-4AC4-AC68-C401810DF79B

(Figs 49, 65)

FIGURE 49. Hemipeplus philippinensis sp. nov. (Holotype). A. Dorsal habitus (with scale bar); B. Dorsal head and prothorax; C. Lateral view of head and prothorax.

Type Material. Holotype, female, labeled: ‘P.I., PALAWAN, Eran Pt., 8km SW Tarumpitao Pt. 31.XII.59 - 4.I.60 / L.W. Quate Collector / [light green label] BPBM / [blue label] ♀ / [red label] HOLOTYPE ♀ Hemipeplus philippinensis KC & Pollock’, in BPBM. One paratype [without antennae]; female, same label as in holotype, in BPBM .

Derivation of Specific Epithet. The specific name (adjective in the nominative case, in gender agreement with substantive) is given in allusion to the type locality of this species, i.e., Philippines .

Diagnosis. Hemipeplus philippinensis sp. nov. can be distinguished by its short, angulate temples and subquadriform pronotum. Hemipeplus philippinensis resembles H. nuciferae (Fig. 52) and H. palawanensis sp. nov. (Fig. 53); it is sympatric with the latter. However, the pronotum in H. philippinensis is subquadriform while it is subcordiform in H. nuciferae which also has much larger and more convex eyes (Fig. 52B). It differs from H. palawanensis sp. nov. (Fig. 53B) in having short and angulate temples instead of short and rounded temples, larger eyes, and pronotum less quadriform. Hemipeplus philippinensis sp. nov. has the following diagnostic features: temples short and strongly angulate; scape moniliform, apically dilated; eyes large (longer than scape + pedicel), shallow and less convex; pronotum about subquadriform; anterior emargination shallow but distinct, moderately deep in the center; anterior half wider than posterior half; pronotal pad narrow but distinct; anterior pronotal angles rounded, moderately produced; posterior angles obtuse, rounded; pronotal lobe slight with faint median notch; body long; elytra slightly convex; color dull, about uniformly rufotestaceous; distribution: Philippines (Palawan).

Description. Measurements (in mm)—GHW: 0.52–0.57; HL: 0.48–0.50; AL: 0.88; GPW: 0.55–0.65.; PL: 0.45–0.55; GEW: 0.64–0.77; EL: 2.48–2.93; TL: 3.41–3.98.

Head (Fig. 49B) wide (GHW/HL: 1.08–1.14); eyes large (longer than scape + pedicel), shallow and less convex; temples short, acutely pointed; occiput with strongly 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 small, moniliform; V–VI larger, subequal, moniliform, apically dilated; VII–X subtriangular or bowl shaped, each wider than the next; XI subpyriform with apex narrowed after the notch; lateral mandibular tooth absent. Pronotum (Fig. 49B) wide (GPW/PL: 1.18–1.22); anterior margin with shallow but distinct emargination in the center; anterolateral angles rounded, moderately produced; lateral margins sinuate; posterior half slightly more contracted than anterior half; posterolateral angles obtuse, rounded; pronotal lobe slight with median notch; pronotal pad (Fig. 49C) narrow, but well distinct; pronotal pits moderately deep with moderate grooves. Scutellar shield elliptical, transverse, not twice as wide as long. Elytra (Fig. 49A) long (EL/GEW: 3.80–3.88), slightly convex; vestiture moderately long and dense; apical patch long but faint. Ventral surface. Prosternal process short, not extending posterior of procoxae; hypomeral edges narrowly separated, narrower than in the sympatric H. palawanensis sp. nov.; mesosternal process narrow and linear. Color dull, about uniformly rufotestaceous.

Variation. Variation exists in pronotal pad which is more prominent in the holotype than paratype.

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