Homalocyrtus azureomaculatus, Rukmane-Bārbale & Acal & Mohagan, 2024

8. Homalocyrtus azureomaculatus

sp. nov.

( Fig. 2F View Figure 2 , 4A View Figure 4 , 5A View Figure 5 , 6A- B View Figure 6 )

Type material. Holotype: ( Fig. 4A View Figure 4 ), male: PHILIPPINES / Mindanao , Mt. Apo / local collector leg. (white printed label). With additional red printed label : HOLOTYPE / Homalocyrtus azureomaculatus RukmaneBārbale, 2024 / Rukmane- Bārbale det. ( DUBC) .

Description. Male. Measurements: LB: 10.0; LE: 7.0; WE: 5.7; LP: 3.0; WP: 3.3; LR: 1.7; WR: 1.7. N = 1 for all measurements.

122 Integument black, shiny. Antennae and legs brownish except black apices. Head. Dorsal surface slightly wrinkled between eyes, covered with single white setae and rare glossy blue scales of round shape; distinct medial longitudinal groove in all length; lateroventral side with sparse white and blue setae, mingled with blue lanceolate single scales; eyes medium- size, slightly prominent in lateral outline of head. Rostrum. ( Fig. 5A View Figure 5 ) Dorsal surface moderately wrinkled, with moderate setae in all length; as long as wide (LR/WR 1.0); deep basal groove not reaching margin of eye; dorso- lateral edges angular; dorsum with a distinct, deep medial groove from base to middle of apical half; dorsal contour slightly widened before midline; in lateral contour slightly raised at base, then straight in all length; roundish impression on each lateral side before the eye. Antennae. Antennal scape slightly shorter than funicle, with few single setae along outer margin; funicular segment I longer than II, 3.5 times longer than wide, funicular segment II 2.5 times longer than wide, segments III- VII as long as wide, slightly increasing in size towards club. Prothorax. Cylindrical, rugose, with short setae in all length; single, sparsely dispersed round scales of glossy blue colour in all length except dorsum; wider than long (WP/LP 1.1); in dorsal contour apical edges rounded, then slightly widened to widest middle, then straight to basal margin; distinct sub - basal transverse groove; disc without medial groove; in lateral contour nearly straight, slightly raised along middle. Elytra. Ovate, longer than wide (LE/WE 1.22), significantly wider than prothorax (WE/WP 1.72), strongly punctured, without expressed puncture rows, pubescent in all length; a dense tuft of hairs on the sutural beginning of posterior declivity; marked with single, sparsely dispersed round scales of glossy blue colour; in dorsal contour widest after the middle; lateral contour flattened, raised along sub basal margin, straight apical part, gradually declined to expressed projection at apical middle, then cut off straight to apex, underside moderately incurved along ventrite IV ( Fig. 2F View Figure 2 ). Legs. Femora thick, with long white setae at apical half; tibia covered with white setae in all length and longer hairs along inner margin; fore tibia mucronate. Male genitalia as shown in Fig. 6A- B View Figure 6 .

Female. Unknown.

Differential analyses: The new species is similar to H. maculatus Schultze, 1922 by general dorsal contour of prothorax and elytra, but can be distinguished by the following characters: 1) unique blue scale markings of H. azureomaculatus sp. nov.; 2) eyes of H. azureomaculatus sp. nov. bigger, with longitudinal medial groove in all length while up to medial part of forehead in H. maculatus Schultze, 1922 ( Fig. 5F View Figure 5 ); 3) different shape of male penis ( Fig. 6K View Figure 6 ).

123 Etymology. The new species is named after its blue scale markings. Azureo derives from azureus, Latin form azure or bright blue, maculatus comes from macula, Latin for spot or marking.

Distribution. H. azureomaculatus sp. nov. is known only by single specimen from Mt. Apo, Mindanao Island, Philippines.