Daniel K. Young

Five new species of Pseudopyrochroa (Coleoptera: Pyrochroidae: Pyrochroinae) from Taiwan

Abstract Five new Taiwanese species of the fire-colored beetle genus Pseudopyrochroa are described with salient features illustrated. The new species are: P. acuminata, P. choui, P. obtusicristata, P. punctifrons, and P. tumidifrons.

Evidence supporting an extensive new synonymy for Pseudopyrochroa basalis (PIC) (Coleoptera: Pyrochroidae: Pyrochroinae), with description of the mature larva and redescription of the adult

Abstract Evidence from field collections, laboratory rearings, comparative anatomy of larvae and adults, and a study of all types leads me to propose that 12 southeast Asian species of Pseudopyrochroa described by Maurice Pic between 1909 and 1943 be considered junior synonyms of P. basalis (Pic). The names in question include Pseudopyrochroa atra, Schizotus dohertyi, Pyrochroa fruhstorferi, Pyrochroa inapicalis, Schizotus javanus, Pyrochroa (Schizotus) javanus reductus, Pseudopyrochroa latenigra, Pyrochroa maculata, Pseudopyrochroa multiimpressa, Pseudopyrochroa opacicollis, Pyrochroa (Schizotus) sulcaticeps, and Pyrochroa (Schizotus) testaceipennis. Additionally, three species described by Kenneth Blair in 1912 from Indonesia (Java) and Malaysia (Borneo) should be considered synonymous with P. basalis. These names are Pyrochroa apicipennis, Pyrochroa fulvipennis, and Pyrochroa ruficollis, the latter of which had previously been synonymized with Pseudopyrochroa dohertyi (Pic). The discovery of the larva ...

Dendroidopsis and Frontodendroidopsis: Two New Asian Genera of Fire-Colored Beetles (Coleoptera: Pyrochroidae: Pyrochroinae), with Descriptions of Two New Species of Dendroidopsis, and Lectotype Designations for Dendroides assamensis Blair and Pseudopyrochroa binhana Pic

Abstract Dendroidopsis and Frontodendroidopsis, two new Asian genera of pyrochroine Pyrochroidae, are described. Males of both new genera exhibit striking similarities to Dendroides Latreille (compound eyes and antennae). However, the cranial apparatus and male genitalia suggest affinities with the Asian genus Pseudopyrochroa. Elongate parameres in conjunction with a shortened basal piece, enlarged compound eyes, and strongly pectinate antennae are putitive synapomorphies for males of Dendroidopsis; a unique cranial modification, enlarged compound eyes, and strongly pectinate antennae with an elongate antennal pedicel are putitive synapomorphies for Frontodendroidopsis. Dendroidopsis consists of the Indian D. assamensis (Blair), formerly assigned to Dendroides, the Vietnamese D. binhana (Pic), transferred from Pseudopyrochroa Pic, and two new species: D. robusticornis (Malaysia) and D. sumatrensis (Indonesia: Sumatra). Frontodendroidopsis is monotypic, consisting solely of the Japanese F. ocularis (Lewis), originally assigned to Dendroides and more recently attributed to Pseudodendroides Blair. Status of the type series for both Dendroides assamensis Blair and Pseudopyrochroa binhana Pic is discussed; lectotypes are proposed for both to help insure nomenclatural stability for these poorly known species.

Himalapyrochroa gibbosa, a New Genus and Species of Fire-Colored Beetle (Coleoptera: Pyrochroidae: Pyrochroinae) from Darjeeling, India

Abstract Himalapyrochroa gibbosa, a new genus and species of heteromerous Coleoptera, is described from a single male taken at Tonglu-Garibas, in the Himalayan Mountains, near Darjeeling, India. Gross anatomy of the genitalia suggests possible affinities between Himalapyrochroa and the pyrochroine genera Neopyrochroa Blair (North America), Phyllocladus Blair (Asia), and Pseudodendroides Blair (Asia), all of which have widely separated, distomesally toothed parameres. The shallow, rather indistinct nature of the cranial pit apparatus of Himalapyrochroa is, however, more similar to that of Pyrochroa (primarily Europe) and Eupyrochroa (Asia).

A change in status for the primary type of Pseudopyrochroa basalis (Pic) (Coleoptera: Pyrochroidae: Pyrochroinae)

Abstract New information clearly indicates that Pic based his description of Pyrochroa basalis on a single male. Thus, the male previously proposed to serve as lectotype should be considered the holotype for this southeast Asian pyrochroid.

Proposed New synonymy for Pseudopyrochroa longa (Perty) (Coleoptera: Pyrochroidae: Pyrochroinae), with description of the presumed mature larva and redescription of the adult

Abstract Field observations, together with a study of the comparative anatomy of larvae and adults, and examination of all types suggests that 11 southeast Asian species Pseudopyrochroa described by Maurice Pic and Kenneth Blair between 1906 and 1943 are junior synonyms of Pseudopyrochroa longa (Perty, 1831). Ten new junior synonyms proposed include: Pyrochroa apicalis Pic, Pyrochroa bipartite. Pic, Pseudopyrochroa curleapicalis Pic, Pyrochroa gibbiceps Pic, Pyrochroa impressiceps Pic, Pseudopyrochroa impressicollis Pic, Pyrochroa kannegieteri Pic, Pyrochroa malaccana Pic, Pseudopyrochroa moulloni Blair, and Pyrochroa robusticornis Pic. The eleventh species, Pyrochroa nebulosa Blair, was previously synonymized with Pyrochroa gibbiceps. The presumed larva of Pseudopyrochroa longa is described and salient features are illustrated. The species association is based on field collections of adults in the immediate vicinity and comparisons with another locally abundant species; structures associated with the urogomphal plate are diagnostic. The adult of P. longa is redescribed and illustrated; antennal configuration (♂) and form of the cranial pits (♂) are diagnostic for the species.

Further characterization of, and range extension for, Pseudopyrochroa obtusicristata (Coleoptera: Pyrochroidae: Pyrochroinae)

Abstract Pseudopyrochroa obtusicristata Young was originally described from one male and three females, all from west-central and southwestern Taiwan. The species has now been confirmed from Fujian Province, P. R. China. Habitus images for both the adult male and female, as well as salient features of the head and antennae, are provided.

A new species of Frontodendroidopsis (Coleoptera: Pyrochroidae: Pyrochroinae) from China, with a key to males of the two known species

Abstract Frontodendroidopsis gibbiceps, a new species of fire-colored beetle, is described from a single male taken in the Xiling Snow Mountains, in central Sichuan Province, China at an elevation of 1300–2100 meters. This is the second described Frontodendroidopsis, the other being the Japanese F. ocularis. A somewhat similar cranial modification, enlarged compound eyes, and strongly pectinate antennae with an elongate antennal pedicel clearly place the new species in Frontodendroidopsis. The swollen antennal insertions, mildly carinate Irons, and conspicuously emarginate seventh abdominal stemite of male F. gibbiceps distinguish it from F. ocularis.

Sinodendroides Chinensis: A new genus and species of fire-colored beetle (Coleoptera: Pyrochroidae: Pyrochroinae) from China

Abstract Sinodendroides chinensis, a new Asian genus and species of pyrochroine Pyrochroidae, is described. The male exhibits similarities to Dendroides Latreille with respect to the thin, strongly pectinate antennae, lack of cranial pits or other obvious cranial apparatus, and the anatomy of the genitalia. However, the smaller compound eyes, not approximate dorsally, and the far more developed genae behind the eyes of the males, together with the antennal configuration of the female, preclude placing the new taxon in any existing genus.

A new species of Phyllocladus (Coleoptera: Pyrochroidae: Pyrochroinae) from China, with a key to males of the two known Chinese species

Abstract Phyllocladus kascmtsevi, a new species of fire-colored beetle, is described from four males and four females taken from mountainous regions of southern Gansu and Shaanxi provinces in east-central China. All specimens were collected between 9 June and 12 August at elevations ranging from 1300–2600 meters. This is the second described Phyllocladus from China, the other being Phyllocladus grandipennis (Pic, 1906), and the fifth species attributed to Phyllocladus. The three remaining species are Phyllocladus magnificus (Blair, 1912) of Myanmar, Phyllocladus costatus Pic (1914) known from Vietnam, and Phyllocladus brevior Pic (1927), also from Vietnam. Salient features of the males, including the elongate head, distinctive cranial pits, enlarged compound eyes, long antennal pedicel, strongly lamelliform branches of the antennal flagellum, and abdominal terminalia clearly place the new species in Phyllocladus. The crest-like or hooded forward extension of the vertex, thus partially concealing the posterior cranial pits, easily distinguishes it from P. grandipennis.