Russian Entomol. J. 29(2): 173–177 © RUSSIAN ENTOMOLOGICAL JOURNAL, 2020 Intybia (Protolaius), a new subgenus of soft winged flower beetles (Coleoptera: Malachiidae) from Indonesia Intybia (Protolaius) — íîâûé ïîäðîä æóêîâ ìàëàøåê (Coleoptera: Malachiidae) èç Èíäîíåçèè S.E. Tshernyshev C.Ý. ×åðíûø¸â Institute of Animal Systematics and Ecology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch, Frunze Street 11, Novosibirsk 630091, Russia. E-mail: [email protected] Tomsk State University, Lenina prospekt 36, Tomsk 634050, Russia. Институт систематики и экологии животных СО РАН, ул. Фрунзе 11, Новосибирск 630091, Россия. Томский государственный университет, проспект Ленина 36, Томск 630050, Россия. KEY WORDS: Coleoptera, Malachiidae, Intybia, Protolaius, Sumatra, Lombok, new subgenus, soft winged flower beetle. КЛЮЧЕВЫЕ СЛОВА: Coleoptera, Malachiidae, Intybia, Protolaius, Суматра, Ломбок, новый подрод, жуки малашки. ABSTRACT. A new subgenus, Intybia (Protolaius) 1996) [Plonski, 2013]. Несмотря на то, что ряд таких subgen.n., is described in the tribe Apalochrini (Co- признаков, как: стройное узкое тело, простые пере- leoptera: Malachiidae, Malachiinae) on the basis of the дние ноги, модифицированные 1 и 3 членики уси- male special structures of Intybia schillhammeri (Witt- ков позволяют отнести вид к роду Intybia Pascoe, mer, 1996), which is known from Sumatra, Indonesia. тем не менее, вырезанные передние бёдра самца с The slender body with modified 1st and 3rd antennal пучком волосков, а также тёмно-синяя металличес- segments in the male allow one to attribute this species кая окраска покровов сближают данный вид с ро- to the genus Intybia Pascoe, but the emarginations on дом Laius Guérin-Méneville, 1831. Таким образом, the outer sides of the anterior femora in the male and самец I. schillhammeri демонстрирует эволюцион- dark-blue metallic colouration of the upperside which ную близость между двумя упомянутыми выше ро- are similar to the genus Laius Guérin-Méneville, 1831 дами и, вероятно, может рассматриваться как пере- have previously not been known in Intybia representa- ходная форма между ними. В связи с этим, описан tives. Thus, the male of Intybia schillhammeri demon- новый подрод жуков малашек Intybia (Protolaius) strates the evolutionary similarity between these two subgen.n. в трибе Apalochrini (Coleoptera: Mala- genera and presumably could be considered as a transi- chiidae, Malachiinae). Представлены детальное опи- tive form between them. A detail description and illus- сание и фотографии внешнего вида и специфичес- trations of male special characters of a type species and ких структур самца типового вида с диагнозом но- a diagnosis of the new subgenus are provided. The вого подрода. Обсуждаются виды, ранее описанные species that have been previously described from с Суматры в роде Intybia, и их современное таксоно- Sumatra in the genus Intybia are also discussed. мическое положение. РЕЗЮМЕ. На основании исследования специ- фических структур самца Laius schillhammeri Introduction Wittmer, 1996 с острова Суматра в Индонезии, пере- дние голени и бёдра которого не вздуты и не моди- The genus Intybia Pascoe, 1865 belongs to the tribe фицированы в виде сложно скульптурированного Apalochrini and includes representatives with a charac- органа, а переднеспинка не простая узкая попереч- teristic small second segment of the antennae almost ная, как у представителей рода Laius Guérin- completely hidden by a scapus. The txonomic structure Méneville, 1831, вид ранее был перенесен в род of the tribe has been recently discussed with special Intybia Pascoe 1866 — I. schillhammeri (Wittmer, reference to South-Asian genera [Plonski, 2013, 2014a, How to cite this article: Tshernyshev S.E. 2020. Intybia (Protolaius), a new subgenus of soft winged flower beetles (Coleoptera: Malachiidae) from Indonesia // Russian Entomol. J. Vol.29. No.2. P.173–177. doi: 10.15298/ rusentj.29.2.08 174 S.E. Tshernyshev b, 2016, 2017; Plonski, Geiser, 2014; Tshernyshev, ners widely distributed in Indonesia allows one to con- 2015], and three genera, Troglointybia Tshernyshev, sider Intybia male characters as follows: Anterior tarsi 2015, Mimapalochrus Tshernyshev, 2015 and Ocula- 5-segmented, simple, lacking comb, legs simple, with- palochrus Tshernyshev, 2015 were described. Later, a out emarginations or modifications, head smooth lack- genus Pectapalochrus Tshernyshev, 2016, endemic to ing sculpture, 1st and 3rd (or only 3rd) antennomeres inner the Eurasian steppes was also described [Tsherny- enlarged and modified. Colouration of Intybia species shev, 2016b]. Obviously, the tribe Aplochrini, is taxo- range from monochromous black or dark grey to differ- nomically rich in southern areas and worthy of further ent combinations of rufous, red, yellow or white with a study. metallic lustre to dark parts. Puncturation and pubes- Amongst those genera currently known in the tribe, cence of the upperside of Intybia also vary from smooth four generic groups should be considered, namely: Apal- to coarse punctures and from a dense pubescence to ochrus-group (Apalochrus Erichson, 1840, Paratinoides areas with sparse short and thin hairs. The genus Intybia L. Medvedev, 1964, Protapalochrus Evers, 1987, Pecta- is rich in species that include forms that look like palochrus Tshernyshev, Oculapalochrus Tshernyshev representatives of other genera that only further taxon- etc.), Collops-group (Collops Erichson, 1840, Proto- omy will resolve. collops Evers, 1991, Troglocollops Wittmer, 1965, Si- The genus Laius, in contrast to Intybia, differs pos- moderus Abeille de Perrin, 1891), Laius-group (Laius sessing a similar external appearance amongst its con- Guérin-Méneville, 1838, Intybia, Troglointybia Tsh- geners; namely wide and flattened beetles with a narrow ernyshev, Dicranolaius Champion, 1921, Eulaius Witt- transversal pronotum with evenly rounded sides, a fine- mer, 1996 etc.), and Dromanthomorphus-group (Dro- ly punctured and pubescent upperside always dark blue manthomorphus Pic, 1921, Hadrocnemus Kraatz, 1895, with a metallic lustre. The 1st and 3rd antennomeres in the Mimapalochrus Tshernyshev etc.). The Laius-group is male are enlarged and modified as in Intybia, but the one of the most common in SE Asia and Indonesia characteristic anterior legs of the male with enlarged occurring in coastal zone, sometimes on stones washed and excavate femora and tibiae, sometimes curved in- with seawaters. That is why three specimens of Intybia wards, differentiate this genus from other representa- Pasco laying on cotton wool together with other beetles tives of the tribe Apalochrini. collected in Sumatra by Alexei Moseyko, Saint-Peters- Laius shilhammeri cannot be considered as Laius burg attracted attention. One specimen is a female with because of different body shape, elongate and slender, black elytra spotted with yellow-white making maculae, narrowed downwards pronotum, coarsely punctured and another two are completely blue-metallic male and surface and simple anterior legs of male. Thus, the female with a poorly visible sexual dimorphism. The species could be considered as a species of Intybia or first species is provisionally identified as Laius luteono- Troglointybia genera, but the simple head lacking trac- tatus Pic, 1921, on the basis of the typical colouration of es of sculpture places this species in Intybia. However, the upperside, but for species attribution male special the only problem impeding attribution of the species to charters (mainly antennae and genitalia) should be also the latter genus is the specific character in the anterior studied. The second species is L. shilhammeri Wittmer, femora, i.e. an excavation possessing narrow tuft of 1996, endemic to the Sumatran fauna. The external hairs. This shape is unknown in other members of the appearance of this beetles is typical of Intybia, due to Laius-group. Taking into account the wide and various the slightly elongate and slender body, and the male morphological status of Intybia representatives, the only antennal segment 3 is enlarged and modified. The com- way to fix this new character taxonomically is propose pletely dark blue colouration would make one to believe a new subgenus, Protolaius subgen.n., which is de- it to be a representative of Stenolaius Wittmer, 1995 or scribed below. perhaps a narrow bodied Laius. The simple head and Initially, eight species of Laius were described and lack of a tarsal comb in the anterior leg of the male since they are known only from Sumatra, they can be questions its attribution to Stenolaius, and the simple regarded as endemics. Later, three species, L. corpo- fore-tibiae in the male and the narrow, coarsely punc- raali Pic, 1921, L. diabolicus Pic, 1905 and L. pisanga- tured body would not place this species to Laius. The nus Pic, 1921 were attributed to the new genus Steno- only genus appropriate for L. shilhammeri is Intybia, laius, and two species were transferred in two different but one male character, namely the excavate fore femo- genera, L. adonis (Pic, 1921) to Dicranolaius and L. ra, differs this species from all known representatives of sumatrensis Wittmer, 1954 and L. luteonotatus Pic, the genus proposed. 1921 to Intybia [Plonski, 2016]. After the present revi- The genus Intybia was recently revised [Tsherny- sion of I. schillhammeri (Wittmer, 1996), a species, L. shev, 2016a], the type species being re-treated, re- albodiversus Pic, 1929, remains in the genus Laius. described and illustrated. The nominative species, I. Taking into account the monochromous