Gastroserica varians Ahrens & Liu & Lukic & Bai 2023, new combination

Gastroserica varians (Moser, 1915), new combination Figs. 2A–D, 26 Microserica varians Moser, 1915: 392; Ahrens 2006a: 239; 2007b: 26; Ahrens & Bezděk 2016: 299. Type material examined. Syntypes: 1 Ô “ China Yunnan / Microserica varians Type Ô Mos.” (ZMHB), 1 ♀ “ China Yunnan / Microserica varians Type ♀ Mos. ” (ZMHB), 5 ÔÔ, 2 ♀♀ “ China Yunnan ” (ZMHB), 1 Ô “ Yünnan China ” (ZMHB). Additional material examined. China: 2 ex. [China] “Yun-nan sen” (ZMHB), 2 ex. “ Cine Yunnan Recu de Lou-Nan 1931” (MNHN), 7 ex. [China] “ Yunnan 2000-2800 m 25.11N 100.24E Weibaoshan mts. W slope 25- 28/6.92 Vit Kubáň leg.” (CN), 11 ex. “ China Yunnan 1800 m Lijiang 23.VI.-21.VII. 26°53’N 100°18’E E. Jendek leg. 1992” (NHMW), 43 ex. “ China Yunnan 22.5.-2.6. 100 km W Kunming Diaolin Nat. Res. 1993 E. Jendek & O. Sausa leg. [sic]” (NHMW), 1 ex. “CH-Yunnan 13-14.VI.1995 100km W of Kunming Dialin Nat. Reservation E. Jendek & O. Sausa leg.” (CP), 1 Ô “CH-Yunnan 1995 Diaolin 13-14.VI. E. Jendek leg.” (CP), 12 ex. “ China, Yunnan, 19.VII.1993 Dali, Hua Dian Ba 50 km N of Dali C. Holzschuh leg. / CS4” (CP), 7 ex. “ China Yunnan, 1800m Lijiang 23.6.-21.7. 26.53N 100.18E E. Jendek leg. 1992 / CS16” (CP), 3 ex. “ Coll. R. I. Sc. N. B. Chine / Sud Yunnan Tche-Ping-Tcheou / Coll. P. Guerry Le Moult vendit” (ISNB), 1 ex. “ China: N-Yunnan Baiyungshan (Bai Railing Mts.) 2400 m Yong Ren, VII-2003 leg. Ying et al.” (ZFMK), 7 ex. “ China, Yunnan, 19.VII.1993 Dali, Hua Dian Ba 50 km N of Dali C. Holzschuh leg.” (CP), 3 ex. “CH-Yunnan, 13-14.VI.1995 100km W of Kunming Diaolin Nat. Reservation E. Jendek & O. Sausa leg.” (CP), 10 ex. “China, W. Yunnan, Diaolin, 18.VI.1993 E. Jendek & O. Sausa leg.” (CP), 2 ex. [China] “ Yunnan 2500-2700m, 25.58N 100.21E Juzu Shan 6-10.7. Vit Kuban leg. 1994” (CP), 23 ex. [China] “ Yunnan 1800-2000m 25.04N 101.55E Vipinglang 8-10.6. Vit Kuban leg. 1994” (CP), 21 ex. [China] “ Yunnan 1800-2000m 25.04N 101.55E Vipinglang 17-20.6. Vit Kuban leg. 1994” (CP), 7 ex. [China] “ Yunnan, 1700m Yipinglang 28-29. Jul 1995 BOLM lgt.” (CP), 1 ex. “ China Yunnan Lijiang 2100m 13.-27.vi.1995 leg. Pekarovic ” (CP), 1 ex. “CH-Yunnan 1995 Diaolin 13-14.VI. E. Jendek leg.” (CP), 1 ex. “ Kunmin China 61 lgt. S. Skopek / ex. Coll. V. Balthasar National Museum Prague, Czech Republic ” (NMPC), 7 ex. “ China (Yunnan) Dali Bai Aut. Pref. Wuliang Shan, 9km SW Weishan, 2450-2500m, 25°10’14’’N / 100°14’22’’E (sec. Oak/ pine for., beaten from trees and bushes) 13.VI.2007 D.W. Wrase [350]” (ZFMK), 3 ÔÔ [China] “Heilinpu, Kunming, Yunnan, 23.Ⅴ.1941 ” (CAU), 1 Ô [China] “Kunming, Yunnan, 16.V.1956, 1900, leg. Kryschanovsknja ” (IZAS), 1 Ô [China] “Defu, Napo, Guangxi, 18.VI.2000, 1350m, leg. Li Wenzhu ” (IZAS), 2 ÔÔ [China] “Mengsong, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, 26.IV.1958, 1600m, leg. Zhang Yiran / LW-359” (IZAS), 1 Ô “ China: S-Yunnan (Xishuangbanna) ca. 30 km NW Jinghong vic. Bameng, 17-2000m / Hua Zhuliangzi Mts. N22°08.01/E100°31.54’ 1700-2000m, 30.V.2008 leg. A. Weigel sec. forest” (NME), 2 ÔÔ “CHINA: S- Yunnan (Xishuangbanna) 45 km SW Jinghong vic. Bangzhang vill. / N21°44’37’’, E100°27’02’’, 16-1700m, 03.-05.V.2009 leg. A. Weigel, blüh. Cast” (NME). Laos: 1 ex. “LAOS, Xieng Khouang prov., 19°37–8’N, 103°20’E, Phonsavan (30 km NE) Phou Sane Mt., 1420 m, 10-30.v.2009, Z. Kraus leg. / NHMB Basel, NMPC Prague, Laos 2009, Expedition: M. Brancucci, M. Geiser, Z. Kraus, D. Hauck, V. Kubáň ” (NHMB), 1 ex. “LAOS, Xieng Khouang prov., 19°37–8’N, 103°20’E, Phonsavan (30 km NE) Phou Sane Mt., 1420 m, 10-30.v.2009, M. Brancucci leg. / NHMB Basel, NMPC Prague, Laos 2009, Expedition: M. Brancucci, M. Geiser, Z. Kraus, D. Hauck, V. Kubáň ” (NHMB), 18 ex. “LAOS-NE, Houa Phan prov., Ban Saluei-> Phou Pane Mt., 20°12-13.5’N 103°59.5’-104°01’E, 1340-1870m, 15.iv.-15.v.2008, Lao collector leg.” (NMPC), 3 ex. “LAONE, Hua Phan prov., 20°12’N 104°01’E, Phu Phan Mt., 1500-1900m, 17.v.-3.vi.2007, M. Brancucci leg. / NHMB Basel expedition to Laos, 2007” (NHMB), 7 ex. “LAOS, Houa Phan prov., 20°12-13’N, 103°59.5’-104°01’E, Ban Saluei-> Phou Pane Mt., 1340-1870 m, 10.v.-16.vi.2009, M. Brancucci & local coll. leg. / NHMB Basel, NMPC Prague, Laos 2009, Expedition: M. Brancucci, M. Geiser, Z. Kraus, D. Hauck, V. Kubáň ” (NHMB), 4 ex. “LAOS, Hua Phan prov., 20°13’N, 104°00’E, Phou Pane Mt., 1-16.vi.2009, 1350-1500 m, M. Brancucci leg. / NHMB Basel, NMPC Prague, Laos 2009, Expedition: M. Brancucci, M. Geiser, Z. Kraus, D. Hauck, V. Kubáň ” (NHMB), 2 ex. “LAOS, Houa Phan prov., 20°13’09-19’’N, 103°59’54’’-104°00’03’’E, 1480-1550m, Phou Pane Mt., 9-16.vi.2009, David Hauck leg. / NHMB Basel, NMPC Prague, Laos 2009, Expedition: M. Brancucci, M. Geiser, Z. Kraus, D. Hauck, V. Kubáň ” (NHMB), 991 ex. “NE-Laos: Hua Phan prov., Ban Saleui, Phou Pan (Mt.) - 20°12’N, 104°01’E; 11.iv.-15.v.2012; 1300-1900m; leg. C. Holzschuh Ankauf ZFMK Bonn 2012/13” (ZFMK), 679 ex. “NE-Laos: Hua Phan prov., Ban Saleui, Phou Pan (Mt.) - 20°12’N, 104°01’E; 11.iv.-15.v.2012; 1300-1900m; leg. C. Holzschuh Ankauf ZFMK Bonn 2012” (ZFMK), 24 ex. “NE-Laos: Hua Phan prov., Ban Saleui, Phou Pan (Mt.) ~ 20°12’N, 104°01’E; 1300-1900m; 01.-31.V.2011; leg. C. Holzschuh Ankauf ZFMK Bonn 2011” (ZFMK), 189 ex. “Laos-NE, Houa Phan prov., 20°13’09-19’’N 103°59’54’’-104°00’03’’E, 1480-1510m Phou Pane Mt., 22.IV.-14.V.2008 Vit Kuban leg.” (NMPC, ZFMK), 43 ex. “Laos-NE Hua Phan prov., 20°12’N, 104°01’E, Phu Phan Mt., 1500-1900m, 17.5.- 3.6.2007, leg. Vit Kuban ” (ZFMK), 28 ex. “Laos-NE Hua Phan prov., 20°12’N, 104°01’E, Phu Phan Mt., 1500-1900m, 17.5.- 3.6.2007, leg. C. Holzschuh ” (ZFMK), 7 ex. “ Laos (west): Oudomxao province, Beng, 20.20°N 101.80°E, May 1-14.2010 local collectors of Li Jingke” (ZFMK), 1 Ô “X-DA4734 / X- DA4734 LAOS Hua Phua prov., Ban Saluei, Phou Pan (Mt.) 20°12’N, 104°01’E 15.-30.iv.2014 leg. C. Holzschuh – ZFMK Ankauf 2014 Microserica varians ” (ZFMK), 1 Ô “X-DA4732 / X- DA4732 LAOS Hua Phua prov., Ban Saluei, Phou Pan (Mt.) 20°12’N, 104°01’E 15.-30.iv.2014 leg. C. Holzschuh – ZFMK Ankauf 2014 Microserica varians ” (ZFMK), 1 Ô “X-DA4673 / X- DA4673 LAOS Hua Phua prov., Ban Saluei, Phou Pan (Mt.) 20°12’N, 104°01’E 15.-30.iv.2014 leg. C. Holzschuh – ZFMK Ankauf 2014 Microserica varians ” (ZFMK), 1 Ô “X-DA4765 / X- DA4765 LAOS Hua Phua prov., Ban Saluei, Phou Pan (Mt.) 20°12’N, 104°01’E 6.-14.iv.2014 leg. C. Holzschuh – ZFMK Ankauf 2014 Microserica varians ” (ZFMK), 1 Ô “X-DA4766 / X- DA4766 LAOS Hua Phua prov., Ban Saluei, Phou Pan (Mt.) 20°12’N, 104°01’E 6.-14.iv.2014 leg. C. Holzschuh – ZFMK Ankauf 2014 Microserica varians ” (ZFMK), 1 Ô “XDA5115 / X- DA5115 LAOS Hua Phua prov., Ban Saluei, Phou Pan (Mt.) 20°12’N, 104°01’E 6.-15.iv.2014 leg. C. Holzschuh – ZFMK Ankauf 2014 Microserica spLAOS Phupane11” (ZFMK). Vietnam: 2 ÔÔ “N-Vietnam, Cao Bang Pr. vic. Tinh Tuc, Son Dong Nu Pa Oac Nature Res. 09.-15.V.2014, 850- 1300m 22°37’55’’N, 105°52’98’’E leg. A. Weigel by light” (NME), 1 Ô “N-Vietnam, Cao Bang Pr. vic. Tinh Tuc, Son Dong Nu Pa Oac Nature Res. 22°36’50’’N, 105°53’20’’E 13.V.2014, 1400-1800m leg. A. Weigel ” (NME). Redescription. Length: 5.3 mm, length of elytra: 3.6 mm, width: 3.1 mm. Body oval, body black, legs, center of elytra, margins of pronotum, labroclypeus, and antennal funiculus yellowish, dorsal surface iridescent shiny and nearly glabrous. Labroclypeus elliptical, slightly wider than long, widest shortly before base, lateral margins strongly convex and convergent to strongly rounded anterior angles; anterior margin weakly emarginate medially, margins weakly reflexed; lateral margins and ocular canthus produce a blunt angle; surface shiny, medially almost flat, finely and coarsely, densely punctate, with numerous long, erect setae; frontoclypeal suture finely incised and curved medially. Frons dull, with sparse, coarse punctures, beside eyes and behind frontoclypeal suture with a few single short setae, otherwise with minute setae in punctures. Smooth area in front of eyes twice as wide as long. Ocular canthus sparsely finely punctate, narrow and moderately long (1/3 of ocular width), with a terminal seta. Eyes moderately large, ratio of diameter/interocular width: 0.66. Antenna with ten antennomeres; club composed of four antennomeres, slightly reflexed at apex, 1.2 times as long as remaining antennomeres combined. Mentum elevated and slightly flattened anteriorly. Pronotum wide, widest shortly before base, lateral margins evenly convex and convergent to blunt but distinctly produced anterior angles, posterior angles strongly rounded. Anterior margin of pronotum weakly convex, with fine and complete marginal line; basal marginal line absent; surface finely and densely punctate, with minute setae in punctures, anterior and lateral anterior margins sparsely setose. Hypomeron carinate, weakly produced ventrally. Scutellum triangular, finely and densely punctate, on midline narrowly impunctate. Elytra short, widest at middle, striae distinctly impressed, finely and densely punctate, intervals convex, with fine and sparse punctures concentrated along striae, with very minute setae in punctures, odd intervals with a few short setae; epipleural edge robust, ending at slightly rounded external apical angle of elytra, epipleura densely setose, apical border chitinous, without a fringe of short microtrichomes (visible at ca 100x magnification). Ventral surface dull, finely and densely punctate, metasternum sparsely covered with fine, short, or very minute setae; metacoxa glabrous, with a few single setae laterally. Mesosternum between mesocoxae as wide as mesofemur. Ratio of length of metepisternum/metacoxa: 1/1.76. Abdominal sternites finely punctate, with a transverse row of coarse punctures, each bearing a robust seta. Pygidium strongly convex and dull, with mixed finer and larger punctures, without smooth midline, with numerous short setae and a few longer in the larger punctures. Legs moderately wide; femora finely and sparsely punctate, with two longitudinal rows of longer setae. Metafemur moderately shiny, anterior margin acute, without submarginal serrated line; anterior row of seta-bearing punctures present; ventral posterior margin finely serrate at apex, only weakly widened in apical half, dorsal posterior margin serrate, with a few short setae basally. Metatibia moderately long and wide, widest at middle, ratio width/length: 1/3.1; dorsal margin sharply carinate, with two groups of spines, basal group at middle, apical one at three quarter of metatibial length, in basal third with a few robust single setae; lateral face longitudinally convex, finely and sparsely punctate, along midline smooth, with minute setae in punctures; ventral edge finely serrate, with three robust equidistant setae; medial face smooth, apex interiorly near tarsal articulation sharply truncate. Tarsomeres with fine, sparse setae ventrally, neither laterally nor dorsally carinate, dorsally smooth; metatarsomeres glabrous, with a strongly serrated ridge ventrally and a parallel subventral smooth carina immediately beside it; first metatarsomere little shorter than following two tarsomeres combined, twice as long as dorsal tibial spur. Protibia short, bidentate; anterior claws symmetrical, basal tooth of both claws bluntly truncate at apex. Aedeagus: Fig. 2A–C. Habitus: Fig. 2D. Variation. The coloration of this species is quite variable, ranging from entirely yellow (females) to entirely black (some males).Published as part of Ahrens, Dirk, Liu, Wangang, Lukic, Daniel & Bai, Ming, 2023, A taxonomic review of Microserica Brenske, 1894 from continental Asia (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Sericini), pp. 1-115 in Zootaxa 5241 (1) on pages 10-12, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5241.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/763973