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| Autocrates soni Cho Hee-Wook & Kim Kang-Rae, 2024 |
Abstract
Autocrates soni sp. nov. is described from Vietnam based on morphological and molecular evidence. This beetle is characterised by reddish-brown pubescence on its ventral side and much shorter setae on its femora compared to the closely related species Autocrates vitalisi Vuillet, 1912. The validity of this new species is strongly supported by DNA barcode data from all known species of the genus Autocrates.
Key words: Coleoptera, Tenebrionoidea, Trictenotomidae, Autocrates, new species, DNA barcoding, phylogeny, Vietnam, Oriental Region
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| Type locality of Autocrates soni sp. nov. A–B – light equipment used for collecting; C–D – living individuals attracted by light (photographed by Min-Woo Son). |
Autocrates soni sp. nov.
Differential diagnosis. Autocrates soni sp. nov. is almost identical to A. vitalisi Vuillet, 1912, in its general appearance and genital structure. However, the new species can be distinguished by the reddish-brown pubescence on the ventral side as shown in Fig. 5A (yellow, ochre to ochre-greyish in A. vitalisi as in Fig. 5B); femora except inner margin covered with sparse punctures bearing short setae (much longer setae in A. vitalisi); dorsum black with very weak metallic lustre (dorsum generally cupreous, purple or pale green metallic in A. vitalisi). Autocrates lini Hu, Drumont & Telnov, 2022, is also similar, but diff ers in the golden pubescence on venter and glabrous dorsum.
Etymology. This new species is dedicated to Mr. Hyunsu Son (Hwaseong, South Korea), an amateur beetle collector who first pointed out the morphological diff erences of this new species.
Distribution. Vietnam: Khanh Hoa.
Cho Hee-Wook and Kim Kang-Rae. 2024. A New Species of Autocrates (Coleoptera: Trictenotomidae) revealed by DNA Barcoding and Morphological Evidence. Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae. 64(2); 269-276. DOI: doi.org/10.37520/aemnp.2024.018
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