Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde 
Serie A (Biologie) 
Herausgeber: 
Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde, Rosenstein 1, D-70191 Stuttgart 
Stuttgarter Beitr. Naturk. 
Ser. A 
Nr. 564 
5S. 
Stuttgart, 20. 11. 1997 
New M elan er os -Species from the Himalayas 
(Coleoptera: Lycidae) 
By Milada Bocäkovä, Olomouc 
With 20 figures 
Summary 
This contribution deals with the knowledge of the genus Melaneros from the Himalayas. 
Five species are described as new to science: Melaneros manaliensis n. sp. (India), M. pseudo- 
picianus n. sp. (India), M. holzschuhi n. sp. (Bhutan), M. jenisi n. sp. (Nepal) and M. compres- 
sus n. sp. (Nepal). 
Zusammenfassung 
Dieser Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Lyciden-Fauna des Himalaya behandelt die Gattung Me- 
laneros. Fünf neue Melaneros-Arten werden beschrieben: zwei Arten aus Nord-Indien (Me- 
laneros manaliensis n. sp., M. pseudopicianus n. sp.), eine Art aus Bhutan (M. holzschuhi 
n. sp.) und zwei Arten aus Nepal (M. jenisi n. sp., M. compressus n. sp.). 
Contents 
1. Introduction 1 
2. Abbreviations .. 2 
3. Acknowledgements u^*^^\THSOAf/2 : >>s ( j ^ 
4. The species JT^ /V./Sv. 2 
4.1. Melaneros manaliensis n. sp f. \. . . . . 2 
4.2. Melaneros pseudopicianus n. sp I JUN ' "f ' 199Ä 1 • ■ ■ ■ 2 
4.3. Melaneros holzschuhi n. sp .V J. . . . . 4 
4.4. Melaneros jenisi n. sp -^S^- ,, /jda , " , cC"' J?" ^ 
4.5. Melaneros compressus n. sp ?^>« »^P.'>Ai>''rP^^ i»<r. 5 
5. References 5 
IMW-PTSJiunaB;,. 
1. Introduction 
Although Nakane (1983) and Kasantsev (1991, 1992) were working on large 
amounts of material of Lycidae from the Himalayas, further new species have re- 
cently been found in additional materials. Because of the relatively low vagility of 
2 STUTTGARTER BEITRÄGE ZUR NATURKUNDE Ser. A, Nr. 564 
these species, the range of most Melaneros species is usually quite limited. Therefore 
collecting in new places is still bringing species new to science. 
2. Abbreviations 
LMB = author's collection; 
SMNS = Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde, Stuttgart. 
3. Acknowledgements 
I am very obliged to Dr. Wolfgang Schawaller (SMNS) who enabled me to study mate- 
rial in his charge. 
4. The species 
4.1. Melaneros manaliensis n.sp. (Figs 7, 8, 12, 17) 
Holotype (c?): India, Himachal Pradesh, Manali, Solang Valley, 20. VII. 1989, 2500m, 
leg. A. Riedel (SMNS). 
Paratype: Same data, 1 9 (SMNS). 
Etymology: Named in reference to the type locality. 
Diagnosis: It resembles M. confrater Kleine in external appearance, but seems 
to be related to M. nepalensis (Kasantsev) from which it differs in body coloration 
and in the shape of the distal projection of the aedeagus. 
Description: 8 . Body black, only posterior V2-V5 of elytra and at least V4 of 
elytral margin red. - Head with small eyes, distance between eyes 1.8 times longer 
than eye diameter. Antennae reaching anterior third of elytra, segment 3 small, only 
1.2 times longer than segment 2, segment 4 is 1.6 times longer than segment 3 
(Fig. 12). - Pronotum with anterior margin nearly straight (Fig. 17), lateral margins 
emarginate. - Elytra broad, widened posteriorly, primary costa 4 strongly elevated 
in humeral part. - Male genitalia stout (Figs 7, 8), provided with a ventral projection 
distally, apically pointed. - Body length: 7.1 mm, width: 1.9 mm. 
4.2. Melaneros pseudopicianus n.sp. (Figs 5, 6, 16, 19) 
Holotype (.<?): India, Rajasthan, Sariska- W. L.S., 15. VIII. 1989, leg. A. Riedel (SMNS). 
Paratype: Same data, 1 9 (LMB). 
Etymology: The name refers to its resemblance to the male genitalia of M. picianus (Na- 
kane). 
Diagnosis: It seems to be related to M. picianus (Nakane), but differs in body 
coloration and in the shape of the phallus of the male genitalia which is ventrally 
curved in the proximal third. 
Description: 6 . Body dark brown to black, only pronotum, scutellum and an- 
terior half of elytra yellow. - Head small, distance between eyes as long as eye dia- 
meter. Antennae filiform (Fig. 19), segment 3 twice as long as 2, segment 4 is 1.3 
times longer than 3. - Pronotum with anterior margin produced forwards, lateral 
margins nearly parallel, posterior angles pointing obliquely posteriorly. - Elytra rel- 
atively broad, weakly widened posteriorly, primary costa 4 only weakly elevated in 
BOCÄKOVA, NEW MELANEROS-SPECIES 
Fies 1-10. 
Figs 11-13. 
Male genitalia in lateral and ventral view. - 1-2. Melaneros holzschuhi n.sp.; - 
3-4. M. compressus n. sp.; - 5-6. M. pseudopicianus n. sp.; - 7-8. M. manalien- 
sis n. sp.; -9-10. M. jenisi n. sp. 
Basal antennal segments. - 11. M. jenisi n.sp.; - 12. M. manaliensis n.sp.; - 
13. M. compressus n. sp. - Scale bars = 0.5 mm. 
STUTTGARTER BEITRAGE ZUR NATURKUNDE 
Ser. A, Nr. 564 
Figs 14-18. Pronotum. - 14. Melaneros holzschuhi n.sp.; - 15. M. compressus n. sp.; - 
16. M. pseudopicianus n. sp.; - 17. M. manaliensis n. sp. - 18. M. jenisi n. sp. 
Figs 19-20. Basal antennal segments. - 19. M. pseudopicianus n.sp.; - 20. M. holzschuhi 
n. sp. - Scale bars = 0.5 mm. 
humeral part. - Male genitalia curved ventrally in the proximal third and widened 
distally (Figs 5, 6). - Body length: 6.1 mm, width: 1.9 mm. 
4.3. Melaneros holzschuhi n.sp. (Figs 1, 2, 14, 20) 
Holotype (<J): Bhutan, Thimphu Distr., Taba, 20.-30. VI. 1988, 2600m, leg. C. Holz- 
schuh (LMB). 
Etymology: Named in honour of the collector, Mr. C. Holzschuh (Vienna). 
Diagnosis: Related to M. sordidus (Fairmaire), but differs in having an entirely 
black pronotum and elytra and in the shape of the phallus of the male genitalia which 
is provided with a dorsal projection pointing distally. 
Description: 6. Body entirely black. - Head with small eyes, distance between 
eyes 1.6 times longer than eye diameter. Antennae short, segment 2 small, 3 triangu- 
lar, 1.3 times longer than 2, segment 4 is 1.6 times longer than 3 (Fig. 20). - Anterior 
margin of pronotum only weakly produced forwards, lateral margins emarginate. 
Posterior angles acute. - Elytra slightly widened posteriorly, primary costa 4 strong- 
ly elevated in humeral part. - Male genitalia of a complicate structure (Figs 1, 2) with 
a stout dorsal projection and a ventral opening in the distal half. - Body length: 
4.7 mm, width 1 .2 mm. 
BOCAKOVA, NEW MELANEROS-SPECIES 5 
4.4. Melaneros jenisi n.sp. (Figs 9, 10, 11, 18) 
Holotype (6): Nepal, Kathmandu valley, Godawari, 16.-17. V. 1992, leg. I. Jenis (LMB). 
Etymology: Named in honour of the collector, Mr. I. Jenis (Czech Republic). 
Diagnosis: Related to M. laterculus (Kasantsev), but differs in not having a 
thickened base of the phallus, and in a different shape of the dorsoapical sutures. 
Description: cT. Body black, only elytra (except a longitudinal basal stripe on 
each elytron) red, suture and elytral margins red. - Head with small eyes, distance 
between eyes 1.25 times longer than eye diameter. Antennae with segment 3 twice as 
long as 2, segment 4 is 1.5 times longer than 3 (Fig. 11). - Pronotum with anterior 
margin semicircular, lateral margins emarginate (Fig. 18). Primary costa 4 weakly el- 
evated in humeral part. - Male genitalia simple (Figs 9, 10), provided with a lateral 
opening in the distal half. - Body length: 6.1 mm, width: 1.7 mm. 
4.5. Melaneros compressus n.sp. (Figs 3, 4, 13, 15) 
Holotype (8): Nepal, Myagdi Distr., Bim to Darbang, 1150-1000 m, 30. V. 1995, leg. 
J. Martens & W. Schaw aller (SMNS). 
Paratype: Nepal, Myagdi Distr., Myagdi Khola S Boghara, 1400m, 27.-28. V. 1995, leg. 
J. Martens & W. Schawaller, 1 6 (LMB). 
Etymology: Named according to the laterally compressed distal part of the phallus. 
Diagnosis: Related to M. sordidus (Fairmaire) from which it differs in having a 
black pronotum and in the shape of the aedeagus. 
Description: 6 . Body dark brown to black, only elytra red. - Head with small 
eyes, distance between eyes 1.5 times longer than eye diameter. Antennae with seg- 
ment 3 short, segment 4 is 1.6 times longer than 3 (Fig. 13). - Pronotum trapezoidal 
in shape with anterior margin produced forwards, posterior angles prominent, 
pointing obliquely posteriorly (Fig. 15). - Elytra widened posteriorly, primary cos- 
ta 4 strongly elevated in basal quart. - Aedeagus short, laterally compressed, with a 
slot-formed opening distally (Figs 3, 4). - Body length: 5.1 mm; width: 1.4 mm. 
5. References 
Kasantsev, S. (1991): To the knowledge of Oriental Lycidae (Coleoptera). Remarks on Lyci- 
dae of Himalaya. - Entomologica basil. 14: 153-182; Basel. 
(1992): To the knowledge of oriental Lycidae (Coleoptera). III. Notes on Plateros 
Bourgeois and Ditoneces C. O. Waterhouse. - Russ. ent. J. 1 (2): 29-31; Moscow. 
Nakane, T (1983): Coleoptera of Nepal collected by the members of the Hokkaido Univer- 
sity scientific expedition to Nepal Himalaya: Lycidae. - Rep. Fac. Sei. Kagoshima Univ. 
(Earth Sei. & Biol.) No. 15: 115-123; Kagoshima. 
Author's address: 
Milada Bocäkovä, Regional Museum, nam. Republiky 5, 771 73 Olomouc, Czech Republic.