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A taxonomic revision of Neoserica (sensu lato): the species groups N. lubrica, N. obscura, and N. silvestris (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Sericini)

Abstract The species of the Neoserica lubrica Brenske, 1898, Neoserica obscura (Blanchard, 1850) and Neoserica silvestris Brenske, 1902 species groups are revised. The study resulted in the following new synonymies and combinations: Neoserica obscura (Blanchard, 1850) = Microserica roeri Frey, 1972, syn. n., = Maladera chinensis (Arrow, 1946), syn. n.; Neoserica hainana (Brenske, 1898), comb. n., and Neoserica minor (Arrow, 1946), comb. n. The known species are redescribed. The following nine new species are described from China: Neoserica allobscura Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n., Neoserica dongjiafenensis Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n., Neoserica fugongensis Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n., Neoserica mantillerii Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n., Neoserica menglunensis Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n., Neoserica pseudosilvestris Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n., Neoserica sakoliana Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n., Neoserica shuyongi Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n., and Neoserica tahianensis Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n. A key to the Sericini genera with multilamellate antenna, species groups of Neoserica of mainland Asia, and species of the species groups examined here are provided. Maps of the species distribution are provided, habitus and male genitalia are illustrated.


Introduction
In the course of the revision of the species-rich genus Neoserica Brenske, 1894, of China a series of papers was published recently -c, Liu et al. 2014a-c, 2015. In continuation of this work, here we present the results of the revision of the Neoserica lubrica, N. obscura and N. silvestris species groups.
As shown earlier (Ahrens 2003(Ahrens , 2004, Neoserica (sensu lato) comprises a polyphyletic mix of the larger species with multi-lamellate antenna  which require a revision of their nomenclature once their taxonomy, morphology, and phylogeny are better known. Apart from a number of new and interesting locality records, examined material also contained a number of new species which are described herein.

Material and methods
The terminology and methods used for measurements, specimen dissection and genital preparation follow Ahrens (2004). Data from specimens examined are cited in the text with original label contents given in quotation marks, multiple labels are separated by a "/". Descriptions and illustrations of the new taxa are based on the holotype if not otherwise stated, while the variation of specimens is given separately under "variation". Remarks of the authors and comments are indicated in square brackets. Male genitalia were glued to a small pointed card and photographed in both lateral and dorsal view using a stereomicroscope Leica M125 with a Leica DC420C digital camera or a Zeiss AxioCam HRc digital camera mounted on a Zeiss Stereo Discovery.V20 stereomicroscope. With the Automontage software, a number of serial images were combined in order to obtain an entirely focused image. The resulting images were subsequently digitally edited in Artweaver (www.artweaver.de).
Abbreviations used in the text for the collection depositories are as follows: Diagnosis. Body small (6-8 mm), oval, moderately convex; often unicoloured yellowish to reddish brown, entire dorsal surface strongly shiny and glabrous. Antenna with 10 antennomeres, yellow; antennal club of ♂ composed of 4-5 antennomeres, in ♀ of 3 antennomeres. Base of hypomeron carinate. Protibia bidentate. Metatibia at apex moderately sinuate near tarsal articulation. Metafemur without serrated line adjacent to anterior margin. Metatibia moderately wide, without serrated longitudinal line. Remarks. The species group was based on Neoserica lubrica Brenske, 1898(Ahrens 2004 to accommodate the species closely related to N. lubrica (from Myanmar).
Distribution. Eastern Himalaya and northeastern India, southern China and Indochina. Diagnosis. The new species has the genitalia similar in shape to N. incompta Ahrens & Fabrizi, 2009, but N. fugongensis differs by the lens-shaped labrum and lacking the anterior fringe of dense setae on the labrum.

Key to the Chinese species of the
Description. Body length: 6.7 mm, length of elytra: 4.5 mm, body width: 3.7 mm. Body oval, yellowish brown, dorsal surface strongly shiny and glabrous.
Labroclypeus subtrapezoidal, distinctly wider than long, widest at base, lateral margins nearly straight, convergent anteriorly, anterior angles strongly rounded, anterior margin very shallowly sinuate medially, margins moderately reflexed; surface convexly elevated at centre, shiny, finely and sparsely punctate, with a few single setae anteriorly; frontoclypeal suture distinctly incised, slightly elevated and weakly curved; smooth area anterior to eye weakly convex, approximately 1.5 times as wide as long; ocular canthus short and narrow (1/3 of ocular diameter), impunc-tate, with one terminal seta. Frons with fine and sparse punctures, with a few long erect setae beside eyes and on posterior half of frons. Eyes large, ratio diameter/ interocular width: 0.69. Antenna with ten antennomeres, club with five antennomeres and straight, slightly longer than remaining antennomeres combined. Mentum elevated and convex anteriorly. Labrum short, lens-shaped in anterior view, not produced medially, with shallow median sinuation and without densely setose anterior margin.
Pronotum moderately transverse, widest shortly behind middle, lateral margins evenly convex and weakly convergent towards base, more strongly convergent anteriorly; anterior angles distinctly produced and sharp, posterior angles blunt and weakly rounded at tip; anterior margin straight, with a fine complete marginal line; surface moderately densely and finely punctate, glabrous; lateral and anterior border sparsely setose; hypomeron distinctly carinate basally, not produced ventrally. Scutellum narrow, triangular, with fine, dense punctures, impunctate on basal midline, glabrous.
Elytra oval, widest at posterior third, striae finely impressed, finely and densely punctate, intervals nearly flat, with sparse, fine punctures concentrated along striae, glabrous; epipleural edge fine, ending at widely rounded external apical angle of elytra, epipleura densely setose, apical border with a fine fringe of microtrichomes (visible at 100× magnification).
Ventral surface shiny, finely and densely punctate, metasternum glabrous; metacoxa glabrous, with a few single setae laterally; abdominal sternites finely and densely punctate, with a transverse row of coarse punctures, each bearing a short robust seta. Mesosternum between mesocoxae as wide as the mesofemur. Ratio of length of metepisternum/ metacoxa: 1/ 1.55. Pygidium moderately convex and shiny, finely and sparsely punctate, without smooth midline, with a few long setae along apical margin.
Legs short; femora shiny, with two rudimentary longitudinal rows of setae, superficially and sparsely punctate, glabrous; metafemur with anterior margin acute, without serrated line behind anterior edge, posterior margin smooth ventrally in apical half only weakly widened, posterior margin smooth dorsally. Metatibia moderately wide and short, widest at middle, ratio of width/ length: 1/ 2.8; dorsal margin sharply carinate, with two groups of spines, basal group at one third, apical group at two thirds of metatibial length, basally with a few short single setae; lateral face weakly convex, finely and very sparsely punctate, smooth along the middle; ventral edge finely serrated, with three robust nearly equidistant setae; medial face smooth, apex interiorly near tarsal articulation bluntly truncate. Tarsomeres ventrally with sparse, short setae, smooth, neither laterally nor dorsally carinate; metatarsomeres with a strongly serrated ridge ventrally, smooth; first metatarsomere slightly shorter than following two tarsomeres combined and distinctly longer than dorsal tibial spur. Protibia moderately long, bidentate, distal tooth sharply pointed at apex; anterior claws symmetrical, basal tooth of inner claw sharply truncate at apex. Aedeagus: Fig. 1A Diagnosis. The new species is very similar to Neoserica fugongensis in the shape of the genitalia and in external appearance, but N. mantillierii differs by the shape of the left paramere: it is longer and its external margin has a blunt angle in the middle, its apex is hook-like and strongly bent backwards.
Labroclypeus subtrapezoidal, distinctly wider than long, widest at base, lateral margins nearly straight, convergent anteriorly, anterior angles strongly rounded, anterior margin very shallowly sinuate medially, margins moderately reflexed; surface convexly elevated at centre, shiny, finely and sparsely punctate, with a few single setae anteriorly; frontoclypeal suture distinctly incised, slightly elevated and weakly curved; smooth area anterior to eye weakly convex, approximately 1.5 times as wide as long; ocular canthus short and narrow (1/3 of ocular diameter), impunctate, with one terminal seta. Frons with fine and sparse punctures, with a few long erect setae beside eyes and on posterior half of frons. Eyes large, ratio diameter/ interocular width: 0.69. Antenna with ten antennomeres, club with five antennomeres and straight, slightly longer than remaining antennomeres combined. Mentum elevated and convex anteriorly. Labrum short, lens-shaped in anterior view, not produced medially, with shallow median sinuation and without densely setose anterior margin.
Pronotum moderately transverse, widest shortly behind middle, lateral margins evenly convex and weakly convergent towards base, more strongly convergent anteriorly; anterior angles distinctly produced and sharp, posterior angles blunt and weakly rounded at tip; anterior margin weakly convex, with a fine complete marginal line; surface moderately densely and finely punctate, glabrous; lateral and anterior border sparsely setose; hypomeron distinctly carinate basally, not produced ventrally. Scutellum narrow, triangular, with fine, dense punctures, impunctate on basal midline, glabrous.
Elytra oval, widest at posterior third, striae finely impressed, finely and densely punctate, intervals nearly flat, with sparse, fine punctures concentrated along striae, glabrous; epipleural edge fine, ending at widely rounded external apical angle of elytra, epipleura densely setose, apical border with a fine fringe of microtrichomes (visible at 100× magnification).
Ventral surface shiny, finely and densely punctate, metasternum glabrous; metacoxa glabrous, with a few single setae laterally; abdominal sternites finely and densely punctate, with a transverse row of coarse punctures, each bearing a short robust seta. Mesosternum between mesocoxae as wide as the mesofemur. Ratio of length of me-tepisternum/ metacoxa: 1/ 1.42. Pygidium moderately convex and shiny, finely and sparsely punctate, without smooth midline, with a few long setae along apical margin.
Legs short; femora shiny, with two rudimentary longitudinal rows of setae, superficially and sparsely punctate, glabrous; metafemur with anterior margin acute, without serrated line behind anterior edge, posterior margin smooth ventrally in apical half only weakly widened, posterior margin smooth dorsally. Metatibia moderately wide and short, widest at middle, ratio of width/ length: 1/ 2.8, dorsal margin sharply carinate, with two groups of spines, basal group at one third, apical group at three quarters of metatibial length, basally with a few short single setae; lateral face weakly convex, finely and sparsely punctate, smooth along the middle; ventral edge finely serrated, with three robust nearly equidistant setae; medial face smooth, apex interiorly near tarsal articulation bluntly truncate. Tarsomeres ventrally with sparse, short setae, smooth, neither laterally nor dorsally carinate; metatarsomeres with a strongly serrated ridge ventrally, smooth; first metatarsomere slightly shorter than following two tarsomeres combined and distinctly longer than dorsal tibial spur. Protibia moderately long, bidentate, distal tooth sharply pointed at apex; anterior claws symmetrical, basal tooth of inner claw sharply truncate at apex.
Diagnosis. The new species is in shape of genitalia and in external appearance very similar to Neoserica fugongensis and N. mantillierii but differs distinctly in the shape of the left paramere: the distal hook in N. dongjiafenensis is much shorter compared to the total length of the paramere whose basal portion is nearly as wide as long and nearly lobiform.
Labroclypeus subtrapezoidal, distinctly wider than long, widest at base, lateral margins nearly straight, convergent anteriorly, anterior angles strongly rounded, anterior margin very shallowly sinuate medially, margins moderately reflexed; surface convexly elevated at centre, shiny, finely and sparsely punctate, with a few single setae anteriorly; frontoclypeal suture distinctly incised, slightly elevated and weakly curved; smooth area anterior to eye weakly convex, approximately 1.5 times as wide as long; ocular canthus short and narrow (1/3 of ocular diameter), impunctate, with one terminal seta.
Frons with fine and sparse punctures, with a few long erect setae beside eyes and on posterior half of frons. Eyes moderately large, ratio diameter/ interocular width: 0.6. Antenna with ten antennomeres, club with five antennomeres and straight, as long as remaining antennomeres combined. Mentum elevated and convex anteriorly. Labrum short, lens-shaped in anterior view, not produced medially, with shallow median sinuation and without densely setose anterior margin.
Pronotum moderately transverse, widest at base, lateral margins evenly convex and weakly convergent anteriorly; anterior angles distinctly produced and sharp, posterior angles blunt and weakly rounded at tip; anterior margin weakly convex, with a fine complete marginal line; surface moderately densely and finely punctate, glabrous; lateral and anterior border sparsely setose; hypomeron distinctly carinate basally, not produced ventrally. Scutellum narrow, triangular, with fine, moderately dense punctures, impunctate on basal midline, glabrous.
Elytra oval, widest at posterior third, striae finely impressed, finely and densely punctate, intervals nearly flat, with sparse, fine punctures concentrated along striae, glabrous except a few long setae on penultimate lateral interval; epipleural edge fine, ending at widely rounded external apical angle of elytra, epipleura densely setose, apical border with a fine fringe of microtrichomes (visible at 100× magnification).
Ventral surface shiny, finely and densely punctate, metasternum glabrous; metacoxa glabrous, with a few single setae laterally; abdominal sternites finely and densely punctate, with a transverse row of coarse punctures, each bearing a short robust seta. Mesosternum between mesocoxae as wide as the mesofemur. Ratio of length of metepisternum/ metacoxa: 1/ 1.64. Pygidium moderately convex and shiny, finely and sparsely punctate, without smooth midline, with a few long setae along apical margin.
Legs short; femora shiny, with two rudimentary longitudinal rows of setae, superficially and sparsely punctate, glabrous; metafemur with anterior margin acute, without serrated line behind anterior edge, posterior margin smooth ventrally in apical half only weakly widened, posterior margin smooth dorsally. Metatibia moderately wide and short, widest at middle, ratio of width/ length: 1/ 2.8, dorsal margin sharply carinate, with two groups of spines, basal group at one third, apical group at three quarters of metatibial length, basally with a few short single setae; lateral face weakly convex, finely and sparsely punctate, smooth along the middle; ventral edge finely serrated, with three robust nearly equidistant setae; medial face smooth, apex interiorly near tarsal articulation bluntly truncate. Tarsomeres ventrally with sparse, short setae, smooth, neither laterally nor dorsally carinate; metatarsomeres with a strongly serrated ridge ventrally, smooth; first metatarsomere distinctly shorter than following two tarsomeres combined and slightly longer than dorsal tibial spur. Protibia moderately long, bidentate, distal tooth sharply pointed at apex; anterior claws symmetrical, basal tooth of inner claw sharply truncate at apex.
Aedeagus: Fig. 1I Diagnosis. Neoserica menglunensis Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu sp. n. differs from all other Chinese species of the N. lubrica group by the presence of a transverse rim of dense setae on the anterior margin of labrum, and also by the shape of parameres: the left paramere is narrow and long (5 times as long as wide), and sharply pointed at its apex.
Labroclypeus short and subtrapezoidal, distinctly wider than long, widest at base, lateral margins nearly straight, convergent anteriorly, anterior angles moderately rounded, anterior margin broadly sinuate medially, margins moderately reflexed; surface nearly flat, shiny, finely and sparsely punctate, with a few single setae anteriorly; frontoclypeal suture distinctly incised, slightly elevated and weakly curved; smooth area anterior to eye weakly convex, approximately 1.5 times as wide as long; ocular canthus short and narrow (1/3 of ocular diameter), impunctate, with one terminal seta. Frons with fine and moderately dense punctures, with a few long erect setae beside eyes and behind frontoclypeal suture. Eyes moderately large, ratio diameter/ interocular width: 0.64. Antenna with ten antennomeres, club with five antennomeres and straight, slightly shorter than remaining antennomeres combined. Mentum elevated and convex anteriorly. Labrum short, nearly lens-shaped in anterior view, not produced medially, with shallow median sinuation and with a rim of dense setae near anterior margin.
Pronotum moderately transverse, widest at base, lateral margins in basal half nearly straight and moderately convergent to middle, evenly convex and weakly convergent anteriorly; anterior angles distinctly produced and sharp, posterior angles blunt and weakly rounded at tip; anterior margin weakly convex, with a fine complete marginal line; surface moderately densely and finely punctate, glabrous; lateral and anterior border sparsely setose; hypomeron distinctly carinate basally, not produced ventrally. Scutellum narrow, triangular, with fine, moderately dense punctures, impunctate on basal midline, glabrous.
Elytra oval, widest at posterior third, striae finely impressed, finely and densely punctate, intervals nearly flat, with sparse, fine punctures concentrated along striae, glabrous except a few long setae on penultimate lateral interval; epipleural edge fine, ending at widely rounded external apical angle of elytra, epipleura densely setose, apical border without a fine fringe of microtrichomes (visible at 100× magnification).
Ventral surface shiny, finely and densely punctate, metasternum glabrous; metacoxa glabrous, with a few single setae laterally; abdominal sternites finely and densely punctate, with a transverse row of coarse punctures, each bearing a short robust seta. Mes- osternum between mesocoxae as wide as the mesofemur. Ratio of length of metepisternum/ metacoxa: 1/ 1.61. Pygidium moderately convex and moderately shiny, finely and densely punctate, without smooth midline, with a few long setae along apical margin.
Legs short; femora shiny, with two rudimentary longitudinal rows of setae, superficially and sparsely punctate, glabrous; metafemur with anterior margin acute, without serrated line behind anterior edge, posterior margin smooth ventrally in apical half only weakly widened, posterior margin smooth dorsally. Metatibia wide and short, widest at middle, ratio of width/ length: 1/ 2.4, dorsal margin sharply carinate, with two groups of spines, basal group at one third, apical group at three quarters of metatibial length, basally with a few short single setae; lateral face weakly convex, finely and sparsely punctate, smooth along the middle; ventral edge finely serrated, with three robust nearly equidistant setae; medial face smooth, apex interiorly near tarsal articulation bluntly truncate. Tarsomeres ventrally with sparse, short setae, smooth, neither laterally nor dorsally carinate; metatarsomeres with a strongly serrated ridge ventrally, smooth; first metatarsomere distinctly shorter than following two tarsomeres combined and only slightly longer than dorsal tibial spur. Protibia moderately long, bidentate, distal tooth sharply pointed at apex; anterior claws symmetrical, basal tooth of inner claw sharply truncate at apex.
Aedeagus: Fig Etymology. The new species is named after the type locality, Menglun.

Neoserica obscura group
Diagnosis. Body small (6-8 mm), oval, strongly convex; often bicoloured black and reddish-brown, entire dorsal surface dull and nearly glabrous. Antenna with 10 antennomeres, dark; antennal club of ♂ composed of 4 antennomeres, in ♀ of 4 antennomeres, but club shorter than remaining antennomeres combined. Hypomeron basally carinate. Protibia bidentate. Metatibia at apex moderately sinuate close to tarsal articulation. Metafemur without serrated line adjacent to anterior margin. Metatibia moderately wide, without serrated longitudinal line. Remarks. The species group was based on Neoserica obscura (Blanchard, 1850) proposed here to accommodate species closely related to N. obscura.

Distribution. Eastern China and northern Indochina.
Key to the Chinese species of the Neoserica obscura group:   Redescription. Body length: 5.6 mm, length of elytra: 3.9 mm, body width: 3.6 mm. Body short-oval, black, elytra reddish brown, dorsal surface except anterior labroclypeus dull, pronotum and elytra glabrous.
Labroclypeus subtrapezoidal, distinctly wider than long, widest at base, lateral margins weakly convex, convergent anteriorly; anterior angles strongly rounded; anterior margin shallowly sinuate medially, margins moderately reflexed; surface weakly convex, shiny, base dull, coarsely and densely punctate, with numerous erect setae; frontoclypeal suture indistinctly incised, vanishing under dull toment; smooth area in front of eye convex, nearly as long as wide; ocular canthus short and triangular (1/3 of ocular diameter), sparsely punctate, with one or more terminal setae. Frons with fine and moderately dense punctures, with a few long erect setae beside eyes and behind frontoclypeal suture. Eyes small, ratio diameter/ interocular width: 0.41. Antenna with ten antennomeres, club (♂) with four antennomeres and straight, as long as remaining antennomeres combined. Mentum convexly elevated and flattened anteriorly.
Pronotum transverse, widest at base, lateral margins in basal half nearly straight and moderately convergent to middle, evenly convex and weakly convergent anteriorly; anterior angles distinctly produced and sharp, posterior angles blunt and weakly rounded at tip; anterior margin straight, with a fine complete marginal line; surface densely and finely punctate, glabrous, with minute setae in punctures (100× magnification); lateral border densely setose; hypomeron distinctly carinate basally, not produced ventrally. Scutellum triangular, with fine, dense punctures, glabrous.
Elytra short-oval, widest shortly behind middle, striae finely impressed, finely and densely punctate, intervals weakly convex, with sparse, fine punctures concentrated along striae, glabrous except a few single, short setae on odd intervals; epipleural edge robust, ending at nearly blunt external apical angle of elytra, epipleura densely setose; apical border without a fine fringe of microtrichomes (visible at 100× magnification).
Ventral surface dull, finely and densely punctate; metasternum nearly glabrous except a few long robust setae on disc, punctures with minute setae (100× magnification); metacoxa glabrous, with a few single setae laterally; abdominal sternites finely and densely punctate, with a transverse row of coarse punctures, each bearing a short robust seta, last sternite half as long as penultimate one. Mesosternum between mesocoxae as wide as the mesofemur, with a semi-circular ridge bearing long setae. Ratio of length of metepisternum/ metacoxa: 1/ 1.9. Pygidium dull, moderately convex, finely and densely punctate, without smooth midline, with a few long setae along apical margin.
Legs short; femora moderately shiny, with two rudimentary longitudinal rows of setae, finely and sparsely punctate, glabrous; metafemur with anterior margin acute, without serrated line behind anterior edge, posterior margin smooth ventrally, in apical half only weakly widened, posterior margin smooth dorsally. Metatibia wide and short, widest at middle, ratio of width/ length: 1/ 2.7; dorsal margin sharply carinate, with two groups of spines, basal group at one third, apical group at three quarters of metatibial length, basally with a few short single setae; lateral face weakly convex, finely and sparsely punctate, smooth along middle; ventral edge finely serrated, with three robust nearly equidistant setae; medial face smooth, apex interiorly near tarsal articulation bluntly truncate and slightly concavely sinuate. Tarsomeres ventrally with sparse, short setae, smooth, neither laterally nor dorsally carinate; metatarsomeres with a strongly serrated ridge ventrally, glabrous; first metatarsomere as long as following two tarsomeres combined and slightly longer than dorsal tibial spur. Protibia short, bidentate, distal tooth sharply pointed at apex; anterior claws symmetrical, basal tooth of inner claw sharply truncate at apex.
Aedeagus: Fig. 2E-G. Habitus: Fig. 2H. Variation. The colour may vary from being totally black to reddish brown. Female: antennal club also composed of 4 antennomeres, however, the club is slightly shorter than in males and the first joint of the club is slightly shorter than the club; pygidium moderately convex, at middle strongly shiny and finely punctate.
Remarks. The parameres of the lectotype of Neoserica obscura (Blanchard) are virtually identical in the shape with those of Microserica roeri Frey and Aserica chinensis Arrow. The latter two names are consequently proposed here as junior synonyms of Diagnosis. Neoserica allobscura Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu sp. n. is in external appearance and genital morphology very similar to N. obscura. Neoserica allobscura differs by the less distinct pair of protuberances on the dorsoapical phallobase and the shape of the parameres: the right paramere is strongly curved in the middle and its basal lobe is longer than the rudimentary one of N. obscura; the dorsal lobe of the left paramere is displaced more basally and bent interiorly, while in N. obscura it is directly above the ventral lobe of the left paramere.
Labroclypeus subtrapezoidal, distinctly wider than long, widest at base, lateral margins weakly convex, convergent anteriorly; anterior angles strongly rounded; anterior margin shallowly sinuate medially, margins moderately reflexed; surface weakly convex, shiny, base dull, densely punctate, coarse punctures mixed with minute ones, with numerous erect setae; frontoclypeal suture indistinctly incised, weakly curved medially; smooth area in front of eye convex, nearly as long as wide; ocular canthus short and triangular (1/3 of ocular diameter), sparsely punctate, with one or more terminal setae. Frons with fine and moderately dense punctures, with a few long erect setae beside eyes and behind frontoclypeal suture. Eyes small, ratio diameter/ interocular width: 0.42. Antenna with ten antennomeres, club (♂) with four antennomeres and straight, as long as remaining antennomeres combined. Mentum convexly elevated and flattened anteriorly.
Pronotum transverse, widest at base, lateral margins evenly convex and moderately convergent anteriorly; anterior angles distinctly produced and sharp, posterior angles blunt and weakly rounded at tip; anterior margin straight, with a fine complete marginal line; surface densely and finely punctate, glabrous, with minute setae in punctures (100× magnification); lateral border densely setose; hypomeron distinctly carinate basally, not produced ventrally. Scutellum triangular, with fine, dense punctures, glabrous.
Ventral surface dull, finely and densely punctate; metasternum nearly glabrous except a few long robust setae on disc, punctures with minute setae (100× magnification); metacoxa glabrous, with a few single setae laterally; abdominal sternites finely and densely punctate, with a transverse row of coarse punctures, each bearing a short robust seta, last sternite half as long as penultimate one. Mesosternum between mesocoxae as wide as the mesofemur, with a semi-circular ridge bearing long setae. Ratio of length of metepisternum/ metacoxa: 1/ 2.2. Pygidium dull, moderately convex, coarsely and densely punctate, without smooth midline, with a few long setae along apical margin. Legs short; femora moderately shiny, with two rudimentary longitudinal rows of setae, finely and sparsely punctate, glabrous; metafemur with anterior margin acute, without serrated line behind anterior edge, posterior margin smooth ventrally, in apical half only weakly widened, posterior margin smooth dorsally. Metatibia wide and short, widest at middle, ratio of width/ length: 1/ 2.7; dorsal margin sharply carinate, with two groups of spines, basal group at one third, apical group at three quarters of metatibial length, basally with a few short single setae; lateral face weakly convex, finely and sparsely punctate, smooth along middle; ventral edge finely serrated, with three robust nearly equidistant setae; medial face smooth, apex interiorly near tarsal articulation bluntly truncate and slightly concavely sinuate. Tarsomeres ventrally with sparse, short setae, smooth, neither laterally nor dorsally carinate; metatarsomeres with a strongly serrated ridge ventrally, glabrous; first metatarsomere as long as following two tarsomeres combined and as long as dorsal tibial spur. Protibia short, bidentate, distal tooth sharply pointed at apex; anterior claws symmetrical, basal tooth of inner claw sharply truncate at apex.
Pronotum transverse, widest shortly before base, lateral margins in basal half nearly straight and moderately convergent to middle, evenly convex and weakly convergent anteriorly; anterior angles distinctly produced and sharp, posterior angles blunt and weakly rounded at tip; anterior margin straight, with a fine complete marginal line; surface densely and finely punctate, glabrous, with minute setae in punctures (100× magnification); lateral border densely setose; hypomeron distinctly carinate basally, not produced ventrally. Scutellum triangular, with fine, dense punctures, glabrous.
Elytra short-oval, widest shortly behind middle, striae finely impressed, finely and densely punctate, intervals weakly convex, with sparse, fine punctures concentrated along striae, glabrous except a few single, short setae on odd intervals; epipleural edge robust, ending at nearly blunt external apical angle of elytra, epipleura densely setose; apical border without a fine fringe of microtrichomes (visible at 100× magnification).
Ventral surface dull, finely and densely punctate; metasternum nearly glabrous except a few long robust setae on disc, punctures with minute setae (100× magnification); metacoxa glabrous, with a few single setae laterally; abdominal sternites finely and densely punctate, with a transverse row of coarse punctures, each bearing a short robust seta, last sternite half as long as penultimate one. Mesosternum between mesocoxae as wide as the mesofemur, with a semi-circular ridge bearing long setae. Ratio of length of metepisternum/ metacoxa: 1/ 2.0. Pygidium dull, moderately convex, finely and densely punctate, without smooth midline, with a few long setae along apical margin.
Legs short; femora moderately shiny, with two rudimentary longitudinal rows of setae, finely and sparsely punctate, glabrous; metafemur with anterior margin acute, without serrated line behind anterior edge, posterior margin smooth ventrally, in apical half only weakly widened, posterior margin smooth dorsally. Metatibia wide and short, widest at middle, ratio of width/ length: 1/ 2.8; dorsal margin sharply carinate, with two groups of spines, basal group at one third, apical group at three quarters of metatibial length, basally with a few short single setae; lateral face weakly convex, finely and sparsely punctate, smooth along middle; ventral edge finely serrated, with three robust nearly equidistant setae; medial face smooth, apex interiorly near tarsal articulation bluntly truncate and slightly concavely sinuate. Tarsomeres ventrally with sparse, short setae, smooth, neither laterally nor dorsally carinate; metatarsomeres with a strongly serrated ridge ventrally, glabrous; first metatarsomere slightly shorter than following two tarsomeres combined and slightly longer than dorsal tibial spur. Protibia short, bidentate, distal tooth sharply pointed at apex; anterior claws symmetrical, basal tooth of inner claw sharply truncate at apex. Aedeagus: Fig. 3A-C. Habitus: Fig. 3D. Variation. The colour varies from an entirely black body, or a blackish anterior body (head and pronotum) with reddish elytra, to a nearly entirely reddish body with dark head and anterior pronotum, dorsal surface sometimes with greenish shine. Female: pygidium moderately convex, at middle strongly shiny and finely punctate; antennal club slightly shorter than the remaining antennomeres combined, composed of 4 antennomeres.  Hainan, 18.IV.1980, 700m, leg. Pu Fuji" (ZFMK).
Labroclypeus subtrapezoidal, distinctly wider than long, widest at base, lateral margins weakly convex, convergent anteriorly; anterior angles strongly rounded; anterior margin shallowly sinuate medially, margins distinctly reflexed; surface nearly flat, shiny including base, coarsely and densely punctate, behind anterior margin with a few even coarser punctures each bearing an erect seta; frontoclypeal suture distinctly incised, weakly curved medially; smooth area in front of eye convex, nearly as long as wide; ocular canthus moderately short and triangular (1/3 of ocular diameter), sparsely punctate, with one terminal seta. Frons with moderately coarse and dense punctures, with a few long erect setae beside eyes and behind frontoclypeal suture. Eyes small, ratio diameter/ interocular width: 0.47. Antenna with nine antennomeres, club (♂) with four antennomeres and straight, 1.2 times as long as remaining antennomeres combined. Mentum convexly elevated and flattened anteriorly.
Pronotum transverse, widest at base, lateral margins evenly convex and moderately convergent anteriorly; anterior angles distinctly produced and sharp, posterior angles blunt and weakly rounded at tip; anterior margin straight, with a fine complete marginal line; surface densely and moderately coarsely punctate, glabrous, with minute setae in punctures (100× magnification); lateral border densely setose; hypomeron distinctly carinate basally, not produced ventrally. Scutellum triangular, with moderately coarse and dense punctures, glabrous.
Elytra short-oval, widest shortly behind middle, striae finely impressed, finely and densely punctate, intervals moderately convex, with sparse, fine punctures concentrated along striae, glabrous except a few short setae on odd intervals; epipleural edge robust, ending at rounded external apical angle of elytra, epipleura densely setose; apical border without a fine fringe of microtrichomes (visible at 100× magnification).
Ventral surface dull, finely and densely punctate; metasternum with a few short setae and long robust setae on metasternal disc; metacoxa glabrous, with a few single setae laterally; abdominal sternites finely and densely punctate, with a transverse row of coarse punctures, each bearing a short robust seta, last sternite half as long as penultimate one. Mesosternum between mesocoxae as wide as the mesofemur, with a semi-circular ridge bearing long setae. Ratio of length of metepisternum/ metacoxa: 1/ 1.72. Pygidium dull, moderately convex, coarsely and densely punctate, without smooth midline, with a few long setae along apical margin.
Legs short; femora dull, with two rudimentary longitudinal rows of setae, finely and sparsely punctate, glabrous; metafemur shiny, with anterior margin acute, without serrated line behind anterior edge, posterior margin apically serrate ventrally, in apical half only weakly widened, posterior margin distinctly serrate dorsally. Metatibia wide and short, widest at middle, ratio of width/ length: 1/ 3.1; dorsal margin only in posterior quarter carinate, otherwise longitudinally convex, with two groups of spines, basal group at one third, apical group at three quarters of metatibial length, basally with a few short single setae; lateral face convex, finely and sparsely punctate, smooth along middle in posterior half; ventral edge finely serrated, with three robust nearly equidistant setae; medial face smooth, apex interiorly near tarsal articulation bluntly truncate and slightly concavely sinuate. Tarsomeres ventrally with sparse, short setae, smooth, neither laterally nor dorsally carinate; metatarsomeres with a strongly serrated ridge ventrally, glabrous; first metatarsomere slightly longer than following two tarsomeres combined and distinctly longer than dorsal tibial spur. Protibia short, bidentate, distal tooth sharply pointed at apex; anterior claws symmetrical, basal tooth of inner claw sharply truncate at apex. Aedeagus: Fig. 3E-G. Habitus: Fig. 3H. Diagnosis. Neoserica shuyongi Ahrens, Fabrizi & Liu, sp. n. differs from all other species of the N. obscura group by the serrate posterior margin of metafemur, antenna composed of 9 antennomeres, shiny base of the clypeus and the shape of the aedeagus (Fig. 3E-G).
Etymology. The new species is named after its collector, Wang Shuyong. Variation. Among the paratypes no apparent size variation was found; colour varied from entirely reddish brown to dark brown. Female: pygidium less convex, antennal club in the paratype missing. Description. Body length: 6.4 mm, length of elytra: 4.4 mm, body width: 4.2 mm. Body short-oval, dark brown, ventral face reddish brown, entire surface except anterior labroclypeus dull, head with some greenish shine, pronotum and elytra glabrous.
Labroclypeus subtrapezoidal, distinctly wider than long, widest at base, lateral margins weakly convex, convergent anteriorly; anterior angles strongly rounded; anterior margin shallowly sinuate medially, margins moderately reflexed; surface weakly convex, shiny, base dull, finely and densely punctate, mixed with a few larger punctures bearing each an erect seta; frontoclypeal suture distinctly incised, weakly curved medially; smooth area in front of eye convex, nearly as long as wide; ocular canthus short and triangular (1/3 of ocular diameter), sparsely punctate, with a terminal seta. Frons with fine and moderately dense punctures, with a few long erect setae beside eyes and behind lateral frontoclypeal suture. Eyes small, ratio diameter/ interocular width: 0.4. Antenna with ten antennomeres, club (♂) with four antennomeres and straight, slightly longer than remaining antennomeres combined. Mentum convexly elevated and flattened anteriorly.
Pronotum transverse, widest at base, lateral margins evenly convex and moderately convergent anteriorly; anterior angles distinctly produced and sharp, posterior angles blunt and weakly rounded at tip; anterior margin straight, with a fine complete marginal line; surface densely and finely punctate, glabrous, with minute setae in punctures (100× magnification); lateral border densely setose; hypomeron distinctly carinate basally, not produced ventrally. Scutellum triangular, with fine, dense punctures, on midline impunctate, glabrous.
Elytra short-oval, widest shortly behind middle, striae finely impressed, finely and densely punctate, intervals weakly convex, with sparse, fine punctures concentrated along striae, except a few robust setae on penultimate external intervals glabrous; epipleural edge robust, ending at nearly blunt external apical angle of elytra, epipleura densely setose; apical border without a fine fringe of microtrichomes (visible at 100× magnification).
Ventral surface dull, finely and densely punctate; metasternum nearly glabrous except a few long robust setae on disc, punctures with minute setae (100× magnification); metacoxa glabrous, with a few single setae laterally; abdominal sternites finely and densely punctate, with a transverse row of coarse punctures, each bearing a short robust seta, last sternite half as long as penultimate one. Mesosternum between mesocoxae as wide as mesofemur, with a semi-circular ridge bearing long setae. Ratio of length of metepisternum/ metacoxa: 1/ 2.2. Pygidium dull, moderately convex, coarsely and densely punctate, without smooth midline, with a few long setae along apical margin.
Legs short; femora moderately shiny, with two rudimentary longitudinal rows of setae, finely and sparsely punctate, glabrous; metafemur with anterior margin acute, without serrated line behind anterior edge, posterior margin smooth ventrally, in apical half only weakly widened, posterior margin smooth dorsally. Metatibia wide and short, widest at middle, ratio of width/ length: 1/ 2.6; dorsal margin sharply carinate, with two groups of spines, basal group at one third, apical group at three quarters of metatibial length, basally with a few short single setae; lateral face weakly convex, finely and sparsely punctate; ventral edge finely serrated, with three robust nearly equidistant setae; medial face smooth, apex interiorly near tarsal articulation bluntly truncate and slightly concavely sinuate. Tarsomeres ventrally with sparse, short setae, smooth, neither laterally nor dorsally carinate; metatarsomeres with a strongly serrated ridge ventrally, glabrous; first metatarsomere slightly shorter than following two tarsomeres combined and as long as dorsal tibial spur. Protibia short, bidentate, distal tooth sharply pointed at apex; anterior claws symmetrical, basal tooth of inner claw sharply truncate at apex.
Labroclypeus subtrapezoidal, distinctly wider than long, widest at base, lateral margins weakly convex, convergent anteriorly; anterior angles strongly rounded; anterior margin shallowly sinuate medially, margins moderately reflexed; surface weakly convex, shiny, base dull, finely and densely punctate, mixed with a few larger punctures bearing each an erect seta; frontoclypeal suture distinctly incised, weakly curved medially; smooth area in front of eye convex, nearly as long as wide; ocular canthus short and triangular (1/3 of ocular diameter), sparsely punctate, without terminal seta. Frons with fine and moderately dense punctures, with a few long erect setae beside eyes and behind lateral frontoclypeal suture. Eyes small, ratio diameter/ interocular width: 0.42. Antenna with ten antennomeres, club (♂) with four antennomeres and straight, slightly longer than remaining antennomeres combined. Mentum convexly elevated and flattened anteriorly.
Pronotum transverse, widest at base, lateral margins evenly convex and moderately convergent anteriorly; anterior angles distinctly produced and sharp, posterior angles blunt and weakly rounded at tip; anterior margin straight, with a fine complete marginal line; surface densely and finely punctate, glabrous, with minute setae in punctures (100× magnification); lateral border densely setose; hypomeron distinctly carinate basally, not produced ventrally. Scutellum triangular, with fine, dense punctures, glabrous.
Elytra short-oval, widest shortly behind middle, striae finely impressed, finely and densely punctate, intervals weakly convex, with sparse, fine punctures concentrated along striae, except a few robust setae on sutural interval glabrous; epipleural edge robust, ending at nearly blunt external apical angle of elytra, epipleura densely setose; apical border without a fine fringe of microtrichomes (visible at 100× magnification).
Ventral surface dull, finely and densely punctate; metasternum nearly glabrous except a few long robust setae on disc, punctures with minute setae (100× magnification); metacoxa glabrous, with a few single setae laterally; abdominal sternites finely and densely punctate, with a transverse row of coarse punctures, each bearing a short robust seta, last sternite half as long as penultimate one. Mesosternum between mesocoxae as wide as the mesofemur, with a semi-circular ridge bearing long setae. Ratio of length of metepisternum/ metacoxa: 1/ 2.2. Pygidium dull, moderately convex, coarsely and densely punctate, without smooth midline, with a few long setae along apical margin.
Legs short; femora moderately shiny, with two rudimentary longitudinal rows of setae, finely and sparsely punctate, glabrous; metafemur with anterior margin acute, without serrated line behind anterior edge, posterior margin smooth ventrally, in apical half only weakly widened, posterior margin smooth dorsally. Metatibia wide and short, widest at middle, ratio of width/ length: 1/ 2.7; dorsal margin sharply carinate, with two groups of spines, basal group at one third, apical group at three quarters of metatibial length, basally with a few short single setae; lateral face weakly convex, finely and sparsely punctate; ventral edge finely serrated, with three robust nearly equidistant setae; medial face smooth, apex interiorly near tarsal articulation bluntly truncate and slightly concavely sinuate. Tarsomeres ventrally with sparse, short setae, smooth, neither laterally nor dorsally carinate; metatarsomeres with a strongly serrated ridge ventrally, glabrous; first metatarsomere slightly shorter than following two tarsomeres combined and slightly shorter than dorsal tibial spur. Protibia short, bidentate, distal tooth sharply pointed at apex; anterior claws symmetrical, basal tooth of inner claw sharply truncate at apex. Redescription. Body length: 8.1 mm, length of elytra: 4.0 mm, body width: 3.8 mm. Body short-oval, black to dark brown, antenna yellow, dorsal surface except labroclypeus dull or with iridescent or greenish shine, pronotum and elytra glabrous.
Labroclypeus subtrapezoidal, distinctly wider than long, widest at base, lateral margins strongly convex, convergent anteriorly; anterior angles strongly rounded; anterior margin distinctly sinuate medially, margins moderately reflexed; surface with a convex transverse ridge, moderately shiny, coarsely and very densely punctate, with a few erect setae anteriorly; frontoclypeal suture finely incised, evenly curved; smooth area in front of eye convex, 1.5 times as wide as long; ocular canthus short and triangular (1/3 of ocular diameter), densely and finely punctate, with one terminal seta. Frons with fine and sparse punctures, with two long erect setae beside eyes. Eyes small, ratio diameter/ interocular width: 0.51. Antenna with ten antennomeres, club (♂) with four antennomeres and straight, slightly longer than remaining antennomeres combined. Mentum convexly elevated and flattened anteriorly.
Pronotum transverse, widest at base, lateral margins evenly convex and weakly convergent anteriorly; anterior angles distinctly produced and sharp, posterior angles blunt and moderately rounded at tip; anterior margin convex, with a very fine but complete marginal line; surface densely and finely punctate, glabrous, with minute setae in punctures (100× magnification); lateral border densely setose; hypomeron distinctly carinate basally, not produced ventrally. Scutellum triangular, with fine, dense punctures, glabrous.
Elytra oval, widest in posterior third, striae finely impressed, finely and densely punctate, intervals weakly convex, with dense, fine punctures concentrated along striae, glabrous except a few single, short setae on penultimate lateral interval; epipleural edge robust, ending at convex external apical angle of elytra, epipleura densely setose; apical border with a fine fringe of microtrichomes (visible at 100× magnification).
Ventral surface dull, finely and densely punctate; metasternum nearly glabrous except a few long robust setae on disc, punctures with minute setae (100× magnification); metacoxa glabrous, with a few single setae laterally; abdominal sternites finely and densely punctate, with a transverse row of coarse punctures, each bearing a short robust seta, last sternite half as long as penultimate one. Mesosternum between mesocoxae as wide as the mesofemur, with a semi-circular ridge bearing long setae. Ratio of length of metepisternum/ metacoxa: 1/ 1.49. Pygidium dull, strongly convex, finely and densely punctate, without smooth midline, with a few long setae along apical margin.
Legs short; femora moderately shiny, with two longitudinal rows of setae, finely and sparsely punctate, glabrous; metafemur with anterior margin acute, with a continuous, serrated line behind anterior edge, posterior margin smooth ventrally, in apical half only weakly widened, posterior margin smooth dorsally. Metatibia moderately wide and short, widest at middle, ratio of width/ length: 1/ 2.95; dorsal margin sharply carinate, with two groups of spines, basal group shortly behind middle, apical group at 4/5 of metatibial length, in basal half with a serrated line beside dorsal margin ending at basal group of spines, beside it with a few single short setae; lateral face longitudinally convex, finely and densely punctate, smooth along middle; ventral edge finely serrated, with three robust nearly equidistant setae; medial face smooth, apex interiorly near tarsal articulation bluntly truncate and slightly concavely sinuate. Tarsomeres sparsely and finely punctate dorsally, with sparse, short setae ventrally, neither laterally nor dorsally carinate; metatarsomeres with a strongly serrated ridge ventrally, glabrous; first metatarsomere slightly shorter than following two tarsomeres combined and one third of its length longer than dorsal tibial spur. Protibia short, bidentate, distal tooth sharply pointed at apex, external margin bluntly widened at middle; anterior claws symmetrical, basal tooth of inner claw sharply truncate at apex.
Aedeagus: Fig. 4E-G. Habitus: Fig. 4H. Variation. The colour varies from totally black or reddish brown to black with reddish brown elytra. Female: Antennal club also composed of 3 antennomeres, however, the club is slightly shorter than in males, and the first joint of club is slightly shorter. Redescription. Body length: 7.2 mm, length of elytra: 5.2 mm, body width: 4.4 mm. Body short-oval, black to dark brown, antenna yellow, dorsal surface except labroclypeus dull, pronotum and elytra glabrous.
Labroclypeus subtrapezoidal, distinctly wider than long, widest at base, lateral margins weakly convex, convergent anteriorly; anterior angles moderately rounded; anterior margin distinctly sinuate medially, margins moderately reflexed; surface nearly flat, moderately shiny, coarsely and very densely punctate, with a few erect setae anteriorly; frontoclypeal suture finely incised, convexly bent at middle; smooth area in front of eye convex, 1.2 times as wide as long; ocular canthus short and triangular (1/3 of ocular diameter), densely and finely punctate, with one terminal seta. Frons with coarse and dense punctures, glabrous. Eyes small, ratio diameter/ interocular width: 0.51. Antenna with ten antennomeres, club (♂) with four antennomeres and straight, 1.7 times as long as remaining antennomeres combined. Mentum convexly elevated and flattened anteriorly.
Pronotum transverse, widest at base, lateral margins in basal half nearly straight and moderately convergent, in anterior half evenly convex and weakly convergent anteriorly; anterior angles distinctly produced and sharp, posterior angles blunt and moderately rounded at tip; anterior margin convex, with a very fine but complete marginal line; surface densely and finely punctate, glabrous, with minute setae in punctures (100× magnification); lateral border densely setose; hypomeron distinctly carinate basally, not produced ventrally. Scutellum triangular, with fine, dense punctures, glabrous.
Elytra oval, widest in posterior third, striae finely impressed, finely and densely punctate, intervals weakly convex, with dense, fine punctures concentrated along striae, glabrous except a few single, short setae on penultimate lateral interval; epipleural edge robust, ending at convex external apical angle of elytra, epipleura densely setose; apical border with a fine fringe of microtrichomes (visible at 100× magnification).
Ventral surface dull, finely and densely punctate; metasternum nearly glabrous except a few long robust setae on disc, punctures with minute setae (100× magnification); metacoxa glabrous, with a few single setae laterally; abdominal sternites finely and densely punctate, with a transverse row of coarse punctures, each bearing a short robust seta, last sternite half as long as penultimate one. Mesosternum between mesocoxae as wide as the mesofemur, with a semi-circular ridge bearing long setae. Ratio of length of metepisternum/ metacoxa: 1/ 1.52. Pygidium dull, strongly convex, finely and densely punctate, without smooth midline, with a few long setae along apical margin.
Legs moderately long; femora moderately shiny, with two longitudinal rows of setae, finely and sparsely punctate, glabrous; metafemur with anterior margin acute, with a continuous, serrated line behind anterior edge, posterior margin smooth ventrally, in apical half only weakly widened, posterior margin smooth dorsally. Metatibia narrow and moderately long, widest at middle, ratio of width/ length: 1/ 3.35; dorsal margin sharply carinate, with two groups of spines, basal group shortly behind middle, apical group at 4/5 of metatibial length, in basal half with a serrated line beside dorsal margin ending at basal group of spines, beside it with a few single short setae; lateral face longitudinally convex, finely and densely punctate, smooth along middle; ventral edge finely serrated, with three robust nearly equidistant setae; medial face smooth, apex interiorly near tarsal articulation bluntly truncate and slightly concavely sinuate. Tarsomeres sparsely and finely punctate dorsally, with sparse, short setae ventrally, neither laterally nor dorsally carinate; metatarsomeres with a strongly serrated ridge ventrally, glabrous; first metatarsomere slightly shorter than following two tarsomeres combined and one third of its length longer than dorsal tibial spur. Protibia short, bidentate, distal tooth sharply pointed at apex, external margin bluntly widened at middle; anterior claws symmetrical, basal tooth of inner claw sharply truncate at apex.
Aedeagus: Fig. 5A (Arrow). The new species differs by the longer left paramere being more widely sinuated and having the tip not straight but curved interiorly.
Labroclypeus subtrapezoidal, distinctly wider than long, widest at base, lateral margins strongly convex, convergent anteriorly; anterior angles moderately rounded; anterior margin distinctly sinuate medially, margins moderately reflexed; surface nearly flat, shiny, finely and very densely punctate, with a few erect setae anteriorly; frontoclypeal suture finely incised, convexly bent at middle; smooth area in front of eye convex, 1.3 times as wide as long; ocular canthus long and subtriangular (nearly half of ocular diameter), densely and finely punctate, with one terminal seta. Frons with moderately coarse and dense punctures, with two single erect setae beside eyes. Eyes small, ratio diameter/ interocular width: 0.54. Antenna with ten antennomeres, club (♂) with four antennomeres and straight, 1.7 times as long as remaining antennomeres combined. Mentum convexly elevated and flattened anteriorly.
Pronotum transverse, widest at base, lateral margins evenly convex and weakly convergent anteriorly; anterior angles distinctly produced and sharp, posterior angles blunt and moderately rounded at tip; anterior margin convex, with a very fine but complete marginal line; surface densely and finely punctate, with minute setae in punctures (100× magnification); lateral border densely setose; hypomeron distinctly carinate basally, not produced ventrally. Scutellum triangular, with fine, dense punctures, punctures on basal midline less dense, with minute setae in punctures.
Elytra oval, widest in posterior third, striae finely impressed, finely and densely punctate, intervals weakly convex, with dense, fine punctures concentrated along striae, glabrous except a few single, short setae on penultimate lateral interval; epipleural edge robust, ending at convex external apical angle of elytra, epipleura densely setose; apical border with a fine fringe of microtrichomes (visible at 100× magnification).
Ventral surface dull, finely and densely punctate; metasternum nearly glabrous except a few long robust setae on disc, punctures with minute setae (100× magnification); metacoxa glabrous, with a few single setae laterally; abdominal sternites finely and densely punctate, with a transverse row of coarse punctures, each bearing a short robust seta, last sternite half as long as penultimate one. Mesosternum between mesocoxae as wide as the mesofemur, with a semi-circular ridge bearing long setae. Ratio of length of metepisternum/ metacoxa: 1/ 1.5. Pygidium dull, strongly convex, coarsely and densely punctate, without smooth midline, with a few long setae on apical quarter, otherwise punctures with minute setae.
Legs moderately long; femora moderately shiny, with two longitudinal rows of setae, finely and sparsely punctate, glabrous; metafemur with anterior margin acute, with a continuous, serrated line behind anterior edge, posterior margin smooth ventrally, in apical half only weakly widened, posterior margin smooth dorsally. Metatibia narrow and moderately long, widest at middle, ratio of width/ length: 1/ 3.75; dorsal margin sharply carinate, with two groups of spines, basal group at 3/5, apical group at 4/5 of metatibial length, in basal half with a serrated line beside dorsal margin ending at basal group of spines, beside it with a few single short setae; lateral face longitudinally convex, finely and densely punctate, smooth along middle; ventral edge finely serrated, with three robust nearly equidistant setae; medial face smooth, apex interiorly near tarsal articulation bluntly truncate and slightly concavely sinuate. Tarsomeres sparsely and finely punctate dorsally, with sparse, short setae ventrally, neither laterally nor dorsally carinate; metatarsomeres with a strongly serrated ridge ventrally, glabrous; first metatarsomere slightly shorter than following two tarsomeres combined and one third of its length longer than dorsal tibial spur. Protibia short, bidentate, distal tooth sharply pointed at apex, external margin bluntly widened at middle; anterior claws symmetrical, basal tooth of inner claw sharply truncate at apex. Aedeagus: Fig. 5E-G. Habitus: Fig. 5H. Female unknown. Etymology. The name of the new species is the combined Greek prefix "pseudo-" (false) and the species name "silvestris" (with reference to the resemblance to N. silvestris).