Phloeosinus metasequoiae Ning 2025, sp. nov.

Phloeosinus metasequoiae Ning sp. nov. Fig. 1 Type material. Holotype: • female: China, Hubei Province: Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Lichuan City, Xindoushan National Nature Reserve, Zhonglu Town, Shiziba Village; 30°7'1"N, 108°41'40"E; elev. 1123 m; all specimens were collected by HN, RD and KX; 5 June 2024; ASM-HBMZU, XDS-SZB 007. Paratypes: • 4 females, 5 males, with the same data as the holotype ASM-HBMZU, XDS-SZB 003, XDS-SZB 011 –018 • 3 females, 4 males; Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Lichuan City, Xindoushan National Nature Reserve, Fubao Mountain Forest Management Area; 30°12'33"N, 108°42'26"E; elev. 1394 m; 5 June 2024; ASM-HBMZU, XDS-FBM 017 –023 • 7 females, 4 males; Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Lichuan City, Xindoushan National Nature Reserve, Wangying Town; 30°16'N, 108°42'17"E; elev. 1130 m; 6 June 2024; ASM-HBMZU, XDS-WY 003 –008, XDS-WY 015 –019 • 5 females, 3 males; Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Lichuan City, Xindoushan National Nature Reserve, Jiannan Town; 30°26'9"N, 108°32'15"E; elev. 974 m; 7 June 2024; ASM-HBMZU, XDS-JN 010 –017 • 7 females, 3 males; Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Lichuan City, Xindoushan National Nature Reserve, Moudao Town; 30°26'N, 108°41'18"E; elev. 1377 m; 8 June 2024; ASM-HBMZU, XDS-MD 015 –024 • 1 female, 3 males; Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Lichuan City, Xindoushan National Nature Reserve, Zhonglu Town; 30°″2'35"N, 108°44'20"E; elev. 829 m; 9 June 2024; ASM-HBMZU, XDS-ZL 002, XDS-ZL 008 –0010. Similar species. Phloeosinus aubei (Perris, 1855). Diagnosis. 2.2–2.6 mm long (mean = 2.43 mm, n = 50); 2.59–2.65 × as long as wide. Phloeosinus metasequoiae sp. nov. is similar to P. aubei, although the body is shorter and broader, with a notch in the middle of the anterior edge of the compound eye, and an oblong-ovate antennal club; the surface of the anterior thoracic dorsal plate is flat, and there are large tubercles on stripes 1 and 3 of the elytra, as shown in Fig. 1. Phloeosinus metasequoiae sp. nov. can be distinguished from other species of Phloeosinus based on two main differences. Firstly, the compound eyes of P. metasequoiae sp. nov. are notched, and the frontal and prothoracic surfaces are characterized by reticulations, which is a feature that can be used to distinguish this species from the most similar species, P. aubei. Secondly, P. metasequoiae sp. nov. and P. aubei differ significantly with respect to the basal margin of the elytra, with the basal margin of the P. metasequoiae sp. nov. elytra being characterized by its deep V-shape, whereas that of the P. aubei elytra is relatively flat, as shown in Figs 2, 3. Description. Female: 2.2–2.6 mm long (mean = 2.43 mm, n = 50); 2.59–2.65 × as long as wide. Body black or black-brown without luster, moderately densely covered with short, yellowish-brown, hair-like setae. Head: epistoma entire, transverse, with a row of moderately long, sparse hair-like setae. Frons below upper margin of eye and above epistoma flat. Eye emargination (Fig. 4). Antennae with four funicle segments (including the pedicel). Antennal club with two procurved sutures. Pronotum: 0.96–1.14 (mean = 1.05, n = 50) × as long as wide. Pronotum widest at base, appearing almost triangular in profile. Surface of pronotal plate rough, reticular, with short yellow setae. Apparent triangular protrusion in the pronotum base, curved laterally. Elytra: 1.86–2.04 × (mean = 2.0, n = 50) × as long as wide, 1.10–1.15 (mean = 1.12, n = 50) × as long as pronotum. Deeply V-shaped in the basal margin of elytra. Coarse surface with tubercles, dark-red declivity, and short, yellow setae. Two longitudinal tubercles present between each striae, with nine longitudinal interstriae on each elytra, larger tubercles at the base than at the front end, and larger tubercles in the 1 st, 3 rd, and 5 th striae near the elytral striae. Legs: procoxae contiguous. Protibiae obliquely triangular, broadest at apical 1 / 3, densely covered with yellow setae. Posterior face of protibiae, with some small punctures near base and inner margin. Male. (Figs 5, 6). 2.0– 2.5 mm long (mean = 2.38 mm, n = 50); 2.51–2.59 × as long as wide. Pronotum: 0.89–1.10 (mean = 0.99, n = 50) × as long as wide. Elytra: 1.82–1.97 (mean = 1.91, n = 50) × as long as wide, 1.01–1.09 (mean = 1.06, n = 50) × as long as pronotum. Coarse surface with tubercles, tubercles in male elytral declivity larger than those in females (Fig. 7). Similar to females in most features except body size and size of tubercles in elytral declivity. Etymology. The specific epithet metasequoiae is the genitive of the genus name of the host plant, Metasequoia, indicating that this new species is associated with this plant. Host. Metasequoia glyptostroboides Hu & W. C. Cheng Distribution. Known only from the type locality (Fig. 8). Biology. Unknown