On Brachypeplus Erichson with a new species from Tripura, India and a note on a species from the Indian subcontinent (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae)

Abstract

Brachypeplus riang sp. nov. is described from Tripura state in India, bringing the total number of Indian species of the genus to two. The genus is re-described with detailed characterisation of different body parts including mouth parts and genitalia. The status of Brachypeplus omalinus Murray 1864 is examined.

Keywords:

• Coleoptera
• nitidulidae
• cillaeinae
• brachypeplus
• new species
• tripura
• India

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Dr K. Venkataraman, Director, Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) for providing necessary facilities to carry out the work. Prof. D. Raychaudhuri, Zoology Dept., University of Calcutta, Dr M.E. Hassan, Scientist, ZSI and Dr Eyarin Jehamalar, Research Associate, ZSI, extended constant support and co-operation in the research work. Following officers of the Govt. of Tripura extended generous support in carrying out field works in Tripura state to JD: Sri C. Banerjee and Sri D. Das of the Horticulture Department; Sri Pratip Bhattacharya, Curator of Museum; and Sri Debashish Chakraborty, Chief Conservator, Forest, Agartala, Tripura and other officers of the Forest Department. We are thankful to Dr R.A.B. Leschen, Landcare Research, New Zealand, Dr A.G. Kirejtshuk, Laboratory of Insect Systematics, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, for providing pertinent literature and information in course of the study. Dr Andrew Cline, California Dept. of Food and Agriculture Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, USA, and Dr S. Hisamatsu, Agroecology Laboratory, Ehime University, Japan and Prof. Paolo Audisio, Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e dell’Uomo, Sapienza Università di Roma, Italy, for examining and commenting on earlier draft of the paper are also duly acknowledged. An anonymous reviewer has critically gone through the paper and suggested changes for its improvement.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.