Lucanus choui HUANG & CHEN, 2013

= Lucanus singularis (Auctorum, non Planet): HUANG & CHEN, 2010: 162.

Type data. Holotype ♂ (Huang & Chen, 2010: plate 42, fig. 11):
CHINA: SE Tibet: Linzhi Pref., Chayu County, Upper-Chayu, 2326 m, 16.VII.2005, A.-M. Shi leg., deposited in Entomological Museum of Hebei University, Baoding, China (EMHU).

Paratypes: CHINA: SE Tibet: 2 ♂♂, 14 ♀♀ (CCCC), same data as holotype; 1 ♂ (CYXW), Chayu County, VII. 2009, anonymus collector leg.; 1 ♀ (CHH), Chayu County, Lower Chayu, 2000 m, 25.VII.2000; 61 ♂♂, 16 ♀♀ (CCCC, CHH), north of Chayu County, VII. 2011, Y. Liu, X.-D. Yang, W.-X. Bi & J. Hao leg.; 1 ♂ (CCCC), north of Chayu County, VII. 2012, Y. Liu leg..

Etymology. This new species is named in honor of Dr. Wen-I Chou, Taiwan, who helped us to collect many useful specimens of Lucanidae from various localities of China.

Introduction. This new species has been fully described, illustrated and discussed as L. singularis in our previous work (Huang & Chen, 2010). However, after a careful examination of the unique holotype of L. singularis kept in MNHN, we are convinced that this species endemic to Chayu is new to science and needs a name. The holotype of L. singularis has been proved to be a female of L. thibetanus from Nujiang valleys.

Diagnosis. L. choui is undoubtedly a member of L. lunifer group and closely allied to L. langi, L. cheni and L. imitator in phylogeny. The males of L. choui have a very dense yellow pubescence as in L. cheni and L. thibetanus on the surfaces of the entire body. The females of L. choui are glabrous on dorsal surface as L. cheni, L. langi and L. imitator. The fallowing external and genital differences are noticed.

The full-sized males of L. choui (see photo above – 61 mm) differ from those of L. cheni and L. thibetanus by having:

1) mandible much shorter, with the apical fork much shorter and
2) clypeolabrum much shorter and thinner.

They differ from those of L. langi by having:

1) pubescence on dorsal surface of body much denser and longer;
2) clypeolabrum markedly narrower;
3) frontal carina of head more elevated in center;
4) lateral carinae of head less expanded laterally;
5) apical fork of mandible markedly shorter.

The medium-sized males of L. choui (such as holotype) are very similar to those of L. langi in having a short mandible, but can be distinguished from the latter by having:

1) pubescence denser;
2) mandible usually with a single tooth and smooth everywhere else, only occasionally with a few minute teeth;
3) all tibiae usually more blackish and less reddish.

The small-sized males of L. choui (see photo above – 36 mm) are very similar to those of L. langi and L. imitator in having a short mandible with only one subapical tooth, but can be distinguished from them by having a much denser yellow pubescence.

The male genitalia of L. choui are different from those of L. cheni, L. langi, L. imitator and L. thibetanus in the fallowing points:

1) size of aedeagus smaller than in L. thibetanus;
2) penis wider at apex than in L. cheni, not contracted;
3) permanentely everted internal sac shorter than in L. cheni and L. thibetanus;
4) the colorless area in caudal part of ventral surface of basal piece extended more deeply into the central part of basal piece than in all other species. Visit d3 home .

The females of L. choui can be distinguished from those of L. langi, L. cheni and L. imitator by having labrum more protruding forward and better marked from clypeus, from those of L. thibetanus by having anterior angle of canthus less produced. The female genitalia of L. choui, as figured under L. langi, are hardly distinguishable from those of L. langi, L. cheni and L. imitator.

Length of body including mandibles. males: 36-62 mm, females: 31-39 mm.

Lucanus choui HUANG & CHEN, 2013

By Frank