Pyrrhalta lui, Lee & Bezděk, 2021

Lee, Chi-Feng & Bezdek, Jan, 2021, Revision of the genera Xanthogaleruca Laboissiere, 1932 and Pyrrhalta Joannis, 1865 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae) of Taiwan, with type designation of Galerucella lineatipes Takei, ZooKeys 1039, pp. 1-108 : 1

Pyrrhalta lui sp. nov. Figs 40B-D , 41 , 42

Types.

Holotype ♂ (TARI), Taiwan. Hualien: Hahuan Cross-Ridge (合歡越嶺古道), 4.VIII.2018, leg. H.-F. Lu. Paratypes. 16♂, 7♀ (TARI), same data as holotype; Hualien: 3♀ (TARI), Hutoushan (虎頭山), 21.IV.2018, leg. H.-F. Lu; Kaohsiung: 1♀ (TARI), Chungchihkuan (中之關), 17.IV.2012, leg. L.-P. Hsu; 4♂, 3♀ (TARI), same locality, 12.VI.2015, leg. C.-F. Lee; Miaoli: 1♂ (TARI), Hsuehchien (雪見), 7.VI.2013, leg. W.-B. Yeh; Nantou: 1♂ (TARI), Chingching (清境), 5.III.2007, leg. H.-C. Chen; 1♂ (TARI), Meifeng (梅峰), 2-4.VI.1980, leg. L. Y. Chou & C. C. Chen; 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 24-26.VI.1981, leg. K. S. Lin & W. S. Tang; 1♂ (TARI), Tatachia (塔塔加), leg. 21.VI.2009, leg. C.-F. Lee; Taichung: 1♂, 2♀ (TARI), Kukuan (谷關), 21.III.2014, leg. B.-X. Guo.

Diagnosis.

Elytra relatively narrow, 1.7-1.8 × longer than wide, entirely yellowish brown or black; disc smooth, lacking ridges; with sparse, fine punctures

Description.

Length 4.6-5.3 mm, width 2.0-2.4 mm. Body yellow, head and pronotum reddish brown, antenna blackish brown except ventral sides of five basal antennomeres, bases of femora and lateral margins of tibia black; tarsi darker in females (Fig. 41D, E ); but head, scutellum, thoracic ventrites, and basal 2/3 of femora black in males (Fig. 41A-C ). Eyes small, interocular space 2.55-2.85 × diameter of eye. Antennae filiform in males (Fig. 42A ), length ratios of antennomeres I-XI 1.0: 0.6: 0.8: 0.7: 0.7: 0.7: 0.7: 0.7: 0.7: 0.7: 0.8, length to width ratios of antennomeres I-XI 2.6: 1.9: 2.5: 2.1: 2.2: 2.2: 2.4: 2.5: 2.8: 2.4: 2.9; similar in females (Fig. 42B ), length ratios of antennomeres I-XI 1.0: 0.6: 0.9: 0.7: 0.7: 0.7: 0.7: 0.7: 0.7: 0.7: 0.9, length to width ratios of antennomeres I-XI 2.7: 2.1: 2.7: 2.2: 2.2: 2.2: 2.2: 2.1: 2.3: 2.1: 3.1. Pronotum and elytra convex. Pronotum 1.8-2.0 × wider than long, with transverse ridge along apical margin deflexed at antero-lateral angles; disc smooth on ridge, but with reticulate microsculpture below ridge, with extremely coarse punctures laterally, smaller medially, with one short seta at each puncture; with median longitudinal and lateral depressions; lateral margins moderately rounded, widest at middle, apical and basal margins slightly concave; anterior and posterior setiferous punctures not erect. Elytra broad, parallel-sided, 1.7-1.8 × longer than wide; disc smooth, with dense, coarse punctures, and extremely dense, short pubescence, some located between punctures. Apical spur of tibia of middle leg absent and tarsomere I not modified in males. Aedeagus (Fig. 42C, D ) slender in dorsal view, 6.3 × longer than wide, asymmetrically lanceolate, slightly curved at middle, strongly narrower near apex, apex narrowly rounded; ostium obliquely longitudinal, covered by a membrane; strongly curved near base in lateral view, apex narrowly rounded; two endophallic sclerites elongate, primary sclerite 0.7 × as long as aedeagus, with dense teeth along apical margin. Secondary sclerite much shorter than primary sclerite, 0.6 × as long as primary sclerite, apex acute. Only apices of gonocoxae (Fig. 42I ) sclerotized, longitudinal, few short setae near base, with eight to ten long setae near apex on each gonocoxa. Ventrite VIII (Fig. 42E ) well sclerotized, with dense short setae along lateral and apical area, with short and long marginal setae, spiculum long. Receptacle of spermatheca (Fig. 42F ) slightly swollen and elongate; pump short and strongly curved; sclerotized proximal spermathecal duct narrow and short. Apical margin of abdominal ventrite V slightly concave medially and with deep depression in males (Fig. 42H ); broadly rounded in females (Fig. 42G ).

Variation.

Males of P. lui sp. nov. display great variation in color. Some are totally black except for yellowish brown legs and abdomens (Fig. F, G); a few individuals are mainly black but pronota are reddish brown (Fig. 41H, I ).

Remarks.

Adults of P. lui sp. nov. are distinguished within the species group by unicolorous elytra. In males, the aedeagus (Fig. 40C, D ) is similar to that of P. jungchani sp. nov. (Fig. 39C, D ), with an asymmetrically lanceolate shape and two endophallic sclerites. It differs by the straight apex and the longer secondary endophallic sclerite, 0.6 × as long as primary endophallic sclerite (recurved apex and shorter secondary endophallic sclerite, 0.3 × as long as primary endophallic sclerite, in P. jungchani sp. nov.).

Food plants.

Adults feed on leaves of Viburnum parvifolium Hayata (Fig. 40B ) and V. luzonicum Rolfe ( Adoxaceae ) (Fig. 40C, D ).

Distribution.

The species is widespread at mid-altitudes (1,500-2,500 m) in central and southern Taiwan.

Etymology.

Dedicated to Mr Hsi-Feng Lu, the member of TCRT who collected most specimens of this new species.

Figures

Figure 39. Diagnostic characters of Pyrrhalta jungchani sp. nov. A antenna, male B antenna, female C aedeagus, dorsal view D ditto, lateral view E abdominal ventrite VIII F apex of tibia of middle leg, male G gonocoxae H tarsi of middle leg, male I abdominal ventrite V, female J abdominal ventrite V, male K spermatheca.

Figure 40. Field photographs of Pyrrhalta jungchani sp. nov. and P. lui sp. nov. on host plant A adult of P. jungchani sp. nov. B host plant for P. lui sp. nov., Viburnum parvifolium with feeding marks C adult of P. lui sp. nov. feeding on leaves of V. luzonicum D adult of P. lui sp. nov.

Figure 41. Habitus of Pyrrhalta lui sp. nov. A male, typical form, dorsal view B ditto, ventral view C ditto, lateral view D female, dorsal view E ditto, ventral view F male, color variation, dorsal view G ditto, ventral view H male, color variation, dorsal view I ditto, ventral view.

Figure 42. Diagnostic characters of Pyrrhalta lui sp. nov. A antenna, male B antenna, female C aedeagus, dorsal view D ditto, lateral view E abdominal ventrite VIII F spermatheca G abdominal ventrite V, female H abdominal ventrite V, male I gonocoxae.