Lochmaea cheni, Lee, Chi-Feng, 2019

Lee, Chi-Feng, 2019, The genus Lochmaea Weise, 1883 in Taiwan: results of taxonomic expeditions by citizen scientists (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae), ZooKeys 856, pp. 75-100 : 90-95

Lochmaea cheni sp. n. Figs 10D, 11 A– 11C, 12

Type material

(n = 64). Holotype ♂. Kaoshiung: Kuanshan Wind Gap (關山啞口), 2700 m, 30.VII.2015, leg. C.-F. Lee. Paratypes. 39♂♂, 18♀♀, same data as holotype; Pingtung: 1♀ (TARI), Peitawushan (北大武山), 3050 m, 13.X.2018, leg. J.-C. Chen; Taitung: 3♂♂, 2♀♀ (TARI), Hsiangyangshan (向陽山), 3600 m, 19.IX.2014, leg. J.-C. Chen; 1♂ (TARI), same but with "6.VIII.2015.

Diagnosis.

Lochmaea cheni sp. n. is easily distinguished from other members of the species group by the green elytra (Fig. 11 A–C) (entirely reddish brown or yellowish brown elytra in others (Figs 8, 11 D–F)), parallel-sided median lobe (Fig. 12C) (tapering median lobe (Figs 9C, 13C) in others) and opening located more posteriorly, and apical margin of abdominal ventrite V in females bearing a narrow, shallow notch (Fig. 12I) (angular notch (Fig. 9I) in L. smetanai ; narrower notch margined with longitudinal ridges (Fig. 13I) in L. jungchani sp. n.).

Description.

Length 6.2-7.2 mm, width 3.3-3.9 mm. General color (Fig. 11 A–C) yellowish brown to reddish brown; vertex and pronotum with median longitudinal dark band; each elytron green but with wide yellowish brown band along suture and lateral margin. Antennae filiform in males (Fig. 12A), length ratios of antennomeres I–XI 1.0: 0.6: 1.0: 0.9: 0.8: 0.7: 0.7: 0.6: 0.6: 0.6: 0.8, length to width ratios of antennomeres I–XI 2.4: 2.2: 3.7: 3.5: 3.1: 2.6: 2.7: 2.6: 2.7: 3.0: 3.6; similar in females (Fig. 12B), length ratios of antennomeres I–XI 1.0: 0.5: 0.8: 0.8: 0.7: 0.7: 0.7: 0.6: 0.6: 0.6: 0.8, length to width ratios of antennomeres I–XI 3.0: 2.1: 3.4: 3.4: 2.7: 2.8: 2.6: 2.8: 3.0: 3.0: 3.7. Pronotum transverse, 1.6 × wider than long, disc with sparse, extremely coarse punctures, and one pair of lateral depressions; lateral margins strongly narrowed basally; margins concave basally and apically. Elytra longitudinal with lateral margins broadly rounded, 1.3 –1.4× longer than wide; disc bearing random, dense, coarse punctures. Apical margin of abdominal ventrite V in males with median notch, bearing short, oblique ridges at margin, weakly concave between ridges. Ventrite V in females medially depressed, with narrow, shallow notch at middle. Median lobe (Fig. 12C, D) slender, 6.8 × longer than wide, apically tapering from apical 1/7, parallel-sided from base to apical 1/7; opening elongate, starting from apical 1/5 located on right; in lateral view strongly curved, slightly oblique; internal sac with one elongate sclerite, 0.5 × as long as median lobe, one additional sclerite located near base of elongate sclerites, base wide and bifurcate, apically membranous. Gonocoxae (Fig. 12F) elongate, membranous except apical parts, with one pair of weakly sclerotized, elongate sclerites at base; apical parts elongate, bearing tiny, scattered setae and four long setae at apices. Ventrite VIII (Fig. 12E) longitudinal and well sclerotized; apex rounded; abruptly broader at apical 1/5, with paired cluster of long setae near middle, disc bearing scattered, tiny setae along apical margin; spiculum long and narrow. Receptacle of spermatheca (Fig. 12G) strongly swollen; pump slender and strongly curved; proximal spermathecal duct deeply inserted into receptacle, broad but short.

Variability.

Some specimens have reduced punctures on the pronotum. Few specimens have yellowish brown elytra but suture and lateral margin reddish brown.

Host plants.

Ericaceae : Rhododendron pseudochrysanthum Hayata (Fig. 10D).

Biology.

Unknown. Adults are active from July to September.

Etymology.

This new species is named after Mr Jung-Chan Chen, a member of the TCRT and the first to collect this new species.

Distribution.

High mountains along South Cross-Island Highway (Kaoshiung and Taitung Counties).