Lema (Lema) lacertosa Lacordaire, 1845

Lee, Chi-Feng & Matsumura, Yoko, 2013, On newly and recently recorded species of the genus Lema Fabricius (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Criocerinae) from Taiwan, ZooKeys 262, pp. 17-38 : 24-30

Lema (Lema) lacertosa Lacordaire, 1845

Lema lacertosa Lacordaire, 1845: 339 [Bengal] [type depository unknown]; Baly 1865: 11; Jacoby 1908: 35; Monrós 1959: 186; Gressitt and Kimoto 1961: 69; Kimoto and Gressitt 1979: 249; Schmitt 2010: 362; Warchałowski 2011: 69.

Lema phungi Pic, 1924: 13 [Tonkin, Vietnam] (MNHN); Monrós 1959: 188; Warchałowski 2011: 69 (as probable synonym of Lema lacertosa ). synonymy confirmed

Lema jeanvoinei Pic, 1932: 11 [Hanoi, Vietnam] (MNHN); Monrós 1959: 186; Warchałowski 2011: 69 (as probable synonym of Lema lacertosa ). synonymy confirmed

Type series.

Lema phungi : lectotype 1 ♀, here designated, labeled: Hoa Binh/ Tonkin// Phungi/ Pic// Muséum Paris/ 1958/ Coll. Pic// SYNTYPE// MNHN/ EC3057//; paralectotype: 1 ♀// Hoa Binh/ / Tonkin// Phungi/ Pic// Museum Paris/ 1958/ Coll. Pic// SYNTYPE// MNHN/ EC3058//.

Lema jeanvoinei . 1 ♀// Tonkin/ Hanoi/ 7. IV. 1918/ JEANVOINE// Dessous/ et/ membres/ largement/ noirs// jeanvoinei/ n sp// Museum Paris/ 1958/ Coll. Pic// HOLOTYPE// MNHN/ EC3059//.

Material examined.

Taiwan: 4 exs.: Chiayi, Minhsiung, 29.IV.2010, leg. W.-T. Liu (TARI); 2 exs.: Chiayi, Niutoulun, 30.III.2010, leg. W.-T. Liu (TARI); 2 exs.: Kaoshiung, Niaosung, 2.VI.2008, leg. C.-H. Liu (TARI); 1 ex.: Kaoshiung, Taiao, 8.IX.2008, leg. W.-T. Liu (TARI); 1 ex.: Nantou, Chichi, 19.VIII.2010, leg. W.-T. Liu (TARI); 5 exs.: Pingtung: Chaochou, 5.XI.2009, leg. J.-C. Chen (TARI); 3 exs., same locality, 16.III.2010, leg. M.-H. Tsou (TARI); 11 exs., same locality, 2.VI.2010, leg. M.-H. Tsou (2 exs. in SEHU; 9 exs. in TARI); 3 exs.: Pingtung, Hengchun, 9.VII.2011, leg. J.-C. Chen (TARI); 1 ex.: Pingtung, Kaoshih, 8.V.2012, leg. J.-C. Chen (TARI); 1 ex.: Pingtung, Nanjen Lake, 3.I.2011, leg. J.-C. Chen (TARI); 1 ex., same locality, 29.IV.2011, leg. J.-C. Chen (TARI); 5 exs.: Pingtung, Wukoushui, 21.VIII.2010, leg. J.-C. Chen (TARI); 1 ex.: Taipei, Kuantu, 15.IX.2010, leg. S.-F. Yu (SEHU); 2 exs., same locality, 8.VI.2011, leg. S.-F. Yu (TARI); 1 ex.: Taitung, Anshuo, 7.XI.2011, leg. J.-C. Chen (TARI); 3 exs.: Taoyuan, Meihuali, 14.VII.2010, leg. H. Lee (SEHU); 5 exs.: Taoyuan, Chungli, 19.X.2010, leg. H. Lee (TARI); 4 exs.: Taoyuan, Kuanyin, 16.VI.2010, leg. M.-H. Tsou (TARI). Malaysia: 3 exs.: Negeri Selangor, Ulu Gomback, (Univ. Malaysia Field Studies centre. 220 m alt.), 10.III.2009, leg. Y. Matsumura (SEHU); 1ex.: Negeri Selangor, Ulu Gomback (Univ. Malaysia Field Studies/ centre. 220 m alt.) 8.XI.2009, leg. Y. Matsumura (SEHU); 1ex: Jalan Pahang Perk, Batu 19 (570m alt.), 8.XI.2009, leg. Y. Matsumura et al. (SEHU). India: 2 exs.: Calcutta, 14-19.X.1978, leg. JAP-IND CO TR (SEHU).

Diagnosis.

Lema lacertosa can be separated from Lema diversipes by the following combination of characters: body is distinctly smaller; anterior margin of the clypeus is curved inward and slightly concave; posterior lines of the vertex grove nearly straight; anterior region of the ventral surface is nearly black and posterior ⅓ (sterna 2-5) orange to brown; sterna almost entirely covered by pubescence, except around midline of the sternum 1 glabrous.

Redescription.

Body coloration ( Figs 3-4 ). Dorsum: Labrum and anterior ½ of frontoclypeus black, antenna brownish-black except antennomeres 1 and 2 which are orange to brown; remaining part of head, pronotum, scutellum and elytra brownish to reddish-orange. Procoxae black, protrochanters brown, profemora, protibiae, and protarsi orange with diffuse brown to blackish line; meso- and metatrochanters brown, femora, tibiae, and tarsi of meso- and metalegs black. Venter: anterior ⅓- ½ of prothorax orange, remaining area black to brownish-black; meso- and metathorax black; first abdominal sternite black to blackish-brown, other sterna orange to brown. Pubescence white. Antenna lighter colored than other parts, protrochanter and apical section of procoxae orange; proleg black basally. Basal ½ of first abdominal sternite black; especially in Malaysian populations with brighter orange color.

Head ( Figs 24-26 ). Width and length almost equal; vertex not raised, glabrous, surface smooth; area between X-shaped vertex groove and compound eye with relatively long setae, covered with fine sculpture; orbital area triangular, densely covered with pubescence; frontal tubercle indistinct, glabrous; frontoclypeus triangular, covered with setae, setae relatively dense on posterior ½, medial line region glabrous; labrum with ca. Seven relatively long setae, anterior margin curved inward and slightly concave; antenna filiform, ca. 0.7 times as long as body length, antennomeres 1-2 subglobular and almost glabrous with a few setae, antennomeres 3-11 bearing velutinous pubescence, apex of antennomeres 5-11 ringed with a few long setae, antennomere 3 subequal in length to 4, antennomeres 3+4 slightly longer than 5, antennomere 4 or 5 longest depending on individuals, antennomeres 6-10 subequal in length, antennomeres 3-10 cylindrical slightly thickening apically, apex of antennomere 11 conically prominent.

Pronotum ( Fig. 28 ). Slightly wider than long to almost equal, laterally constricted at middle; surface with a few small punctures around midline and anterior angles, rest with very fine punctures, transverse groove present near base with fovea in middle, anterior and posterior margins narrowly margined, posterior ridge internally with dense short setae. A long seta present in each anterior and posterior angle.

Scutellum ( Fig. 28 ). Trapezoidal and relatively wide, posterior margin concave, indistinct in some specimens. Surface glabrous, but in three of five Taiwanese specimens covered with a few setae.

Elytra ( Figs 3-4 ). 1.7 times longer than wide; one of six Taiwanese specimens very slightly depressed anteriorly but not depressed or indistinctly impressed in the other specimens. Lateral margins parallel; punctures slightly weakening posteriorly.

Pygidium. Anterior ⅓ densely covered with short hair-like projections except for stridulatory organ in anterior middle, size of stridulatory organ relatively small; posterior ⅔ with dense, stout setae.

Palpi of mouth parts ( Fig. 27 ). Apical maxillary palpomere relatively stout and conico-cylindrical but not enlarged; other palpomeres cylindrical, narrowing basally; one of two Indian specimens examined with relatively slender apical palpomere. Labial palpi with four palpomeres, apical three palpomeres relatively stout but not enlarged, apical palpomere conico-cylindrical.

Prothorax (lateral and ventral, Figs 29-30 ). Anterior area of prosternum transversely oblong anteriorly, with pubescent patch posteriorly, glabrous anteriorly, some specimens with very weak transverse wrinkles. Prosternal process very narrow and not raised, widened posteriorly. Surface of pronotal hypomeron smooth. Posterior arms of pronotal hypomeron normally not closed in most specimens, but closed in one Malaysian specimen and fused in one Indian specimen; prosternal process with bridge arms, bridge relatively short and not completely covering arms. With pubescent fringe anteriorly and posteriorly; anterior margin fringed with two rows of setae.

Mesothorax ( Fig. 30 ). Surface of mesosternum with fine sculpture and pubescence; posterior process with ridge along margin, pubescence on posterior ridge relatively long. Mesepisternum and mesepimeron with dense pubescence.

Metathorax ( Fig. 30 ). Metasternum oblong; almost entire margin with ridge; surface of medial area glabrous and other areas covered with pubescence; medial part of anterior ridge with relatively long pubescence; posterior margin between metacoxae with curved pubescence. Metepisternum with dense pubescence, lateral ⅓ with glabrous area overlapping elytra.

Legs. Procoxae conico-cylindrical, densely covered with pubescence, protrochanters glabrous, with relatively long setae on anterior ridgeline; profemora nearly glabrous except apex laterally with pubescence ventrally, dorsum with relatively dense pubescence except for glabrous base. Mesocoxae spherical, densely pubescent on lower anterior ½; mesotrochanters glabrous with very long pubescence on posterior ridgeline; meso- and metafemora with dense pubescence ventrally, glabrous dorsally except for dense pubescence apically. Metacoxae pubescent; metatrochanters glabrous except with long pubescence on posterior ridgeline; tibiae slender and only slightly tapering apically, covered with dense pubescence, basally ⅓ to ½ with slightly curved pubescence, apically with straight, transparent setae, almost glabrous dorsally; tibiae with lateral margin bordered with translucent brown spines apically, and armed with pair of very short, subequal, black-brown spines ventrally.

Abdominal sterna ( Fig. 31 ). Surface almost entirely densely covered by short pubescence; only around midline of sternite one glabrous, some specimens more or less depressed laterally.

Male genitalia ( Figs 32-36 ). Consisting of five parts: tergite 8, gastral spiculum, tegmen, median lobe and internal sac. Tergite 8 similar to that of female as described below. Gastral spiculum consisting of two pairs of twig-like sclerites, one pair longer than the other. Basal piece of tegmen rectangular in lateral view, tapering toward base. Median lobe stout, median foramen expanding and occupying ⅓ of ventral surface in lateral view, ventral end of median orifice round with rectangular and rounded protrusion. Internal sac with specialized state as in many members of the subgenus Lema , i.e. having pocket for storing elongated flagellum; median and ventral sclerites forming flagellum (1.58 mm, N=1); dorsal sclerite not separated.

Female genitalia and a part of reproductive systems ( Figs 37-42 ). Spermathecal duct relatively long (0.36-0.49mm, N = 2) with no specialized structure in opening to bursa copulatrix. Spermathecal capsule well sclerotized, its wall relatively thick; distal part hook-shaped, inner surface covered by winkle-like sculpture, junction area to spermathecal duct covered by scale-like sculpture; proximal part with a large potato-like structure, inner surface covered by transverse winkles. Spermathecal gland opening on a light-bulb like structure. Genitalia of four parts: tergites 8 and 9, and sternites 8 and 9; tergites 9 and sternite 9 consisting of a pair of sclerites; sclerotization of tergite 8 gradually weakened toward midline; sternite 8 with stick-like apodeme; posterior area of sternite 8 covered by scale-like sculpture; upper area of tergite 8 weakly covered by scale-like sculpture and lower area with fine pointed projections.

Measurements.

Specimens collected from India. Elytral length: male: 3.04 mm (N=1), female: 3.38 mm (N=1). Elytral width: male: 1.77 mm, female: 2.00 mm. Pronotum length: male: 1.00 mm, female: 1.15 mm. Pronotum width: male: 1.04 mm, female: 1.27 mm.

Specimens collected from Taiwan. Elytral length: male: 3.36 ± 0. 21 mm (mean ± SD, N=2), female: 3.56 ± 0.15 mm (N=4). Elytral width: male: 1.96 ± 0.11 mm, female: 2.05 ± 0.13 mm. Pronotum length: male: 1.08 ± 0.05 mm, female: 1.09 ± 0.05 mm. Pronotum width: male: 1.15 ± 0.02 mm, female: 1.20 ± 0.07 mm.

Specimens collected from Malaysia. Elytral length: male: 3.15 mm (N=1), female: 3.57 ± 0.21 mm (N=4). Elytral width: male: 1.81 mm, female: 2.13 ± 0.14 mm. Pronotum length: male: 0.96 mm, female: 1.10 ± 0.03 mm. Pronotum width: male: 1.13 mm, female: 1.21 ± 0.05 mm.

Host plant.

( Figs 45-46 ) Commelinaceae : Commelina communis L., 1753.

Distribution.

India, Malaysia, and Taiwan (new record). This species is also recorded from Laos, Vietnam, S. China, and Singapore ( Kimoto and Gressitt 1979), and Nepal ( Schmitt 2010). These identifications require confirmation.

Remarks.

Justification of identification of Lema lacertosa . Although Kimoto and Gressitt (1979) stated the type depository, they did not observe types and the type could not be located (see also remarks under Lema diversipes ). However from investigation of the literature we judged that there is a consensus for the identity of Lema lacertosa among chrysomelid taxonomists. Features of the commonly accepted species have no contradiction with the original description and the specimens which we examined and identified as Lema lacertosa .

Although we could not locate the holotype of Lema lacertosa , we have no evidence regarding the disappearance of the holotype. In addition, the identity of this species is relatively stable, so we do not designate a neotype for this species.

Figures

Figures 1 - 4. Habitus. 1 - 2 Lema diversipes 1 dorsal view 2 ventral view 3 - 4 Lema lacertosa 3 dorsal view 4 ventral view. (all at the same scale)

Figures 24 - 31. Lema lacertosa. 24 left antenna 25 head, dorsal view 26 frontoclypeus, dorsal view 27 mouth parts 28 prothorax, dorsal view 29 frontal fringe of prothorax, ventral view 30 thorax, ventral view 31 abdomen, ventral view.

Figures 32 - 36. Male genitalia of Lema lacertosa. 32 entire genitalia in ventral view 33 aedeagus in lateral view; outer membrane of internal sac was partly removed. Right side corresponds to posterior end 34 median lobe and tegmen in ventral view 35 internal-sac sclerites in dorsal view, basal part is enlarged 36 internal-sac sclerites in lateral view; Bc: body cavity; DS: dorsal sclerite; FCM: first connecting membrane; GS: gastral spiculum; IS: internal sac; ISS: internal-sac sclerites; ML: median lobe; MS: median sclerite; R: rectum; SCM: second connecting membrane; T: tegmen; T 8: tergite 8; VS: ventral sclerite.

Figures 37 - 42. Female genitalia of Lema lacertosa. 37 entire female genitalia and a part of reproductive system in lateral view 38 spermathecal capsule 39 sternite 8 40 sternite 9 41 tergite 9 42 tergite 8; BC: bursa copulatrix; Od: oviduct; R: rectum; SptD: spermathecal duct SptG: spermathecal gland; SptC: spermathecal capsule; PpSptC: proximal part of spermathecal capsule; DpSptC: distal part of spermathecal capsule; S 8: sternite 8; S 9: sternite 9; T 8: tergite 8; T 9: tergite 9.

Figures 43 - 48. Live adults or larvae in the field. 43 - 44 Lema diversipes on Pueraria lobata (Willd.) subsp. thomsonii (Benth.) Ohashi 43 a pair of adults 44 a cluster of larvae 45 - 46 Lema lacertosa on Commelina communis L. 45 adult 46 larva 47 - 48 Lema cyanella on Cirsium japonicum 47 adult 48 larva.