Batophila meihuai sp. nov.

Fig. 17, 18

Type specimens examined (n = 14).

Holotype ♂ (TARI). Taiwan • Ilan: Ssuyuan (思源), 25. IV. 2009, leg. C. - F. Lee . Paratypes • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀ (TARI), same data as holotype; • 4 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 28. IV. 2009, leg. M. - H. Tsou; • 1 ♂♂ (TARI), same locality, 31. VII. 2009, leg. H. - J. Chen; • Taichung: 1 ♂♂ (NMNS), same locality (= Ssuyuanyakou, 思源啞口), 25. VI. 2007, leg. P. H. Chan & W. L. Lien . The type locality “ Ssuyuan ” is located at the border between Ilan County and Taichung County.

Diagnosis.

Adults of B. meihuai sp. nov. are similar to those of B. taiwanica Döberl and B. yehi sp. nov. in possessing convergent elytral apices. However, adults of B. yehi sp. nov. are recognized by their stout antennae, length of antennomeres VI – X 0.5 × length of antennomere I (Fig. 15 A, B) [> 0.5 × in B. taiwanica (Fig. 22 A, B) and B. meihuai sp. nov. (Fig. 18 A, B)]. Adults of B. meihuai sp. nov. are also characterized by their distinct and sexually dimorphic longitudinal ridges on the elytra (Fig. 17) [indistinct or reduced longitudinal ridges on the elytra in B. taiwanica (Fig. 19) and B. yehi sp. nov. (Fig. 24)]. The aedeagus of these species are diagnostic: truncate apex in B. meihuai sp. nov. (Fig. 18 C), rounded apex with narrowly rounded process at middle of apical margin in B. taiwanica (Fig. 22 C), and widely rounded apex in B. yehi sp. nov. (Fig. 25 C).

Description.

Male. Length 1.64–2.08 mm, width 0.76–0.88 mm. General color metallic dark bronze (Fig. 17 A – C); antennae yellowish brown but six apical antennomeres darker; legs yellowish but femora of hind legs apically darkened. Antenna (Fig. 18 A) filiform and antennomeres VIII – X wide, ratio of length of antennomeres I – XI to length of antennomere I 1.0: 0.6: 0.5: 0.5: 0.7: 0.6: 0.7: 0.7: 0.6: 0.6: 0.9; ratio of length to width of antennomeres I – XI 2.5: 2.3: 2.3: 2.2: 3.2: 2.3: 2.4: 2.0: 1.7: 1.6: 2.5. Pronotum 1.19–1.32 × wider than long; lateral margins straight, anterolateral angles not separated from lateral margins, slightly narrowed basally, distance between anterolateral angles widest, 1.12–1.14 × wider than basal margin. Elytra 1.40–1.56 × longer than wide; lateral margins parallel between basal 1 / 5 to apical 1 / 3, apex convergent; dorsoventrally flattened, apex visible in dorsal view; disc with longitudinal lines of coarse punctures, and longitudinal grooves along punctures, distinct ridges present between longitudinal grooves, apices of ridges rounded, apically abbreviated. Tarsomeres I of front and middle legs strongly swollen. Aedeagus (Fig. 18 C, D) elongate, 6.9 × longer than wide; parallel-sided, strongly tapering near apex, apical margin truncate; dorsal opening from apical 1 / 7 to basal 1 / 3, tectum membranous; slightly curved in lateral view; ventral surface with membranous area narrower than dorsal opening, starting from apical 1 / 8 to 1 / 2.

Female (Fig. 17 D – F). Length 1.96–2.16 mm, width 0.90–1.03 mm. Antennae similar to males, but antennomeres VIII – X narrower than those of females, ratio of length of antennomeres I – XI to length of antennomere I (Fig. 18 B) 1.0: 0.5: 0.5: 0.5: 0.6: 0.6: 0.6: 0.6: 0.6: 0.6: 0.8; ratio of length to width of antennomeres I – XI 2.8: 2.2: 2.4: 2.4: 3.0: 2.6: 2.3: 2.2: 2.1: 1.9: 2.8. Elytra 1.42–1.43 × longer than wide; lateral margins parallel between basal 1 / 5 to apical 1 / 3, apex convergent; dorsoventrally convex, apex not visible in dorsal view; disc with longitudinal lines of coarse punctures, and longitudinal grooves along punctures, distinct ridges present between longitudinal grooves, apices of ridges acute, apically abbreviated. Gonocoxae (Fig. 18 F) slender, connected from basal 1 / 5 to base; each gonocoxa with seven long setae and one tiny seta from apical 1 / 6 to apex, subapically slightly curved. Ventrite VIII (Fig. 18 E) weakly sclerotized apically, with several short setae at sides of apex, spiculum extremely elongate. Spermathecal receptaculum (Fig. 18 G) strongly swollen, with transverse wrinkles at basal 1 / 2; pump wide and curved, with transverse wrinkles at apical 2 / 3; sclerotized spermathecal canal moderately long before base of spermathecal gland.

Food plants.

Rosaceae: Rubus sp.

Etymology.

This new species is named for Mei-Hua Tsou (曹美華), the first member of TCRT to collect specimens.

Distribution.

Only known from the type locality in northeast Taiwan (Fig. 4).