Species group of Phymatocera aterrima

Description. Genal orbit with one membranous-bottom pit (Fig. 9B) (with nonmembranous-bottom pit in P. sp.-3). Malar space facing almost ventrally, in lateral view linear or not visible (Fig. 9D), with minimum breadth 0.2 × or less median ocellus width. Antenna with length about 2.5 × head width in female, usually about 3.0–3.5 × in male (2.6 × in male of P. sp.-1) (Figs 13A, B, 14A, C, 16A, C); in female antenna, flagellum with setae longer than or as long as 1/2 middle width of flagellomere 1 in dorsal view and uniform in length (Fig. 9G, H); in male antenna, flagellum with setae long, except for relatively short setae on dorsal surface, and long setae longer than or as long as middle width of flagellomere 1 in dorsal view (Fig. 9K, L) (with setae long on ventral margin in P. longitheca, according to Wei & Nie 2003); flagellomere 2 dorsal length 1.1–1.2 × flagellomere 1 dorsal length in female, and 1.2–1.6 × in male. Mesoscutellar appendage 0.14–0.22 × as long as mesoscutellum. Hind tarsus with length of plantar lobe of tarsomere 1 0.3–0.7 × distance between plantar lobes of tarsomeres 1 and 2 in female, 0.3–0.5 × in male. Tarsal claws with inner tooth large (Figs 13D, 14D, 16D) (small or somewhat large in P. sp.-2). Dorsal membranous area of abdominal segment 1 inverted funnel shaped, with middle width about 0.1–0.3 × length (Fig. 12C–F).

Remarks. This species group is mainly characterized by the long setae of the male antenna (Fig. 9K, L). This character appears to be unique to this species group and may be a synapomorphy indicating the monophyly of the group.

Goulet (1981) considered the lack of an “epicnemium” (= prepectus) to be a synapomorphy of P. aterrima and P. nipponica of the P. aterrima group, but P. nipponica often has a distinct prepectus.

Species included. The following 10 species belong to this group (five of them are undescribed): P. aterrima (Klug, 1816) from Korea, China (Heilongjiang, Liaoning), Kazakhstan, Armenia, Europe; P. longitheca Wei, 2003 (in Wei & Nie 2003) from China (Zhejiang, Fujian, Hunan); P. membra Wei, 2002 from China (Henan), Japan (Kyushu); P. nipponica Togashi, 1958 from Japan (Shikotan Is., Rishiri Is., Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, Tsushima Is.), Korea, Russia (Sakhalin); P. satoi Hara, sp. nov. from Japan (Honshu); P. spp.-1–5 from East Asia.