Nisotra nigripes Jacoby, 1894

Lee, Chi-Feng, Chiang, Ming-Yao, Geiser, Michael F. & Chuang, Kuo-Hung, 2024, The genus Nisotra Baly, 1864 (Coleoptera, Chrysomeliae, Galerucinae, Alticini) in Taiwan, with redescriptions of four Asian species and notes on the immature stages of N. gemella (Erichson, 1834), ZooKeys 1205, pp. 299-331 : 299-331

Nisotra nigripes Jacoby

Figs 6 O, P , 13 , 14

Nisotra nigripes Jacoby, 1894: 293 ( Myanmar); Medvedev 2000: 21 ( Nepal); Zhang and Yang 2007: 844 ( China: Yunnan).

Nisotra orbiculata sensu Kimoto 1970: 215 (Taitung: Chipen (知本); Chiayi: Fenchihu (奮起湖 )); Kimoto 1989: 263 (Kaohsiung: Liu Kui (六龜 )).

Type.

Holotype (sex undetermined, based on photographs, MCZC, fixed by monotypy) (Fig. 2 O, P ): “ Ruby Mines / U. B. [p, w] // Type [p] / 18565 [h, r] // Nisotra / nigripes / Jac. [h, b] ”.

Additional material examined.

Laos. Vientiane: 1 ♂ ( NHMUK), 1 km W Vang Vieng , 15. VIII. 2004, leg. M. Geiser ; Myanmar. 3 ♀ ( NHMUK), Toungoo , coll. Andrewes, 1922-221 ; 1 ♂ ( NHMUK), Ruby Mines , leg. Doherty, Fry Coll., 1905.100 ; Kachin State: 2 ♂, 2 ♀ ( NHMUK), Nam Tamai , 2. VIII. 1938, leg. R. Kaulback ; Naga: 1 ♂, 1 ♀ ( SEHU), Somura , 1–2. V. 2005, leg. A. Abe ; Taiwan. Chiayi: 1 ♂ ( KMNH), Fenchihu (奮起湖), 12. IV. 1965, leg. T. Saigusa ; Hsinchu: 6 ♂, 2 ♀ ( TARI), Tahunshan (大混山), 24. II. 2009, leg. S. - F. Yu ; 1 ♂ ( TARI), Talu trail (大鹿林道), 22. X. 2008, leg. H. - J. Chen ; Kaohsiung: 1 ♀ ( TARI), Chungchihkuan (中之關), 16. IV. 2012, leg. L. - P. Hsu ; 2 ♀ ( KMNH), Liu Kui (六龜), 31. III. 1986, leg. K. Baba ; 2 ♂, 3 ♀ ( TARI), Namahsia (納瑪夏), 1. IX. 2012, leg. Y. - T. Chung ; 1 ♀ ( TARI), Peitawushan (北大武山), 27. V. 2013, leg. Y. - T. Chung ; 2 ♀ ( TARI), same but with “ 1. IX. 2016 ” ; 1 ♂ ( TARI), Shihshan logging trail (石山林道), 1–3. X. 2008, leg. M. - H. Tsao ; 2 ♂, 3 ♀ ( TARI), Tengchih (藤枝), 2–5. VI. 2008, leg. C. - F. Lee ; 1 ♂ ( TARI), same locality, 8. VI. 2013, leg. W. - C. Liao ; Nantou: 2 ♂, 1 ♀ ( NMNS), Hsitou (溪頭), 21. VIII. 2006, leg. W. T. Jin ; 1 ♂ ( KMNH), Lushan Wenchuan (廬山溫泉), 6. VI. 1976, leg. H. Makihara ; 1 ♂ ( TARI), same locality, 27–31. V. 1980, leg. K. S. Lin & L. Y. Chou ; 3 ♂, 2 ♀ ( TARI), Tungpu (東埔), 28. IV. – 2. V. 1981, leg. T. Lin & C. J. Lee ; 1 ♀ ( TARI), same locality, 18–23. XI. 1981, leg. T. Lin & W. S. Tang ; 1 ♂, 3 ♀ ( TARI), same locality, 19–23. VII. 1982, leg. L. Y. Chou & T. Lin ; 2 ♂, 2 ♀ ( TARI), same locality, 16–20. IV. 1984, leg. K. C. Chou & C. H. Yung ; 1 ♂, 6 ♀ ( TARI), same locality, 23–27. VII. 1984, leg. K. C. Chou & C. H. Yang ; Pingtung: 6 ♂, 4 ♀ ( TARI), Laii (來義), 23. IV. 2008, leg. W. - T. Liu ; 2 ♂, 4 ♀ ( TARI), Wutai (霧台), 12. IV. 2009, leg. U. Ong ; Taichung: 1 ♂ ( TARI), Chiapotai (佳保台), 14–18. X. 1980, leg. K. S. Lin & C. H. Wang ; Taitung: 2 ♂, 1 ♀ ( KMNH), Chipen (知本), 10. VIII. 1966, leg. H. Kamiya ; 1 ♂, 2 ♀ ( TARI), Lichialintao (利嘉林道), 24. IV. 2008, leg. C. - L. Hsiao ; 2 ♂, 1 ♀ ( TARI), Liyuan (栗園), 28. III. 2014, leg. W. - C. Huang ; Thailand. Siam: 2 ♀ ( KMNH), Tak, 20. VIII. 1961 .

Redescription.

Adults. Length 3.6–4.4 mm, width 2.3–2.7 mm (n = 92). General color yellowish brown (Fig. 13 A – C ); elytra, meso- and metathoracic and abdominal ventrites metallic purple; legs black. four basal antennomeres I – IV yellowish brown, V dark brown, VI – XI black. Antennae (Fig. 14 A ) filiform in males, ratios of lengths of antennomeres I to XI 1.0: 0.5: 0.5: 0.5: 0.6: 0.5: 0.6: 0.6: 0.6: 0.6: 0.9; ratios of length to width from antennomeres I to XI 2.9: 2.1: 2.5: 2.1: 2.2: 2.1: 2.0: 1.9: 1.8: 1.9: 3.1; similar in females, ratios of lengths of antennomeres I to XI (Fig. 14 B ) 1.0: 0.4: 0.4: 0.4: 0.5: 0.5: 0.5: 0.5: 0.6: 0.6: 0.8; ratios of length to width from antennomeres I to XI 3.3: 2.2: 2.8: 2.4: 2.7: 2.1: 2.2: 1.9: 2.1: 1.9: 2.8. Pronotum 1.8–1.9 × wider than long; disc shining, with sparse, fine punctures, less convex; longitudinal groove on each side of apical margin shallow, with several coarse punctures along longitudinal groove; short and shallow longitudinal groove on basal margin; lateral margins rounded; apical margins slightly concave; basal margin medially convex. Elytra 1.2 × longer than wide; disc with coarse punctures arranged into longitudinal lines, with fine punctures between coarse punctures; lateral margins rounded, narrowed behind middle. Aedeagus (Fig. 14 C, D ) wide, ~ 4.2 × longer than wide; parallel sided, subapically narrow, apex with one median rounded process; slightly curved in lateral view, apex directed inward; tectum membranous, internal sac without stout setae. Endophallic spiculae reduced. Gonocoxae (Fig. 14 G ) longer than wide, and basally connected; each gonocoxa subapically narrowed and apex truncate, and curved outwards, with eight or nine long setae along apical and outer margins. Ventrite VIII (Fig. 14 E ) with apex weakly sclerotized, with one semicircular membranous area at middle of apical margin and several long setae in a transverse line near apical margin, with several setae along apical margin, both types of setae absent medially, spiculum extremely long. Spermathecal receptaculum (Fig. 14 F ) strongly swollen; pump long and curved, with small apical process; spermathecal duct sclerotized, short after base of spermathecal gland.

Variation.

Adults from Taiwan have yellowish brown legs (Fig. 13 D – F ) that are different from those of the Asian continent, which possess black legs.

Diagnosis.

Most adults of N. nigripes Jacoby are similar to those of N. chrysomeloides but differ in possessing black legs (yellowish brown legs in others). However, Taiwanese populations of N. nigripes is not distinguishable from those of N. chrysomeloides , which is not recorded from Taiwan. In males of N. nigripes , the widely rounded apex of the aedeagus bearing a small process at the middle (Fig. 14 C ) differs from the truncate apex and small process in N. gemella (Fig. 7 C ) and N. dohertyi (Fig. 5 C ), and acute apex in N. chrysomeloides (Fig. 4 C ). The slightly curved aedeagus in lateral view (Fig. 14 D ) differs from the moderately curved aedeagus in N. gemella (Fig. 7 D ) and N. chrysomeloides (Fig. 4 E ), and strongly curved aedeagus in N. dohertyi (Fig. 5 E ). The membranous tectum (Fig. 14 C ) differs from the sclerotized tectum in N. chrysomeloides (Fig. 4 C ). In females of N. nigripes , laterally directed apices of and gonocoxae (Fig. 14 G ) are different from the straight gonocoxae in N. gemella (Fig. 7 G ), dorsally directed apices in N. chrysomeloides (Fig. 4 H ), and inwardly directed apices in N. dohertyi (Fig. 5 I ). The setae of abdominal ventrite VIII, with one transverse line of long setae inside the apical margin and dense short setae along the apical margin (Fig. 14 E ) differs from the presence of several pairs of long setae along the apical margin in N. dohertyi (Fig. 5 F, G ).

Host plant.

Adults in Taiwan feed on leaves of Hibiscus taiwanensis , which is an endemic plant.

Distribution.

China, Laos, Myanmar, Taiwan, and Thailand.

Zhang and Yang (2007) provided a key to Chinese species of Nisotra . We think most of the key is appropriate, but lengths of bodies and some coloration characters are too variable for reliable diagnoses. It is modified to include species from Taiwan as follows:

Figures

Figure 2. Type specimens and labels A Nisotra chrysomeloides Jacoby, 1885, lectotype B labels pinned with lectotype C Podagrica dohertyi Maulik, 1926, holotype D labels pinned with holotype.

Figure 4. Nisotra chrysomeloides Jacoby, adult A antenna, male B antenna, female C apex of aedeagus, front view D base of aedeagus, dorsal view E aedeagus, lateral view F abdominal ventrite VIII, female G spermatheca H gonocoxae.

Figure 5. Nisotra dohertyi (Maulik), adult A antenna, male B antenna, female C apex of aedeagus, front view D base of aedeagus, dorsal view E aedeagus, lateral view F abdominal ventrite VIII, female, from China (Yunnan) G abdominal ventrite VIII, female, from China (Laos) H spermatheca I gonocoxae.

Figure 6. Type specimens and labels A Haltica gemella Erichson, 1834, lectotype B aedeagus dissected from lectotype, left: dorsal view; right: lateral view C labels pinned with lectotype D labels pinned with a paralectotype E Sphaeroderma javana Motschulsky, 1866, lectotype F aedeagus dissected from lectotype, left: dorsal view; right: lateral view G labels pinned with lectotype H Sphaeroderma orbiculata Motschulsky, 1866, lectotype I aedeagus dissected from lectotype, left: dorsal view; right: lateral view J labels pinned with lectotype K Nisotra bowringi Baly, 1876, lectotype L labels pinned with lectotype M Podagrica hibisci Bryant, 1941 N labels pinned with lectotype O Nisotra nigripes Jacoby, 1894, holotype P labels pinned with holotype.

Figure 7. Nisotra gemella (Erichson), adult A antenna, male B antenna, female C aedeagus, dorsal view D aedeagus, lateral view E abdominal ventrite VIII, female F spermatheca G gonocoxae.

Figure 13. Habitus of Nisotra nigripes Jacoby A female, from Myanmar, dorsal view B ditto, ventral view C ditto, lateral view D male, from Taiwan, dorsal view E ditto, ventral view F ditto, lateral view.

Figure 14. Nisotra nigripes Jacoby, adult A antenna, male B antenna, female C aedeagus, dorsal view D aedeagus, lateral view E abdominal ventrite VIII, female F spermatheca G gonocoxae.