Corresponding authors: Xing-Ke Yang (
Academic editor: Al. Konstantinov
In this study, five new species of the leaf-beetle genus
Lei Q-l, Xu S-y, Yang X-k, Nie R-E (2021) Five new species of the leaf-beetle genus
With 708 species and six subspecies distributed worldwide (
During sorting of specimens in the Institute of Zoology, Academy of Sciences, five new species were found and are described here. In addition, photographs of the habitus, external parts and aedeagus of the new species and habitus of known species (in Suppl. material
The specimens were examined with an Olympus SZ61 microscope.
The abdomen was taken from the specimens, then transferred to a vial containing 5% NaOH solution and heated in boiled water around 5–7 minutes. The abdomen with aedeagus was washed in distilled water 3 or 4 times, transferred into a cavity slide using fine forceps and the aedeagus was separated by hooked minute-pin dissecting needles.
Habitus images were taken using a Canon 5DSR digital camera, equipped with a lens EF 75–300 mm f/4–5.6 linking a Nikon CFI Plan Apochromat Lambda 4× or 2× objective lens. Illumination was by flash, and each photo was taken by a macro slide system.
Aedeagus images were taken using a Nikon D610 digital camera, linking a Zeiss V microscope, with 5× and 10× objective lens. A cable shutter release was used to prevent the camera from shaking. The number of images taken was depending on the size of the aedeagus.
To get full depth of focus, all images were stacked with HELICON FOCUS 6 (
The label data is translated into English from the original Chinese.
Type specimens of the five new species are deposited in the
The life cycle of most species of
Palaearctic, Oriental, Australian, Afrotropical, Neotropical region.
Body length: 1.9–9.5 mm. Antennae longer than half or even equal to the body, segments 2 and 3 almost equal in length, segment 4 equal to or longer than sum of segments 2 and 3. Width of pronotum longer than length; anterior margin slightly depressed, basal margin protruding and lateral margins slightly protruding; basal margin and lateral margins with frame; anterior and posterior angle thickened, each angle with a seta-pore; disc convex, generally depressed on both sides. Scutellum triangular, smooth, and impunctate. Elytra broader than pronotum, humeral angle obvious; epipleuron broad before basal 1/3, then strongly narrowed and disappearing at beginning of apex. Anterior coxal cavities open or closed, each tibia with a spine in apex, spine of hind tibiae longest, 1st segment of hind tarsi longer than remaining segments combined; claws appendiculate. Last sternite of male with trilobate concavities, female normal, without any concavities (
Since its description, several genera have been synonymized with
The ratio of antennomeres 2 and 3 is of great importance for the identification in
There are also some similar genera in the Oriental region. In
Eleven similar genera are distributed in China. In
The species included in
Although 73 species of
Note: the key only includes species with the second and the third antennomeres approximately equal in length (see generic Remarks).
1 | Elytra with depressions |
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– | Elytra without depressions |
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2 | Elytra yellow, with three transverse black bands (Suppl. material |
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– | Elytra orange red, with two kidney-shaped depressions, one before middle suture, another outside of middle suture (Suppl. material |
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3 | Elytra entirely red |
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– | Elytra yellowish brown, reddish brown or black |
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4 | Pronotum black, elytra red (Fig. |
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– | Pronotum orange red, elytra with a pale-yellow dot near apex (Suppl. material |
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5 | Elytra black |
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– | Elytra yellowish brown, reddish brown or partially black |
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6 | Head yellow (Suppl. material |
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– | Head black or partial black |
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7 | Head partially black |
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– | Head black, body wide oval (Suppl. material |
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8 | Head partially black |
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– | Head yellow, yellowish brown or reddish brown |
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9 | Pronotum dark brown |
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– | Pronotum yellowish brown or reddish brown |
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10 | Abdomen yellowish brown |
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– | Abdomen black (Suppl. material |
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11 | Head black, frontal area dark yellowish brown (Suppl. material |
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– | Head yellowish brown (Fig. |
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12 | Abdomen yellowish brown |
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– | Abdomen black or dark brown |
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13 | Scutellum yellowish brown (Suppl. material |
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– | Scutellum black |
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14 | Legs black (Suppl. material |
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– | Legs reddish brown |
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15 | Antennae yellowish brown, segments 9–11 darker (Suppl. material |
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– | Antennae black, basal 4–5 segments yellowish brown |
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16 | Elytra yellow or reddish brown, without any bands |
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– | Elytra with yellow or with black bands |
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17 | Head black or partially black |
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– | Head not black |
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18 | Occiput reddish brown (Suppl. material |
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– | Occiput black or head entirely black |
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19 | Pronotum yellow; punctures of head stronger than that of elytra (Suppl. material |
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– | Pronotum red; punctures of head finer than that of elytra (Suppl. material |
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20 | Abdomen black |
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– | Abdomen not black |
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21 | Apex of elytra truncate (Suppl. material |
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– | Apex of elytra rounded |
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22 | Body usually small, less than 8 mm |
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– | Body very large, 9.5 mm |
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23 | Body length less than 2.5 mm |
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– | Body length more than 3.0 mm |
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24 | Elytral punctures arranged in irregular longitudinal rows (Suppl. material |
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– | Elytral punctures not arranged in rows |
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25 | Pronotum punctures larger than elytral ones; punctures of elytra not combined (Suppl. material |
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– | Pronotum punctures finer than elytral ones; some punctures of elytra combined (Suppl. material |
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26 | Antennae black, yellowish, or reddish brown |
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– | Antennae yellowish or reddish brown, except basal 3 segments black |
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27 | Antennae black |
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– | Antennae yellowish brown or reddish brown |
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28 | General color reddish brown |
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– | General color yellowish brown |
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29 | Elytra with strong punctures; abdomen without long hairs |
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– | Elytra with fine punctures; abdomen with long hairs |
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30 | Apex of aedeagus constricted dorsally (Suppl. material |
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– | Apex of aedeagus expanded dorsally, constricted near apex |
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31 | Antennomere 4 longer than or equal to the sum of 2 and 3 |
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– | Antennomere 4 shorter than the sum of 2 and 3 (Suppl. material |
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32 | Pronotum yellowish brown, lateral margins black (Suppl. material |
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– | Pronotum yellowish brown, without any color margin |
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33 | Antennomere 3 as long as 2 |
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– | Antennomere 3 1.3 times as long as 2 (Suppl. material |
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34 | Body length less than 3.5 mm |
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– | Body length more than 5.5 mm (Suppl. material |
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35 | Ventral side of mesothorax yellow or brown |
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– | Ventral side of mesothorax black |
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36 | Ventral side of mesothorax yellow |
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– | Ventral side of mesothorax brown (Suppl. material |
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37 | Space between elytral punctures equals to or larger than diameter of punctures |
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– | Space between elytral punctures less than diameter of punctures (Suppl. material |
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38 | Space between punctures equals to diameter of punctures (Suppl. material |
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– | Space between punctures 3 times as diameter of punctures (Suppl. material |
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39 | The apical area of elytra mostly black |
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– | The apical area of elytra not black |
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40 | Head partially black or not black |
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– | Head black |
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41 | Head partially black |
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– | Head not black |
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42 | Vertex black, basal 2/3 of elytra reddish brown |
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– | Frontal area black, basal 2/3 of elytra yellowish brown (Suppl. material |
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43 | Ventral surface of mesothorax and metathorax black, basal 1/2 of elytra reddish brown, apical 1/2 black (Suppl. material |
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– | Ventral surface of mesothorax and metathorax yellowish brown, basal 3/5 of elytra yellowish brown, apical 1/2 dark brown (Suppl. material |
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44 | Elytra with colorful border |
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– | Elytra with black markings |
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45 | Ventral side of mesothorax yellowish brown |
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– | Ventral side of mesothorax black (Suppl. material |
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46 | Lateral margin of pronotum has the same color as pronotum |
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– | Lateral margin of pronotum black |
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47 | Antennae reching more than 2/3 of elytra | 48 |
– | Antennae reaching middle of elytra |
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48 | Antennae almost as long as body |
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– | Antennae not reaching apical 2/3 of elytra |
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49 | Elytra yellowish brown, 4/5 lateral margin of elytra black (Suppl. material |
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– | Elytra yellowish brown, 2/5 lateral margin of elytra black (Suppl. material |
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50 | Ventral surface of mesothorax and metathorax black (Suppl. material |
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– | Ventral surface of metathorax black, mesothorax yellow (Suppl. material |
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51 | Elytra with black stripes or bands |
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– | Elytra with black or yellowish-brown spots |
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52 | Pronotum reddish brown |
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– | Pronotum yellowish brown, each elytron with a semicircle spot in the middle, apex with a black parentheses-shaped marking (Suppl. material |
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53 | Elytra black, with two pale spots in basal and apical area; or apex not black, with yellow spots in basal part (Suppl. material |
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– | Elytron without above characters |
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54 | Pronotum reddish brown |
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– | Pronotum yellowish brown |
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55 | Elytra without two black transverse bands |
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– | Elytra with two black transverse bands (Fig. |
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56 | Elytra with a black thin longitudinal band (Suppl. material |
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– | Elytra bands not longitudinal |
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57 | Apex and base of elytra with a black band, middle yellow (Suppl. material |
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– | Basal 1/6 of elytra and apical 1/6 with black bands, middle with transverse brown and yellow bands (Suppl. material |
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58 | Elytra with a small spot near base, a slightly larger spot after middle (Suppl. material |
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– | Elytra with more than two black spots or with yellow or brown bands |
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59 | Elytra with black spots between humeral angle and middle suture (Suppl. material |
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– | Elytra with yellow or brown bands |
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60 | Abdomen not black |
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– | Abdomen black; basal 2/3 of elytra black, with a yellow spot |
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61 | Basal part of elytra red, turn black gradually to apex, with a rounded spot in middle (Suppl. material |
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– | Middle part of elytra with a “T” shape black stripes (Suppl. material |
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62 | Abdomen black |
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– | Abdomen yellowish brown or reddish brown |
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63 | Antennae as long as body (Fig. |
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– | Antennae not reaching apical 2/3 of elytra |
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64 | Antennae not reaching to half length of body |
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– | Antennae reaching more than half length of body |
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65 | Tibiae and tarsi yellowish brown (Suppl. material |
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– | Fore-legs yellowish brown, apex of tibiae and tarsi dark brown; coxae to femurs of meso and meta-legs yellow, tibiae and tarsi dark brown (Suppl. material |
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66 | Elytra without any transverse bands |
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– | Elytra dark brown with a transverse yellow band (Suppl. material |
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67 | Elytra yellowish brown with wide dark brown frame (Suppl. material |
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– | Elytra black with a yellow dot in the middle (Suppl. material |
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Length: 5.5–6.6 mm, width 2.7–3.7 mm. Holotype: length 6.6 mm, width 3.4 mm.
Head, pronotum, prothorax, scutellum, ventral side of mesothorax and metathorax, abdomen, and legs orange; clypeus and mouthparts black; antennae black except 1st segment paler; tibiae slightly dark orange, tarsi black; basal area of elytra orange, middle to apical area black with an oval white spot.
Vertex slightly convex, with transverse wrinkles, punctures obvious, space between punctures almost equal to diameter of punctures, each puncture with a seta; frontal tubercle obvious, not deeply divided by ecdysial suture, triangular, glabrous and with several large punctures near frontal area; antennae longer than half of body, 1st segment arc-shaped, length ratio of 2nd and 3rd segment 19: 18; length ratio of 4th and the combination of 2nd and 3rd 2: 1.
Pronotum transverse, pronotum around 1.6 times as broad as long; disc slightly convex, glabrous, shallowly depressed on each side, surface with irregular strong and fine punctures, each puncture with short seta.
Scutellum triangular, smooth and impunctate.
Elytra about 1.5 times as long as broad, basal part wider than pronotum; humeral angle obvious; two types of punctures in elytra: space between large punctures about 3 times as wide as diameter of puncture, small punctures irregularly distributed; epipleuron strongly narrowed after basal 1/3 and disappearing at the beginning of apex.
Ventral surface of mesothorax and metathorax covered with long setae. 1st segment of hind tarsi 1.9 times as long as remaining segments combined. Anterior coxal cavities open.
The specific epithet
China: Guangxi.
This species is similar to
Length: 2.5–3.5 mm, width: 1.5–2.0 mm. Holotype: length 3.5 mm, width 2.0 mm.
Vertex orange, frons yellow, mouthparts dark brown; antennae dark brown except segments 1–3 brown; dorsal and ventral side of prothorax, coxae of front legs, femora yellow; scutellum, elytra, ventral side of mesothorax, metathorax, middle and hind legs dark brown; tibiae and tarsi of front legs pale brown, apex of middle and hind legs pale yellow.
Vertex convex, punctures sparsely and irregularly distributed; frontal tubercle developed; antennae longer than half of body, 1st segment arc-shaped, length ratio of 2nd and 3rd segment 16: 15, length ratio of 4th segment and the combination of 2nd and 3rd 45: 31.
Pronotum transverse, around 1.6 times as broad as long; disc slightly convex, shallowly depressed on each side, punctures unapparent, sparsely distributed; space between punctures wider than diameter of punctures.
Scutellum triangular, smooth and impunctate. The elytron about 1.6 times as long as broad; basal part wider than pronotum, humeral angle obvious; punctures on elytra irregularly distributed, space between punctures about 3 times as diameter of punctures. Epipleuron strongly narrowed after basal 1/3 and disappearing at beginning of apex.
Ventral surface of mesothorax, metathorax, and abdomen covered with long hairs.
Width and length ratio of median apical lobe 1.1 (apex part width to length), 2.2 (basal part width to length) (Fig.
The specific epithet
China: Yunnan.
This species is similar to
Length: 3.0–3.6 mm, width: 1.5–1.7 mm.
Head, dorsal and ventral side of prothorax, and legs yellowish brown; mouthparts, scutellum, ventral side of mesothorax and metathorax black; antennae black, except segments 1–3 yellowish brown; elytra and abdomen pale yellow, basal and postmedian area of elytra with transverse black stripe.
Vertex convex, with sparsely distributed punctures; frontal tubercle developed, trapezoid, glabrous and without punctures; antennae reach half of body, 1st segment arc-shaped, length ratio of segment 2nd and 3rd 15: 16, length ratio of 4thand combination of 2nd and 3rd 34: 31.
Pronotum about 1.5 times as broad as long; disc slightly convex, shallowly depressed on each side, punctures unapparent and sparsely distributed.
Scutellum triangular, smooth and impunctate. Elytron about 1.5 times as long as broad; basal part wider than pronotum, humeral angle obvious; punctures evenly distributed, space between punctures is about 2 times as diameter of puncture, each puncture with seta; epipleuron strongly narrowed after basal 1/3, disappearring at beginning of apex. Ventral side of mesothorax, metathorax and abdomen covered with long hairs.
The specific epithet
China: Zhejiang.
This species is similar to
Head, dorsal and ventral side of prothorax, mesothorax, metathorax, and femora orange; mouthparts darker; antennae dark brown, 1st segment pale; scutellum, tibiae, and tarsi black; a wide, transverse, pale, yellowish-brown stripe after middle part of elytra, which reaches middle sutures but not to lateral margins.
Vertex convex, with transverse wrinkle, punctures obvious and evenly distributed, space between punctures is about twice as diameter of punctures; frontal tubercle developed, deeply divided by ecdysial suture, not reaching compound eye, triangular, glabrous and with a few punctures; antennae reach apex of elytra, 1st segment arc-shaped, 2nd antennomere equal to 3rd, 4th segment longer than sum of 2nd and 3rd.
Pronotum about 1.5 times as broad as long; disc slightly convex, shallowly depressed on each side; punctures obvious, densely and irregularly distributed, space between punctures wider than diameter of punctures.
Scutellum triangular, smooth and impunctate. Elytron nearly 1.6 times as long as broad; basal part broader than pronotum, humeral angle obvious; punctures evenly distributed, space between punctures about 2–3 times diameter of punctures. Epipleura strongly narrowed after basal 1/3 and disappearing at beginning of apex. Ventral side of mesothorax, metathorax and abdomen covered with long hairs.
This species is named after its type locality at Mengsong.
China: Yunnan.
This species resembles
Length: 4.5–5.5 mm, width 2.2–3.0 mm.
Head, pronotum, prothorax, and legs black; scutellum, elytra, mesothorax, metathorax, and abdomen orange to reddish brown. Basal 1/2 of hind femur orange.
Vertex slightly convex with transverse wrinkle visible only laterally, punctures sparsely and irregularly distributed; frontal tubercle developed, deeply divided by ecdydial suture, triangular, not very glabrous and with many wrinkles on; antennae reach half of the body, 1st segment arc-shaped, length ratio of segment 2nd and 3rd 19:21, length ratio of 4th and the combination of 2nd and 3rd 23:18.
The pronotum is about 1.7 times as broad as long; disc slightly convex, shallowly depressed on each side; surface with irregular strong punctures, densely distributed near anterior margin, sparsely near basal margin. Anterior coxal cavities open.
Scutellum triangular, smooth and impunctate. Elytra is about 1.4 times as long as broad; basal part wider than pronotum, humeral angle obvious; punctures on elytra evenly distributed, with very short seta, space between punctures about 2–4 times as diameter of punctures; epipleuron strongly narrowed after basal 1/3 and disappearing at the beginning of apex. Ventral side of mesothorax, metathorax and abdomen glabrous, covered with longhairs.
The width and length ratio of median apical lobe is 1.2 (apex width to length), 2.3 (basal width to length) (Fig.
The specific epithet
China: Hunan, Fujian, Sichuan.
This species is similar to
We acknowledge Valérie A. Lemaître and Michael D. Webb (the Natural History Museum of London, UK) for checking the English and giving useful comments. We thank Jan Bezděk (Mendel University, Czech Republic) and Yan-dong Chen for providing some references, Jin Wang for helping to check the labels of
Appendix S1.
catalogue and habitus
The file contains the catalogue of Chinese