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Research Article
Revision of the genus Labidolanguria Fowler, 1908 (Coleoptera, Erotylidae, Languriinae), with descriptions of a new species and two new combinations
expand article infoZheng-Zhong Huang‡, Xing-Ke Yang‡, Si-Qin Ge‡§
‡ Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
§ University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

Corresponding author: Si-Qin Ge ( gesiqin12@hotmail.com )

Academic editor: Alexander Kirejtshuk
© 2025 Zheng-Zhong Huang, Xing-Ke Yang, Si-Qin Ge.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation: Huang Z-Z, Yang X-K, Ge S-Q (2025) Revision of the genus Labidolanguria Fowler, 1908 (Coleoptera, Erotylidae, Languriinae), with descriptions of a new species and two new combinations. ZooKeys 1233: 315-323. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1233.132046
ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7FDE27BF-6B00-4166-A0D7-F19619D28B40
Open Access

Abstract

The oriental genus Labidolanguria Fowler, 1908, previously remained unknown in China, is revised in this study. A new species, Labidolanguria liangi Huang, sp. nov., is described and illustrated from the Xizang Autonomous Region. Two new combinations are proposed: Labidolanguria apicata (Zia, 1959), comb. nov., and L. sauteri (Fowler, 1913), comb. nov. This genus now comprises four recognized species in Asian, and a key is provided for their identification. The relationship of the genus Labidolanguria to closely related genera is discussed.

Key words:

China, Cucujoidea, identification key, lizard beetle, new record, taxonomy

Introduction

The Genus Labidolanguria has been monotypic since Fowler (1908) established it in the subfamily Languriinae. In the present study, a new species was discovered and is described here as Labidolanguria liangi sp. nov. Additionally, two species formerly described in another genus are transferred into the genus Labidolanguria: Tetraphala sauteri (Fowler, 1913) and Tetraphala apicata (Zia, 1959). The number of the species of Labidolanguria is increased from one to four, which are mostly distributed in the Himalayan region and southwestern China. An identification key for all known Labidolanguria species is also provided.

Materials and methods

The material studied is deposited in the following collections:

IZASInstitute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

MNHN Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, France

NHMUK Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom

SDEI Senckenberg Deutsches Entomologisches Institut, Müncheberg, Germany

Specimens used in this study were relaxed in distilled water for 12–24 h prior to dissection of the genitalia and mouthparts. Detached parts were soaked in 10% KOH solution for 12–24 h at room temperature, rinsed with distilled water, and dissected in 75% ethanol under a Nikon SMZ1000 stereomicroscope. All photographs of adults were taken by a Canon 5D Mark III digital camera equipped with a Canon MP-E 65 mm macro lens. The images were stacked with Helicon Focus v. 6.7.1 and edited with Adobe Photoshop CS6 to correct contrast, brightness, and imperfections. We utilized a Zeiss Axio Zoom.V16 Fluorescence Stereo Zoom Microscope equipped with an AxioCam MRc 5 camera to acquire images of the male and female genitalia. Subsequently, we conducted photomontage in Zen 2012 (blue edition) imaging software.

The holotype and paratypes of L. liangi sp. nov. and L. apicata (Zia, 1959) comb. nov. are deposited in IZAS. The syntype of L. sauteri (Fowler, 1913) comb. nov. is deposited in SDEI. The holotype of Labidolanguria mucronata Fowler, 1908 is deposited in NHMUK.

Taxonomy

Labidolanguria Fowler, 1908

Labidolanguria Fowler, 1908: 9. Type species: Labidolanguria mucronata Fowler, 1908 by monotypy.

Diagnosis.

Antennal club composed of 4–6 antennomeres. Dorsal body surface with green or deep -green metallic luster. Compound eyes large and finely faceted. Pronotum with basal pronotal carina. Elytral epipleura absent, apex of elytra acute, with outer angle of elytra somewhat acute and produced, sutural angle acute but not produced. Prosternal process rectangular, with two long grooves along each side.

Distribution.

China (Xizang, Yunnan, Sichuan, Taiwan), India (Nilgiri Hills).

Remarks.

When Fowler (1908) established this genus, he only compared it with the genus Pentelanguria Crotch, 1876. Labidolanguria and Pentelanguria share a similar elytral apex, which is acutely pointed. Apart from the smaller and more slender antennae in Labidolanguria, the two genera can also be distinguished by the prosternal process, which is smooth and flat in Pentelanguria, whereas in Labidolanguria it is grooved laterally.

The genera Labidolanguria and Tetraphala exhibit strong similarities in the structure of the antennae, pronotum, and prosternal process. However, they can be differentiated by the elytral apex, which is consistently truncate and bears small denticles in Tetraphala, while in Labidolanguria it is acute and lacks denticles.

Key to species of genus Labidolanguria

1 Club composed of the last four antennomeres (Fig. 3A, B) 2
– Club composed of the last five or six antennomeres 3
2 Body with bright metallic green; outer angle of elytra acute (Fig. 1A L. mucronata Fowler, 1908
– Body deep copper green, with little metallic luster; outer angle of elytra not acute, sometimes with several denticles (Figs 1D, 2A–D) L. liangi sp. nov.
3 Club composed of the last five antennomeres; abdomen without any black spots (Fig. 1B) L. sauteri (Fowler, 1913), comb. nov.
– Club composed of the last six antennomeres; abdomen with black or green metallic spots (Fig. 1C) L. apicata (Zia, 1959), comb. nov.

Labidolanguria mucronata Fowler, 1908

Fig. 1A

Labidolanguria mucronata Fowler, 1908: 9. Type locality: India, Nilgiri Hills. Type depository: NHMUK.

Type material examined.

Holotype : Type [round label] // Type [red rectangular label] // Nilgiri Hills//Andrewes/Bequest. / B. M. 1922-221. // 623 [in red] // Labidolanguria mucronata Fowler/ TYPE [handwriting]//QR code NHMUK 010800985

Figure 1. 

Type materials of all species of Labidolanguria with labels pinned under each specimen A L. mucronata Fowler, 1908, holotype B L. sauteri (Fowler, 1913), comb. nov., syntype C L. apicata (Zia, 1959), comb. nov., holotype D L. liangi sp. nov., holotype. Scale bars: 5.0 mm.

Additional material examined.

WALLARDI(Travancore) // MUSEUM PARIS/ Ex. Coll. M. MAINDRON/ Coll. G. BABAULT 1930 // Labidolanguria mucronata Fowl. / A.Villiers det.; Himalaya/ oriental/ R. P. Bertrand // MUSEUM PARIS/ Coll. L. BEDEL 1922; Travancore/ Inde [handwriting] // MUSEUM PARIS/ 1930/ COLL SICARD

Distribution.

India.

Diagnosis.

The antennal club of this species is only composed of the last four antennomeres, and the outer angle of elytra is more acute in comparison with that of other species in this genus.

Labidolanguria sauteri (Fowler, 1913), comb. nov.

Fig. 1B

Tetralanguroides sauteri Fowler, 1913: 133. Type locality: China, Taiwan (Taihorin, Kosempo). Type depository: SDEI.

Tetralanguria sauteri: Villiers1945: 290.

Tetraphala sauteri: Leschen and Wegrzynowicz 1998: 241.

Type material examined.

Syntype : Kosempo/ Formosa/ H. Sauter, 1909 // 7. IX// Fowler det // Tetralanguroides sauteri Fowler. / TYPE // Syntypus [red label] // DEI Coleoptera / #200777.

Additional material examined.

6 exx. Formosa/ Taihorin / 1911; Kosempo/ Formosa/ 7. IX.1909.

Distribution.

China (Taiwan).

Diagnosis.

This species can be easily recognized by its antennal club composed of five antennomeres. The outer and sutural angles of the elytra are not very acute.

Labidolanguria apicata (Zia, 1959), comb. nov.

Fig. 1C

Tetralanguria apicata Zia, 1959: 236. Type locality: China: Sichuan. Type depository: IZCAS.

Tetraphala apicata: Leschen and Wegrzynowicz 1998: 241.

Type material examined.

Holotype : Sichuan Emei mountain, 1100 m, 1955.VI.22 [In Chinese] / leg. Wu Le [In Chinese] // [in Russian] // HOLOTYPE [red label] // IOZ(E)221361 [blue label] // Tetralanguria apicata m. / det. Zia Yonyon] 1957 [In Chinese]; Paratype: Sichuan Emei mountain, 580–1100 m, 1955.VI.22 [In Chinese] // leg. Huang Tian-rong [In Chinese] // [in Russian] // ALLOTYPE [green label] // IOZ(E)221362 [blue label].

Additional material examined.

1♂ 1♀ China: Yunnan Malipo County Xiajinchang Village Zhongzhai / 2015.VI.7 leg. Huang Z.Z. / IZCAS// N 23°07.213′ / E 104°49.378′ / alt. 1855 m / IZCAS.

Distribution.

China (Sichuan and Yunnan).

Diagnosis.

This species is unique within the genus for its abdominal color pattern; all three ventrites from II to IV have a black or green metallic spot in the middle of the basal margin. The last ventrite has a black or green metallic luster. The abdominal coxal lines are long and parallel.

Labidolanguria liangi Huang, sp. nov.

https://zoobank.org/8DDDFDC6-E22B-4332-B3EB-99A6B159DE14
Figs 1D, 2A–D, 3A–L

Type material.

China • Holotype male; Xizang Prov., Motuo, CAS; 1980.V.19; Leg. Jin Gen-tao, Wu Jian-yi; 24207168; HOLOTYPE, Labidolanguria liangi, det. Huang Z.Z. [red label]. Paratypes. China • 1♀; Xizang Prov., Motuo Dexing; 970 m; CAS; 1980.VI.1; Leg. Jin Gen-tao, Wu Jian-yi; 24204767 • 1♀; Xizang Prov., Motuo Dexing; 970 m; CAS; 1980.VI.1; Leg. Jin Gen-tao, Wu Jian-yi; 24204769 • 1♀; Xizang Prov., Motuo Kabu; 1200 m; CAS; 1980.V.10; Leg. Jin Gen-tao, Wu Jian-yi; 24203357 • 1♀; Xizang Prov., Motuo Yadong; 1250 m; CAS; 1980.V.25; Leg. Jin Gen-tao, Wu Jian-yi; 24204760 • 1♀; Xizang Prov., Motuo Aniqiao; 1200 m; CAS; 1979.VII.21; Leg. Jin Gen-tao, Wu Jian-yi; 24201228 • 2♀♀; Xizang Prov., Motuo Beibeng; 800–900 m; CAS; 1983.V.15; Leg. Han Yin-heng • 1♀; Xizang Prov., Motuo, Beibeng; 850 m; CAS; 1983.V.15; Leg. Han Yin-heng • 1♂; Xizang Prov., Motuo; 2013.VIII.02–03; Leg. Bai Xing-long, Shan Jun-sheng; Heibei university museum • 1♂; Xizang Prov., Motuo, Beibeng country; 2013.VII.30; Leg. Bai Xing-long, Shan Jun-sheng; Heibei university museum • 1♂; Xizang Prov., Motuo County, Renqinbeng mount; 1314 m; 2015.VIII.26D; IOZCAS; 29.3175°N, 95.3333°E; Leg. Liang Hong-bin, Wang Ming-qiang • 14♀♀, 3♂♂; Xizang Prov., Motuo County, Deguo Bridge; 837 m; 2015.VIII.18; IOZCAS; 29.4019°N, 95.3772°E; Leg. Huang Zheng-zhong • 2♀♀, 1♂; Xizang Prov., Motuo County, Yarang Village; 792 m; 2015.VIII.23; IOZCAS; 29.2964°N, 95.2772°E; Leg. Huang Zheng-zhong • 3♂♂, 2♀♀; Xizang Prov., Motuo County Dexing Country; 796 m; 2015.VIII.25; IOZCAS; 29.3203°N, 95.2911°E; Leg. Huang Zheng-zhong • 3♂♂, 3♀♀; Xizang Prov., Motuo County Motuo Town Lagong Tea plantation; 1253 m; 2021.VI.16D2; IOZCAS; 29.3191°N, 95.3158°E; sweep-net method; Leg. Liang Hong-bin, Xu Yuan et al. • 1♂, 2♀♀; Xizang Prov., Motuo County Motuo Town Lagong Tea plantation; 1294 m; 2021.VI.8D1; IOZCAS; 29.3187°N, 95.3157°E; Leg. Liang Hong-bin, Xu Yuan • 2♂♂; Xizang Prov., Motuo County, Beibeng Country, Gelin Village; 1758 m; 2021.VI.15D1; IOZCAS; 29.2134°N, 95.1717°E; Leg. Liang Hong-bin, Xu Yuan • 1♂; Xizang Prov., Motuo County, Beibeng Country, Jiangxin Road 2 km; 830 m; 2021.VI.12N1; IOZCAS; 29.2325°N, 95.1461°E; light trap method; Leg. Liang Hong-bin et al. • 1♀; Xizang Prov., Linzhi City, Motuo County, Beibeng Country, Jiaga Valley; 677 m; 2021.VI.13; IOZCAS; 29.2540°N, 95.1965°E; Leg. Liu Hong • 1♀; Xizang Prov., Motuo County, Beibeng Country, Jiangxin Village; 764 m; 2021.VI.13; IOZCAS; 29.2240°N, 95.1311°E; Leg. Liu Hong.

Figure 2. 

Labidolanguria liangi sp. nov. A, B holotype, male A habitus, dorsal view B same, ventral view C, D same, paratype, female C same, dorsal view D same, ventral view. Scale bars: 5.0 mm.

Distribution.

Known only from Motuo County (China, Xizang Autonomous Region).

Diagnosis.

This species resembles L. mucronata in body structures, but it is distinguished by its darker, duller coloration, and the apex of the elytra which is not as acute. Moreover, L. liangi exhibits sexual dimorphism at the base of the mesotibia: the male mesotibial segment terminates medially with some denticulations and a prominent terminal tooth, while the female lacks these features.

Description.

Body length 12.1–17.1 mm, width 2.4–3.3 mm. Body with coppery, metallic luster. Ventral side dark or black with metallic luster. Abdomen deep or pale brown; middle of ventrites I–IV nearly black and with deep green metallic luster; last ventrite always black and with metallic luster. Coxae and trochanters red-brown; femora and tibiae with green metallic luster. Tarsomeres I–III with indigo metallic luster. Antennomeres I–VII with green metallic luster; antennomeres VIII–XI with indigo metallic luster (Fig. 3A, B).

Figure 3. 

Labidolanguria liangi sp. nov. A holotype, male antenna B paratype, female antenna C holotype, male mesotibia D paratype, female mesotibia E–I holotype, male genitalia E male genital, lateral view; J median lobe, dorsolateral view G apex of median lobe, dorsal view I tegmen, dorsal view H tegmen, lateral view J–L female genitalia, paratype J ovipositor, dorsal view K same, dorsolateral view L spermatheca, lateral view.

Body slender and subparallel. Head with dense punctures, coarsest near eyes but finer between eyes. Antennae 11 antennomeres; club pubescence composed of four antennomeres. Compound eyes medium-sized, finely faceted. Clypeofrontal suture obvious; clypeus wider than long, with dense punctures. Anterior edge of clypeus straight or sometimes concave in middle.

Pronotum slightly convex, nearly rectangular, longer than broad, finely punctate; sides subparallel, but middle part of lateral pronotal carina invisible from above. Anterior angle round, thick, and not produced; posterior angle not acute but produced, reaching elytral humeri. Basal fovea deep, with one pair of short, deep lateral fovea. Basal margin complete and clear.

Prosternum coarsely punctate and plicated, without setae. Prosternal process long and trapezoidal, weakly convex in middle, with fine punctures. Each lateral side with deep groove; apex of prosternal process broad.

Scutellar shield liguliform, with round apex. Elytra parallel before apex, regularly striate-punctate, and with intervals with fine punctation. Apices of elytra tapering and acute; sutural angle distinctly acute and produced; outer angle of elytra not acute as sutural angle but more produced.

Mesoventrite coarsely and densely punctate. Median suture of metaventrite not reaching apex of metaventral process. Abdomen finely punctate, with one pair of long, parallel coxal lines, reaching half of ventrite 1. Last ventrite with dense, yellow setae at apex. Male genitalia similar to those congeners in the genus. Median lobe long and slender, slightly curved. Apex of median lobe somewhat acute (Fig. 3E–G); internal sac invisible. Paramere slender, with apex not produced and with short yellow setae (Fig. 3H, I). Ovipositor short, with apex sclerotized and acute, without stylus and setae (Fig. 3J, K). Spermathecal capsule heart-shaped (Fig. 3L).

Dimorphism.

The sexual dimorphism of this species is mainly reflected in the varying number of spines along the inner side of the mesotibia in males, with sometimes large, prominent terminal spines (Fig. 3C, D). This feature is not found in other species of the genus and is very rare even at the subfamily Languriinae in general. Some languriines exhibit sexual dimorphism in the form of protuberances on the profemur of males, such as in the genera Doubledaya and Callilanguria (Huang et al. 2018).

Etymology.

The specific epithet honors Dr. Hong-bin Liang, a specialist of Carabidae from the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, for his outstanding leadership and contribution during multiple expeditions in Yunnan and Xizang provinces.

Host plant.

In the field, we observed that this new species is relatively common in shrublands mixed with plants outside Motuo County and along the Renqingbeng Mountain Road (Fig. 4A, B). It lives on Diplazium sp. (family Athyriaceae) and was observed feeding on spores of this fern (Fig. 4C).

Figure 4. 

A, B the environment at the time of collecting, in Motuo County C Labidolanguria liangi sp. nov. feeding on spores on surface of fern leaf, and (inset) spores on beetle mouthparts. Photographs by Dr. Zheng-Zhong Huang.

Variation.

The variation of this species is mainly reflected in its body color and the spines on the mesotibia of males. Early collected specimens generally have a brownish body with a weak metallic luster. However, the specimens we collected in Motuo in recent years have a relatively dark -green body with a slight metallic luster. The differences in the spines on the inner side of the mesotibia of males among different individuals are also large, some are obvious, while others are not very prominent.

Discussion

Compared with the fungivorous erotylids, herbivorous languriines are rare in the family, yet their hosts remain largely unknown. Toki et al. (2020) recorded and summarized the hosts of some known species of adult and larval languriines. Some species of Tetraphala feed on ferns, and consistent with our unpublished data, the species of ferns they feed on belong to different families or genera.

Fowler (1908) established this genus and considered it similar to Pentelanguria, and both morphological characteristics and feeding habits indeed suggest that Labidolanguria and Tetraphala are rather closely related. The only difference between them is in shape of the elytral apex, which is why these two new combinations of Labidolanguria were initially assigned to Tetralanguria. (Tetralanguria was treated as a synonym of Tetraphala by Leschen and Wegrzynowicz 1998). In terms of feeding habits, both genera include relatively rare insects that feed on ferns. According to the latest review of phytophagous Coleoptera (Fuentes-Jacques et al. 2021), groups that feed on ferns account for 0.5% of currently recorded species with known feeding habits. Labidolanguria is here treated as a genus separate from Tetraphala, although it might be better to regard it as a subgenus. Further research on the phylogenetic relationships within Languriinae is essential to clarify this problem.

Acknowledgements

We sincerely thank all the curators, Mr Maxwell Barclay (NHMUK), Dr. Konstantin Nadein (SDEI), Dr. Theirry Deuve (MNHN), and Dr. Kui-yan Zhang (IZAS) for facilitating the first author’s examination of the specimens. We also thank Dr. Hongbin Liang (IZAS) for leading many memorable expeditions. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Dr. Szymon Konwerski (Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań) and other two anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions, which have greatly improved the quality of this manuscript. We are also deeply thankful to the editors, Dr. Alexander Kirejtshuk (Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg) and Robert Forsyth (copy editor of ZooKeys), for their guidance and support throughout the editorial process.

Additional information

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Ethical statement

No ethical statement was reported.

Funding

This study was supported by the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. 2023IOZ0310) and by the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program (STEP) under Grant No. 2019QZKK05010600.

Author contributions

Project administration: SQG. Supervision: XKY. Writing - review and editing: ZZH.

Author ORCIDs

Zheng-Zhong Huang https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0085-6218

Xing-Ke Yang https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0870-4657

Si-Qin Ge https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5924-3400

Data availability

All of the data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text.

References

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