Research Article |
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Academic editor: Ron Beenen
© 2025 Chi-Feng Lee.
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Citation:
Lee C-F (2025) The genus Batophila Foudras, 1860 (Coleoptera, Chrysomeliae, Galerucinae, Alticitae) in Taiwan, with descriptions of 11 new species. ZooKeys 1258: 73-118. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1258.163900
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The Taiwanese species of the genus Batophila Foudras, 1860 are revised. Batophila acutangula Heikertinger, 1921 is removed from the list of Taiwanese fauna. Batophila taiwanica Döberl, 2010 is recognized and redescribed. Additionally, eleven new species from Taiwan are described: B. alishanensis sp. nov., B. choui sp. nov., B. chungi sp. nov., B. houjayi sp. nov., B. huangi sp. nov., B. jungchani sp. nov., B. meihuai sp. nov., B. tsoui sp. nov., B. wusheensis sp. nov., B. yehi sp. nov., and B. yuae sp. nov. The species descriptions include illustrations of aedeagi, antennae, gonocoxae, abdominal ventrite VIII, and spermathecae.
Host plant, leaf beetles, Melastomataceae, Polygonaceae, Rosaceae, Rubus, taxonomy
The flea beetle genus Batophila Foudras, 1860 can be recognized easily by the combination of the following characters: general color metallic; anterior coxal cavities open posteriorly; dorsum not pubescent; pronotum evenly convex, without a distinct antebasal, transverse impression; elytron with reduced humeral calli, punctures arranged into 10 rows; hind wings absent; prosternum exceeding posterior margin of coxae; hind tibia with apical, simple spine; tarsomere III bilobed (
This genus contains 30 species recorded from Oriental and Palearctic regions (
For taxonomic study, abdomens of adults were separated from the forebodies and boiled in 10% KOH solution, followed by washing in distilled water to prepare genitalia for illustrations. The genitalia were then dissected from the abdomens, mounted on slides in glycerin, and studied and drawn using a Leica M165 stereomicroscope. For detailed examinations, a Nikon ECLIPSE 50i microscope was used.
At least three males and females from each species were examined to delimit variability of diagnostic characters. For species collected from more than one locality or with color variations, at least one pair of each sex from each locality and color morph was examined. Length was measured from the anterior margin of the eye to the elytral apex, and width at the greatest width of the elytra. Nomenclature for morphological structures of adults follows
Specimens studied herein are deposited at the following institutes and collections:
Exact label data are cited for all type specimens of described species; a double slash (//) divides the data on different labels and a single slash (/) divides the data in different rows. Other comments and remarks are in square brackets: [p] – preceding data are printed, [h] – preceding data are handwritten, [r] – red label, [w] – white label.
Batophila acutangula Heikertinger, 1921: 7.
Batophila yangweii Chen, 1933: 250; Heikertinger, 1948: 53 (as synonym for B. acutangula).
Lectotype
♂ (
Batophila acutangula Heikertinger, 1921 is not found in Taiwan although it was recorded from Taiwan previously (
Batophila acutangula:
Holotype
♂ (
Adults of B. alishanensis sp. nov. are similar to those of B. wusheensis sp. nov., B. houjayi sp. nov. (Figs
Male. Length 1.44–1.61 mm, width 0.74–0.80 mm. General color metallic dark bronze (Fig.
Female (Fig.
Rosaceae: Rubus sp.
This new species is named after its type locality, Alishan (阿里山).
Only known from the abovementioned localities, which are alpine habitats in southern Taiwan (Fig.
Batophila acutangula:
Holotype
♂ (
Adults of B. choui sp. nov., B. chungi sp. nov., and B. tsoui sp. nov. are recognized by their strongly apically narrowed elytra, and divergent elytral apex. They differ by the presence of convex elytra and elytral apices not visible in dorsal view in both sexes (Fig.
Male. Length 1.99–2.18 mm, width 0.83–0.90 mm. General color metallic dark bronze (Fig.
Female (Fig.
Rosaceae: Rubus corchorifolius L. f.
This new species is named after late Dr. Liang-Yih Chou (周樑鎰), who worked as Researcher at the
Holotype
♂ (
Adults of B. chungi sp. nov., B. tsoui sp. nov., and B. choui sp. nov. are recognized by their strongly apically narrowed elytra, and divergent elytral apices, but B. chungi sp. nov. and B. tsoui sp. nov. differ in possessing flattened elytra in males and convex elytra in females (Fig.
Male. Length 1.95–2.32 mm, width 0.79–0.91 mm. General color metallic dark bronze; legs yellowish but femora of hind legs darkened. Antenna (Fig.
Female. Length 2.11–2.45 mm, width 0.91–1.03 mm. Antennae similar to males, ratio of length of antennomeres I–XI to length of antennomere I (Fig.
Rosaceae: Rubus formosensis Kuntze; R. taitoensis var. aculeatiflorus (Hayata) H. Ohashi & C. F. Hsieh (Fig.
Field photographs of Batophila species A. Rubus taitoensis var. aculeatiflorus (Rosaceae); B. Adult of B. chungi sp. nov. on underside of leaf of R. taitoensis var. aculeatiflorus; C. Adult of B. houjayi sp. nov. resting on underside of leaf of Persicaria chinense (Polygonaceae); D. Adults of B. tsoui sp. nov. resting on underside of leaf of R. wallichianus (Rosaceae); E. Otanthera scaberrima (Melastomataceae); F. Adults of B. tsoui sp. nov. feeding on underside of leaf of O. scaberrima
This new species is named for Yi-Ting Chung (鍾奕霆), the first member of TCRT to collect specimens.
Only known from the type locality in southern Taiwan (Fig.
Batophila acutangula:
Batophila yangweii:
Holotype
♂ (
Adults of B. houjayi sp. nov. are not separable from those of B. wusheensis sp. nov., B. yuae sp. nov., B. jungchani sp. nov., and B. huangi sp. nov. that are characterized by truncate elytral apices based on external morphology except for the aedeagus (see below). However, these species can be recognized by their allopatric distributions [B. houjayi sp. nov. inhabits high mountains in Chiayi, Ilan, Hualien, and Nantou counties, B. wusheensis sp. nov. in lowlands of Nantou County, B. yuae sp. nov. in lowlands of Taipei and New Taipei Cities, and Ilan County, B. jungchani sp. nov. in high mountains of Taichung and Miaoli counties, B. huangi sp. nov. in lowlands of Miaoli County and high mountains in Hsinchu and Taoyuan counties (Fig.
Male. Length 1.63–1.92 mm, width 0.82–0.94 mm. General color metallic dark bronze (Fig.
Females (Fig.
Longitudinal ridges on elytra present in most individuals from Alishan (Fig.
Rosaceae: Rubus lambertianus Ser. and R. croceacanthus H. Lév.; Polygonaceae: Persicaria thunbergia Sieb. et Zucc. and P. chinense L. (Fig.
This new species is named for Hou-Jay Chen (陳厚潔), the first member of TCRT to collect specimens.
This species is widespread in mountainous areas of south and central Taiwan (Fig.
Batophila yangweii:
Holotype
♂ (
Adults of B. huangi sp. nov. are not separable from those of B. houjayi sp. nov., B. wusheensis sp. nov., B. yuae sp. nov., and B. jungchani sp. nov. that are characterized by truncate elytral apices based on external morphology (Figs
Male. Length 1.52–1.75 mm, width 0.77–0.86 mm. General color metallic dark bronze; antennae yellowish brown but six apical antennomeres darker; legs yellowish but femora of hind legs darkened. Antenna (Fig.
Female. Length 1.97–2.19 mm, width 1.00–1.06 mm. Antennae similar to males, ratio of length of antennomeres I–XI to length of antennomere I (Fig.
Rosaceae: Rubus sp.
This new species is named for Dr. Kun-Wei Huang (黃坤煒), who was a former research scientist at the
This species is widespread in mountainous areas of northwestern Taiwan (Fig.
Holotype
♂ (
Adults of B. jungchani sp. nov. are not separable from those of B. houjayi sp. nov., B. wusheensis sp. nov., B. yuae sp. nov., and B. huangi sp. nov. that are characterized by truncate elytral apices based on external morphology (Figs
Male. Length 1.93–2.01 mm, width 0.94–0.97 mm. General color metallic dark bronze; antennae and legs reddish brown. Antenna (Fig.
Female. Length 2.20–2.34 mm, width 1.06–1.17 mm. Antennae similar to males, ratio of length of antennomeres I–XI to length of antennomere I (Fig.
Unknown.
This new species is named for Jung-Chan Chen (陳榮章), the first person to collect specimens.
This species is widespread in alpine areas of central Taiwan (Fig.
Holotype
♂ (
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.
Male. Length 1.64–2.08 mm, width 0.76–0.88 mm. General color metallic dark bronze (Fig.
Female (Fig.
Rosaceae: Rubus sp.
This new species is named for Mei-Hua Tsou (曹美華), the first member of TCRT to collect specimens.
Only known from the type locality in northeast Taiwan (Fig.
Batophila acutangula:
Batophila yangweii:
Holotype
(♂, MNHG) (Fig.
Taiwan • Hsinchu: 1♂ (
Adults of B. taiwanica Döberl are similar to those of B. yehi sp. nov. and B. meihuai sp. nov. in possessing convergent elytral apices. However, adults of B. taiwanica (Fig.
Male. Length 1.52–1.67 mm, width 0.80–0.83 mm. General color metallic dark bronze (Fig.
Female (Fig.
Rosaceae: Rubus croceacanthus H. Lév.
This species is widespread in mountainous areas of central Taiwan (Fig.
Batophila acutangula:
Batophila yangweii:
Holotype
♂ (
Adults of B. tsoui sp. nov., B. chungi sp. nov., and B. choui sp. nov. are recognized by their strongly and apically narrowed elytra, and divergent elytral apices, but B. tsoui sp. nov. and B. chungi sp. nov. differ in possessing flattened elytra in males (Fig.
Male. Length 1.86–1.94 mm, width 0.77–0.80 mm. General color metallic dark bronze (Fig.
Female (Fig.
Melastomataceae: Otanthera scaberrima (Hayata) Ohwi (Fig.
This new species is named for Mei-Hua Tsou (曹美華), the first member of TCRT to collect specimens.
This species is widespread in mountainous areas in southern Taiwan (Fig.
Batophila yangweii:
Holotype
♂ (
Adults of B. wusheensis sp. nov. are not separable from those of B. houjayi sp. nov., B. yuae sp. nov., B. jungchani sp. nov., and B. huangi sp. nov. that are characterized by truncate elytral apices based on external morphology (Figs
Male. Length 1.57–1.74 mm, width 0.70–0.80 mm. General color metallic dark bronze; antennae yellowish brown but six apical antennomeres darker; legs yellowish but femora of hind legs darkened. Antenna (Fig.
Female. Length 1.96–2.30 mm, width 0.87–1.00 mm. Antennae similar to males, ratio of length of antennomeres I–XI to length of antennomere I (Fig.
Unknown.
This new species is named after its type locality, Wushe (霧社).
Only known from the abovementioned localities in central Taiwan (Fig.
Holotype
♂ (
Adults of B. yehi sp. nov. are similar to those of B. taiwanica Döberl and B. meihuai 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.
Male. Length 1.39–1.57 mm, width 0.69–0.78 mm. General color metallic dark bronze (Fig.
Female. Length 1.63–1.73 mm, width 0.81–0.89 mm. Antennae similar to males, but antennomeres VIII–X wider than those of males, ratio of length of antennomeres I–XI to length of antennomere I (Fig.
Individuals collected from Hehuanshan (合歡山) (Fig.
Rosaceae: Fragaria hayatai Makino.
This new species is named for Dr. Wen-Bin Yeh (葉文斌), who worked as professor at the National Chung Hsing University and collected most of the type series.
This species is found in alpine areas of central Taiwan (Fig.
Batophila yangweii:
Holotype
♂ (
Adults of B. yuae sp. nov. are not separable from those of B. houjayi sp. nov., B. wusheensis sp. nov., B. jungchani sp. nov., and B. huangi sp. nov. that are characterized by truncate elytral apices based on external morphology (Figs
Male. Length 1.53–1.67 mm, width 0.76–0.80 mm. General color metallic dark bronze; antennae yellowish brown but six apical antennomeres darker; legs yellowish but femora of hind legs darkened. Antenna (Fig.
Female. Length 1.74–1.78 mm, width 0.86–0.92 mm. Antennae similar to males, ratio of length of antennomeres I–XI to length of antennomere I (Fig.
Rosaceae: Rubus corchorifolius L. f.
This new species is named for Su-Fang Yu (余素芳), the first member of TCRT to collect specimens.
This species is widespread at lowlands of northern Taiwan (Fig.
| 1 | Elytra abruptly, apically narrowed (Figs |
2 |
| – | Elytra gradually, apically narrowed (Figs |
4 |
| 2 | Elytra dorsoventrally convex, apex not visible in dorsal view in both sexes; aedeagus parallel-sided (Fig. |
B. choui sp. nov. |
| – | Elytra dorsoventrally convex only in female but flattened in males; aedeagus subapically widened (Fig. |
3 |
| 3 | Aedeagus slightly wide in apical 1/5 (Fig. |
B. tsoui sp. nov. |
| – | Aedeagus extremely wide in apical 1/5 (Fig. |
B. chungi sp. nov. |
| 4 | Elytral apices convergent, or divergent and rounded (Figs |
5 |
| – | Elytral apices truncate (Figs |
7 |
| 5 | Antennae stout, antennomeres VI–X 0.5 as long as antennomere I, apex of aedeagus widely rounded (Figs |
B. yehi sp. nov. |
| – | Antennae slender, antennomeres VI–X > 0.5 as long as antennomere I (Figs |
6 |
| 6 | Longitudinal ridges on elytra distinct and sexually dimorphic; apex of aedeagus truncate (Fig. |
B. meihuai sp. nov. |
| – | Longitudinal ridges on elytra instinct or reduced; apex of aedeagus rounded but with one rounded process at middle (Fig. |
B. taiwanica Döberl |
| 7 | Punctures on elytra tiny (Fig. |
B. alishanensis sp. nov. |
| – | Punctures on elytra coarse (Figs |
8 |
| 8 | Apex of aedeagus tapering (Figs |
9 |
| – | Apex of aedeagus rounded, but with one process at middle of apical margin (Figs |
10 |
| 9 | Apex of aedeagus tapering from apical 1/10; in high mountains of Taichung and Miaoli counties (Fig. |
B. jungchani sp. nov. |
| – | Apex of aedeagus tapering from apical 1/5; in lowlands of Nantou County (Fig. |
B. wusheensis sp. nov. |
| 10 | Apex of aedeagus widely rounded (Fig. |
B. houjayi sp. nov. |
| – | Apex of aedeagus rounded, with one process at middle of apical margin (Figs |
11 |
| 11 | Rounded apex of aedeagus with one rounded process at middle of apical margin (Fig. |
B. huangi sp. nov. |
| – | Rounded apex of aedeagus with one truncate process at middle of apical margin (Fig. |
B. yuae sp. nov. |
Species diversity of Batophila in Taiwan is unexpectedly high by comparison with ten species in mainland China (
At many localities two species of Batophila occur sympatrically. Finding more than two species of Batophila at some localities was unexpected. These included Alishan (阿里山), Sungkang (松崗), and Tsuifeng (翠峰). Based on recent field collections, specimens collected from a single host plant belonged to one Batophila-species. Further investigations are needed to clarify host specificity in different localities.
In this study the aedeagus is found to have more diagnostic value than previously recognized, especially in the position of the dorsal opening and membranous area on the ventral surface. However, diagnostic value of female genitalia is very limited in this genus by comparison with those of Argopistes Motschulsky (
Various species of Rubus (Rosaceae) were confirmed as dominant host plants for members of Batophila in Taiwan. Species of this genus in Europe are restricted to species of Rosaceae (
I am grateful to the Taiwan Chrysomelid Research Team (TCRT) and citizen scientists, including Hou-Jay Chen (陳厚潔), Jung-Chan Chen (陳榮章), Yi-Chia Chiu (邱奕家), Yi-Ting Chung (鍾奕霆), Bo-Xin Guo (郭泊鑫), Yu-Feng Hsu (徐堉峰), Hsueh Lee (李雪), Wen-Chuan Liao (廖文泉), Mei-Hua Tsou (曹美華), Yu-Tung Wang (王宇堂), and Su-Fang Yu (余素芳) for assistance in collecting material. I thank Yi-Chia Chiu (邱奕家) for photographs of specimens, Mei-Hua Tsou (曹美華) and Su-Fang Yu (余素芳) for field photography, and Chih-Kai Yang for identification of host plants. I thank Chang-Chin Chen (陳常卿) for assisting our study in various ways. I thank Chris Carlton for reading the draft and editing for American English style. This study was supported by the National Science and Technology Council NSTC 112-2313-B-055-001-MY3.
The author has declared that no competing interests exist
No ethical statement was reported.
No use of AI was reported.
No funding was reported.
The author solely contributed to this work.
Chi-Feng Lee https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1996-0557
All of the data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text.