Research Article |
Corresponding author: Chi-Feng Lee ( chifeng@tari.gov.tw ) Academic editor: Michael Schmitt
© 2019 Chi-Feng Lee.
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:
Lee C-F (2019) The genus Lochmaea Weise, 1883 in Taiwan: results of taxonomic expeditions by citizen scientists (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae). In: Schmitt M, Chaboo CS, Biondi M (Eds) Research on Chrysomelidae 8. ZooKeys 856: 75-100. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.856.30838
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More than 520 specimens of the chrysomelid genus Lochmaea were available for study as the result of collecting efforts by citizen scientists. Taiwanese species of Lochmaea can be separated into two species groups based on presence or absence of hind wings. The Lochmaea lesagei group (winged) contains L. lesagei Kimoto, 1996 and L. tsoui sp. n. The L. smetanai group (wingless) contains L. smetanai Kimoto, 1996, L. cheni sp. n., and L. jungchani sp. n. Members of the L. smetanai group inhabit alpine microhabitats and are the only wingless galerucines in Taiwan that occur in harsh environments, as is the case with most brachelytrous Chrysomelidae.
Alpine, Ericaceae, host plants, leaf beetles, taxonomic revision
The genus Lochmaea Weise belongs to the Galerucini (
Members of Lochmaea utilize members of Betulaceae, Salicaceae, Rosaceae, Fagaceae, Ericaceae, and Cucurbitaceae as host plants (
No species of this genus was described from Taiwan until recently, when L. lesagei (winged) and L. smetanai (wingless) were described by
Field photographs. A Rhododendron pseudochrysanthum blooming in June, Hsuehshan B R. rubropilosum var. taiwanalpinum blooming in June, Hehuanshan C Central Cross-Island Highway, arrows indicate road to top of Hehuanshan Main Peak D Wuling (武嶺), 3275 m, the highest spot at the Central Cross-Island Highway E Jung-Chan Chen, a member of the Taiwan Chrysomelid Research Team, at the top of Yushan Main Peak, 3952 m F R. pseudochrysanthum , common at the top of Yushan East Peak.
Prior to the current study, a small number of specimens were collected using sweep nets and deposited at the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute (
For rearing studies, larvae were placed in plastic containers (diameter 90 mm × height 57 mm) with cuttings from their host plants. When mature larvae began searching for pupation sites, they were transferred to other plastic containers of the same size but filled with moist soil (about 80% of container volume).
For taxonomic study, the abdomens of adults were separated from the forebody and boiled in 10% KOH solution, followed by washing in distilled water to prepare genitalia for illustrations. The genitalia were then dissected from the abdomen, 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 two pairs from each species were examined to delimit variability of diagnostic characters. For species collected from more than one locality, at least one pair from each locality 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.
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, [w] – white label, [y] – yellow label, [g] – green label, [b] – blue label, and [r] – red label.
1 | Elytral humerus and hind wing well developed (Fig. |
2 (L. lesagei group) |
– | Elytral humerus and hind wing reduced (Figs |
3 (L. smetanai group) |
2 | Median lobe symmetrical, with apex rounded (Fig. |
L. lesagei Kimoto |
– | Median lobe asymmetrical, with apex tapering (Fig. |
L. tsoui sp. n. |
3 | Elytra green, with yellowish brown suture and lateral margins (Fig. |
L. cheni sp. n. |
– | Elytra entirely reddish brown or yellowish brown (Figs |
4 |
4 | Median lobe relatively broader, 5.7× longer than wide, elongate endophallic sclerite relatively longer, 0.7× as long as median lobe (Fig. |
L. smetanai Kimoto |
– | Median lobe relatively more narrow, 6.8× longer than wide, elongate endophallic sclerite relatively shorter, 0.5× as long as median lobe (Fig. |
L. jungchani sp. n. |
Members of this species group have well-developed elytral humeri and hind wings. Two species are recognized in Taiwan: L. lesagei Kimoto in South Taiwan and L. tsoui sp. n. in North Taiwan.
Lochmaea lesagei Kimoto, 1996: 32.
Holotype ♂ (
Chiayi: 2♂♂, 2♀♀ (
Lochmaea lesagei Kimoto cannot be distinguished from L. tsoui sp. n. based on external morphology but it differs by the rounded apex of the symmetrical median lobe (Fig.
Length 6.6–7.4 mm, width 3.3–2.9 mm. General color (Fig.
Field photographs. A Adult of Lochmaea lesagei on the leaves of Rhododendron pseudochrysanthum at Tatachia B Same species also on R. pseudochrysanthum at Hsiangyangshan C Feeding marks on R. hyperythrum by L. tsoui sp. n. D Adult of Lochmaea tsoui sp. n. feeding leaves of R. hyperythrum at Lengshuikeng E Many adults of L. tsoui sp. n. were found on leaves of R. indicum at Lengshuikeng F Adults of L. tsoui sp. n. on the leaves of R. pseudochrysanthum at Hsuehshan.
Ericaceae: Rhododendron pseudochrysanthum Hayata (Fig.
Larvae appear when host plants begin sprouting. A number of young larvae (first-instar) were collected from Rhododendron pseudochrysanthum in Kunyang (昆陽) (3050 m), May 18, 2009 and transferred to the laboratory for rearing. Mature larvae burrowed into the soil and built underground chambers for pupation after seven days (May 25). Adults emerged from soil after 24 days (June 28). Twenty larvae emerged successfully as adults. From this sample, eighteen adults were identified as L. lesagei (winged) and the other two as L. smetanai (wingless). Adults appeared in the field from late June to October.
Southern Taiwan, including Nantou, Hualien, Chiayi, Pingtung, Taitung, and Taichung (only found in Nanhutashan (南湖大山)) Counties (Fig.
(n = 84). Holotype ♂ (
Lochmaea tsoui sp. n. cannot be distinguished from L. lesagei Kimoto based on external morphology but differs by the tapering apex of the asymmetrical median lobe (Fig.
Length 5.3–6.8 mm, width 2.7–3.3 mm. General color (Fig.
Ericaceae: Rhododendron formosanum Hemsl., R. indicum (L.) Sweet (introduced species) (Fig.
Different species of Rhododendron are available as food plants at different localities. A population feeds on R. formosanum in Lupi (魯壁, 1450 m), R. indicum, and R. hyperythrum in Lengshuikeng (冷水坑, 750 m), and R. pseudochrysanthum in various localities above 2000 m. First-instar larvae were collected in Lupi (魯壁, 1450 m) and transferred to the laboratory for rearing in April 4, 2009. They mined leaves (Fig.
This new species is named after Mr. Mei-Hua Tsou, a member of the TCRT and the first to collect this new species.
Northern Taiwan (Fig.
Members of this species group have reduced elytral humeri and hind wings. Three species are recognized in Taiwan: L. smetanai Kimoto in northern Taiwan, L. cheni sp. n. in central Taiwan, and L. jungchani sp. n. in southern Taiwan.
Lochmaea smetanai Kimoto, 1996: 30.
Holotype ♂ (
(n = 233). Hualien: 3♂♂, 4♀♀ (
Lochmaea smetanai Kimoto cannot be distinguished from L. jungchani sp. n. based on external morphology but differs in the relatively broader median lobe, 5.7× longer than wide (Fig.
Length 5.7–6.4 mm, width 2.9–3.5 mm. General color (Fig.
Some specimens have reduced punctation on the pronotum. Different individuals have different color patterns from brown to dark reddish brown (Fig.
Ericaceae: Rhododendron pseudochrysanthum Hayata (Fig.
Some populations Lochmaea smetanai Kimoto are sympatric with L. lesagei Kimoto or L. tsoui sp. n. when microhabitats are stable at high altitudes (at or above 3000 m). For example, larvae of this species were collected in Kunyang (昆陽) (3050 m) with those of L. tsoui sp. n. (see biology to L. tsoui sp. n. for details). Adults might be long-lived, based on their occurrence in the field from April to December.
Central Taiwan, including Miaoli, Taichung, Nantou, and Hualien Counties (Fig.
(n = 64). Holotype ♂. Kaoshiung: Kuanshan Wind Gap (關山啞口), 2700 m, 30.VII.2015, leg. C.-F. Lee. Paratypes. 39♂♂, 18♀♀, same data as holotype; Pingtung: 1♀ (
Lochmaea cheni sp. n. is easily distinguished from other members of the species group by the green elytra (Fig.
Length 6.2–7.2 mm, width 3.3–3.9 mm. General color (Fig.
Some specimens have reduced punctures on the pronotum. Few specimens have yellowish brown elytra but suture and lateral margin reddish brown.
Ericaceae: Rhododendron pseudochrysanthum Hayata (Fig.
Unknown. Adults are active from July to September.
This new species is named after Mr Jung-Chan Chen, a member of the TCRT and the first to collect this new species.
High mountains along South Cross-Island Highway (Kaoshiung and Taitung Counties).
(n = 33). Holotype ♂ (
Lochmaea jungchani sp. n. cannot be distinguished from L. smetanai Kimoto based on external morphology but differs with the relatively slender median lobe, 6.8× longer than wide (Fig.
Length 5.5–6.5 mm, width 2.8–3.3 mm. General color (Fig.
Ericaceae: Rhododendron pseudochrysanthum Hayata (Fig.
Unknown. Adults are active in the field from August to October.
This new species is named after Mr. Jung-Chan Chen, a member of the TCRT and the first to collect this new species.
Yushan and surrounding areas (Chiayi County).
Taiwanese species of Lochmaea are characterized by the uniform first tarsomere of the metatarsus (enlarged first tarsomere of male metatarsus in others), last abdominal ventrite in males, and median lobes (both characters are very complex and diagnostic for others). Species richness of the wingless Lochmaea smetanai group is less than that of any other wingless galerucines in Taiwan, including ten species in Paraplotes Laboissière (
Members of the winged Lochmaea lesagei group usually inhabit mountains above 2000 m, but some populations occur at less than 1500 m in northern Taiwan. They seem to occur in alpine environments only when microhabitats are stable. For example, most larvae collected from Kunyang (昆陽, 3050 m) belong to L. lesagei. By contrast, adults and larvae of L. smetanai group (wingless) are restricted to alpine habitats above 3000 m. One exception is Kuanshan Wind Gap (關山啞口, 2700 m) (Fig.
I thank the Taiwan Chrysomelid Research Team for taking photographs of specimens and live individuals in the field, including Jung-Chan Chen, Hsueh Lee, Ta-Hsiang Lee, Mei-Hua Tsou, and Su-Fang Yu. I especially thank Jung-Chan Chen for collecting specimens from various alpine localities by climbing up to them. I thank Ta-Hsiang Lee, Chi-Lung Lee, Cheng-Lung Tsai, Mei-Hua Tsou, and Hsueh Lee, Cheng-Lung Tsai, and Weiting Liu for taking photographs, and Chih-Kai Yang for identifying host plants. I thank Chris Carlton for reading the draft and editing for American English style. This study was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology MOST 107-2313-B-055-002. Finally, I am grateful for Ron Beenen and Tomas Wagner for reviewing the manuscript.