The genus Aspidimerus Mulsant, 1850 (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) from China, with descriptions of two new species

Abstract Chinese members of the genus Aspidimerus Mulsant, 1850 are reviewed. Ten species are recognized, including two new species: A. zhenkangicus Huo & Ren, sp. n. and A. menglensis Huo & Ren, sp. n. A. kabakovi Hoàng is recorded from China for the first time. A. blandus (Mader, 1954) is recognized as synonymous with A. ruficrus Gorham, 1895 (syn. n.). Aspidimerus rectangulatus Kuznetsov & Pang, 1991 and A. serratus Kuznetsov & Pang, 1991 are transferred to the genus Pseudaspidimerus Kapur, 1948 (comb. n.). All species from China are described and illustrated. Distribution maps of the Chinese species, a key and a catalogue of all known Aspidimerus are provided.


Introduction
The genus Aspidimerus Mulsant, 1850 was erected with Aspidimerus spencii from India as the type species by monotypy. Concurrently, another genus Cryptogonus Mulsant was erected with Cryptogonus orbiculus (Gyllenhal, 1808) as the type species, also by monotypy. At the time of erecting these two genera, Mulsant had only one species for each genus, and separated them by the structure of the prosternum and the la revised, including two new species: A. zhenkangicus Huo & Ren, sp. n. and A. menglensis Huo & Ren, sp. n. Aspidimerus kabakovi Hoàng is recorded from China for the first time. Diagnoses, detailed descriptions, colored illustrations and distribu tion maps are provided for each species. A key and catalogue of all known species are also provided.

Materials and methods
The specimens examined were collected and preserved in 90% ethanol. External morphology was observed with a dissecting stereo microscope (SteREO Disco very V20, Zeiss). The measurements were made with an ocular micrometer: total length, from apical margin of clypeus to apex of elytra (TL); total width, across both elytra at widest part (TW=EW); height, through the highest point of elytra to metaventrite (TH); head width, including eyes (HW); pronotal length, from the middle of anterior margin to the base of pronotum (PL); pronotal width at widest part (PW); elytral length, along the suture, from the apex to the base including the scutellum (EL). Male and female genitalia were dissected, cleared in a 10% solution of NaOH by boiling for several minutes, and examined with an Olympus BX51 compound microscope.
Images were photographed with digital cameras (AxioCam HRc and Coolsnap-Procf & CRI Micro*Color), connected to the dissecting microscope. The software Ax ioVision Rel. 4.8 and Image-Pro Plus 5.1 were used to capture images from both cam eras, and photos were cleaned up and laid out in plates with Adobe Photoshop CS5.
Terminology follows Ślipiński (2007) and Ślipiński and Tomaszewska (2010). Specimens used in this study are deposited in the Department of Entomology, South China Agriculture University, Guangzhou, China (SCAU) and Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IOZ). Diagnosis. Aspidimerus is closely related to Cryptogonus Mulsant. However, it can be easily distinguished from the latter as follows: prosternum Tshaped, evenly convex ( Fig. 2), prosternal lines as wide apart as the base of prosternal process; the area be tween them extremely convex and widening anteriorly to form a chinband, usually Figures 1-11. A. matsumurai Sasaji, 1986. 1 head, frontal view 2 prothorax, ventral view 3 antenna 4 maxilla 5 prosternal process 6 labium 7 mandible 8 front leg 9 hind leg 10 abdomen 11 tarsi. Scale bars: Figures 1-7 with coarse punctures and long pubescence (Fig. 5); body moderately large (length 2.8-5.0 mm); oblong oval, moderately convex; pronotum with the posterior angles pointed and lateral margin straight (Fig. 1). The prosternal lines of Cryptogonus are not as in Aspidimerus, varying in outline, the area enclosed by them lying at the same level as the rest of prosternum; body small, rounded oval. Description. Body moderately large, oblong oval, dorsum moderately convex, finely punctate and pubescent. Head transverse oval, eyes large, finely faceted, entire, narrowly margined and not extending to underside of head (Fig. 1). Antennae small, geniculate, composed of 8 or 9 antennomeres, antennomere 1 large, 2 slightly smaller and subtriangular, the rest together forming a spindle or an elongate oval club (Fig. 3). Terminal maxillary palpomere securiform (Fig. 4). Pronotum transverse, at middle of length twice as wide as long, strongly convex, anterior margin deeply emargin ated. Scutellum subtriangular. Elytra oblong oval, moderately convex. Humeral callus rather prominent, obtusely.

Taxonomy
Prosternum Tshaped, evenly convex ( Fig. 2), prosternal lines as wide apart as the width of the base of the prosternal process, widely divergent; the area between them extremely convex and widening anteriorly to form a chinband, usually with coarse punctures and long pubescence (Fig. 5). Both sides of prosternum deeply foveate to accommodate apices of front femora (Fig. 2). Mesoventrite transverse, widely emargin ated anteriorly, indistinctly punctate and sparsely pubescent. Metaventrite usually finely punctate, with dense pubescence. Elytral epipleuron narrow, incomplete, with clearly delimited cavities to accommodate apices of mid and hind femora. Abdomen with 6 ventrites, the first being dilated posteriorly in an arc at middle, abdominal postcoxal lines incomplete (Fig. 10). Legs with femora broadly expanded, oval, and completely conceal ing the compressed tibiae (Figs 8-9), tarsi composed of three tarsomeres (Fig. 11).
Male genitalia: Penis curved, with a distinct penis capsule. Penis guide in ventral view flat and broad, apex pointed or truncate. Parameres slender, with sparsely distrib uted short setae at apex, nearly as long as penis guide. Female genitalia usually with tenth tergite broad, setose, coxites subtriangular or broad. Spermatheca vermiform, nodulus wide, ramus long.
Male genitalia: Penis short, distinctly stout ( Fig. 39). Penis capsule with a large outer process and an indistinct inner one (Fig. 39). Apex of penis pointed with mem branous appendage (Fig. 40). Penis guide slender with hooklike apex in lateral view (Fig. 42). In ventral view, penis guide nearly parallel at basal half, and then converging gradually to a blunted tip (Fig. 41). Parameres stout, shorter than penis guide, with sparsely distributed long setae at its apex and inner side (Fig. 42 Diagnosis. This species is close to A. chapaensis in general appearance, but can be sepa rated from it by the black elytra with four yellow spots (Fig. 15), and the antennae with 8 antennomeres. In A. chapaensis, elytra black with four red spots and the antennae with 9 antennomeres. The spermatheca is also diagnostic according to the illustrations given by Sasaji (1968) and Hoàng (1982). Description. TL: 3.70mm, TW: 2.90mm, TH: 1.75mm, TL/TW: 1.28; PL/PW: 0.53; EL/EW: 1.00.
Male genitalia: Penis relatively long, slender and strongly curved, apex of penis with membranous appendage, penis capsule with a short indistinct outer process and a long inner one . Penis guide slender, gradually tapering to apex forming a pointed tip in lateral view (Fig. 47). In ventral view, penis guide broad, widest at basal 1/3 with truncate apex (Fig. 46). Parameres slender, sparsely setose at apex, equal in length to the penis guide (Fig. 47) Diagnosis. This species is similar to A. birmanicus (Gorham) in general appearance, but can be identified by the characters as follows: penis guide moderately broad, sym metrical, almost parallelsided with arcuate apex in ventral view, distinctly shorter than parameres (Fig. 50), while in A. birmanicus (Gorham) penis guide narrow, slightly expanded in the middle and narrower towards the apex which is truncate. It is also similar to A. guangxiensis in color pattern (Figs 18,24), but can be distin guished from the latter by its larger size and male genitalia. Body oval, dorsum moderately convex and pubescent . Head yellow with the base brown in male and black in female. Clypeus reddish brown. Eyes black. Prono tum black except anterior corner yellow (Fig. 20). Scutellum black. Elytra black with two round yellow spots (Fig. 18). Underside black, except mesoventrite and legs brown.
Head small, 0.47 times elytral width (HW/EW=1: 2.12). Punctures on frons fine, separated by 0.2-0.5 times their diameter, with thick, golden pubescence. Eyes large and almost oval, rather finely faceted, the widest interocular distance 0.36 times head width. Pronotum 0.72 times elytral width (PW/EW=1: 1.39), closely covered with small punctures and golden pubescence, denser than those on head, punctures separated by 0.5-1.0 times their diameter. Punctures on elytra very fine and close, separated by 0.5-1.5 times their diameter, with short silver white pubescence. Pros ternum with sparse, coarse punctation and long pubescence. Mesoventrite small, with inconspicuous punctures and sparse pubescence. Metaventrite finely punctate, sepa rated by 0.2-1.0 times their diameter, with pubescence dense, short and silver white.
Male genitalia: Penis long, strongly curved. Penis capsule with a short outer pro cess and a long inner one (Fig. 48). Apex of penis with membranous appendage (Fig.  49). Penis guide slender in lateral view (Fig. 51). In ventral view, penis guide sym metrical, almost parallelsided with arcuate apex (Fig. 50); Parameres slender, longer than penis guide, with dense long setation at its apex and inner side (Fig. 50).
Female genitalia: Tenth tergite fairly broad, 0.25 times as long as wide, with mod erately long setae. Coxites subtriangular, each with a few long terminal setae (Fig. 52) Diagnosis. This species is similar to A. matsumurai Sasaji in elytra with two spots (Figs 21, 24), but can be distinguished from the latter by its smaller size and unique male genitalia: penis short, apical 1/2 length with membranous appendage (Fig. 53), penis guide extremely broad, widest at base, gradually narrowing to the apex, apex with a lateral, hooklike process in ventral view (Fig. 54). In A. matsumurai, penis short, api cal 2/5 length with less membranous appendage (Fig. 56), penis guide broad in ventral view, nearly parallelsided at basal 6/7, then strongly and asymmetrically convergent to a pointed tip (Fig. 58) Body small, oval, moderately convex, dorsal surface pubescent (Figs 21-23). Head yellow or reddish brown with eyes black (Fig. 23). Pronotum black, with basal margin reddish brown and anterior corners yellowish brown. Scutellum and elytra black. Each elytron with one yellowish brown spot, rounded, situated at the middle of elytron (Fig.  21). Underside dark brown, except legs and abdomen reddish brown.
Male genitalia: Penis short and stout. Penis capsule with a distinctly outer process and a long inner one (Fig. 53). Penis guide widest at base and abruptly constricted forming a pointed apex in lateral view (Fig. 55). In ventral view, penis guide flat and asymmetrical, widest at base, gradually narrowing to the apex, apex with a lateral, hooklike process (Fig. 54). Parameres slender, sparsely setose at apex, shorter than penis guide (Fig. 55 Aspidimerus matsumurai Sasaji, 1968: 17;Pang and Mao 1979: 53;Hoàng 1982: 162;Cao and Xiao 1984: 98;Cao et al. 1992: 131;Pang 1998: 185;Kovář 2007: 575;Ren et al. 2009: 108;Yu 2011: 167. Diagnosis. This species is close to A. guangxiensis and A. birmanicus (Gorham) in dorsal coloration, but can be identified by the following characters: Penis stout and short. Penis capsule with a small inner process (Fig. 56). In ventral view, penis guide extremely broad, nearly parallelsided at basal 6/7, then strongly and asymmetrically convergent to a pointed tip (Fig. 58). In A. guangxiensis, penis guide widest at base, gradually narrowing to the apex, apex with a lateral hooklike process in ventral view (Fig. 54). In A. birmanicus, penis relatively long, penis capsule with a long inner pro cess, penis guide distinctly narrower than that of A. matsumurai in ventral view. A. matsumurai is also similar to A. laokayensis in male genitalia, but can be distin guished from the latter by its color pattern and detailed structure of genitalia.
Body large, oblong oval, dorsum moderately convex and pubescent (Fig. 30). Head yellowish brown with eyes black. Pronotum black, with anterior corners yel lowish brown. Scutellum black. Elytra yellowish brown. Elytral margins black. Each   elytron with 4 black spots besides a black sutural stripe which expanded at near basal and apical part. Elytral spots arranged as follows: spot 1 triangle, situated on humeral callus, spot 2 subrounded, posterior to the transverse middle line, nearer the suture, spot 3 small, oblong, and confluent with the border, spot 4 small, prior apex, confluent with the border (Fig. 30). Underside black, except legs and abdomen reddish brown.
Body relatively large, oval, dorsum convex and pubescent (Fig. 32). Head yellow ish brown in male and reddish brown in female. Eyes black. Clypeus, mouthparts and antennae reddish brown. Pronotum black with anterior corner yellowish brown (Fig.  31). Scutellum black. Elytra yellowish brown with 3 black spots on each elytron, spot 1 subrounded, situated on humeral callus, spot 2 long oval, largest, situated on middle of elytra, spot 3 smaller, oblong, and extending to the apex confluent with the border (Figs 31-32). Lateral margins black. Underside reddish brown except prosternum, mesoventrite and metaventrite black.
Head transverse and ventrally flattened, 0.36 times elytral width (HW/EW=1: 2.77). Punctures on frons moderately large, separated by 0.5-1.0 times their diameter, with short sparsely distributed setae. Eyes moderately large and finely faceted, widest interocular dis tance 0.62 times head width. Pronotum 0.70 times elytral width (PW/EW=1: 1.43), close ly covered with fine punctures associated with long dense pubescence, punctures smaller than those on head, separated by 0.5-1.5 times their diameter. Punctures on elytra very fine and close, similar to those on pronotum, with dense silver white pubescence. Pros ternum coarse, with sparse long yellowish pubescence. Punctures on metaventrite mod erately large, separated by 0.5-1.0 times their diameter, with dense yellowish pubescence.
Male genitalia: Penis short and stout, strongly curved at basal half, apical half with membranous appendage (Figs 69-70). Penis capsule with a large outer process and a small, unciform inner process (Fig. 69). Penis guide stout and strongly curved in lateral view (Fig. 72). In ventral view, penis guide symmetrical, widest at middle and converging gradually to a blunted tip (Fig. 71). Parameres slender, equal in length to penis guide, sparsely setose at apex (Fig. 72 [79][80][81][82]. It is also similar to A. esakii in male genitalia, but can be distinguished from the latter by the elytra yellow with 7 black spots (Fig. 33), apex of penis with relatively small membranous appendage (Fig. 73), different shape of penis capsule (Figs 43, 73) and more narrowly truncate apex of penis guide in ventral view (Figs 46, 75). The spermatheca (Fig. 77) is also dif ferent from that of A. esakii given by Sasaji (1968 Body medium size and oval, dorsum moderately convex and pubescent ( Fig.  33-35). Head dark yellow with basal margin and clypeus reddish brown, eyes black. Pronotum black, except anterior corners dark yellow (Fig. 35). Scutellum black. Elytra yellowish brown with black sutural stripe distinctly expanded near basal half (Fig. 33).
Elytral margins black. Each elytron with 3 black spots arranged as Fig. 34. Underside reddish brown, except legs dark yellow.
Male genitalia: Penis relatively long, slender, curved almost in a circle. Penis cap sule with a short outer process and a long inner one, apex of penis with relatively small membranous appendage (Figs 73-74). Penis guide slender, gradually tapering to apex in lateral view (Fig. 76). In ventral view, penis guide short oval, widest at base with truncate apex (Fig. 75). Parameres slender, densely setose along almost half of their length, longer than penis guide (Fig. 76).
Body oblong oval, dorsum moderately convex and pubescent (Figs 36-38). Head deep yellow in male and black in female. Eyes black or silver. Pronotum black with an terior corners deep yellow (Fig. 38). Scutellum black. Elytra deep yellow with a black border along all the margins and three black spots (Figs 36-37). Spot 1 rounded, situ ated on humeral callus. Spot 2 subrounded, largest, posterior to the transverse middle line, nearer the suture. Spot 3 small, oblong, and confluent with the lateral margin. Underside black, except legs and abdomen reddish brown.