Epitrichius bowringii (Thomson) Thomson, 2008

Li, Chun-Lin, Yang, Ping-Shih & Wang, Kuo-Sheng Hsu Chuan-Chan, 2008, A review of the genus Epitrichius Tagawa, with an analysis of the internal sac armature of the male genitalia (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae), Zootaxa 1895, pp. 10-24 : 16

Epitrichius bowringii (Thomson) , new combination

Trichius bowringii Thomson, 1857: 118 (Type locality: Shanghai, China); Miwa 1931: 276 (catalog); Miwa & Chûjô 1939: 30 (catalog); Smetana 2006: 310 (catalog).

Trichius bowringi: Krikken 1972: 487 (key, diagnosis).

Trichius mandarinus Redtenbacher, 1867: 82 (synonymized by Krikken 1972).

Trichius bifasciatus Moser, 1902: 532 (Type locality: Montes Mauson, North Vietnam. Syntype in ZMHB). New synonym.

Trichius miyashitai Krajcik, 2006: 25 (Type locality: Mt. Wu-Zhi-Shan, Hainan island, China. Holotype, allotype and paratype in Milan Krajcik’s private collection, Czech Republic). New synonym.

Specimens examined. CHINA. Shang Hai (without further data) (1 male, coll. E. Candèze, ISNB); Pékin (without further data) (1 male, ISNB); N. Kina (without further data) (1 male, coll. Mus. Westerm, ZMUC); Chekiang (without further data) (1 female, ZMUC); China (without further data) (1 female, ZMUC); China (without further data) (1 female, coll. Mus. Western, ZMUC); Pekin (without further data) (1 female, ISNB); Jiangxi: Jing Gang Shan, 2-14-VI-1994, E. Jendek & O. Šauša (2 males, 1 female, CCLI); Zhijian: Lin An, Long Ton Shan, ca. 900-1200m., 18-19-VII-1997, Y. F. Hsu (1 female, CCLI); Guangdong: Nan Ling, ca. 900-1000m., 14-16-VI-1999, Y. F. Hsu (1 female, CCLI); Gwongxi: Kin Shiu, Gong Cheng San Jiang, VI- 2001 (5 males, 2 females, CCLI); Kin Shiu, Mt. Da Yau Shan, ca. 800-1200m., V-VI-1996 (7 males, 10 females, CCLI); Hainan: Mt. Wu Zhi Shan, 6-V-2005, T. Miyashita (1 male, 1 female, CCLI); Lan Shan, VII- 2005 (1 male, CCLI); Mt. Diauh Lo, 1200m., 2-5-V-2005, T. Miyashita (11 males, 1 female, CCLI). VIET- NAM. Tonkin, Montes Manson (presently Mauson Mountains, northern Vietnam), April, Mai, 2-3000’, H. Fruhstorfer (23, ZMUC); Tonkin, Than-Moi, Juni-Juli, H. Fruhstorfer (1, ZMUC); Vin Phu: Tam Dao, V-1994 (1 male, 1 female, CCLI); ibid, VII-2000 (1 male, CCLI); ibid, VI-1993 (4 males, CCLI); ibid, 20-V-1995, M. Sat (3 males, 1 female, CCLI); ibid, 28-30-V-1995, C.-L. Li (3 males, 1 females, CCLI); ibid, 1-7-V-1996, Y. Arita (1 female, CCLI); Lam Dong: Mt. Braian, E. 45km Bao Loc, V-2005 (1 male, CCLI); Cao Bang: 5-VI- 1996, Itoh (2 females, CCLI). LAOS. Xamneua, Mt. Ph. Phan camp, ca. 1790m., 16-20-V-2004, C.-F. Lee (3 males, CCLI); ibid, 28-IV-2-V-2002, M. Satô (1 male, 1 female, CCLI); ibid, VI-2006 (1 male, CCLI); Houaphan: Ban Saleui, 1800m., 13-31-V-2004 (2 males, CCLI).

Distribution. Eastern and southern China and Hainan Island; northern Vietnam; northeastern Laos (new country record) ( Fig. 19 ).

Remarks. This species is the only representative of the genus in the majority of mainland China. The old specimens that are deposited in the European museums indicate that they were likely active and common in the plains of central and northern China (Pekin, presently known as Beijing is probably the northernmost record of the species). However, this is not the case in southern China where their habitats are in montane areas similar to those of their other relatives in the genus. It has been observed that the body size of the specimens collected from the plains of northern China is generally smaller than those from southeastern localities. This morphometric trait was only detected with a larger number of specimens.

The populations of the species in northern Vietnam and Hainan Island have the similar habitat requirements in elevation to those in southeastern China. In addition to the varying color form of the body illustrated in Figs. 13–16 , there is another overall black form from Hainan Island that differs from the dark green form of the Trichius miyashitai holotype. In fact, both color forms have been observed within populations of E. bowringii from Hainan Island. With the examination of specimens from Hainan Island, the black form of E. bowringii is greatly dominant in number of individuals over those that are an overall green color. Nevertheless, all of them are varied in the shape of the paramere while being consistent in the structure of the internal sac armatures. Therefore, we propose herein to place T. miyashitai a junior synonym of E. bowringii .

Figures

FIGURE 19. Geographical distribution of the Epitrichius species: Epitrichius bowringii (open circle), Epitrichius fraterculus and Epitrichius versutus (black square) and Epitrichius shinshuigensis (black triangle).

FIGURES 13 – 16. Variations in body color in Epitrichius bowringii 13. black elytra, (Houaphan, Laos); 14. dull green elytra, (Gwongxi, China); 15. (Gwongxi, China); 16. overall green, (Jiangxi, China).