Paraplotes taiwana

Lee, Chi-Feng, 2015, The genus Paraplotes Laboissière, 1933 in Taiwan, a speciose group with brachelytrous females (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae), Zootaxa 3904 (2), pp. 223-248 : 224

Paraplotes taiwana species group

Differential diagnosis. Males are similar to P. semifulava with filiform antenna, but this group is characterized by the brachelytrous female with the combination of the following characters: females typically physogastric and brachypterous ( Figs 82–91 ), elytra convex medially; spermatheca with tubular receptacle little swollen and hardly separated between receptacle and pump; pump extremely curved; proximal spermathecal duct short; gonocoxa with seven setae, base variable; ventrite VIII well sclerotized, apically widened, apical margin truncate, with dense setae along apex, spiculum slender.

Notes. Brachelytrous females of Paraplotes was not reported before. In fact, species with bachelytrous females and winged males are previously only known to occur to one neotropical galerucine genus, Metacycla ( Beenen & Jolivet 2008) .

Biology. Adults are typically nocturnal. They start crawling up onto host plants at sunset. Feeding ( Fig. 3 ) and copulation ( Fig. 4 ) occur on the host plants ( Urticaceae ) at night. Females prefer to deposit eggs on roots of plants ( Figs 4 & 5 ). Larvae feed on young leaves and soft shoots ( Fig. 7 ). Mature larvae ( Fig. 8 ) leave the host plant and burrow into the soil. They build chambers underground for pupation. Duration of immature stages is typically less than one month.

An unusual exception was observed on July 13, 2008 in Wushihkeng, Taichung county, central Taiwan. More than 10 individuals of Paraplotes yuae sp. nov. gathered and fed on leaves of Dumasia villosa subsp. bicolor ( Fabaceae ) during the daytime.

Figures

FIGURES 81 – 91. Hind wings. 81: male; 82 – 85: females. 81, Paraplotes taiwana, Tulanshan; 82, P. cheni, a & b, different individuals from same population; 83, P. j e ng i, a – c, different individuals from same population; 84, P. meihuai, a – c, different individuals from same population; 86, P. taiwana, a: Tulanshan, b: Motien, c: Tahanshan; 87, P. tatakaensis; 88, P. ts oui, a: Chihlanshan, b: Lalashan, c: Taipingshan; 89, P. tsuenensis, a & b, different individuals from same population; 90, P. y ao i, a: Machiatsun, b: Tengchih, c: Tona, d & e: Taoyuan; 91. P. yuae, a: Wushihken; b: Anmashan, c: Wuchihshan.

FIGURES 1 – 8. Ecological photography. 1. Habitat for Paraplotes tatakaensis, with host plants growing along road; 2. Host plant— Lecanthus peduncularis; 3. An adult Paraplotes taiwana feeding on the leaves of Pilea rotundinucula; 4. A male of Paraplotes tahsiangi attempting to mate with female; 5. Eggs were deposited between roots of host plants; 6. Close up of single egg; 7. Larvae of Paraplotes jengi feeding on young shoot; 8. Mature larvae of Paraplotes jengi.