taxonID	type	description	language	source
0385C94EFFF3FFCEFF55F8DCFCB55B59.taxon	diagnosis	Morphological characteristics Adult. Diagnosis. The adult male of B. (B.) chinensis (Figs 3, 5) can be distinguished from its relatives mainly by the following characters: body slender, glabrous; anterior margin of pronotum slightly emarginated, with borders laterally; posterior angles of pronotum nearly rectangular; elytral tail not conspicuous; elytra with eight distinct punctato-striation, without longitudinal ridges; lateral border of elytra visible only at base in dorsal view; profemur without denticles at apex; abdomen without hairy brush between ventrites I and II. Supplementary description. Female (Figs 2, 4). Body length: 15.0 – 18.2 mm, slightly larger than male (14.6 – 16.7 mm in male). Antennomere III conspicuously longer than II, III approximately 6.6 times as long as II (about 5.6 times in male). Elytra about 1.7 times wider than thorax (about 1.4 times in male). Abdomen about 1.8 times as long as wide (about 1.7 times in male). Genital armatures of ovipositor blunt, weakly curved on both sides; coxite with slender hairs apically, gonangulum subtriangular with an oblique baculus; paraproctal baculus oblique (Fig. 7). Other characteristics of the female are similar to those of the male.	en	Liu, Lan-Fang, Zhao, Wei, Liu, Shan-Shan, Ren, Guo-Dong (2025): Morphological and mitogenomic characteristics of Chinese endemic species Blaps (Blaps) chinensis (Faldermann, 1835) (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Blaptini). Zootaxa 5729 (4): 501-518, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5729.4.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5729.4.1
0385C94EFFF3FFCEFF55F8DCFCB55B59.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Since Ren et al. (2016) provided a detailed Chinese description of the male morphological characteristics of B. (B.) chinensis, we have not redescribed the male here. Instead, we provide illustrations of the male genitalia (Fig. 6) and a description of the female morphology, highlighting its main differences from the male.	en	Liu, Lan-Fang, Zhao, Wei, Liu, Shan-Shan, Ren, Guo-Dong (2025): Morphological and mitogenomic characteristics of Chinese endemic species Blaps (Blaps) chinensis (Faldermann, 1835) (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Blaptini). Zootaxa 5729 (4): 501-518, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5729.4.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5729.4.1
0385C94EFFF3FFCEFF55F8DCFCB55B59.taxon	description	Egg. Description. Elongate oval (Fig. 11), without patterns. Long diameter: 1.6 – 1.9 mm, short diameter: 0.8 – 1.0 mm. Egg initially milky white, slightly sticky on surface, subsequently transitioning to milky yellow, smooth and bright on surface before hatching.	en	Liu, Lan-Fang, Zhao, Wei, Liu, Shan-Shan, Ren, Guo-Dong (2025): Morphological and mitogenomic characteristics of Chinese endemic species Blaps (Blaps) chinensis (Faldermann, 1835) (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Blaptini). Zootaxa 5729 (4): 501-518, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5729.4.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5729.4.1
0385C94EFFF3FFCEFF55F8DCFCB55B59.taxon	diagnosis	Larva. Diagnosis. The larva of B. (B.) chinensis can be distinguished from its relatives mainly by the following characters: labrum with weakly emarginated anterior margin and four setae on dorsolateral margin; mentum nearly doliform, with four long setae on posterior margin; antennomere II 1.5 times longer than I; abdominal segment IX nearly triangular, gradually tapering to apex, medially depressed and with 8 – 11 irregularly arranged spines on posterolateral margin dorsally; urogomphi underdeveloped, slightly sharp and with two small movable spines at apex; prothoracic leg setal formula 4 (4): 4 – 7 (3): 2 (2), mesothoracic leg 4 (4): 4 – 5 (4): 2 (2) and metathoracic leg 3 (2): 3 (2): 2 (2).	en	Liu, Lan-Fang, Zhao, Wei, Liu, Shan-Shan, Ren, Guo-Dong (2025): Morphological and mitogenomic characteristics of Chinese endemic species Blaps (Blaps) chinensis (Faldermann, 1835) (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Blaptini). Zootaxa 5729 (4): 501-518, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5729.4.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5729.4.1
0385C94EFFF3FFCEFF55F8DCFCB55B59.taxon	description	Supplementary description. Body length: 23.0 – 28.0 mm. Body (Figs 8 – 10) subcylindrical with a tapered end; yellowish brown; uniformly sclerotized dorsally and ventrally. Vestiture smooth. Thoracic segments and abdominal segments I – II with conspicuous continuous dorsomeson. Thoracic segments and abdominal segments I – VIII each with two long setae on both sides. Head. Labrum (Fig. 14) weakly emarginated at anterior margin, with four setae on dorsolateral margin. Epistome (Fig. 14) trapezoidal, with four long erect setae; anterior margin nearly straight. Frons slightly convex. Epicranial stem (Fig. 13) conspicuous, Y-shaped. Mandibles (Fig. 14) well-developed, distally black, extended anteriorly; anterior margin with two long setae at base and two short setae near middle; molar lobe convex with two denticulations at upper half, flattened and medially depressed at lower half. Maxillae (Fig. 12) slightly parallel-sided, gradually darker towards apex, with two rows of short spines and several setae on apical half of inner margin; maxillary palpi 3 - segmented, gradually narrowing towards apex. Labial palpi (Fig. 12) 2 - segmented; terminal segment subcylindrical, with a faintly pointed apex. Ligula (Fig. 12) with two long setae at base; anterior margin protruding in middle. Mentum (Fig. 12) nearly doliform, with three long setae near each lateral margin, and four on posterior margin. Submentum (Fig. 12) with four long setae. Antennae (Fig. 12) 3 - segmented; antennomeres I and II cylindrical; II approximately 1.5 times longer than I; III thinnest and shortest, approximately 0.2 times as long as II, with one short seta at apex. Thorax. Thorax 3 - segmented, smooth, parallel-sided (Fig. 8); approximately 1.3 times as wide as head. Each thoracic tergum nearly rectangular in dorsal view. Prothoracic tergum (Fig. 8) longest, approximately 1.5 times as long as mesothoracic tergum and 1.3 times as long as metathoracic tergum; anterior and posterior margins slightly protruding, with a broad brown stripe and four long setae, respectively. Meso- and metathoracic terga (Fig. 8) with a broad brown stripe and four long setae separately on posterior margin. Mesothoracic spiracles (Figs 10, 16) transverse oval, conspicuously larger than abdominal spiracles, approximately 2.0 times wider than that on abdominal segment I; spiracles lying on anterolateral margins of mesothoracic tergum, visible in ventral view. Legs. Legs well-developed (Figs 9, 16). Prothoracic legs conspicuously stronger and longer than meso- and metathoracic legs. Procoxa thick, short, with dense long setae. Protrochanter subtriangular. Prothoracic leg with inner margin setal formula as follows: 4 (4): 4 – 7 (3): 2 (2). Outer margin of protrochanter with three setae, profemur two setae and protibia two setae. Protarsungulus strongly sclerotized, falciform, with one strong short spine on basal inner and outer margin respectively. Meso- and metacoxa thin, long, with dense long setae. Meso- and metatrochanter subtriangular, small. Mesothoracic leg with inner margin setal formula as follows: 4 (4): 4 – 5 (4): 2 (2). Outer margin of mesotrochanter with two spines and one short seta, mesofemur two spines and dense setae, and mesotibia two spines and one seta. Mesotarsungulus moderately sclerotized, thin, falciform, with one fine spine on basal inner margin and one strong spine on basal outer margin. Metathoracic leg with inner margin setal formula as follows: 3 (2): 3 (2): 2 (2). Outer margin of metatrochanter with one spine and two setae, metafemur two spines and four setae, and metatibia two spines and one seta. Metatarsungulus moderately sclerotized, thin, falciform, with one strong spine on basal outer margin. Abdomen. Abdomen (Fig. 10) 9 - segmented, approximately 3.7 times as long as thorax. Ratio of length of abdominal segments I – IX as follows: 0.9: 1.0: 1.0: 1.0: 1.1: 1.1: 1.2: 1.1: 1.1. Abdominal segments I – VIII nearly cylindrical, with transverse wrinkles, and sparse elongate setae ventrally. Segment IX nearly triangular, gradually tapering to apex, and medially depressed; segment IX with 8 – 11 irregularly arranged spines on posterolateral margin dorsally and sparse long setae ventrally. Urogomphi underdeveloped, slightly sharp and with two small movable spines at apex. Abdominal spiracles (Figs 10, 16) oval, small, lying on anterolateral margins of terga I – VIII, visible in ventral view (Figs 15, 16).	en	Liu, Lan-Fang, Zhao, Wei, Liu, Shan-Shan, Ren, Guo-Dong (2025): Morphological and mitogenomic characteristics of Chinese endemic species Blaps (Blaps) chinensis (Faldermann, 1835) (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Blaptini). Zootaxa 5729 (4): 501-518, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5729.4.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5729.4.1
0385C94EFFF3FFCEFF55F8DCFCB55B59.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The description above is based on the last instar larvae. Since the larval morphology of B. (B.) chinensis was only briefly described in Chinese by Yu et al. (1993 a), we provide here a comprehensive supplementary description with morphological illustrations, revising several characteristics including: the setal number on dorsolateral margin of labrum, the length ratio of antennomeres I and II and the shape of urogomphi, based on our examination of specimens.	en	Liu, Lan-Fang, Zhao, Wei, Liu, Shan-Shan, Ren, Guo-Dong (2025): Morphological and mitogenomic characteristics of Chinese endemic species Blaps (Blaps) chinensis (Faldermann, 1835) (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Blaptini). Zootaxa 5729 (4): 501-518, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5729.4.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5729.4.1
0385C94EFFF3FFCEFF55F8DCFCB55B59.taxon	diagnosis	Pupa. Diagnosis. The pupae of B. (B.) chinensis can be distinguished from its relatives mainly by the following characters: anterior margin of epistome deeply emarginated; pronotum transverse; hind wing sheath partially exposed beyond elytral sheath; profemur without denticulations at apex; outer margins of lateral processes almost straight, with sharp denticulations and a few small setose tubercles; anterior and posterior angles of lateral processes large and sharply spinous; distance between apices of urogomphi: 0.15 – 0.20 mm, less than length of one urogomphus; gonotheca obtuse at apex, without apophysis.	en	Liu, Lan-Fang, Zhao, Wei, Liu, Shan-Shan, Ren, Guo-Dong (2025): Morphological and mitogenomic characteristics of Chinese endemic species Blaps (Blaps) chinensis (Faldermann, 1835) (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Blaptini). Zootaxa 5729 (4): 501-518, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5729.4.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5729.4.1
0385C94EFFF3FFCEFF55F8DCFCB55B59.taxon	description	Description. Body length: 13.0 – 15.0 mm; slightly compressed dorsoventrally. Body (Figs 17 – 19) milky white throughout at beginning of pupation; oculi darkened 8 days later; mandible darkened 12 days later; antennomeres, epistome and legs progressively pigmented, abdominal segments slightly curved ventrally 14 days later. Eclosion about 15 days later. Head. Head (Figs 18, 19) strongly deflexed, not visible in dorsal view. Head smooth with transverse wrinkles, deeply depressed dorsomedially; with dense short setae near anterior margin, becoming sparser towards middle and posterior part. Epistome (Fig. 19) deeply emarginated on anterior margin. Clypeofrontal suture indistinct. Labrum (Fig. 19) nearly broad semicircular with dense short setae; anterior margin medially protruding. Mandible (Fig. 19) with dense short setae. Gena contacting with but not cutting into oculus. Oculus (Fig. 24) elongate oval. Maxillary palpi and labial palpi clearly visible. Antennae (Figs 18, 19) not sclerotized, slender, posteriorly exceeding to base of pronotum; antennomeres II – VII cylindrical, IV – VII nearly equal in length, VIII – X long oval, XI pointedly ovate. Thorax. Thorax (Fig. 17) 3 - segmented. Pronotum (Fig. 22) transverse, approximately 3.5 times as wide as long, widest at basal 2 / 3. Pronotum with light transverse wrinkles near posterior margin. Disc weakly depressed, covered with dense fine setae and becoming denser towards longitudinal sulcus. Anterior margin deeply emarginated. Lateral margins conspicuously arcuate, narrowing forward and less so from widest point to base. Posterior margin slightly protruding medially. Anterior angles acute, posterior angles rectangular. Meso- and metanotum (Fig. 17) conspicuously shorter than pronotum or abdominal tergite I; weakly elevated medially with light transverse wrinkles and dense short setae. Elytral sheath (Figs 17, 18) smooth, with sparse short setae; hind wing sheath glabrous, partially exposed beyond elytral sheath. Legs. Legs (Fig. 19) slender, not sclerotized. Femur thick with sparse fine setae on outer margin; profemur without denticulations at apex. Tibia flattened, slender, with basal setae. Tarsus glabrous. Abdomen. Abdomen 9 - segmented, dorsomeson distinct. Abdominal tergites relatively broad, weakly convex with dense short setae and light transverse wrinkles. Abdominal tergites I – VI with plate-like lateral processes at both sides distinctly. Lateral processes (Figs 17, 23) with brown sclerotized edges; outer margins weakly concave, almost straight, with sharp denticulations and a few small setose tubercles; anterior and posterior angles large, sharply spinous. Lateral processes on tergite I approximately 2.5 times as long as wide. Lateral processes on tergites II – VI larger, approximately 3.5 times as long as wide. Lateral processes on tergites VII – VIII less developed, not protruding. Abdominal tergites IX with a pair of elongate subparallel urogomphi at apex. Urogomphi (Figs 18, 21) length: 0.7 – 0.8 mm, distance between apices: 0.15 – 0.20 mm; covered with dense short setae; gradually slightly narrowing towards sclerotized apex, directed posteriorly and upturned finely. Abdominal tergites IX with a pair of short obtuse processes ventrally (Fig. 21). Abdominal spiracles (Fig. 20) oval, slightly protuberant, visible on anterolateral margins of abdominal ventrites II – VI; spiracles on ventrite I hidden beneath hind wing sheaths.	en	Liu, Lan-Fang, Zhao, Wei, Liu, Shan-Shan, Ren, Guo-Dong (2025): Morphological and mitogenomic characteristics of Chinese endemic species Blaps (Blaps) chinensis (Faldermann, 1835) (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Blaptini). Zootaxa 5729 (4): 501-518, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5729.4.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5729.4.1
0385C94EFFF3FFCEFF55F8DCFCB55B59.taxon	description	Mitogenomic characteristics Mitochondrial Genome Organization and composition The complete mitochondrial sequence of B. (B.) chinensis is a typical circular DNA of 16,604 bp, consisting of 37 coding regions [13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, and 2 rRNA genes] and one control region. Among them, 9 PCGs and 14 tRNAs are located on the major strand (J-strand), and 4 PCGs, 8 tRNAs, and 2 rRNAs are located on the minor strand (N-strand). (Fig. 25; Tab. 1). The sequence was submitted to GenBank with the accession number OR 237811. In the mitochondrial genome, there are 13 intergenic overlaps and 9 spacers, which affect the length of the mitogenome of this species. The overlaps range from 1 bp to 7 bp (ATP 8 - ATP 6, ND 4 - ND 4 L), while the spacers range from 1 bp to 193 bp (trnW-trnC). The nucleotide composition of the mitochondrial genome of B. (B.) chinensis is as follows: A 44.4 %, T 28.9 %, C 17.0 %, G 9.6 %. The AT content of the complete mitogenome is 73.3 %, the ATskew value is 0.211, GC-skew value is 0.390 (Tab. 2). Protein-Coding Genes (PCGs) The total length of all PCGs is 11,119 bp, accounting for 68.0 % of the complete mitogenome. The length of these 13 PCGs ranges from 159 bp to 1,536 bp. Apart from the start codon TTG for ND 1, all PCGs initiate with the canonical ATN codon. Five of 13 PCGs are predicted to use TAA as a complete termination codon; however, the remaining eight genes are predicted to terminate with incomplete T, TA, or complete TAG (Tab. 1). The average AT content of the 13 PCGs is 71.7 %, and the overall AT and GC skews are - 0.097 and - 0.073, showing that T and G are more abundant than A and C (Tab. 2). Relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU) values for B. (B.) chinensis (Tab. 3; Fig. 26) show that NNT and NNA are more frequent than NNG and NNC, which indicates a strong A or T bias in the third codon position. The isoleucine (Ile) has the highest proportion, accounting for 9.63 %; in contrast, the cysteine (Cys) has the lowest content, accounting for 1.03 %. Transfer RNA and ribosomal RNA genes The mitochondrial genome of B. (B.) chinensis contains 22 tRNA genes. The total length of these tRNA genes is 1,432 bp, accounting for 8.76 % of the mitochondrial genome. The length of the tRNA genes ranges from 61 bp to 70 bp, with trnK being the longest and trnC being the shortest (Tab. 1). The A + T content of tRNAs is 76.8 %. Among the 22 tRNA genes, there are only 21 inferred secondary structures of tRNAs in Fig. 27. All the tRNA genes are shown to be folded into the typical cloverleaf secondary structures, except for trnS 1, which lacks the dihydrouridine (DHC) arm. Furthermore, there are a few mismatched pairs, such as U-G base pairs. The mismatched pairs may affect aminoacylation and translation. The rRNA genes in B. (B.) chinensis consist of large rRNA (l-rRNA) and small rRNA (s-rRNA), i. e., 16 S rRNA and 12 S rRNA, respectively. They are encoded on the L-strand with a total length of 1955 bp (l-rRNA: 1195 bp, s-rRNA: 760 bp), accounting for 11.96 % of the entire genome. The A + T content of l-rRNA and s-rRNA is 77.1 % and 76.2 %, respectively, indicating an obvious AT-skew (Tab. 2). Control Region The control region, rich in A + T, is the only non-coding region in mtDNA, and its length varies in different species. It is believed to be implicated in the modulation of transcription and regulation of mtDNA replication (Taanman 1999). The gene of B. (B.) chinensis with a length of 1,835 bp is rich in A + T (76.4 %), which is higher than that of the complete mitogenome, PCGS, rRNAs, and tRNAs (Tab. 2).	en	Liu, Lan-Fang, Zhao, Wei, Liu, Shan-Shan, Ren, Guo-Dong (2025): Morphological and mitogenomic characteristics of Chinese endemic species Blaps (Blaps) chinensis (Faldermann, 1835) (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Blaptini). Zootaxa 5729 (4): 501-518, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5729.4.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5729.4.1
