Lochmaea tsoui, Lee, Chi-Feng, 2019

Lee, Chi-Feng, 2019, The genus Lochmaea Weise, 1883 in Taiwan: results of taxonomic expeditions by citizen scientists (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae), ZooKeys 856, pp. 75-100 : 82-87

Lochmaea tsoui sp. n. Figs 2 A– 2C, 4 C– 4F, 6, 7

Type material

(n = 84). Holotype ♂ (TARI). Hsinchu: Lupi (魯壁), 1450 m, 26.VII.2008, leg. M.-H. Tsou. Paratypes. 5♂♂, 4♀♀ (TARI), same data as holotype; 4♂♂, 4♀♀ (TARI), same but with “20.VII.2008”; 1♀ (TARI), Kuanwu (觀霧), 2200 m, 6.XI.2009, leg. H. Lee; Ilan: 1♂, 1♀ (TARI), Tsuifenghu (翠峰湖), 1900 m, 3.VII.2010, leg. M.-H. Tsou; Taichung: 1♂ (TARI), Cika Lodge (七卡山莊), 2450 m, 30.IV.2012, leg. T.-H. Lee; 3♂♂, 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 3.IX.2014, leg. T.-H. Lee; 1♂ (TARI), Hsuehshan (雪山), 3850 m, 7.X.2011, leg. W.-B. Yeh; 1♂ (TARI), same but with “26.VI.2017”; 1♂ (TARI), same but with “15.VIII.2017”; 3♂♂, 3♀♀ (TARI), Kupo (哭坡), 2950 m, 2.IX.2014, leg. J.-C. Chen; 1♂ (TARI), Tahsuchshan (大雪山), 2550 m, 23.VII.2011, leg. J.-C. Chen; Taipei: 2♂♂, 7♀♀ (TARI), Lengshuikeng (冷水坑), 750 m, 26.V.2009, leg. J.-C. Chen; 9♂♂, 22♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 28.V.2009, leg. M.-H. Tsou; 3♂♂, 4♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 13.VI.2009, leg. H. Lee; Taoyuan: 1♂ (TARI), Lalashan (拉拉山), 1600 m, 30.X.2008, leg. S.-F. Yu.

Diagnosis.

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. 6C) (rounded apex of symmetrical median lobe (Fig. 3C) in L. lesagei ), the rounded apex of abdominal ventrite VIII in females (Fig. 6E) (acute apex (Fig. 3E) in L. lesagei ), and northern Taiwan distribution (southern Taiwan in L. lesagei )

Description.

Length 5.3-6.8 mm, width 2.7-3.3 mm. General color (Fig. 2 D–F) yellowish brown to reddish brown; each elytron green but with wide yellowish brown band along suture and lateral margin. Antennae filiform in males (Fig. 6A), length ratios of antennomeres I–XI 1.0: 0.7: 1.1: 1.0: 0.9: 0.9: 0.9: 0.8: 0.8: 0.7: 0.9, length to width ratios of antennomeres I–XI 2.6: 2.4: 3.7: 3.1: 2.9: 2.9: 2.9: 2.5: 2.6: 2.4: 3.2; similar in females (Fig. 6B), length ratios of antennomeres I–XI 1.0: 0.5: 0.8: 0.8: 0.7: 0.7: 0.7: 0.6: 0.6: 0.6: 0.7, length to width ratios of antennomeres I–XI 2.4: 2.1: 3.2: 3.0: 2.6: 2.7: 2.7: 2.8: 2.9: 2.9: 3.2. Pronotum transverse, 1.8 × wider than long, disc with dense, extremely coarse punctures, and one pair of lateral depressions; lateral margins strongly narrowed basally; margins concave basally and apically. Elytra elongate and parallel-sided, 1.4 × longer than wide; disc with random, dense, coarse punctures. Apical margin of abdominal ventrite V in males with median notch, bearing short, longitudinal ridges along margin, shallow concave between ridges (Fig. 6H). Ventrite V in females with shallow, wide, median, angular notch (Fig. 6I). Median lobe (Fig. 6C, D) broad, 4.8 × longer than wide, asymmetrical, left lateral margin straight, right lateral margin widest at apical 1/5, apically tapering; opening broad, located on right, starting from apical 1/12; in lateral view strongly curved, distinctly oblique; internal sac with one elongate sclerite, 0.8 × as long as median lobe, one additional sclerite located near base of elongate sclerites, base wide and bifurcate, apically membranous. Gonocoxae (Fig. 6F) elongate, membranous except apical parts, with one pair of weakly sclerotized, elongate sclerites at base; apical parts elongate, bearing tiny, scattered setae and four long setae at apices. Ventrite VIII (Fig. 6E) longitudinal and well sclerotized; apex rounded; abruptly broader at apical 1/5, with paired cluster of long setae near middle, disc bearing tiny, scattered setae along apical margin; spiculum long and narrow. Receptacle of spermatheca (Fig. 6G) strongly swollen; pump slender and strongly curved; proximal spermathecal duct deeply inserted into receptacle, broad but short.

Host plants.

Ericaceae : Rhododendron formosanum Hemsl., R. indicum (L.) Sweet (introduced species) (Fig. 4E), and R. hyperythrum Hayata (Fig. 4C, D), and R. pseudochrysanthum Hayata (Fig. 4F).

Biology.

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. 7A), and some concealed themselves inside coiled leaves (Fig. 7B). Mature larvae (Fig. 7C) burrowed in soil and built underground chambers for pupation (Fig. 7D) after 15 days (April 19). Adults emerged from soil after 23 days. Adults appeared in the field from June to November.

Etymology.

This new species is named after Mr. Mei-Hua Tsou, a member of the TCRT and the first to collect this new species.

Distribution.

Northern Taiwan (Fig. 5A), including Taipei, Ilan, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, and Taichung Counties.