Pyrrhalta houjayi, Lee & Bezděk, 2021

Lee, Chi-Feng & Bezdek, Jan, 2021, Revision of the genera Xanthogaleruca Laboissiere, 1932 and Pyrrhalta Joannis, 1865 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae) of Taiwan, with type designation of Galerucella lineatipes Takei, ZooKeys 1039, pp. 1-108 : 1

Pyrrhalta houjayi sp. nov. Figs 5D-F , 8 , 9

Types.

Holotype 1♂ (TARI), Taiwan. Pingtung: Lilungshan (里龍山), 30.VI.2016, leg. J.-C. Chen. Paratypes. 2♂♂, 3♀♀ (TARI), same data as holotype; Hsinchu: 1♂ (TARI), Talu trail (大鹿林道), 1.VIII.2015, leg. Y.-L. Lin; Kaohsiung: 1♂, 1♀ (TARI), Chungchihkuan (中之關), 1.VII.2009, leg. S.-F. Yu; 1♂, 2♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 3.VII.2009, leg. M.-H. Tsou; 1♂ (TARI), Shihshan logging trail (石山林道), 19.VIII.2008, leg. C.-T. Yao; 1♀ (NMNS), Tengchih (天池), 6-7.VII.2000, leg. M. L. Chan; Nantou: 1♀ (TARI), Fenghuangshan (鳳凰山), 10.VIII.2011, leg. M.-H. Tsou; 3♂, 5♀ (TARI), Hsitou (溪頭), 28.V.2009, leg. C.-F. Lee; 2♀ (TARI), Juiyanhsi (瑞岩溪), 16.VIII.2015, leg. S.-F. Yu; 1♂ (TARI), Kuantaoshan (關刀山), 5.VII.2013, leg. Y.-L. Lin; 1♂ (TARI), Meifeng (梅峰), 5-9.X.1980, leg. C. C. Chen & C. C. Chien; 4♂, 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 24-26.VI.1981, leg. K. S. & and W. S. Tang; 3♂, 3♀ (TARI), same locality, 15.VII.1982, leg. S. C. Lin & C. N. Lin; 1♂ (TARI), same locality, 4-7.X.1982, leg. K. C. Chou; 2♂, 1♀ (TARI), same but with “1.VI.2009”; 1♂ (TARI), Peitungyanshan (北東眼山), 3.VII.2014, leg. C.-F. Lee; 3♂, 2♀ (NHMUK), Ruei River Major Wildlife Habitat (瑞岩溪野生動物重要棲息環境), 8.VIII.2008, leg. H. Mendel & M. V. L. Barclay; 2♂ (TARI), Tsuifeng (翠峰), 25-27.VI.1981, leg. K. S. Lin & W. S. Tang; 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 1-3.VIII.1981, leg. T. Lin & W. S. Tang; Pingtung: 2♂, 4♀ (TARI), Jinshuiying (浸水營), 16.VI.2011, leg. J.-C. Chen; 1♀ (TARI), Peitawushan (北大武山), 22.IX.2012, leg. J.-C. Chen; 1♀ (TARI), Tahanshan (大漢山), 21.VII.2013, leg. Y.-T. Chung; 1♂ (TARI), same but with “30.VII.2013”; 2♀ (TARI), same but with “29.VI.2018”; 1♀ (TARI), same but with “9.IX.2018”; 1♀ (TARI), same but with “1.IV.2020”; Taichung: 1♀ (TARI), Tahsuehshan (大雪山), 6.IV.2014, leg. C.-S. Lin; Taipei: 1♀ (TARI), Tatungshan (大桶山), 10.VIII.2008, leg. M.-H. Tsao; Taitung: 1♀ (TARI), Liyuan (栗園), 19.VI.2014, leg. J.-C. Chen; 1♂, 1♀ (TARI), Motien (摩天), 5.X.2010, leg. C.-F. Lee; 1♀ (TARI), Wululintao (霧鹿林道), 24.VI.2010, leg. M.-H. Tsou; Taoyuan: 1♂, 3♀ (TARI), Lalashan (拉拉山), 22.VII.2008, leg. H.-J. Chen; 1♂, 4♀ (TARI), same locality, 2.VIII.2008, leg. M.-H. Tsao (= Tsou); 2♂, 1♀ (TARI), same but with "leg. S.-F. Yu"; 1♂, 2♀ (TARI), same locality, 7.VIII.2008, leg. H.-J. Chen; 1♂ (TARI), same locality, 30.VIII.2008, leg. M.-H. Tsao; 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 28.IV.2009, leg. H.-J. Chen; 2♂, 1♀ (TARI), same but with “29.IV.2009”; 1♂, 2♀ (TARI), same locality, 5.V.2009, leg. C.-F. Lee; 1♂ (TARI), same but with “8.V.2009”; 1♂ (TARI), same locality, 21.V.2009, leg. M.-H. Tsou; 1♂, 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 25.VI.2009, leg. S.-F. Yu; 1♂, 3♀ (TARI), same locality, 4.V.2009, leg. C.-F. Lee; 1♂ (TARI), Ssuleng (四稜), 1.VI.2012, leg. S.-F. Yu; 3♂, 4♀ (TARI), Tamanshan (塔曼山), 3.VIII.2008, leg. M.-H. Tsao.

Diagnosis.

Elytra smooth, lacking longitudinal ridges; green with wide reddish brown band along suture.

Description.

Length 4.4-7.5 mm, width 2.5-3.1 mm. Body color (Fig. 5D-F ) yellowish brown; head reddish, antenna dark brown; pronotum medially reddish brown; elytra green but with wide reddish brown stripe along suture; scutellum reddish brown; lateral margins of tibiae blackish brown. Eyes small, interocular space 2.20-2.60 × diameter of eye. Antennae filiform in males (Fig. 8A ), length ratios of antennomeres I-XI 1.0: 0.6: 1.1: 1.2: 1.2: 1.1: 1.1: 1.0: 0.9: 0.8: 1.0, length to width ratios of antennomeres I-XI 2.7: 2.2: 3.7: 4.1: 4.3: 4.1: 4.2: 3.9: 3.6: 3.3: 4.1; similar in females (Fig. 8B ), length ratios of antennomeres I-XI 1.0: 0.5: 1.0: 1.0: 1.0: 0.9: 0.9: 0.8: 0.8: 0.7: 0.9, length to width ratios of antennomeres I-XI 2.9: 2.2: 3.9: 4.2: 4.1: 3.5: 3.7: 3.9: 3.5: 3.3: 4.4. Pronotum and elytra convex. Pronotum 2.0-2.1 × wider than long, disc with reticulate microsculpture; with dense, coarse punctures, and extremely short pubescence, with median longitudinal and lateral depressions; lateral margins rounded, widest at apical 1/3, apical and basal margin slightly concave; anterior and posterior setiferous punctures erect. Elytra elongate and broad, parallel-sided, 1.8 × longer than wide; disc with reticulate microsculpture, with dense, fine punctures, and short pubescence. Apical spur of tibia of middle leg absent and tarsomere I not modified in males. Aedeagus (Fig. 8C, D ) slender in dorsal view, 7.4 × longer than wide, asymmetric, curved subapically, apically narrowed from middle, apex narrowly rounded; ostium large, covered by a membrane; straight but strongly curved near base in lateral view, slightly curved at middle, apex narrowly rounded; two endophallic sclerites elongate, primary sclerite 0.7 × as long as aedeagus, apex with several fine teeth, basally recurved; secondary sclerite small, 0.5 × as long as the longer sclerite. Only apices of gonocoxae (Fig. 8I ) sclerotized, elongate, with several short setae near apex, and four long setae at near apex. Ventrite VIII (Fig. 8E ) well sclerotized, strongly broadened near apex, outer sides strongly curved, several short setae along apical margin and bearing cluster of long setae medially, spiculum long. Receptacle of spermatheca (Fig. 8F ) slightly swollen; pump short and strongly curved; sclerotized proximal spermathecal duct wide and long. Apical margin of abdominal ventrite V slightly concave medially, with deep depression but with indistinct margin at middle in males (Fig. 8H ); bearing median notch in females (Fig. 8G ).

Variation.

Specimens from southern Taiwan possess a broader aedeagus and the broader endophallic sclerite near apex that is almost straight in lateral view.

Remarks.

Adults of P. houjayi sp. nov. and P. taiwana Kimoto are characterized by their partly green elytra lacking longitudinal ridges. Pyrrhalta houjayi sp. nov. can be distinguished from P. taiwana by presence of the wide brown band along the suture of the elytra, and more slender elytra (Figs 5D , 9F ), 1.8 × longer than wide (lacking brown band on elytra, and wider elytra (Figs 11A , 13D ), 1.6 × longer than wide in P. taiwana ); slender aedeagus, 7.4 × longer than wide, with apex curved to right (Fig. 8C ) (broad aedeagus, 6.8 × longer than wide, with tapering apex (Fig. 12C ) in P. taiwana ); two endophallic slerites, primary endophallic sclerite with teeth at apex (Fig. 8C, D ) (one endophallic sclerite slender, lacking teeth at apex (Fig. 12C, D ) in P. taiwana ).

Host plants.

Larvae and adults feed on leaves of Rhododendron leptosanthum Hayata ( Ericaceae )

Biology.

The first author, Mrs Hsueh Lee, and Mr Hou-Jay Chen found young larvae feeding on tender shoots (Fig. 9A ) April 1, 2009 in Lalashan, northern Taiwan. mature larvae started to burrow into soil and built underground chambers for pupation April 11. The newly eclosed adults emerged from soil April 28. The first author and Mr. Ta-Hsiang Lee found the host plants blooming and sprouting at the same time (Fig. 9B ) April 21, 2010 in Tahsuehshan, central Taiwan. Many larvae were found inside flower buds with holes (Fig. 9C, D ). Some larvae preferred to feed on pedicels (Fig. 9E ). Newly emerged adults appeared during late spring, into summer (Fig. 9F ).

Distribution.

This new species is widespread at mid-altitudes (1,500-2,500 m) in Taiwan.

Etymology.

Dedicated to Mrs Su-Fang Yu who was the first member of TCRT to collect specimens of this new species and rear them successfully from eggs to adults.

Figures

Figure 5. Habitus of Pyrrhalta gressitti Kimoto, P. houjayi sp. nov., and P. tahsiangi sp. nov. A P. gressitti, male, dorsal view B ditto, ventral view C ditto, lateral view D P. houjayi sp. nov., male, dorsal view E ditto, ventral view F ditto, lateral view G P. tahsiangi sp. nov., male, dorsal view H ditto, ventral view I ditto, lateral view.

Figure 8. Diagnostic characters of Pyrrhalta houjayi sp. nov. A antenna, male B antenna, female C aedeagus, dorsal view D ditto, lateral view E abdominal ventrite VIII F spermatheca G abdominal ventrite V, female H abdominal ventrite V, male I gonocoxae.

Figure 9. Field photographs of Pyrrhalta houjayi sp. nov. on host plant A young larvae feeding on tender shoots B host plant blooming and sprouting at the same time in Tahsuehshan (大雪山) C flower buds with holes caused by larvae D Larva found inside the flower buds E one larva feeding on pedicels F adults.

Figure 11. Habitus of Pyrrhalta taiwana Kimoto and P. viridipennis Kimoto A P. taiwana, male, dorsal view B ditto, ventral view C ditto, lateral view D P. viridipennis, male, dorsal view E ditto, ventral view F ditto, lateral view.

Figure 12. Diagnostic characters of Pyrrhalta houjayi sp. nov. A antenna, male B antenna, female C aedeagus, dorsal view D ditto, lateral view E abdominal ventrite VIII F spermatheca G gonocoxae H abdominal ventrite V, female I abdominal ventrite V, male.

Figure 13. Field photographs of Pyrrhalta taiwana Kimoto and P. viridipennis Kimoto on host plant A host plant for P. tahsiangi, Vaccinium randaiense B mature larva of P. taiwana C pupa of P. taiwana D adult of P. taiwana E Third-instar larva of P. viridipennis F adult of P. viridipennis.