Aplosonyx omeiensis Chen

Zhang, Lijie, Li, Wenzhu, Zhang, Yalin & Yang, Xingke, 2008, A new species of genus Aplosonyx Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae) from China, with a key to the Chinese known species, Zootaxa 1898, pp. 63-68 : 65

Aplosonyx omeiensis Chen , stat. nov

Diagnosis: This species differs from A. pictus Chen in that elytron with 5 spots, one basal, on lateral, one middle and two apical (Fig. 6); however, the elytron of A. pictus with two longitudinal stripes and one apical spot (Fig. 7). This species is similar to A. yunlongensis , but differs in that pronotum with only one blackish spot (Fig. 9), however that of the latter with three (Fig.10).

Remarks: Chen (1942) described Aplosonyx pictus omeiensis from Sichuan by a single specimen. We found other 4 specimens which had the exactly the same data as the holotype. They were confirmed to be conspecific by morphological study. In addition, we examined 30 specimens from seven localities that display the same set of unique morphological characters. For not only the markings on the elytron, but also the aedeagus are different from that of A. pictus , we elevate it to be a valid species. With more specimens available to us, we feel that Gressitt and Kimoto (1963) were incorrect in treating them as conspecific.

Lopatin (2002) transferred A. pictus Chen to genus Sphenoraia . However, the important differences between genus Aplosonyx and Sphenoraia is that the former with posterior corner of pronotum distinctly angulated, basal half of pronotum convex; however the latter with posterior corner rounded and subobtuse, basal half of pronotum not convex. For A. pictus with the posterior corner of pronotum project and basal half of pronotum convex, we reserve it in genus Aplosonyx .

Materials examined: Sichuan, Mt. Emeishan, 1male (holotype), IX.1912, 2 males 2 females, the same data with holotype; 10 males 3 females, 17–23.VI.1955, leg. Keren Huang & Gentao Jin; 3 males, 1800– 2100m, 23–24.VI.1955, leg. Bingrong Ou, 1 male, 24.VI.1955, leg. Zhonglin Ge; 3 males, 2070m, 15.VI.1979, leg. Ping Gao. Jiulaodong, 1800–1900m, 3 males 2 females, 7–9.VII.1957, leg. Fuxing Zhu; 1 male 1 female, 16–17.VI.1957, 1 female, 2.VIII.1957, leg. Youcai Yu; 1 male 1 female, 6–7.VII.1957, leg. Zongyuan Wang.

Distribution: Sichuan.