Lilioceris neptis (Weise, 1922)

Xu, Yuan, Xiong, Yun & Liang, Hongbin, 2021, A review of the neptis species group of the genus Lilioceris (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Criocerinae), Zoological Systematics 46 (4), pp. 300-316 : 301

Lilioceris neptis species group

Diagnosis. The species group is unique by: apex of mesoventral process more or less widened apically, tuberculate, and connected horizontally with metaventrite ( Figs 15B–19B ).

Key to species of the Lilioceris neptis species-group in eastern Asia.

1. Smaller, body length less than 6.5 mm; metaventral disc with a triangular setose patch near anterior margin ( Fig. 17C ); ventral side unicolored .............................................................................................................................................................................. L. fouana Larger , body length no less than 7.0 mm; metaventral disc with a setose patch near posterior margin ( Figs 15C, 16C ) or a long setose stripe ( Figs 18C, 19C ); ventral side bicolored...................................................................................................................................... 2

2. Antennomeres 5–10 slightly longer than wide ( Figs 13–14 ); head and antennae brownish red....................................... L. vietnamica Antennomeres 5–10 twice as long as wide; head and antennae black..................................................................................................3

3. Mesoventrite process strongly widened apically ( Figs 16B, 18B ); pronotal disc with at least one row of large punctures ................. 4 Mesoventrite process slightly widened apically ( Fig. 19B ); pronotal disc without row of large punctures .........................................5

4. Punctures of elytral striae dense at base, diminishing posteriorly, at most absent at extreme apex; outer metaventrite with a long stripe of setae, extending from anterior to posterior margin ( Fig. 18C )............................................................................................. L. neptis Punctures of elytral striae sparse at base, diminishing posteriorly, absent on apical 1/2 or 1/3; lateroposterior corner of metaventrite with a short oblique stripe of setae ( Fig. 16C ) ............................................................................................................... L. cantonensis

5. Punctures of elytral striae sparse at base, sparser and absent on apical 1/2( Figs 2 , 11 )....................................................... L. subpolita Punctures of elytral striae dense at base, neither sparser nor absent at apex ( Fig. 1 ) ................................................................. L. balyi

Figures

Figures 15–19. Pronotum, mesoventral process and metaventrite of Lilioceris spp. 15. L. vietnamica, ♂, China (Yunnan: Menghai). 16. L. cantonensis, ♂, China (Zhejiang: Tianmu Shan). 17. L. fouana, ♂, China (Sichuan: Luding). 18. L. neptis, ♀, China (Hong Kong: Honghualing). 19. L. subpolita, ♂, Japan (Osaka: Minomo). A. Pronotum. B. Mesoventral process. C. Metaventral disc.

Figures 11–14. Habitus of Lilioceris spp. 11–12. L. subpolita, ♂, Japan (Osaka: Minomo); 13–14. L. vietnamica, ♂, China (Yunnan: Menghai). 7, 9. Dorsal view. 8, 10. Ventral view. Scale bars=5.0mm.

Figures 1–2. Habitus of Lilioceris spp. 1. L. balyi, dorsal view, ♂, holotype. 2. L. subpolita, dorsal view, sex undetermined, syntype, Siberia. Scale bars=5.0mm.