Morphosphaera takizawai, Lee, Chi-Feng & Bezdĕk, Jan, 2016

Lee, Chi-Feng & Bezdĕk, Jan, 2016, Revision of the genus Morphosphaera Baly (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae), Zootaxa 4179 (1), pp. 1-41 : 34-36

Morphosphaera takizawai sp. nov.

( Figs 24–25 )

Type material. Holotype Ƌ ( NME), labeled: “ MALAYSIA W., KELANTAN / 90 km N of Gua Musang / Mt.Basor , 1700m . / Kampong Kubur Datu / 1.iii.–21.iii.2015 / Petr Cechovsky lgt. [p, w] // Collection / NATURKUNDE- / MUSEUM ERFURT [p, y]”. Paratypes: 1♀ ( JBCB): “BORNEO Sabah W / Crocker Range E / West of Apin Apin / leg. Snížek, II.2000 [p, w] // COLLECTION / Jan BEZDĚK / Brno / Czech Republic [p, w]” ; 2♀♀ ( SEHU): “ Malaysia, PAHANG / Gn. Jasar, Cameron / H. L. / 9. XII. 2013 / H. Takizawa [p, w]”; 1Ƌ ( SEHU): “ Passar Baru Sibo- / langit N . Sumatra / 28.X.1999 / H. Takizawa [p, w]” ; 1♀ ( MNHUB): “ Sumatra, Deli / Siboelangit / Jachan V. [p, w]”.

Description. Length 7.4–7.7 mm, width 4.3–5.1 mm. General color yellow brown, but head, meso- and metathoracic, and abdominal ventrite, and legs black; scutellum dark brown, suture and lateral margins of elytra narrowly blackish brown ( Figs 24 A–24C); pronotum yellowish brown without black spots ( Fig. 24 D). Antenna filiform ( Fig. 25 A), 0.5x as long as body; length ratios of antennomeres II to XI about 1.0: 1.4: 1.6: 1.6: 1.6: 1.8: 1.6: 1.7: 1.7: 1.9, and length to width ratios of antennomeres II to XI about 1.4: 2.0: 1.9: 1.8: 1.8: 1.9: 1,8: 1.9: 2.0: 2.8. Aedeagus ( Figs 25 B–25C) wide in dorsal view, about 6.4 longer than wide, parallel-sided but slightly wider at apical 1/5, apex tubelike; ventral surface well sclerotized and smooth; wide and slightly curved in lateral view; apex of endophallic sclerites bifurcate and directed inwards; apico-lateral process long; with one pair of processes erect and recurved outwards at apical 1/3; base tubelike. Gonocoxae reduced. Ventrite VIII ( Fig. 25 D) with short spiculum; apex weakly sclerotized, apical surface with scattered short and long confused setae. Receptacle of spermatheca ( Fig. 25 E) elongate and slightly swollen, pump narrower and strongly curved, proximal spermathecal duct short and broad.

Diagnosis. Morphosphaera takizawai is the only Morphosphaera species lacking black spots on the pronotum. The elytra are reddish brown and the head black. The most similar species is M. sumatrana , which differs in possessing yellowish brown meso- and metathoracic ventrites and femora, and five black spots on the pronotum (contrary to black meso- and metathoracic ventrites and legs, and completely pale pronotum in M. takizawai ). Host plant. Unknown.

Etymology. Dedicated to Haruo Takizawa, a renowned specialist of Japanese and Malayan Chrysomelidae . Distribution. Malaysia (Kelantan, Pahang, Sabah), Indonesia (Java, Sumatra).

Figures

FIGURES 24. Habitus of Morphosphaera takizawai sp. nov. 24 A. Dorsal view; 24 B. Ventral view; 24 C. Head; 24 D. Pronotum.

FIGURES 25. Diagnostic characters of Morphosphaera takizawai sp. nov. 25 A. Antenna; 25 B. Penis, dorsal view; 25 C. Penis, lateral view; 25 D. Abdominal ventrite VIII; 25 E. Spermatheca.