Leiodes circinipes species group

Species included. Leiodes circinipes (Rye, 1873), L. juzoi sp. nov., L. yasudai sp. nov., L. yoshitakei sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Elytra unicolor or bicolored, with densely arranged large punctures between rows of punctures, and therefore superficially appearing not to bear rows of punctures (Figs. 16E, 19E, 21D, 24E); mesoventrite without distinct excavation between median carina and transverse carina (Figs. 16F, 19F, 21E, 24F); protarsi sexually dimorphic, male protarsomeres 2–4 expanded (Figs. 17A, 20A, 22A, 25A); male mesotibiae strongly protuberant at an interoapical corner, female mesotibiae simply quadrate interoapically (Figs. 17C, 17D, 22C, 22D, 25C, 25D); dorsal posteroapical projection of metafemur sexually dimorphic (Figs. 22I, 22J) or not (Figs. 17H, 17I, 25I, 25J); pubescence of metaventrite showing distinct sexual dimorphism (Figs. 21F, 21G, 24G, 24H) or not; aedeagus slender, without distinct large sclerites in inner sac (Figs. 18A, 19F, 23A, 26A); male abdominal sternite 8 strongly curved (Figs. 18C, 20H, 23C, 26C); female abdominal sternite 8 with a spiculum ventrale at a central point of anterior margin (Figs. 18D, 23D, 26D).

Representatives of the genus Leiodes occasionally show sexual dimorphism in the shape of the spines at the interoapical corner of the mesotibiae (BARANOWSKI 1993). Among Leiodes from Japan and the North Chishima Islands, L. circinipes group is the only group having this character (Table 1).

Differential diagnosis. The Leiodes circinipes species group can be separated from other species groups by having elytra with densely arranged large punctures between rows of punctures and having the male mesotibiae strongly protuberant at the interoapical corner.