Lochmaea lesagei Kimoto, 1996

Lee, Chi-Feng, 2019, The genus Lochmaea Weise, 1883 in Taiwan: results of taxonomic expeditions by citizen scientists (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae), ZooKeys 856, pp. 75-100 : 79-82

Lochmaea lesagei Kimoto, 1996 Figs 2 A–C, 3, 4A, B

Lochmaea lesagei Kimoto, 1996: 32.

Type material.

Holotype ♂ (NMNS), labeled: "TAIWAN: Yushan / Nat. Park Mun-li / Cliff. 27.IV.90 / L. LeSage 2700 m [p, w] // Lochmaea / lesagei / Kimoto, n. sp. [h] / Det. S. Kimoto, 19 [p, w] // HOLOTYPE [p, r] // 2279-4 [p, w]".

Other material examined (n = 109).

Chiayi: 2♂♂, 2♀♀ (TARI), Alishan (阿里山), 2400 m, 5-9.VIII.1981, leg. L.-Y. Chou & S.-C. Lin; Hualien: 1♂ (TARI), Tayuling (大禹嶺), 2550 m, 12-15.IX.1980, leg. K.-S. Lin & C.-H. Wang; 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 3.VIII.2015, leg. Uika; Nantou: 1♂ (TARI), Chilai South Peak (奇萊南峰), 3350 m, 23.VII.2017, leg. J.-C. Chen; 1♀ (TARI), Hehuanshan (合歡山), 3400 m, 6.IX.2017, leg. Y.-F. Hsu; 3♂♂ (TARI), Hsiaochilai (小奇萊), 3150 m, 23.IX.2016, leg. J.-C. Chen; 2♀♀ (TARI), Huakang (華崗), 2550 m, 12.IX.2010, leg. C.-F. Lee; 9♂♂, 9♀♀ (TARI), Kunyang (昆陽), 3050 m, reared from larvae, 23.VI.2009, leg. C.-F. Lee; 2♂♂, 2♀♀ (TARI), Tatachia (塔塔加), 2600 m, 20-21.VII.2009, leg. H. Lee; 2♂♂, 2♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 20.VII.2009, leg. C.-F. Lee; 1♂ (TARI), same locality, 21.IX.2009, leg. C.-F. Lee; 19♂♂, 19♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 9.IX.2015, leg. C.-F. Lee; 2♂♂, 1♀ (TARI), Tsuifeng (翠峰), 2300 m, 1-3.VIII.1981, leg. T. Lin & W.-S. Tang; 2♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 1-3.IX.1982, leg. L.-Y. Chou & K.-C. Chou; 1♂, 2♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 12-14.IX.1984, leg. K.-S. Lin & S.-C. Lin; 1♂, 1♀ (NMNS), Wushe (霧社), 1150 m, 15.X.2002, leg. C.-S. Lin; 1♀ (NMNS), Yuanfeng (鳶峰), 2750 m, 13.VI.-18.VII.2001, leg. C.-S. Lin & W. T. Yang; 1♂ (NMNS), same but with “7.VIII.-11.IX.2001”; 1♂ (NMNS), same but with “9.IV.-7.V.2002”; 1♂ (NMNS), same but with “9.VII.-13.VIII.2002”; 1♂, 1♀ (NMNS), same but with “13.VIII.-10.IX.2002”; 1♀ (NMNS), same but with “10.IX.-15.X.2002”; 1♀ (NMNS), same but with “15.X.-12.XI.2002”; 1♀ (NMNS), same but with “7.V.-11.VI.2003”; 1♂ (NMNS), same but with “8.VII.-5.VIII.2003”; 1♂ (NMNS), same but with “7.X.-4.XI.2003”; 1♂ (NMNS), same but with “5.X.-16.XI.2004”; 1♂ (NMNS), same but with “4.X.-8.XI.2005”; 1♀ (NMNS), same but with “21.IX.-17.X.2006”; Pingtung: 1♂ (TARI), Peitawushan (北大武山), 3050 m, 15.VIII.2016, leg. Y.-M. Weng; Taichung: 1♀ (TARI), Nanhutashan (南湖大山), 3700 m, 23.VII.2016, leg. J.-C. Chen; Taitung: 1♂, 5♀♀ (TARI), Hsiangyangshan (向陽山), 3600 m, 20.VI.2014, leg. J.-C. Chen; 1♂ (TARI), same but with “19.IX.2014”.

Diagnosis.

Lochmaea lesagei Kimoto cannot be distinguished from L. tsoui sp. n. based on external morphology but it differs by the rounded apex of the symmetrical median lobe (Fig. 3C) (tapering apex of asymmetrical median lobe (Fig. 6C) in L. tsoui sp. n.), the acute apex of abdominal ventrite VIII in females (Fig. 3E) (rounded apex (Fig. 6E) in L. tsoui sp. n.), and northern Taiwan distribution (southern Taiwan in L. tsoui sp. n.).

Redescription.

Length 6.6-7.4 mm, width 3.3-2.9 mm. General color (Fig. 2A, C) yellowish brown to reddish brown; vertex and pronotum with median longitudinal dark band; each elytron green but with wide yellowish brown band along suture and lateral margin. Antennae filiform in males (Fig. 3A), length ratios of antennomeres I–XI 1.0: 0.6: 1.0: 1.0: 1.0: 0.9: 0.9: 0.7: 0.7: 0.7: 0.9, length to width ratios of antennomeres I–XI 2.7: 3.0: 3.3: 3.4: 3.6: 3.6: 3.6: 3.5: 3.7: 3.6: 4.0; much shorter in females (Fig. 3B), length ratios of antennomeres I–XI 1.0: 0.5: 0.9: 0.8: 0.9: 0.9: 0.7: 0.7: 0.7: 0.7: 0.9, length to width ratios of antennomeres I–XI 2.7: 2.2: 3.7: 3.3: 3.8: 3.6: 3.0: 3.1: 3.3: 3.1: 3.6. Pronotum transverse, 1.8 × wider than long, disc with dense, extremely coarse punctures, and one pair of lateral depressions; lateral margins strongly narrowed basally; margins concave basally and apically. Elytra elongate and parallel-sided, 1.4 × longer than wide; disc with random, dense, coarse punctures. Apical margin of abdominal ventrite V in males with median notch bearing short, longitudinal ridges along margin, concave between ridges (Fig. 3H). Ventrite V in females with deep, wide, median, rounded notch (Fig. 3I). Median lobe symmetrical, (Fig. 3C, D) slender, 6.4 × longer than wide, parallel-sided from base to apical 1/3, broader towards 1/7, widest at apical 1/7, apex rounded; opening elongate, apically broader; in lateral view almost straight, strongly curved near base, apically narrowed from apical 1/7; internal sac with one elongate sclerite, 0.6 × as long as median lobe. Gonocoxae (Fig. 3F) elongate, membranous except apical parts, with one pair of weakly sclerotized, elongate sclerites at base; apical parts elongate, bearing tiny, scattered setae and four long setae at apices. Ventrite VIII (Fig. 3E) longitudinal and well sclerotized; apex acute; abruptly broader at apical 1/5, spiculum long and wide. Receptacle of spermatheca (Fig. 3G) strongly swollen; pump slender and strongly curved; proximal spermathecal duct deeply inserted into receptacle, broad but short.

Host plants.

Ericaceae : Rhododendron pseudochrysanthum Hayata (Fig. 4A, B) and R. rubropilosum Hayata var. taiwanalpinum (Ohwi).

Biology.

Larvae appear when host plants begin sprouting. A number of young larvae (first-instar) were collected from Rhododendron pseudochrysanthum in Kunyang (昆陽) (3050 m), May 18, 2009 and transferred to the laboratory for rearing. Mature larvae burrowed into the soil and built underground chambers for pupation after seven days (May 25). Adults emerged from soil after 24 days (June 28). Twenty larvae emerged successfully as adults. From this sample, eighteen adults were identified as L. lesagei (winged) and the other two as L. smetanai (wingless). Adults appeared in the field from late June to October.

Distribution.

Southern Taiwan, including Nantou, Hualien, Chiayi, Pingtung, Taitung, and Taichung (only found in Nanhutashan (南湖大山)) Counties (Fig. 5A).