Euphitrea flavicornis ( Chen, 1933 )

Euphitrea flavicornis ( Chen, 1933)

Figs 1 A – C View Figure 1 , 2 A View Figure 2 , 3 View Figure 3 , 4 A View Figure 4 , 5 View Figure 5

Neorthaea flavicornis Chen, 1933: 90 ( Taiwan: Taihorin); Chûjô 1935: 473 (part); Chûjô 1963: 399 (faunistic records); Chûjô 1965: 102 (faunistic records); Kimoto 1966: 35 (faunistic records); Kimoto 1970: 215 (faunistic records).

Euphitrea flavicornis : Kimoto 1986: 59 (faunistic records); Kimoto 1989: 263 (faunistic records); Kimoto 1991 b: 19 (faunistic records); Bezděk and Konstantinov 2024: 509 (catalogue).

Type material examined.

Lectotype • ♀ ( SDEI, here designated to clarify its taxonomic status), labeled: “ Taihorin (= Talin, 大林) / Formosa / H. Sauter, 1911 [p, w] // 7. VIII. [p, w] // Chen det [h, w] // Syntypus [p, r] // Neorthaea / flavicornis / Chen [h, w] // SDEI Müncheberg / Col – 19911 [p, g] ” . Paralectotypes • Five types bearing the same labels are deposited at the SDEI ( Chen 1933) .

Additional material examined.

Taiwan. Chiayi • 2 ♀ (originally pinned with the same pin, TARI), Arisan (= Alishan , 阿里山), 10.X.1912, leg. I. Nitobe • 1 ♂ ( TARI), same locality, 27.V.1917, leg. T. Shiraki • 5 ♀ ( 2 ♀: TARI; 3 ♀: NHMUK), same locality, 2–23.X.1918, leg. J. Sonan • 1 ♀ ( TARI), same locality, 24.X.1933, leg. M. Chujo • 1 ♂, 1 ♀ ( TARI), Funkiko (= Fenchifu , 奮起湖), 29.IV.1931, leg. T. Shiraki • 1 ♀ ( TARI), same locality, 9.VIII.1940, leg. K. Endo • 3 ♂, 4 ♀ ( KMNH), same locality, 8.VIII.1990, leg. S. Kimoto • 4 ♂, 1 ♀ ( TARI), Juitai trail (瑞太古道), 15.IX.2013, leg. W.-C. Liao • 1 ♂, 2 ♀ ( TARI), Laichitashan (來吉塔山), 19.III.2009, leg. H. Lee • 6 ♂, 10 ♀ ( SDEI), Suisharyo (= Shuisheliao , 水社寮), X.1911, leg. H. Sauter • 1 ♂ ( TARI), Tutzuhu (杜仔湖), 14.III.2015, leg. W.-C. Liao ; Kaohsiung • 6 ♂, 1 ♀ ( TARI), Chungchihkuan (中之關), 16.IV.2012, leg. L.-P. Hsu • 1 ♀ ( TARI), same but with “ 15.IV.–10.X.2012 ” • 2 ♂, 3 ♀ ( TARI), same but with “ 10–13.X.2012 ” • 3 ♂, 3 ♀ ( TARI), Erhchituan (二集團), 8.III.2013, leg. B.-X. Guo • 1 ♂ ( SDEI), Kosempo (= Chiasien , 甲仙), 22.V.1912, leg. H. Sauter • 2 ♂, 1 ♀ ( TARI), Likuan (禮觀), 30.IV.2023, leg. Y.-F. Hsu • 4 ♂, 2 ♀ ( KMNH), Meishan-Tinchi (梅山-天池), 29.VI.1986, leg. K. Baba • 1 ♂, 10 ♀ ( KMNH), Shaping (扇平), 5.V.1986, leg. K. Baba • 1 ♂ ( TARI), Tengchih (藤枝), 18.II.2007, leg. S.-F. Yu • 8 ♂, 1 ♀ ( TARI), same locality, 2–5.VI.2008, leg. C.-F. Lee • 2 ♂ ( TARI), same but with “ 26.V.2009 ” • 5 ♂, 5 ♀ ( TARI), same locality, 31.VII.2008, leg. C.-T. Yao • 1 ♂ ( TARI), 7.IX.2012, leg. W.-C. Liao • 1 ♀ ( TARI), same but with “ 31.III.2013 ” • 1 ♀ ( TARI), same but with “ 13.IV.2013 ” • 1 ♂, 2 ♀ ( TARI), same locality, 18.IV.2013, leg. Y.-T. Chung • 1 ♀ ( TARI), Tona trail (多納林道), 3.II.2013, leg. B.-X. Guo ; 1 ♂, 2 ♀ ( TARI), same locality, 3.II.2013, leg. W.-C. Liao • 6 ♂, 1 ♀ ( TARI), same locality, 25.II.2013, leg. Y.-T. Chung ; Nantou • 1 ♀ ( TARI), Ailan (愛蘭), 30.IV.2009, leg. W.-T. Liu • 1 ♂, 1 ♀ ( TARI), Choshe (卓社), 8.VII.2017, leg. B.-H. Kuo • 1 ♂ ( TARI), Fenghuangshan (鳳凰山), 8.VI.2013, Y.-T. Wang • 1 ♀ ( KMNH), Hsitou (溪頭), 31.III.1980, leg. K. Sugiyama • 1 ♀ ( TARI), Huisun Forest Recreation (惠蓀林場), 23.IV.2015, leg. Y.-T. Chung • 8 ♂, 6 ♀ ( TARI), Lienhuachi (蓮華池), 23–26.V.1980, leg. K. S. Lin & B. H. Chen • 1 ♀ ( TARI), same locality, 4.IV.2016, leg. H.-T. Shih • 2 ♂, 1 ♀ ( TARI), Tungpu (東埔), 28.IV.–2.V.1981, leg. T. Lin & C. J. Lee • 1 ♂, 1 ♀ ( TARI), same locality, 18–23.XI.1981, leg. T. Lin & W. S. Tang • 12 ♂, 14 ♀ ( TARI), same locality, 19–23.VII.1982, leg. L. Y. Chou & T. Lin • 17 ♂, 7 ♀ ( TARI), same locality, 20–24.VI.1983, leg. K. C. Chou & C. Y. Wong • 1 ♂ ( TARI), same locality, 16–20.IV.1984, leg. K. C. Chou & C. H. Yung • 1 ♀ ( TARI), 8.I.2009, leg. H. Lee • 2 ♂, 1 ♀ ( TARI), Hsitou (溪頭), 25.XII.2008, leg. C.-F. Lee • 2 ♀ ( TARI), Wanfengtsun (萬豐村), 13.IV.2010, W.-T. Liu ; Pingtung • 1 ♀ ( TARI), Jinshuiying (浸水營), 12.IV.2012, leg. C.-F. Lee • 1 ♀ ( TARI), same locality, 2.V.2020, leg. F.-S. Hu • 4 ♂, 10 ♀ ( TARI), Machia (瑪家), 11.III.2013, leg. Y.-T. Chung • 1 ♀ ( TARI), same but with “ 12.III.2014 ” • 1 ♂ ( TARI), Peitawushan (北大武山), 5.II.2011, leg. J.-C. Chen • 1 ♂, 1 ♀ ( TARI), same locality, 6.VIII.2016, leg. Y.-T. Chung • 1 ♂, 1 ♀ ( TARI), Tahanshan (大漢山), 22.II.2007, leg. S.-F. Yu • 1 ♂, 1 ♀ ( TARI), same but with “ 4.VII.2008 ” • 5 ♂, 6 ♀ ( TARI), same locality, 6.II.2008, leg. M.-H. Tsou ; 5 ♀ ( TARI), same locality, 8.V.2009, leg. U. Ong • 1 ♀ ( TARI), same locality, 10.IV.2012, leg. J.-C. Chen • 1 ♂ ( TARI), same locality, 19.VII.2012, leg. C.-F. Lee • 3 ♀ ( TARI), same locality, Malaise trap, 15.III.–3.IV.2020, leg. Y.-C. Chiu • 1 ♂, 1 ♀ ( TARI), same but with “ 3.IV.–2.V.2020 ” • 6 ♂, 11 ♀ ( TARI), same but with “ 2.V.–6.VI.2020 ” • 1 ♂, 1 ♀ ( TARI), same but with “ 6–25.VI.2020 ” • 4 ♂, 3 ♀ ( TARI), same but with “ 25.VI.–24.VII.2020 ” • 6 ♂, 3 ♀ ( TARI), same but with “ 24.VII.–29.VIII.2020 ” • 6 ♂, 2 ♀ ( TARI), same but with “ 29.VIII.–19.IX.2020 ” • 3 ♂ ( TARI), same but with “ 19.IX.–24.X.2020 ” • 1 ♀ ( TARI), same but with “ 24. X. 21 XI. 2020 ” • 1 ♀ ( TARI), Taiwu (泰武), 14.IX.2017, leg. Y.-T. Chung ; Taichung • 1 ♂, 1 ♀ ( TARI), Wushihkeng (烏石坑), 13.VII.2008, leg. M.-H. Tsou ; Tainan • 2 ♂, 1 ♀ ( TARI), Kantoushan (崁頭山), 14.III.2010, leg. M.-H. Tsou • 1 ♂ ( TARI), Meiling (梅嶺), 12.III.2011, leg. M.-L. Jeng ; Taitung: 1 ♂ ( TARI), Lichia (利嘉), 2.VI.2009, leg. U. Ong • 2 ♂, 4 ♀ ( TARI), same locality, 15.VII.2014, leg. Y.-T. Chung • 12 ♂, 20 ♀ ( TARI), same locality, 16–17.VII.2014, leg. Y.-T. Wang • 2 ♂, 2 ♀ ( TARI), same locality, 9.IV.2016, leg. S.-P. Wu • 1 ♀ ( TARI), same but with “ 5.VII.2017 ” • 1 ♂, 2 ♀ ( TARI), same locality, 29.II.–22.III.2020, Malaise trap, leg. Y.-C. Chiu • 2 ♂, 2 ♀ ( TARI), same but with “ 19.IV.–30.V.2020 ” • 1 ♂ ( TARI), same but with “ 30.V.–26.VI.2020 ” • 1 ♀ ( TARI), same but with “ 26. VI. – 23. VII ” • 2 ♂, 1 ♀ ( TARI), same but with “ 23.VII.–28.VIII.2020 ” • 2 ♂, 2 ♀ ( TARI), Liyuan (栗園), 23.VI.2010, leg. M.-H. Tsou • 1 ♀ ( TARI), same locality, 19.VI.2013, leg. C.-F. Lee • 2 ♂ ( TARI), same locality, 28.III.2014, leg. W.-C. Huang • 1 ♂, 1 ♀ ( TARI), Motien (摩天), 23.V.2011, leg. C.-F. Lee • 7 ♂, 8 ♀ ( TARI), Yanping trail (延平林道), 5.III.2016, leg. S.-P. Wu.

Redescription.

Adults. Length 2.7–3.4 mm, width 1.7–2.1 mm ( n = 387). General color dark metallic bronze (Fig. 1 A – C View Figure 1 ); antennae, legs, and mouthparts yellow. Frontal ridge flat. Furrows lateral to vertex shallow and short, apically reaching or slightly exceeding apical margins of eyes (Fig. 2 A View Figure 2 ). Antennae (Fig. 3 A View Figure 3 ) filiform in males, ratios of lengths of antennomeres I – XI 1.0: 0.5: 0.5: 0.4: 0.6: 0.7: 0.7: 0.8: 0.8: 0.7: 1.0; ratios of length to width from antennomeres I – XI 3.1: 2.0: 2.3: 1.9: 2.6: 2.8: 3.0: 2.8: 2.8: 2.4: 3.2; similar in females, ratios of lengths of antennomeres I – XI (Fig. 3 B View Figure 3 ) 1.0: 0.5: 0.5: 0.5: 0.6: 0.6: 0.6: 0.7: 0.7: 0.6: 0.8; ratios of length to width from antennomeres I – XI 3.5: 2.1: 2.7: 2.6: 2.9: 2.9: 2.7: 2.6: 2.7: 2.5: 2.9. Pronotum 1.6–1.8 × wider than long; disc shining, with dense, coarse punctures, slightly convex; lateral margins rounded; apical margins slightly concave; basal margin medially convex. Elytra 1.2–1.3 × longer than wide; disc with coarse punctures arranged into paired longitudinal lines, with fine punctures between coarse punctures; lateral margins rounded, widest at basal 1 / 4; humeral calli well developed, hind wings normal (Fig. 4 A View Figure 4 ). Tarsomeres I of front and middle legs slightly swollen and asymmetrical in males (Fig. 3 G View Figure 3 ); normal in females (Fig. 3 H View Figure 3 ). Apical margin of abdominal ventrite V in males trilobed, notches shallow; apical margin of abdominal ventrite V broadly rounded in females. Aedeagus (Fig. 3 C, D View Figure 3 ) narrow, ~ 4.5 × longer than wide; parallel-sided, moderately apically narrowed at apical 1 / 7, apex pointed; moderately curved in lateral view; tectum membranous. Endophallic spiculae reduced. Gonocoxae (Fig. 3 E View Figure 3 ) longitudinal and connected at base; gonocoxa approximate, apically narrow; apex narrowly rounded or truncate; with eight long apical setae. Ventrite VIII (Fig. 3 F View Figure 3 ) well sclerotized and small, several short setae arranged into transverse line along apical margin, apical margin rounded, with three long setae at sides, spiculum extremely long. Spermathecal receptaculum (Fig. 3 I View Figure 3 ) moderately swollen; pump wide and curved, with long apical process; sclerotized spermathecal duct short beyond spermathecal gland, base of spermathecal gland enlarged and sclerotized.

Diagnosis.

Adults of Euphitrea flavicornis are similar to those of E. jungchani sp. nov. with normal humeral calli on elytra (reduced in E. houjayi sp. nov.) and oval bodies and elytra 1.2–1.3 longer than wide (transversely oval bodies and elytra 1.1 × longer than wide in E. tsoui sp. nov.). In addition to the allopatric distributions of both species, some genital structures are diagnostic, including straight apices of aedeagi of E. flavicornis in lateral view (Fig. 3 D View Figure 3 ) and membranous tectum (Fig. 3 C View Figure 3 ) (aedeagi of E. jungchani sp. nov. subapically curved in lateral view (Fig. 8 D View Figure 8 ) and sclerotized tectum (Fig. 8 C View Figure 8 )), swollen spermathecal receptaculum (Fig. 3 I View Figure 3 ) (not swollen in E. jungchani sp. nov.; Fig. 8 I View Figure 8 ), and comparatively narrower apices of abdominal ventrite VIII in females (Fig. 3 F View Figure 3 ) (comparatively wider apices of abdominal ventrite VIII in females of E. jungchani sp. nov.; Fig. 8 F View Figure 8 ).

Food plants.

Urticaceae : Elatostema lineolatum var. majus Wedd. ; Pilea melastomoides (Poir.) Wedd. ; Begoniaceae : Begonia tengchiana C. I. Peng & Y. K. Chen.

Biological notes.

Lee et al. (2017) presented results of a project on species diversity of leaf beetles at the Xitou Nature Education Area (溪頭教育園區) in Central Taiwan. They collected leaf beetles by sweeping one day every month from November 2014 to June 2016. Euphitrea flavicornis was one of the dominant species, with 781 adults represented in collections during the study. Adults were present during all years, although few were collected during winter. Similar results were documented in populations collected using Malaise traps set at Tahanshan (大漢山), South Taiwan (see “ Additional material examined ”).

Distribution.

Central and south Taiwan (Fig. 5 View Figure 5 ). Whether populations of this species can survive at Mt. Alishan, more than 2000 m elevation, is unknown. Specimens collected from Mt. Alishan are more than 100 years old. The word “ Arisan (= Alishan) ” during the past may refer to a much wider range than at present, indicating the whole township. Thus, these old specimens may not have been collected at high altitudes.