Galerita birmanica, Fedorenko, 2025

1. Galerita japonica Bates, 1873 View in CoL , stat.rest.

Figs 4 View Figs 4–6 , 24–25 View Figs 22–31 , 46 View Figs 44–65 .

Bates, 1873: 304 ( Japan); Jedlička, 1964: 476; Habu, 1967: 257 ( Galeritula ).– coreana Kolbe, 1886: 171 ( japonica var.; Seoul — Pingan). — szetschwana Heller, 1923: 19 ( China); Jedlička, 1964: 475. — formosana Kano, 1930: 29 (Taiwan). — orientalis : Reichardt, 1965: 7 ( Galeritula ; part); Habu, 1984: 107.

MATERIAL. 2♂♂ and 2♀♀ ( ZISP) of G. j. japonica : ♀, Japan, Tsushima, IX –X. (H. Fruhstorfer) ; ♂, Mt. Katsuragiyama, env. Izu — Nagaoka [Shizuoka], 23.II.1964 ( R. Ishikawa) ; ♀, Toyooka, Kimitsu-Co, Chiba Pref. , 2.II.1964 ( R. Ishikawa) ; ♂, ‘ Galerita japonica Bts, Yok [ohama]’, with aedeagus examined.

DIAGNOSIS. Macropterous species with the head pale dorsally except sides, combined with the pronotum pale entirely or except margins ( Fig. 4 View Figs 4–6 : G. j. japonica ) or additionally black along median frontal carina, combined with black pronotum ( Fig. 5 View Figs 4–6 : G. j. peregrina ); femora pale. For other features see the key.

DISTRIBUTION. Indochina east to China, including Taiwan, Korea and Japan (Honshu). The nominotypical subspecies covers populations east of Vietnam while the western populations belong to G. j. peregrina . Andrewes [1933] recorded this latter from Sumatra and Reichardt [1965] extends the range of G. orientalis southeast to the Sunda Isles such as Sumbawa and Flores.

COMMENTS. This species shares particular sculpture and microsculpture of both the head and the pronotum with great majority of the other Oriental species of the genus. This pattern is very distinctive from that of G. orientalis , which difference has been specified by Andrewes [1923] to erect G. batesi as a separate species. Reichardt [1965] did not apparently take these differences into consideration; therefore he synonymized all macropterous species with G. orientalis he treated in a very wide sense. This interpretation might have come from the fact that G. orientalis and G. japonica revealed very similar colour morphs defined by pale head and pronotal disc — these morphs cover western populations of the former species ( G. nigripennis ) and eastern populations of the latter (G. j. japonica ).

Because of great similarity between G. japonica and an apterous species, G. ruficeps Chaudoir, 1861 , I think it advisable to re-describe the latter below to stress its distinctive features.

1a. Galerita japonica peregrina Dohrn, 1880 , stat.rest.

Figs 5 View Figs 4–6 , 26–27 View Figs 22–31 , 47 View Figs 44–65 , 66–68 View Figs 66–71 .

Dohrn, 1880: 291 ( Hongkong); Andrewes, 1919: 480; 1922: 246;

1930: 168; 1933: 348; Jedlička, 1964: 475. — birmanica Bates, 1892: 385 (Bhamo [= Bhanmo, = Banmaw], Burma), nom. pro ruficeps (non Chaudoir, 1861): Bates, 1890: 109.

MATERIAL. Two specimens of G. birmanica , ♂ and ♀ ( ZISP), of the same origin as the female holotype, both labelled ‘Bhamo/ Birmania / Fea IX 188 6 ’; ♂ with additional label ‘ G. birmanica / sp.n. ’ and a red one ‘ Paratypus / G. birmanica n.sp. / H.W. Bates det. ’ (the latter label is wrong because G. birmanica has been described from a single female specimen, holotype, accordingly.

Additional material: 16 ♂♂ and 16 ♀♀ of G. japonica peregrina : ♂, ♀ ( SIEE), Vietnam, Dong Nai Province, 90 km of Saigon, La Nga, 16–18.X.1990 (N. Belyaeva) ; 2♂♂, ♀ ( SIEE), Nam Cat Tien National Park, Expedition of Russia-Vietnam Tropical Centre , at light HQL450, 18.X–12. VI.2004 (D. Fedorenko) ; ♂ ( ZISP), Quang Binh Province, mountains NW of Dong Hoi , 23.III.1963 (O.N. Kabakov) ; ♀ ( ZISP), same locality, mountains SW of Dong Hoi, My Duc, 20.III.1963 (O.N. Kabakov) ; 4♂♂, 4♀♀ ( SIEE), Ha Tinh Province, Vu Quang Natn. Park, Kim Quang env., h~ 70 m, 18°17′59″N, 105°22′31″E, flood-land forest, 24. V –1. VI.2022 (D. Fedorenko) GoogleMaps ; ♂ ( ZISP), Nghe An Province, Phuc Son, XI – XII. (H. Fruhstorfer) ; ♂ ( SIEE), Phu Tho Province, Xuan Son National Park , h= 450 m, 21°08′12″N, 104°57′04″E, 27. VI –7. VII.2014 (A. Abramov, A. Shchinov) GoogleMaps ; ♀ ( MSPU), Quang Binh Province, Minh Hoa District, Ke Bang 8 km SE of Yen Hop, 2–8.IV.1999 (S. Kruskop) ; 3♂♂, 3♀♀ ( ZISP), NW of Tam Dao [Son Zuong] Mt. Ridge , 20–26.III.1962 (O.N. Kabakov) ; ♂ ( ZISP), 40 km NE of Thai Nguen, 200–600 m, 8.III.1963 (O.N. Kabakov); same locality, mountains NE of Thai Nguen , 300 m, 3.III.1963 (O.N. Kabakov) ; ♂ ( ZISP), Bac Kan Province, Quang Chu , 15–17.II.1986 (A. V. Gorokhov) ; ♂ ( ZISP), Tuyen Quang Prov., Sonduong env., 100–200 m, 23.II.1962 (O.N. Kabakov) ; ♂ ( SIEE), Bat Dai Son Natn. Park, Thanh Van env., h~ 950 m, 23°06′01″N 104°58′25″E, cornfield, 14– 22.IV.2022 (D. Fedorenko) GoogleMaps ; 4♀♀ ( SIEE, one female teneral), Ha Giang Prov., Tay Con Linh Natn. Park, Cao Bo , h~ 570 m, 22°45′23″N, 104°52′06″E, 15–27.IV.2023 (D. Fedorenko) GoogleMaps ; ♀ ( ZISP), Laos, Vientiane, 13.X.1984 (O.N. Kabakov) .

Aedeagus examined in six males, including five with everted and inflated internal sac.

DIAGNOSIS. Differences from the nominotypical species concern chiefly the body colour (see above), combined with the elytra barely if at all longer.

REDESCRIPTION. Body ( Fig. 5 View Figs 4–6 ) macropterous, otherwise as originally described for G. peregrina — G. birmanica : head brown to dark brown, including mouthparts and usually also genae and basal 1/2 clypeus, dorsum of head otherwise red to deep red, with a black median blunt carina; pronotum black; elytra black with a slight to indistinct bluish lustre. Legs black or brown black, femora yellow or reddish-yellow but black apices; tibiae often reddish inside and laterally. Antennae uniform red to brown black, with basal 1/2 scape reddish; basal palpomeres more or less reddish, too. Elytra dull, head and pronotum shiny, with microsculpture very superficial on pronotal disc and almost obliterate on head, more distinct on sides of basal 1/2 head and of pronotum.

Head short, without impression on vertex, coarsely and confluently punctate in basal half, more finely and less densely punctate along sides and in front of neck constriction; genae short, barely shorter than eyes. Frontal median carina very shiny, convex in front, slightly less so behind, mostly reaching or almost reaching the level of posterior margin of eye, with sparse punctures there, sometimes shortened from behind due to confluent punctation or subinterrupted by a transversely rugose areas at bottom of frontal foveae.

Pronotum moderately and confluently punctate, rugose-punctate toward sides and along base, mostly parallel-sided in front of or indistinctly converging toward base; disc convex to lateral bead in basal three fifths; basal angles right, blunt or narrowly to (sometimes) moderately rounded. Median line superficial and very fine, obliterate basally and apically. Basolateral foveae deep basally, with lateral margin explanate and slightly reflexed outside, distinct in basal 1/4–2/5.

Elytra nearly parallel-sided, barely diverging apicad in male, slightly more so in female; apices obliquely truncate, subangulate combined and nearly straight; sutural angles very slightly acute and slightly blunted. Pubescence distinctly dens- er before than behind, forming 2–3 uneven rows in basal 1/3– 1/2 and a single row on each side of a ridge behind. Sometimes elytra except basally and apically with a single row of very short and sparse setae on each side of elytral ridge or odd intervals distinctly more sparsely pubescent than even ones, with single (vs. doubled) row of setae on each side of respective ridge. Interval 3 with three, sometimes four, discal setae; intervals 1, 3, 5 and 7 with multiple erect setae, which are slightly longer than those of decumbent pubescence.

Aedeagus ( Figs 26–27 View Figs 22–31 , 47 View Figs 44–65 , 66–68 View Figs 66–71 ): median lobe finely and densely strigose in apical 1/5–1/3, with a wide and nearly indistinct ventromedial groove in apical third; left paramere triangular, with dorsal margin rounded and ventral margin slightly sinuate toward a moderately rounded apex. Internal sac well differentiated, with both left and right basal bulbs distinct; left bulb very large to accommodate all left lateral sclerites; sclerites multiple: 12–14 dorsomedial and 6–9 left lateral ones present, these latter varying much in size; ventrobasal sclerite distant far from apex of median lobe.

HABITATS AND HABITS. All specimens were collected at the altitudes lower than 1.000 m.

[ Galerita orientalis Schmidt-Göbel, 1846 View in CoL ]

Figs 1–2 View Figs 1–3 , 22–23 View Figs 22–31 , 44–45 View Figs 44–65 , 111–113 View Figs 108–113 .

Schmidt-Göbel, 1846: 26 ( Burma); Bates, 1892: 385 (part.); Andrewes, 1923: 8; 1930: 168; 1933: 348; Jedlička, 1964: 476; Reichardt, 1965: 7 ( Galeritula ; part.). — nigripennis Chaudoir, 1861: 557 (Dacca [‘Deccan’]); 1877: 255; Andrewes, 1924: 52; 1930: 168.

MATERIAL. ♀ ( SIEE): India, Uttarakhand, h= 330 m, Haridwar Distr., Chilla env., Ganaga River , floodland forest, 29°58′09″N 78°12′16″E — 29°58′39″N 78°12′54″E, 14–16.IV.2012 (I. Melnik) GoogleMaps ; ♀ ( ZISP), ‘Кирхана/ Ассамъ 4.III.[19]12/ фон- Викъ’ [ India , Assam, Kirhana (= Karhana), …, von Vikk] ; ♂ ( ZISP), ‘СадiЯ, прав[ый] бер[ег]/ Брамапут Ассам / фон- Викъ 3.II.[19]12’, same locality except [Sadiya, right bank of Brahmaputra River , …] ; ♂, ♀ ( ZISP), ‘река ЗиЗи у Мери-/ гоон, Ассамъ/ фон- Викъ 22.I.[19]12’, same locality except [Zizi River near Morigaon, …] .

DIAGNOSIS. Very similar to G. japonica and G. ruficeps , but microsculpture of the forebody is coarser, thus giving the dorsum slightly duller shine. The punctation is fine on both the head and the pronotum, sparse on each side of a small and smooth central area of vertex (vs. coarse and confluent). Additional distinctive features include the entire head, the pronotal disc, the legs and the antennae pale coloured in at least some populations. Besides ( Tables 1, 2), the genae are shorter, not more than three fourths as long as the eyes, the head is slightly smaller, and the elytra are barely longer than in G. japonica . The aedeagus is very distinctive.

REDESCRIPTION. Body ( Fig. 1 View Figs 1–3 ) macropterous, with elytra and legs black but red femora except apices; colouration otherwise varying (see ‘Comments’ below). Head and pronotum slightly dull, with microsculpture distinct throughout, coarse along sides of pronotum. Basal 1/2 head and pronotum finely, densely to confluently yet shallowly punctate, more so toward sides of vertex, thus leaving small and smooth area in between.

Head: frontal median carina short, convex before, flat and impunctate between eyes, these large, convex and slightly projecting.

Pronotum similar to that of G. japonica , except chiefly for slightly duller appearance, more so along sides, due to a coarser microsculpture, combined with fine and confluent microsculpture inside. Sides more or less sinuate in front of base, slightly converging to slightly diverging to basal angles; these slightly obtuse and moderately rounded to subacute and blunt, respectively. Basolateral foveae deep and short, distinct in basal fifth only, their forward extensions as sublateral lines traceable in basal 1/2–2/3.

Elytral apices obliquely truncate, angulate combined, each slightly rounded to subsinuate; extreme sutural angles acute to slightly obtuse; outer angles very obtuse, almost rounded in male. Pubescence varying from slightly to much denser in even than in odd intervals, forming single row of setae on each side of odd ridge while 1–2 to 2–3 rows on each side of even ridge.

Aedeagus ( Figs 22–23 View Figs 22–31 , 44–45 View Figs 44–65 , 111–113 View Figs 108–113 ): median lobe finely and densely strigose in apical fifth, with no preapical ventromedial groove; apex in lateral view short, round, with subacute dorsal tooth, without preapical ventral tooth. Left paramere subrectangular, with ventral margin straight, dorsal margin slightly sinuate at middle and apex slightly obliquely truncated to blunt. Internal sac almost longitudinal, inflated basally at right ligule, with a slight left basal bulb; 14–15 dorsomedial and 4–6 left lateral sclerites present, the basalmost one being longest and curved; ventrobasal sclerite closer to apex than to base.

DISTRIBUTION. Besides Bhanmo in Myanmar, Andrewes [1930] recorded G. orientalis from two localities in Meghalaya and Assam, and G. nigripennis from a few localities in Central India [ Andrewes, 1930] in addition to Dacca he considered as the type locality of the species, not Deccan as originally specified by Chaudoir [1861].

COMMENTS. This species varies much in body colour. It was described based on darker coloured specimens from the easternmost parts of the species range, of which black head and pronotum are characteristic. The specimens examined from the eastern India (Assam) are paler coloured, with basal 2/3 antennal scape and the head except clypeus deep red, and the specimen from Uttarakhand is still paler in colour. This latter ( Fig. 2 View Figs 1–3 ) has the elytra and femoral apices only black, the pronotum infuscated along margins, and the tibiae and the tarsi indistinctly infuscated, which pattern matches well that of G. nigripennis .