Charaea mimicum Medvedev 1998
Creators: name: Bezděk, Jan
name: Lee, Chi-Feng
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2014
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Chrysomelidae
Charaea
Charaea mimicum

description: Charaea mimicum (Medvedev, 1998)
(Figs 11–16, 25, 30, 41)
Calomicrus mimica Medvedev, 1998: 172 (original description).
Calomicrus mimicus: Beenen 2010: 471 (catalogue).
Charaea mimicum: Bezděk 2012: 386 (new combination).
Luperus (Calomicrus) flaviventris: Chûjô 1935: 162 (misidentification).
Calomicrus coomani: Kimoto 1966: 31; Kimoto 1969: 41; Kimoto 1986: 57; Kimoto 1987: 189; Kimoto 1989a: 101 (partim); Kimoto 1989b: 253; Kimoto 1991: 13; Takizawa et al 1995: 9; Kimoto & Chu 1996: 76 (catalogue); Kimoto & Takizawa 1997: 305 (key), 382 (all misidentifications).
Type locality. “ Taiwan, Teraso”.
Type material. Not examined.
Additional material examined. 194 specimens — TAIWAN: Chiayi County: 1 ♂, Taihorin [= Tailin], 7.vii.1911, H. Sauter leg. (SDEI). Hsinchu County: 1 ♀, Inoue [= Chingchuan], 21.vii.1935, M. Chujo leg. (TARI); 2 ♀♀, Wufeng, 400 m, 14.–16.vii.1982, K. C. Chou & C. C. Pan leg. (TARI); 1 ♂, Wufeng, 12.vii.2008, H.-J. Chen leg. (TARI); 1 ♀, Mamei, 18.v.2008, M.-H. Tsao leg. (TARI); 1 ♀, Mamei, 18.v.2008, S.-F. Yu leg. (TARI). Hualien County: 1 ♂, coastal range SE of Fuli, 23°09´N 121°17´E, 500 m, 12.–16.xi.2008, L. Dembický leg. (BMNH). 2 ♀♀, Taroko N. P., 950 m, 3.vi.2008, F. & L. Kantner leg. (FKCC); 2 ♂♂ 1 ♀, Yu Shan N. P., 15 km W of Yuli, 570 m, 8.vi.2008, F. & L. Kantner leg. (FKCC); 1 ♀, Pilu, 16.vi.2008, C.-F. Lee leg. (TARI). Kaohsiung County: 3 ♂♂ 1 ♀, Tengchih, 26.v.2009, C.-F. Lee leg. (TARI); 3 ♂♂, Tengchih, 2.–5.vi.2008, C.-F. Lee leg. (TARI); 3 ♀♀, Tengchih, 12.iii.2013, Y.-T. Chung leg. (TARI); 1 ♀, Tengchih, 20.iii.2013, B.-X. Guo leg. (TARI); 1 ♀, Chungchihkuan, 16.iv.2012, L.-P. Hsu leg. (TARI); 1 ♀, Erhchituan, 8.iii.2013, B.-X. Guo leg. (TARI); 1 ♂, Shihshan logging trail, 27.vii.2008, C.-T. Yao leg. (TARI); 1 ♀, Chuyunshan logging trail, 24.iii.2009, C.-F. Lee leg. (TARI); 1 ♂ 3 ♀♀, Liukuei, 27.–28.vi.1981, L. Y. Chou & C. H. Yang leg. (TARI); 3 ♂♂ 3 ♀♀, Liukuei, 29.iv.–8.v.1982, H. Takizawa leg. (HTCH); 1 ♂ 9 spec. unsexed, Chungchihkuan, 14.iv.2012, L.-P. Hsu leg. (TARI); 1 ♂ 3 ♀♀, Kosempo [= Jiasianpu hill near Jiasian], 22.v.1912, H. Sauter leg. (SDEI); 1 ♂, Kosempo [= Jiasianpu hill near Jiasian], 7.vi.1912, H. Sauter leg. (SDEI); 1 ♂, Alikang [= Kuanshan vill. near Jiasian], vi. 1909, H. Sauter leg. (SDEI); 1 ♂, Sokutsu [= Hsiaolin], 7.vii.1912, H. Sauter leg. (SDEI); 1 ♂, Sokutsu [= Hsiaolin], 7.vi.1912, H. Sauter leg. (SDEI); 1 ♂ 1 ♀, near Liukuei, Shanping LTER site, 1.iv.2003, L. Papp & M. Földvári leg. (HNHM); 4 ♂♂ 3 ♀♀, Meishan env., 950 m, 12.vi.2008, F. & L. Kantner leg. (FKCC, 1 ♂ 1 ♀ in JBCB). Nantou County: 1 ♂, Lienhuachi, 650 m, 23.–26.v.1980, K. S. Lin & B. H. Chen leg. (TARI); 1 ♀, Lushan, 1000 m, 27.–31.v.1980, K. S. Lin & L. Y. Chou leg. (TARI); 1 ♀, Tatachia, 9.v.2011, C.-F. Lee leg. (TARI); 1 ♀, Tatachia, 17.v.2010, C.-F. Lee leg. (TARI); 1 ♀, Meifeng, 20.iv.2011, C.-F. Lee leg. (TARI); 2 ♀♀, Tungfu, 8.v.2011, C.-F. Lee leg. (TARI); 2 ♂♂ 3 ♀♀, Tungpu, 1200 m, 20.–22.vi.1980, C. C. Chen leg. (TARI); 2 ♀♀, Tungpu, 1200 m, 28.iv.–2.v.1981, T. Lin & C. J. Lee leg. (TARI); 1 ♀, Tungpu, 1200 m, 23.–27.vii.1984, malaise trap, K. C. Chou & C. H. Yang leg. (TARI); 1 ♂, Nanshanchi, 30.vi.1965, T. Nakane leg. (KMNH); 3 ♀♀, Nanshanchi, 7.iv.2010, Y.-T. Wang leg. (TARI); 4 ♂♂ 3 ♀♀, Mong Gwu, 14 km E of Puli, 850 m, 20.iv.2002, D. A. Anstine, G. Fabián & O. Merkl leg. (HNHM); 1 ♀, 6 km E of Wushe, 1300 m, 21.iv.1997, L. Pergovits & A. Kun leg. (HNHM); 2 ♀♀, Musha [= Wushe], 18.v.–15.vi.1919, T. Okuni leg. (TARI); 2 ♀♀, Musha [= Wushe], 25.vi.–5.vii.1947, Maa, Chen & Lin leg. (TARI). Pingtung County: 1 ♂ 1♀, Wutai, 9.v.2009, U. Ong leg. (TARI); 1 ♂ 10 spec. unsexed, Hsuhai, 20.i.2012, M.-H. Tsou leg. (TARI, 3 spec. in NMPC); 1 ♀, Wanan, 6.iv.2013, Y.-T. Chung leg. (TARI); 1 ♀, Tahanshan, 5.iv.2009, Y.-T. Chung leg. (TARI); 1 ♂ 2 ♀♀, Tahanshan, 18.v.2009, M.-L. Jeng leg. (TARI); 4 ♀♀, Tahanshan, 25.v.2008, C.-F. Lee leg. (TARI); 1 ♂, Kenting, 18.–23.iii.1981, K. S. Lin & T. Lin leg. (TARI); 1 ♀, Shantimen, 28.iii.–1.iv.1981, C. C. Chen & C. C. Pang leg. (TARI); 3 ♂♂ 7 ♀♀, Kankau Cape, iv.1912, H. Sauter leg. (SDEI). Taichung County: 2 ♀♀, Tahsuehshan, 18.iv.2011, J.-C. Chen leg. (TARI). Tainan County: 4 ♀♀, Meiling, 24.iii.2011, U. Ong leg. (TARI). Taipei County: 5 ♂♂ 30 ♀♀, Guanyinshan, 500 m, 14.–21.iv.2002, G. Fabián & O. Merkl leg. (HNHM, 1 ♂ 2 ♀♀ in JBCB); 1 ♀, 6 km E of Fuhsing, 750 m, 23.iv.1997, L. Pergovits & A. Kun leg. (HNHM); 1 ♀, Fushan, 26.vi.2011, M.-H. Tsou leg. (TARI); 1 ♀, Wulai, 17.v.2008, M.-H. Tsao leg. (TARI). Taitung County: 2 ♀♀, Motien, 19.vi.2011, C.-F. Lee leg. (TARI); 1 ♂, Wululintao, 26.ix.2007, J.-F. Tsai leg. (TARI); 1 ♂ 1 ♀, Wululintao, 24.vi.2010, M.-H. Tsou leg. (TARI). Taoyuan County: 1 ♀, Paling, 19.iv.2009, S.-F. Yu leg. (TARI); 3 ♀♀, Paling, 2.v.2009, M.-H. Tsou leg. (TARI); 2 ♀♀, Hsuanyuan, 13.v.2010, S.-F. Yu leg. (TARI); 1 ♀, Lalashan, 26.vi.2007, S.-F. Yu leg. (TARI). Yilan County: 2 ♀♀, Ebosiyama [= Tulishan], 25.vii.1940, M. Chujo leg. (TARI); 1 ♂ 3 ♀♀, ca 20 km N of Ilan City, 50 m, 2.vi.2008, F. & L. Kantner leg. (FKCC). County?: 1 ♀, Takeya(ma?), 8.vii.1940, M. Chujo leg. (TARI).
Redescription. Measurements. Males: 4.4–5.9 mm, females: 4.5–6.0 mm. Dorsal side glabrous, oval, convex. Body, legs and antennae completely metallic blue or bluish-black, except abdomen yellow (first ventrite sometimes infuscate along coxal cavities).
Male (Fig. 25). Anterior part of head almost impunctate, along lateral margins of nasal keel covered with very fine punctures and fine short setae. Interantennal space 0.85 times as wide as transverse diameter of antennal socket. Interocular space 1.90 time as wide as transverse diameter of eye. Antennae filiform, 0.60–0.65 times as long as body, length ratio of antennomeres equals 11-6-6-12 - 11-11-11-11 -11-11-15.
Pronotum lustrous, 1.30 times as broad as long, strongly convex, widest in anterior third, covered with two kind of punctation: fine punctures on whole surface and large deeper punctures missing along lateral margin and in the middle of disc. Anterior margin straight, lateral margins slightly rounded, posterior margin widely rounded. Anterior margin very finely bordered laterally, in middle unbordered, lateral margins with broad border, posterior margin moderately bordered. Anterior angles obtusangulate, swollen, with setigerous pore in middle of swelling, posterior angles obtusangulate, with small pointed tip with setigerous pore, all pores bearing long pale seta, additional short setae visible on lateral margins of pronotum.
Elytra 1.45 times as long as wide and 0.75 times as long as body.
Length ratio of protarsomeres I, II, III and V equals 10-8-7-13, of metatarsomeres I, II, III and V equals 12-7- 6-12.
Prosternal process not visible between procoxae. Posterior margin with two deep incisions, surface of middle lobe distictly concave (Fig. 14).
Aedeagus symmetrical, subtubular, slightly wider anteriorly, ventroapically with wide triangular process, apex transversely cut, usually slightly concave (Fig. 11). Internal sac as in Fig. 30.
Female. Interantennal space 1.33 times as wide as transverse diameter of antennal socket. Interocular space wider, 2.45 time as wide as transverse diameter of eye. Antenna shorter than in male, 0.50–0.55 times as long as body. Last ventrite transverse, widely rounded (Fig. 16). Pygidium with transversely cut, slightly concave apex (Fig. 15). Sternite VIII subtriangular with anterior margin widely rounded, with short pale setae cummulated along anterior margin, tignum slender, slightly extended apically, 2.1 times longer than sternite VIII (Fig. 13). Spermatheca: nodulus slightly wider than cornu, cornu C-shaped, proximal spermathecal duct almost straight (Fig. 12).
Distribution. Taiwan. Previous records of Calomicrus coomani from Taiwan (KIMOTO 1966, 1969, 1986, 1987, 1989b, 1991) refer to to Charaea mimicum.
Biology. Part of the specimens were collected on the flowers of Castanopsis formosana (Skan) Hayata (Fagaceae).
Differential diagnosis. In habitus, Charaea mimicum is extremely similar to Ch. kelloggi and identification based on external characters is difficult. Although males of Ch. kelloggi from the continent have black or bicolorous abdomina in comparison with completely yellow abdomina in Ch. mimicum, the Taiwanese population of Ch. kelloggi have also yellow abdomina, thus this character cannot be used. The males of Ch. kelloggi have slightly shorter incisions on the last ventrite (Figs 8, 14), females are indistinguishable. The main diagnostic features are found in the male genitalia. The aedeagus of Ch. mimicum is terminated by a longer ventroapical process with apex truncate, while that of Ch. kelloggi is shorter, and subtriangular (Figs 5, 11). Also the internal sac has a different structure in both species (Figs 29, 30). The females of both species are almost indistinguishable.
Due to specific structure of the aedeagus and particularly the internal sac with long sharp lateral sclerites, both species belong to the Ch. coomani group. Besides these species the group contains Ch. coomani (Vietnam) and Ch. hainanicum (Gressitt & Kimoto, 1963) (Hainan). However, a revision of this group is necessary because at least three additional species new to science from China, Laos and Thailand in the collection of the first author are awaiting description.
description: Published as part of Bezděk, Jan & Lee, Chi-Feng, 2014, Revision of Charaea (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae) from Taiwan, pp. 1-39 in Zootaxa 3861 (1) on pages 8-10, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3861.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/287074