Theopea irregularis Takizawa
Creators: name: Lee, Chi-Feng
name: Bezdĕk, Jan
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2018
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Chrysomelidae
Theopea
Theopea irregularis

description: Theopea irregularis Takizawa, status restored
(Figs 1D, 8, 9)
Theopea irregularis Takizawa, 1978: 129. Hoplosaenidea irregularis: Kimoto, 1989b: 258; Kimoto, 1991: 16 (faunistic records); Kimoto & Chu, 1996: 85 (catalogue); Kimoto & Takizawa, 1997: 203 (redescription).
Type. Holotype ♂ (SEHU): “Formosa / Masumura [p. w] // 15/VIII’26 木下氏 (= Kinoshita) / Baibara (= Meiyuan, 眉原) [h, written on the back of the previous label] // Holotype / Theopea irregulari- / is Takizawa [h, r] / / 0 0 0 0 0 0 3053 / Sys. Ent / Hokkaido Univ. / Japan [SEHU] [p, w] // HOLOTYPE / Appended label by / ÔHARA, INARI, KANBE / SUZUKI and HIRONAGA / 2007 [p, w]”.
Other specimens examined (n= 1012). TAIWAN. Chiayi: 1♂ (TARI), Alishan (阿里山), 2200 m, 22.IX.2011, leg. C.-F. Lee; 4♂♂ (TARI), same locality, 29.V.2016, leg. B.-X. Guo; 1♀ (SEHU), Fenchihu (奮起湖), 1400 m, 29–30.IV.1977, leg. W. Suzuki; 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 18.V.2014, leg. W.-C. Liao; 1♀ (TARI), Tzuchung (自忠), 2280 m, 9.IX.2015, leg. C.-F. Lee; Hsinchu: 2♂♂, 2♀♀ (TARI), Kuanwu (觀霧), 2000 m, 24.VI.2009, leg. Y.-F. Hsu; 1♀ (TARI), Lupi (魯壁), 1450 m, 18.IV.2009, leg. M.-H. Tsou; 1♂, 3♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 12.VII.2009, leg. M.-H. Tsou; 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 4.VI.2011, leg. M.-H. Tsou; 1♂ (TARI), Mamei (馬美), 1500 m, 4.V.2008, leg. M.-H. Tsou; 11♂♂, 6♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 18.V.2008, leg. M.-H. Tsou; 1♀ (TARI), Wuchihshan (五指山), 1020 m, 14.V.2008, leg. S.-F. Yu; Hualien: 3♂♂, 1♀ (TARI), Tayuling (大禹嶺), 2560 m, 9–16.VI.1980, leg. K.S. Lin & B. H. Chen; 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 6–9.IX.1983, leg. L.Y. Chou & K. C. Chou; 2♀♀ (TARI), Wanjung (萬榮), 600 m, 11.VI.2011, leg. M.-H. Tsou; Ilan: 3♂♂, 1♀ (TARI), Chienching (見 晴), 1890 m, 3.VI.2007, leg. S.-F. Yu; 5♂♂, 5♀♀ (SEHU), Chituan (池端), 1150 m, 15.V.1984, leg. Y. Komiya; 1♂ (HNHM), same locality (= Mingchi, Oi ±), 5.IV.2002, leg. G. Fábián & O. Merkl; 1♂, 4♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 27.IV.2008, leg. S.-F. Yu & M.-H. Tsou; 2♂♂, 6♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 25.V.2008, leg. M.-H. Tsou; 1♂ (TARI), same locality, 5.IV.2009, leg. M.-H. Tsou; 2♂♂, 4♀♀ (HNHM), Fushan Botanical Park (福山植物園), 600 m, 8–11.IV.2002, leg. O. Merkl; 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 8.V.2008, leg. S.-F. Yu; 3♀♀ (TARI), 710 trail (710 林道), 1900 m, 11.VIII.2014, leg. J.-C. Chen; 9♂♂, 10♀♀ (TARI), Shenmihu (神秘湖), 1200 m, 17.IV.2010, leg. M.-H. Tsou; 1♀ (TARI), Suchi trail (四季林道), 1250 m, 7.VII.2009, leg. H.-J. Chen; 1♂, 1♀ (TARI), Suyuanyakou (思源啞口), 1900 m, 24.VII.2010, leg. M.-H. Tsou; 7♂♂, 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 25.VI.2017, leg. W.-B. Yeh; 1♂, 12♀♀ (TARI), Taipingshan (太平山), 1950 m, 26–28.VII.1983, leg. L.Y. Chou; 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 3.VI.2007, leg. S.-F. Yu; 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 19.VI.2008, leg. S.-F. Yu; 4♂♂, 6♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 8.VII.2008, leg. H.-J. Chen; 1♂, 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 24.VI.2009, leg. H. Lee; 4♂♂, 4♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 3.VII.2010, leg. M.-H. Tsou; 2♂♂ (TARI), same locality, 21.V.2016. leg. C.-F. Lee; 1♂, 1♀ (NMNS), Tsuifenghu (翠峰湖), 1900 m, 21.VI.1992, leg. C.Y. Li; 1♀ (TARI), Tuleng (突稜), 1800 m, 12.VII.2017, leg. J.-C. Chen; 15♀♀ (TARI), Yuanyanghu (鴛鴦湖), 1600 m, 22–23.VIII.2011, leg. C.-F. Lee & M.-H. Tsou; 6♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 20.VIII.2016, leg. J.-C. Chen; Kaohsiung: 1♂, 1♀ (TARI), Chungchihkuan (中之觀), 1900 m, 10.VI.2015, leg. C.-F. Lee; 1♂ (TARI), same locality, 25.IX.2015, leg. C.-F. Lee; 1♂ (SEHU), Liukuei (六龜), 300 m, 26.III.1978, leg. W.-L. Chen; 1♂ (SEHU), same but with “ 13.IV.1978 ”; 2♂♂, 1♀ (SEHU), Nanfengshan (南鳳山), 1700 m, 28.IV.1981, leg. S. Tsuyuki; 1♀ (SEHU), Shanping (扇平), 750 m, 26.IV.1978, leg. Y. Komiya; 1♂ (TARI), same locality, 22.III.2014, leg. W.-C. Liao; 1♂ (TARI), Tengchi (藤枝), 1500 m, 24.III.2009, leg. C.-F. Lee; 6♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 26.V.2009, leg. C.-F. Lee; 2♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 8.IV.2011, leg. J.-C. Chen; 2♂♂, 2♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 19.III.2013, leg. Y.-T. Chung; 3♂♂ (TARI), same locality, 20.III.2013, leg. B.-X. Guo; 2♂♂, 2♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 18.IV.2013, leg. B.-X. Guo & Y.-T. Chung; 9♂♂, 2♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 28.III.2015, leg. W.-C. Liao; 1♀ (TARI), Tienchih (天池), 2200 m, 2.VII.2009, leg. M.-H. Tsou; 1♀ (TARI), Tona trail (多納林道), 450 m, 12.III.2013, leg. B.-X. Guo; Keelung: 1♂ (TARI), Tawulunshan (大武崙山), 200 m, 21.III.2009, leg. H.-J. Chen; Miaoli: 28♂♂, 28♀♀ (TARI), Hsuehchien (雪見), 1800 m, 7.VI.2013, leg. W.-B. Yeh; 2♂♂, 17♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 12–13.VI.2014, leg. W.-B. Yeh; Nantou: 2♀♀ (NMNS), Chunyang (春陽), 1200 m, 11.V.–13.VII.2004, leg. C. S. Lin & W. T. Yang; 1♂ (NMNS), same but with “ 2.VIII.–8.IX.2005 ”; 1♂, 1♀ (TARI), Hsiaofengkou (小風口), 2900 m, 9.VIII.2012, leg. C.-F. Lee; 3♂♂ (TARI), Huakang (華崗), 2600 m, 20.VII.2017, leg. J.-C. Chen; 6♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 5.VIII.2017, leg. J.-C. Chen; 1♀ (TARI), Hsitou (溪頭), 1150 m, 6.V.2009, leg. C.-F. Lee; 3♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 15.VI.2011, leg. C.-F. Lee; 1♀ (TARI), Huisun Forest Area (惠蓀林場), 800 m, 26.IV.2014, leg. B.-X. Guo; 3♂♂, 1♀ (SEHU), Kuantaoshan (關刀山), 1200 m, 17.V.1984, leg. A. Tanaka; 1♂ (SEHU), Lienhuachi (連 華池), 650 m, 5–6.V.1977, leg. W. Suzuki; 1♀ (TARI), same locaity, 23–26.V.1980, leg. K.S. Lin & B. H. Chen; 2♂♂, 5♀♀ (NMNS), same locality, 9.IV.–19.V.1998, leg. C.S. Lin & W. T. Yang; 1♀ (NMNS), same locality, 21.IV.1998, leg. M.M. Yang & H. T. Chan; 1♀ (NMNS), same locality, 9–11.IV.2001, leg. C.S. Lin; 2♀ (TARI), same locality, 27.III.2008, leg. C.-F. Lee; 1♀ (TARI), Lushan (盧山), 1000 m, 27–31.V.1980, leg. K.S. Lin & L. Y. Chou; 1♀ (SEHU), Meifeng (梅峰), 2130 m, 3.VIII.1977, leg. R. Kusama; 1♂, 6♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 20– 22.VI.1979, leg. K.S. Lin & B. H. Chen; 2♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 18.VII.1979, leg. K.C. Chou; 2♂♂, 4♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 2–4.VI.1980, leg. L.Y. Chou & C. C. Chen; 3♂♂, 13♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 8.VI.1980, leg. K.S. Lin & B. H. Chen; 1♂ (TARI), same locality, 7–9.V.1981, leg. K.S. Lin & S. C. Lin; 2♂♂ (SEHU), same locality, 3.VI.1981, leg. H. Fujita; 9♂♂, 35♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 24–26.VI.1981, leg. K.S. Lin & W. S. Tang; 4♂♂, 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 22.V.1982, leg. L.Y. Chou; 1♂, 23♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 15.VII.1982, leg. S.C. Lin & C. N. Lin; 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 31.VIII.–2.IX.1982, leg. L.Y. Chou & K. C. Chou; 6♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 30.VII.1983, leg. L.Y. Chou; 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 23.VII.1984, leg. K.S. Lin; 1♂ (NMNS), same locality, 22.VII.1992, leg. C.S. Lin; 1♀ (NMNS), same locality, 13.VI.–18.VII.2001, leg. C.S. Lin & W. T. Yang; 1♀ (NMNS), same but with 8.VII.–5.VIII.2003 ”; 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 3.VII.2008, leg. M.- H. Tsou; 3♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 20.VI.2009, leg. Y.- T. Wang; 5♂♂, 3♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 17–19.VI.2010, leg. C.- F. Lee; 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 25.VII.2014, leg. J.- C. Chen; 1♂ (SEHU), Nanshanchi (南山溪), 800 m, 21.V.1974, leg. K. Akiyama; 1♀ (SEHU), same locality, 17.IV.1977, leg. W. Suzuki; 1♀ (SEHU), same locality, 30.IV.1977, leg. Y. Komiya; 1♂ (SEHU), same locality, 5–6.V.1977, leg. W. Suzuki; 1♂, 4♀♀ (SEHU), same locality, 7–9.V.1977, leg. Y. Komiya; 1♂ (SEHU), same locality, 9.V.1977, leg. W. Suzuki; 2♂♂, 14♀♀ (SEHU), same locality, 8.V.1978, leg. Y. Komiya; 1♂, 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 3.VII.2010, leg. T.- Y. Liu; 3♂♂, 8♀♀ (TARI), Peitungyanshan (北東眼山), 1800 m, 3.VII.2014, leg. C.- F. Lee; 1♀ (SEHU), Sungkang (松崗), 2100 m, 9.V.1978, leg. M. Ito; 3♂♂ (EUMJ), same locality, 1.VI.1981, leg. K. Sasagawa; 1♂, 9♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 6.VIII.1984, leg. K.S. Lin; 2♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 15–17.VIII.1984, leg. K.C. Chou; 4♂♂ (EUMJ), Sungkang (松崗)~Meifeng (梅峰), 18–19.V.1969, leg. S. Hisamatsu; 3♂♂ (EUMJ), same locality, 18.V.1970, leg. M. Takagi; 1♂ (EUMJ), same locality, 25–26.V.1972, leg. M. Sakai; 2♀♀ (TARI), Tatachia (塔塔加), 2600 m, 9.VI.2009, leg. C.- F. Lee; 2♂♂, 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 17.V.2010, leg. M.- H. Tsou; 6♂♂, 2♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 9.VII.2014, leg. C.- F. Lee; 1♂ (TARI), Tsuifeng (翠峰), 2300 m, 21.VI.1979, leg. K.S. Lin & B.H. Chen; 2♂♂, 2♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 25–27.VI.1981, leg. K.S. Lin & W.S. Tang; 2♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 1– 3.VIII.1981, leg. T. Lin & W.S. Tang; 1♂ (TARI), same locality, 23.V.1982, leg. L.Y. Chou; 1♂ (TARI), same locality, 5.VIII.1984, leg. K.S. Lin; 1♂, 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 15–16.VIII.1984, leg. K.C. Chou; 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 13–15.IX.1984, leg. K.S. Lin & S.C. Lin; 2♀♀ (EUMJ), same locality, 18.VI.1989, leg. M. Sato; 14♂♂, 6♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 18.VI.2010, leg. C.- F. Lee; 8♂♂, 13♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 26.VI.2012, leg. C.- F. Lee; 36♂♂, 23♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 11.VI.2014, leg. C.- F. Lee; 2♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 6.VII.2015, leg. C.- F. Lee; 1♀ (SEHU), Wushe (霧社), 1150 m, 12.V.1977, leg. Y. Komiya; 4♂♂ (TARI), same locality, 19–22.IV.1983, leg. K.C. Chou & S.P. Huang; 62♂♂, 15♀♀ (EUMJ), Tsuifeng (翠峰)~ Sungkang (松崗), 3.VI.1981, leg. K. Sasagawa; Pingtung: 1♀ (TARI), Ali (阿禮), 1200 m, 13.IV.2016, leg. J.- C. Chen; 1♂ (TARI), Peitawushan (北大武山) Hiking Gate, 1500 m, 11.IV.2010, leg. J.- C. Chen; 1♂ (TARI), same locality, 21.III.2011, leg. J.- C. Chen; 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 29.IV.2013, leg. J.- C. Chen; 2♂♂, 8♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 22– 24.IV.2014, leg. J.- C. Chen; 1♀ (TARI), Tahanshan (大漢山), 1000 m, 21.IV.2011, leg. J.- C. Chen; 5♂♂, 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 26.IV.2011, leg. J.- C. Chen; 3♂♂, 3♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 3.V.2011, leg. J.- C. Chen; 6♂♂, 7♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 12.IV.2012, leg. C.- F. Lee; 1♂, 4♂♂ (TARI), same locality, 27–28.IV.2012, leg. M.- H. Tsou; 2♂♂ (TARI), same locality, 26.III.2013, leg. C.- F. Lee; 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 3.IV.2013, leg. Y.- T. Chung; 10♂♂, 6♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 4, IV.2013, leg. J.- C. Chen; 2♂♂, 2♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 29.IV.2014, leg. J.- C. Chen; 1♂ (TARI), Wutai (霧台), 1050 m, 22.III.2011, leg. J.- C. Chen; 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 30.IV.2015, leg. J.- C. Chen; Taichung: 4♀♀ (TARI), Anmashan (鞍馬山), 2275 m, 6–9.VII.1979, leg. L.Y. Chou; 1♀ (NMNS), same locality, 1.VII.2005, leg. Y.L. Chen; 3♂♂, 5♀♀ (EUMJ), same locality, 3– 5.VII.2005, leg. S.- T. Hisamatsu; 7♂♂, 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 7.VI.2010, leg. C.- F. Lee; 4♀♀ (TARI), same locality (= Tahsuehshan, 大雪山), 16.VII.2010, leg. J.- C. Chen; 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 23.VII.2011, leg. J.- C. Chen; 1♂ (TARI), same locality, 24.IV.2012, leg. C.- F. Lee; 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 19.VII.2014, leg. H.- J. Chen; 1♀ (NMNS), Chungcheng Camp (中正露營區), 400 m, 3.VIII.2008, leg. H.H. Lian & P.H. Chan; 1♀ (TARI), Fushoushan (福壽山), 1800 m, 14.VII.2017, leg. J.- C. Chen; 1♂ (TARI), Kukuan (谷關), 730 m, 14– 17.X.1980, leg. K.S. Lin & C.H. Wang; 1♂ (TARI), Lishan (梨山), 1900m, 28.V.2016, leg. J.- C. Chen; 1♀ (TARI), Pilu (畢祿), 2550 m, 18.VI.2010, leg. C.- F. Lee; 2♀♀ (EUMJ), Wuling (武陵), 1850 m, 3.VII.1989, leg. M. Sato; 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 1.VII.2008, leg. M.- H. Tsou; 1♀ (TARI), Wuwoweishan (屋我尾山), 1800 m, 5.VI.2012, leg. J.- C. Chen; Taipei: 1♂, 2♀♀ (TARI), Chutzuhu (竹子湖), 670 m, 29.IV.2007, leg. S.- F. Yu; 1♂, 2♀♀ (TARI), Erhtzuping (二子坪), 800 m, 29.IV.2016, leg. C.- F. Lee; 1♀ (TARI), Hsiaoyukeng (小油坑), 810 m, 24.V.2008, leg. M.- H. Tsou; 1♂ (TARI), Lengshuikeng (冷水坑), 750 m, 26.IV.2008, leg. S.- F. Yu; 2♂♂, 1♀ (TARI), Yangmingshan (陽明山), 800 m, 15.IV.2007, leg. M.- H. Tsou; 1♂ (TARI), same locality, 19.IV.2007, leg. C.- F. Lee; 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 7.VI.2008, leg. M.- H. Tsou; Taitung: 1♂, 2♀♀ (TARI), Hsiangyang (向陽), 2300 m, 1.VII.2009, leg. M.- H. Tsou; 4♂♂, 8♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 8.VII.2010, leg. J.- C. Chen; 1♂, 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 31.V.–1.VI.2011, leg. J.- C. Chen; 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 12.VII.2012, leg. J.- C. Chen; 1♂, 3♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 14.VIII.2012, leg. C.- F. Lee; 3♂♂ (TARI), same locality, 9.V.2013, leg. J.- C. Chen; 1♀ (EUMJ), same locality, 7–9.VI.2013, leg. J. Yamasako; 8♂♂ (TARI), same locality, 18.VI.2013, leg. J.- C. Chen; 4♂♂, 8♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 28.VI.2013, leg. J.- C. Chen; 1♂, 1♀ (TARI), same locality, 17.V.2014, leg. J.- C. Chen; 1♂, 5♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 3.VII.2014, leg. J.- C. Chen; 3♂♂, 2♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 18.VII.2014, leg. W.- C. Huang; 1♂, 5♀♀ (TARI), Lichia trail (利嘉林道), 500 m, 3.VI.2010, leg. J.- C. Chen; 1♂ (TARI), same locality, 12.VI.2010, leg. Y.- L. Lin; 4♂♂, 15♀♀ (TARI), Liyuan (栗園), 1800 m, 23.VI.2010, leg. M.- H. Tsou; 2♂♂, 8♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 19.VI.2013, leg. C.- F. Lee; 5♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 24.VII.2013, leg. C.- F. Lee; 9♂♂, 4♀♀ (TARI), Motien (摩天), 1500 m, 23.V.2011, leg. C.- F. Lee; 14♂♂, 16♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 19.VI.2011, leg. C.- F. Lee; 1♂ (TARI), Wulu (霧鹿), 780 m, 5.X.2010, leg. M.- H. Tsou; 1♂ (TARI), same locality, 29.III.2011, leg. M.- H. Tsou; Taoyuan: 1♂, 2♀♀ (TARI), Hsuehwunao (雪霧鬧), 1450 m, 3.IV.2011, leg. M.- H. Tsou; 1♂, 3♀♀ (SEHU), Lalashan (拉拉山), 2030 m, 21.VII.1978, leg. W. Suzuki; 1♀ (SEHU), same locality, 14.V.1984, leg. Y. Komiya; 2♀♀ (TARI), 26.VI.2007, leg. S.- F. Yu; 3♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 14.V.2009, leg. C.- F. Lee; 2♀♀ (TARI), same locality, 25.VI.2009, leg. S.- F. Yu; 2♀♀ (NMNS), Shangpaling (上巴陵), 1600 m, 22.VI.1989, leg. K.W. Huang; 2♀♀ (TARI), Tamanshan (塔曼山), 1800 m, 3.VIII.2008, leg. M.- H. Tsou.
Redescription. Length 4.4–5.7 mm, width 1.6–2.1 mm. Meso- and metathoracic and abdominal ventrites dark brown or blackish brown, with metallic green iridescence; dorsum metallic green, blue, purple, or bronze; prosternum and hypomeron dark brown; legs pale yellow, sometimes basal 4/5 to base, and tarsi darkened (Figs 8 A– 8I). Vertex with reticulate microsculpture. Antennae filiform in males (Fig. 9A), antennomeres III–X straight, length ratios of antennomeres I–XI 1.0: 0.3: 1.0: 1.4: 1.7: 1.7: 1.8: 1.9: 2.0: 1.8: 1.6. length to width ratios of antennomeres I–XI 2.9: 1.1: 3.0: 4.4: 6.3: 6.7: 6.9: 7.9: 8.8: 8.1: 5.9; much shorter in females (Fig. 9C), length ratios of antennomeres I–XI 1.0: 0.4: 0.8: 1.0: 1.0: 0.9: 0.9: 0.9: 0.9: 0.8: 0.9, length to width ratios of antennomeres I–XI 3.3: 1.9: 3.8: 5.1: 5.1: 4.6: 5.2: 4.9: 4.9: 4.5: 5.1. Pronotum transverse, 1.2x wider than long, disc with reticulate microsculpture, dense, coarse punctures, and one pair of lateral depressions; lateral margin basally narrowed; apical and basal margins subtruncate. Elytra elongate and parallel-sided, 2.0x longer than wide; disc with reticulate microsculpture, dense, coarse punctures arranged into longitudinal rows, and weak longitudinal ridges between longitudinal rows of punctures. Apical margin of abdominal ventrite V in females truncate, with convex projection at middle (Fig. 9I). Tarsomeres I of front legs elongate swollen in males (Fig. 9J), subparallel in females (Fig. 9K). Penis (Figs 9 D–9F) extremely slender, 10.8x longer than wide; apically narrowed, apex with median, shallow, narrow notch, parallel-sided; tectum extremely elongate from apical 1/10 to basal 1/3, apically narrowed; straight in lateral view, slightly curved near base; triangular sclerites small; internal sac with elongate endophallic sclerite complex, 0.7x as long as penis, composed of two sclerites, basal piece much longer (1.6x) than apical piece, apical sclerite with acute apex, dorsal sclerite with apex acute and hook-like in lateral view. Gonocoxae (Fig. 9G) elongate, slightly broadened subapically, connected from basal 1/3 to apical 1/4; apices narrowly rounded, each gonocoxa with eight setae along outer margin from apex to apical 1/6; with one pair of short lateral processes at basal 2/5. Ventrite VIII (Fig. 9H) longitudinal and well sclerotized; disc with several long setae at sides and near apical margin, and with dense, short setae along apical margin; spiculum extremely slender. Receptacle of spermatheca (Fig. 9L) strongly swollen; pump slender and strongly curved; proximal spermathecal duct deeply inserted into receptacle, broad and short.
Variation. Theopea irregularis is an extremely variable species. In addition to color variability, a number of morphological characters vary greatly, including the reticulate microsculpture on the dorsum (some with distinct reticulate microsculpture but reduced in some others), longitudinal ridges on the elytra (some with distinct longitudinal ridges (Figs 8A, 8G) but reduced in some others (Figs 8C, 8H, 8I)), punctures on the pronotum (coarse in north Taiwan (Fig. 8G) but reduced in central and south Taiwan (Figs 8D, 8H, 8I)). Some have yellow prosterna and hypomera. The yellow area may even extend into lateral margins of the pronotum (Figs 8E, 8F) in the specimens from north and central Taiwan. Smaller males have relatively shorter and straighter antennae (Fig. 9B) (length ratios of antennomeres I–XI 1.0: 0.3: 1.0: 1.2: 1.4: 1.4: 1.3: 1.4: 1.4: 1.2: 1.4. length to width ratios of antennomeres I–XI 2.9: 1.5: 3.4: 4.3: 5.4: 5.3: 5.1: 6.8: 6.8: 6.0: 7.3). Darker individuals have black legs and head, except the occiput (Fig. 8G). One distinct color pattern occurs to high altitude (more than 2500m): in males the general color is darker than usual, the elytra are metallic purple, the pronotum and occiput metallic blue, and legs are black or yellowish brown (Fig. 8H); some females are similar to males but others have the elytra, pronotum and occiput metallic green (Fig. 8I).
Diagnosis. Theopea irregularis adults are similar to those of T. kanmiyai with indistinct longitudinal ridges on the elytra. They can be distinguished by the more slender antenna in males and color pattern that the elytra, pronotum, and vertex are metallic green or blue in both sexes (Fig. 8). Males of T. irregularis have a relatively longer basal piece (1.6x longer than apical piece) and large dorsal sclerite of the endophallus (Figs 9 D–9E); they differ from males of T. kanmiyai, which possess a shorter basal piece (0.6x longer than apical piece) and small dorsal sclerite (Figs 12 C–12D).
Food plants. Betulaceae: Alnus formosana; Lauraceae: Lindera erythrocarpa.
Distribution. Endemic to Taiwan. Theopea irregularis is a widespread species (fig. 10A). Adults appear from lowland to high mountains (0–3000 m) during spring through autumn (March to October). Most adults occur between 1000~ 2500 m elevation (88%) and April to July (90%). Most adults found in lowlands (below 1000 m) were from northern Taiwan.
description: Published as part of Lee, Chi-Feng & Bezdĕk, Jan, 2018, Revision of the genus Theopea Baly (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae) of East Asia: species lacking modified clypeus in males and the T. sauteri species group, pp. 334-376 in Zootaxa 4508 (3) on pages 345-352, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4508.3.2, http://zenodo.org/record/2607143