Theopea elegantula Baly
Creators: name: Lee, Chi-Feng
name: Bezdĕk, Jan
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2019
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Chrysomelidae
Theopea
Theopea elegantula

description: Theopea elegantula Baly
(Figs 14A, 14B, 15)
Theopea elegantula Baly, 1864: 238 (Malaysia: Sarawak); Weise, 1924: 151 (catalogue); Chûjô, 1964: 298 (Brunei); Wilcox, 1973: 630 (catalogue); Kimoto, 1990: 233 (catalogue); Mohamedsaid, 1995a: 264 (Malaysia: Perak); Mohamedsaid, 1995b: 5 (Malaysia: Sabah); Mohamedsaid, 1997 a: 173 (Malaysia: Sarawak); Mohamedsaid, 1997 b: 206 (Malaysia: Sabah: Banggi island); Reid, 1997: 39 (Indonesia: Kalimantan); Mohamedsaid, 1998b: 266 (Malaysia Sarawak); Mohamedsaid, 1999a: 141 (Malaysia: Sabah); Mohamedsaid, 1999b: 16 (catalogue); Mohamedsaid & Holloway, 1999: 169 (catalogue); Mohamedsaid, 2000c: 355 (material in UKM); Mohamedsaid, 2004: 127 (catalogue); Takizawa & Kimoto, 2005: 104 (Malaysia: Perak).
Ozomena elegantula: Gemminger & Harold, 1876: 3596 (catalogue)
Type. Lectotype ♂ (BMNH), here designated, labeled: “Type [p, w, circle label with red border] // Sar / ♂ [h, w] // Theopea / elegantula / Baly / Sarawak [h, b] // Baly Coll. [p, w]”. Number of paralectotypes is unknown.
Other specimens examined (n= 290). BRUNEI. Temburong: 1♂ (BMNH), Kula Belalong FSC, 115°7’E 4°34’N, V.1991, leg. N. Mawdsley; 2♂♂ (BMNH), same but with “ 18.V.1991 ”; 6♂♂, 1♀ (BMNH), same but with “ 16.VI.–1.VIII.1991 ”; 16♂♂, 10♀♀ (BMNH), same but with “ 7.II.–13.III.1992 ”; 1♀ (BMNH), same locality, X.1992, leg. J. H. Martin; 1♀ (SMNS), same locality, 15.III.1993, leg. C. Häuser; 1♀ (BMNH), Temburong, 3.X.1978, leg. T. W. Karman; 1♂ (JBCB), Ulu Temburong N.P., 12–19.II.2015, leg. P. Kočárek; INDONESIA. Borneo. Central Kalimantan: 2♂♂ (BMNH), Busang / Rekut confl., 0°03’S 113°59’E, VIII.2001, leg. Brendell & Mendel; 1♀ (BMNH), Sungei Mohot, Muning Raya, I.2011, leg. M. Geiser; South Kalimantan: 1♂ (BMNH), 1♀ (USNM), Martapura, 1891, leg. Doherty; West Kalimantan: 12♂♂, 14♀♀ (HNHM), Gunung Palung N.P., 1°13’S 110°7’E, 18–26.VII.1993, leg. O. Merkl; 1♂ (RMNH), Sibau River, VI.1894, leg. J. Büttikofer; Sumatra. 1♂ (RMNH), 2 de Tobareis, Lussum area gebied, 3–7.XII.1883, leg. B. Hagen; 2♂♂ (RMNH), between Serdang and Tobameer, leg. B. Hagen; MALAYSIA. Johor: 1♂ (BMNH), Kota Tinggi, VIII.1917; Negeri Sembilan: 1♂ (BMNH), Port Dickson, 24.IV.1935; Pahang: 1♀ (BMNH), Semangko Pass, III.1912; 1♂, 1♀ (JBCB), Tasik Chi- ni lake, 2–5.III.2007, leg. V. Hula, L. Purchart, F. Růžička; Sabah: 2♂♂, 4♀♀ (SMNS), Batu Punggul Resort, 24.VI.–1.VII.1996, leg. J. Kodada; 1♀ (SMNS), same locality, 19–20.XI.1996, leg. W. Schawaller; 1♂ (BMNH), Bettotan, Nr. Sandakan, 13.VIII.1927, leg. C. B. K. & H. M. P.; 1♀ (SEHU), Bunsit, 29.VIII.1980, leg. T. Endô; 2♂♂, 3♀♀ (NHMB), Crocker Rang N.P., Gunung Alab, 30.IV.–27.V.1996, leg. M. Štrba & R. Hergovits; 1♂, 5♀♀ (SMNS), Crocker Rang N.P., Gunung Emas, 6–18.VI.1996, leg. J. Kodada; 1♀ (SMNS), same locality, 4.II.2006, leg. G. Grimm; 2♂♂, 1♀ (BMNH), Crocker Range, Kota Kinabalu → Tambunan, 5°51’33.7”N 116°17’24.1”E, 1240m, IV.2013, leg. M. V. L. Barclay, B. H. Garner, H. Mendel & A. Giusti; 1♂, 6♀♀ (BMNH), Kabayan, Nr. Kinabalu, 9–12.V.1929, leg. H. M. Pendlebury; 1♂ (EUMJ), Keningau, 19.VIII.1983, leg. Y. Notsu; 1♂ (EUMJ), same locality, 12–19.VIII.1983, leg. N. Ohbayashi; 1♂ (BMNH), Mt. Kinabalu, 1–5.V.1973, leg. K. M. Guichard; 4♀ (EUMJ), same locality, 25–31.III.1976, S. Nagai; 2♀♀ (EUMJ), same locality, 25–28.III.1979, leg. S. Nagai; 1♀ (EUMJ), same locality, 19.X.1979, leg. S. Nagai; 1♂, 6♀♀ (EUMJ), same locality, 2–5.V.1980, leg. M. & A. Sakai; 4♀♀ (USNM), 6–13.IX.1983, leg. G. F. Hevel & W. E. Steiner; 1♂, 2♀♀ (SMNS), same locality, 11–15.XI.1996, leg. W. Schawaller; 1♀ (SMNS), same locality, 11.VII.1999, leg. M. Hauser; 1♀ (SMNS), same locality, 23.VII.2007, leg. H. J. Bremer; 1♂, 1♀ (USNM), Kundasang, 6.VIII.–10.IX.1983, leg. G. F. Hevel & W. E. Steiner; 1♀ (EUMJ), Mamut, 7.IV.1976, leg. S. Nagai; 5♀♀ (EUMJ), Poring, 28–29.IV.1980, M. & A. Sakai; 1♀ (USNM), 8–14.V.1987, leg. D. E. Bright; 1♀ (SMNS), same locality, 23–24.XI.1996, leg. W. Schawaller; 2♀♀ (SMNS), same locality, 24.XI.1996, leg. D. Grimm; 5♂♂, 1♀ (BMNH), Samawang, Nr. Sandakan, 13–17.VII.1927, leg. C. B. K. & H. M. P.; 9♂♂, 6♀♀ (USNM), Sandakan, leg. Baker; 1♂ (EUMJ), Sepilog, 29.XI.1978, leg. S. Nagai; 5♀♀ (USNM), Tambunan, 30.VIII.1983, leg. G. F. Hevel & W. E. Steiner; Sarawak: 5♀♀ (BMNH), No detailed locality; 1♀ (BMNH), Bidi, 1908-9, leg. C. J. Brooks; 1♀ (BMNH), Claudetown, VII.1932, leg. B. M. Hobby & A. W. Moore; 14♂♂, 13♀♀ (BMNH), Mt. Dulit, 2.VIII.–21.XI.1932, leg. B. M. Hobby & A. W. Moore; 3♂♂, 2♀♀ (BMNH), R. Kapah trib., of R. Tinjar, leg. 20–25.X.1932, leg. B. M. Hobby & A. W. Moore; 1♂, 1♀ (JBCB), Kubah N.P., Mt. Serapi—Matang, 29.IV.1999, leg. P. Votruba; 1♂ (BMNH), Kuching, leg. Andrewes; 1♀ (FREY), same locality, 14.VIII.1899, leg. Dyak; 1♀ (FREY), same but with “ XII.1900 – II.1901 ”; 1♂ (SMNS), Kuching, Santubong, 8–9.III.1990, leg. A. Riedel; 1♂ (NMPC), Lambir hills N.P., Miri, 12.V.1999, leg. P. Votruba; 1♂ (BMNH), Lundu, I.1914, leg. G. E. Bryant; 1♂, 1♀ (BMNH), Mt. Matang, XII.1913, leg. G. E. Bryant; 4♀♀ (BMNH), same but with “ XII.1913 – I.1914 ”; 3♀♀ (BMNH), same but with “ I.1914 ”; 1♂, 2♀♀ (BMNH), same but with “ I.–II.1914 ”; 2♂♂, 10♀♀ (BMNH), Gn. Mulu. N.P., V.–VIII.1978, leg. P. M. Hammond & J. E. Marshall; 1♀ (BMNH), Quop, II.–III.1914, leg. G. E. Bryant; 1♂ (BMNH), Mt. Poe, 20–23.X.1909, leg. C. J. Brooks; 1♂ (BMNH), Mt. Santubong, 16.X.1909, leg. C. J. Brooks; 7♂♂, 10♀♀ (USNM), Semengoh Forest Reserve, 11– 22.IX.1966, leg. J. F. G. Clarke; 1♂ (SEHU), Teng, Bukap, 24.IV.1987, leg. K. Maruyama; 1♀ (BMNH), Between Tinjar & Rumah Bulan Ding, 10.XI.1932, leg. Native collector; 1♂ (BMNH), Tringos, 10.XII.1908, leg. C. J. Brooks; Selangor: 1♀ (BMNH), Bukit Kutu, 12.III.1931, leg. H. M. Pendlebury; 1♀ (BMNH), Gambar Valley, 29.V.1938, leg. H. M. Pendlebury; 1♂ (USNM), Gombak, 16.VII.1957, USA RU; 1♀ (EUMJ), same locality, 3.XII.1968, leg. K. Hatta; 1♀ (BMNH), Gunung Hitam, XII.1909; 1♀ (BMNH), same locality, XII.1929; 1♂, 2♀♀ (USNM), Kepong, VIII.–X.1949, leg. Army Scrub Typhus Unnit; 1♂ (BMNH), Kuala Lumpur, 1.IV.1935; leg. H. M. Pendlebury; 1♂ (BMNH), same but with “ 30.I.1938 ”; 1♂, 2♀♀ (USNM), same locality, III.–IV1949, leg. R. Traub & B. Insoll; 2♂♂, 1♀ (USNM), same locality, 1950, leg. Army Scrub Typhus Unit; 1♀ (USNM), same locality, VI.1958, leg. R. Traub; 1♀ (BMNH), Kuala Lumpur, Bukit Nanas (= Weld Hill), III.1923, leg. H. M. Pendlebury; 1♂ (BMNH), Ulu Klang, 13.X.1935, leg. H. M. Pendlebury; 1♂ (USNM), Ulu Langak, III.1950, leg. Army Scrub Typhus Unit; 1♂, 1♀ (USNM), Ulu Poravok, 26.VII.1957, USA RU; SINGAPORE: 1♂ (BMNH), leg. H. N. Ridley; 1♀ (BMNH), Bukit Timah, 1933, leg. C. J. Saunders.
Redescription. Length 7.1–8.5 mm, width 2.8–3.3 mm. General color metallic purple; antennae black except antennomeres X–XI white or pale yellow. Antennae filiform in males, but antennomeres III–VI apically expanded, VII–IX swollen, X with a broad lateral process at middle (Fig. 15A), length ratios of antennomeres I–XI 1.0: 0.3: 0.7: 0.8: 0.8: 0.8: 0.9: 0.8: 0.7: 0.7: 1.0, length to width ratios of antennomeres I–XI 2.9: 1.3: 2.5: 3.0: 2.5: 2.5: 2.3: 2.1: 2.1: 2.2: 5.0; filiform in females (Fig. 15B), length ratios of antennomeres I–XI 1.0: 0.3: 0.6: 0.8: 0.7: 0.7: 0.8: 0.7: 0.7: 0.7: 1.0, length to width ratios of antennomeres I–XI 3.1: 1.6: 2.5: 3.1: 2.9: 2.9: 3.0: 2.8: 2.8: 2.8: 4.1. Elytra elongate and parallel-sided, 1.8x longer than wide; disc with dense, coarse punctures, arranged into longitudinal rows, with one weak longitudinal ridge between two longitudinal rows of punctures, basally abbreviated. Tarsomeres I of front legs swollen in males; subparallel in females. Aedeagus (Figs 15 C–15E) slender, 7.5x longer than wide; sides widest at apical 1/4, gradually narrowed towards basal 1/4, abruptly narrowed subapically, apex truncate; tectum well sclerotized, basally broadened, broader than aedeagus, with hollow area behind base of tectum; almost straight from apex to apical 1/ 5 in lateral view, and then slightly curved, apex recurved; ventral surface with deep notch from apex to middle, mesally extending and approximate at apical 1/5; triangular sclerites small; internal sac with one median, elongate sclerite, parallel-sided, basally and dorsally covered with one pair of elongate and apically tapering sclerites, small, about 0.4x as long as median sclerite, one pair of lateral clusters of stout setae located at behind middle. Gonocoxae (Fig. 15G) elongate, widest at apical 1/6, both gonocoxae combined together from basal 1/7 to apical 1/6; 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. 15F) elongate and well sclerotized; disc with several long setae laterally and near apical margin, and with dense, short setae along apical margin; spiculum extremely slender. Receptacle of spermatheca (Fig. 15H) strongly swollen; pump slender and strongly curved; proximal spermathecal duct deeply inserted into receptacle, narrow and short.
Variations. Some individuals from Borneo have black antennomeres IX (Figs 14A, 14B).
Diagnosis. Specimens of T. elegantula are similar to those of T. houjay sp. nov., T. kedenburgi, T. tsoui sp. nov., and T. yuae sp. nov. in possessing weak longitudinal ridges and weak reticulate microsculpture on the elytra and lateral expansions on antennomeres X in males. It differs from them by the presence of longitudinal ridges near the suture of the elytra (reduced in others) and a lateral expansion on antennomere IX in males (without lateral expansion on antennomere IX in males of T. houjayi sp. nov., T. kedenburgi, and T. tsoui sp. nov.). The aedeagi of males of T. elegantula are characterized by the narrow and truncate apex (apex with median notch in T. houjayi sp. nov., T. kedenburgi, and T. tsoui sp. nov.; wide rounded or truncate apex in T. yuae sp. nov.). Most specimens of T. elegantula are easily separated from another widespread species, T. kedenburgi, by the presence of three apical white antennomeres (two apical white antennomeres in T. kedenburgi) and distinct longitudinal ridges near the suture of the elytra (reduced longitudinal ridges in T. kedenburgi). However, members of some populations have only two apical white antennomeres and reduced longitudinal ridges near the suture of the elytra, as in T. kedenburgi. Separating these two species can be difficult, but the sizes of punctures near sutures are diagnostic (more prominent in T. elegantula; smaller in T. kedenburgi).
Distribution. Brunei, Indonesia (Kalimantan, Sumatra), Malaysia, Singapore. No specimens were found from Indochina. Several specimens collected from Laos were identified as T. elegantula by Kimoto (1989). The two specimens studied turned out to be T. lunduensis and T. pulchella. Thus, further study is needed to determine if this species exists in Indochina.
description: Published as part of Lee, Chi-Feng & Bezdĕk, Jan, 2019, Revision of the genus Theopea Baly (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae) in Sundaland and the Philippines: Redefinition of the genus, pp. 451-507 in Zootaxa 4683 (4) on pages 478-482, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4683.4.1, http://zenodo.org/record/3479609