Pyrrhalta semifulva species group

Included species.

Pyrrhalta maculata Gressitt & Kimoto, 1963; P. tsoui Bezděk & Lee, 2019; P. formosanensis sp. nov.; P. semifulva (Jacoby, 1885); P. discalis Gressitt & Kimoto, 1963; P. ishiharai Kimoto, 1976; and P. wulaiensis sp. nov.

Diagnosis.

Small sized species (3.3-5.6 mm). Antenna stout, antennomeres VIII-X stout (1.4-2.0x longer than wide), III-VI slender. Body convex. Elytra relatively wider, 1.4-1.6 × longer than wide. Aedeagus asymmetric; ostium covered by a membrane or lacking cover; endophallic sclerites composed of two slender sclerites, with several teeth on apex of primary sclerite and with one additional tooth near apex of secondary sclerite except P. formosanensis sp. nov. with only primary sclerite (Fig. 28D-F), P. maculata lacking teeth on sclerites (Fig. 24C, D), P. semifulva (Fig. 29C, D) and P. discalis (Fig. 32C, D) lacking additional tooth on secondary sclerite. The ventrite VIII in females apically sclerotized, with dense short and long setae mixed along apical margin; spiculum long (Figs 24F, 25F, 28H, 29G, 32E, 35F, 36E). Gonocoxae apically sclerotized and with variable number of setae; both gonocoxae small and connected, with two long setae on each gonocoxa in P. maculata (Fig. 24H) and P. tsoui (Fig. 25J), both gonocoxae longitudinally oriented and connected, with a number of setae near apices in P. discalis (Fig. 32I), gonocoxae longitudinal and with dense, long setae in P. ishiharai (Fig. 35K), both gonocoxae separated, transverse, and disc with a number of scattered short setae in P. wulaiensis sp. nov. (Fig. 36I). Both gonocoxae separated, small and with dense short setae in P. formosanensis sp. nov. (Fig. 28J) and P. semifulva (Fig. 29K). Apical margin of abdominal ventrite V truncate or slightly concave, with deeply rounded depression at middle in males(Figs 24J, 25I, 28K, 29J, 32H, 35J, 36H); slightly concave or widely rounded in females (Figs 24I, 25H, 28L, 29I, 32G, 35I, 36G). Mesotibia with apical spine in males of P. maculata (Fig. 24E), P. tsoui (Fig. 25E), P. formosanensis sp. nov. (Fig. 28G), and P. ishiharai (Fig. 35E); or lacking apical spine in those of the remaining species; mesotarsi with tarsomere I modified in males of P. maculata (Fig. 24K), P. formosanensis sp. nov. (Fig. 38M), and P. ishiharai (Fig. 35H).

Remarks.

Included species can be subdivided into species complexes based on similar color patterns. For example, Bezděk and Lee (2019) treated the P. maculata species complex, including P. maculata, P. tsoui, and five more species. They are characterized by their maculate elytra (Fig. 23), strongly curved aedeagi (Figs 24C, D, 25C, D), and only two setae on each gonocoxa (Figs 24H, 25J). Pyrrhalta semifulva and P. formosanensis sp. nov. belong to another species complex characterized by their reddish brown elytra (Fig. 27) and small gonoxae possessing dense setae (Figs 28J, 29K). Pyrrhalta ishiharai is grouped with P. wulaiensis sp. nov. based on the longitudinal ridges of the elytra (Fig. 34A, D) and angular apices of aedeagi (Figs 35C, 36C).

Biology.

Anthophagous species. Larvae and adults feed on flowers of Meliosma rhoifolia ( Sabiaceae) or species of Rosaceae .