Search

Five species of the Lathrobium nomurai group are (re)described: Lathrobium nomurai Nakane, 1955, L. fujimotoi Y. Watanabe, 2001, L. hikosanense Y. Watanabe, 1998, L. yufuense sp. nov., and L. denchu sp. nov. All species inhabit the upper hypogean zone or are found under stones in the northern Kyushu, Japan. Their distribution patterns are discussed and compared to other members of this species group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of the genus Chrysolina Motschulsky, 1860 from Nagano Prefecture, Honshu, Japan is described as Chrysolina (Allohypericia) orochi sp. nov. with detailed illustrations of the male and female genitalia, description of larva and pupa, and record of its host plant, Artemisia capillaris Thunberg (Asteraceae). Chrysolina (Allohypericia) aeruginosa (Faldermann, 1835) is excluded from Japanese fauna based on revision of the previously published records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The life cycle, bionomics and mature larval structures of the Japanese prionocerid species, Idgia iriomoteana Nakane, 1980 were investigated in captivity. The results showed that I. iriomoteana has the following characteristics: (1) the larval morph is less advanced in terms of miniaturization, and larvae pass seven larval molts before they pupate; (2) the life cycle is univoltine with summer, not winter, dormancy; (3) the first instar larvae are larger than the size of the egg, but foetomorphic larval instar (which is observed in the Melyridae: Malachiinae) is not shown. Based on comparison with melyrid species, the degree of miniaturization, dormancy behaviour, adaptation to the tropical and subtropical climates and the adaptive significance of a large first instar larva are all discussed. This study is the first to report the complete life cycle of a member of the family Prionoceridae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Japanese and Taiwanese species of the genus Cladiscus Chevrolat, 1843 are reviewed. Two new species are described: C. hachijoensis sp. nov. from Japan (Hachijôjima Is.) and C. liaoi sp. nov. from Taiwan. Cladiscus pallidicornis Corporaal & van der Wiel, 1949 is recorded for the fi rst time from Japan and C. weyersi Kraatz, 1899 from Taiwan. Cladiscus sanguinicollis (Spinola, 1844) is removed from the Taiwanese fauna, as its records are based on misidentification. The Japanese and Taiwanese members, plus C. thalassinus Murakami, 2017 from Borneo, Malaysia, are divided into two species groups based on the features of male and female genitalia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The morphology of immature stages of Helophorus (Gephelophorus) auriculatus Sharp, 1884 is described. This is the fi rst description of the larva and pupa of the subgenus Gephelophorus Sharp, 1915. We describe the morphology of the egg-case, all larval stages (fi rst to third instar, including chaetotaxy of the head) and pupa. Morphological transformations between larval instars were examined. Head chaetotaxy was nearly identical between instars. Ventral teeth on the nasale, considered as a useful taxonomic character, were absent in the fi rst instar but well developed in later instars. Chaetotaxy diff ered among the subgenera Gephelophorus, Helophorus and Lihelophorus in the length and shape of setae on head capsule and maxilla. Pupal morphology was similar to that of previously described pupae: H. (Helophorus) aquaticus (Linnaeus, 1758) and H. (Rhopalohelophorus) orientalis Motschulsky, 1860. A key to families of the Hydrophiloidea of Japan based on larval characters is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Airaphilus Redtenbacher, 1858 (Coleoptera: Silvanidae: Silvaninae) is recorded from Japan for the first time. The record is based on the discovery of a new apterous species, Airaphilus abei sp. nov., described and illustrated herein. The new species is similar to Airaphilus filiformis (Rosenhauer, 1856), however it can be distinguished by long antennae reaching about body midlength; anterior margin of pronotum about as wide as head; elytra without a humeral tooth, rounded to base and more to apices; and long metaventrite. Only five specimens have been found and these were collected in 1992 at Kokeyachi bog in the far north of Honshu. This bog and the adjacent wetlands have begun to dry out and are undergoing a transition to grassland. These factors, together with the apparently very limited distribution and the possibly restricted mobility due to lack of hind wings, suggest that at least in this locality the new species may be endangered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The species of the genera Hydnobius Schmidt, 1841 and Leiodes Latreille, 1797 in Japan and the North Chishima Islands (= North Kuril Islands) are revised. Until now, only one species of Hydnobius and ten species of Leiodes were recorded from Japan, none of them from the North Chishima Islands. In Hydnobius, one new species, H. enomotoi sp. nov. (Matua Island, Simushir Island, Ketoi Island) is described, and H. akitsuensis Hoshina & Sunada, 2003 is recorded for the fi rst time from the North Chishima Islands. In Leiodes, twenty-four new species are described: L. kandai sp. nov. (Honshu), L. yoshidai sp. nov. (Shikoku), L. juzoi sp. nov. (Hokkaido: Rishiri Is.), L. yasudai sp. nov. (Hokkaido), L. yoshitakei sp. nov. (Hokkaido), L. masatsugui sp. nov. (Honshu), L. toyoshimai sp. nov. (Honshu, Shikoku), L. araii sp. nov. (Honshu), L. haradai sp. nov. (Shikoku), L. hijikatai sp. nov. (Honshu), L. kiuchii sp. nov. (Honshu, Shikoku), L. sakaii sp. nov. (Shikoku), L. naraharai sp. nov. (Ryukyus), L. shuheii sp. nov. (Ryukyus), L. kamezawai sp. nov. (Ryukyus), L. yukihikoi sp. nov. (Honshu, Kyushu), L. akiyamai sp. nov. (Shikoku), L. iwakirii sp. nov. (Kyushu), L. nagayamai sp. nov. (Hokkaido), L. ohtai sp. nov. (Ryukyus), L. ozakii sp. nov. (Honshu), L. shigehisai sp. nov. (Hokkaido), L. tanakai sp. nov. (Honshu, Shikoku), and L. yamauchii sp. nov. (Shikoku, Kyushu). Another three species are added to the fauna of Japan and the North Chishima Islands: Leiodes koreana Park & Ahn, 2007 (new to Japan: Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu), Leiodes longitarsis Baranowski, 1993 (new to North Chishima Isl. and Hokkaido: Rishiri Is.), and L. rhaetica (Erichson, 1845) (new to North Chishima Isl.). Leiodes alpicola Nakane, 1963, syn. nov., and L. cooteri Park & Ahn, 2007, syn. nov., are synonymized with L. lucens (Fairmaire, 1855); L. izuensis Nakane, 1989, syn. nov., is synonymized with L. circinipes (Rye, 1873). Japanese species are divided into seven species groups, while some species are left as incertae sedis, without a group assignment. Relevance of selected taxonomic characters and zoogeography of the Japanese species of Leiodes are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The family Kateretidae of Japan is revised. Nine species belonging to 6 genera are recognized, including: Kateretes japonicus Hisamatsu, 1985, K. takagii S-T. Hisamatsu, 2006, Platamartus jakowlewi Reitter, 1892, Heterhelus (Heterhelus) scutellaris (Heer, 1841), H. (Heterhelus) morio (Reitter, 1878), H. (Boreades) solani (Heer, 1841), Sibirhelus corpulentus (Reitter, 1900), Brachypterus urticae (Fabricius, 1792), and Brachypterolus pulicarius (Linnaeus, 1758). Heterhelus morio, which was synonymized under H. scutellaris by KIREJTSHUK (1989), is found to be a valid species, and is herein resurrected. Platamartus jakowlewi is newly recorded from Japan. Brachypterolus shimoyamai Hisamatsu, 1985, syn. nov., is synonymized under Brachypterolus pulicarius. Dorsal habitus images, illustrations of male and female genitalia, and other important diagnostic characters are provided for all species. A key for identification of all Japanese taxa is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Larval morphology of the Japanese representatives of the tribes Acidocerini, Hydrobiusini and Hydrophilini (Coleoptera, Hydrophilidae, Hydrophilinae) is described. Eleven species assigned to seven genera are studied: Agraphydrus narusei (Satô, 1960) (first and third instars), Enochrus (Holcophilydrus) simulans (Sharp, 1873) (all instars), E. (H.) umbratus Sharp, 1884 (third instar), E. ( Methydrus) japonicus (Sharp, 1873) (all instars), Helochares (Helochares) pallens (MacLeay, 1825) (all instars), 14. (Hydrobaticus) anchoralis Sharp, 1890 (first instar), H. (Hydrobaticus) nipponicus Hebauer, 1995 (all instars), Hydrobius pauper Sharp, 1884 (second and third instars), Hydrochara affinis (Sharp, 1873) (first and third instars), Hydrophilus (Hydrophilus) acuminatus Motschulsky, 1854 (all instars), and Sternolophus (Sternolophus) rufipes(Fabricius, 1792) (all instars). Three aspects of larval morphology were evaluated lbr each species studied: (1) general morphology; (2) chaetotaxy of the head capsule and its appendages; (3) morphological transformations between instars. Primary chaetotaxy is rather stable among taxa and instars examined, thus we were able to distinguish primary and secondary sensilla even in the majority of the second and third instar larvae studied. Secondary chaetotaxy shows slight intraspecific variation. Presence/absence of secondary sensilla may be useful at least tbr distinguishing the first larval instar from later instars, and often for distinguishing all three larval instars. The arrangement of primary and secondary sensilla shows differences among the tribes and genera studied, and between species in Enochrus Thomson, 1859 and Helochares Mulsant, 1844. The pattern of character transformations between larval instars is rather constant among taxa examined. Generic keys of aquatic Hydrophilidae, tribes Acidocerini and Hydrophilini from Japan, and key to Japanese species of Enochrus and ttelochares with known larvae are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

External morphology and male genitalia of the endemic Japanese genus Nipponocercyon Satô, 1963 are examined and the taxonomy of the genus revised based on specimens from nine localities at the islands of Kyushu, Shikoku and Honshu. All examined specimens are found to belong to the same species, N. shibatai Satô, 1963, which shows a considerable intraspecific geographic variability in the shape of the preepisternal elevation of the mesothorax, intersticial microsculpture of the mentum, pronotum and elytra and the morphology of the basal portion of the elytra. Two new synonyms of N. shibatai are proposed, N. shibatai oyamanum Nakane, 1968, syn. nov. and N. monticola Nakane, 1968, syn. nov. Important diagnostic characters of the genus as well as the intraspecific variability of the above characters are illustrated in line drawings and SEM photographs. Geographic patterns of the variability are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]