Vol. 3 (2003)

A key to Chinese water beetle families (True Water Beetles and Phytophilous Water Beetles), based on adults, is presented. All distinguishing characters mentioned in the key are illustrated. A check list of families of True Water Beetles, Phytophilous Water Beetles, and False Water Beetles occurring in China is included. Habitus paintings representing all Chinese families of True Water Beetles, Phytophilous Water Beetles, and some families of Shore Beetles are provided.

Sphaeriusidae (Coleoptera) localities are recorded for the first time from China. All Chinese specimens currently are identified as Sphaerius sp.

The rediscovery of Metagyrinus sinensis (OCHS, 1924) (Coleoptera: Gyrinidae) after 70 years is reported. Problems concerning the interpretation of the type locality of M. sinensis are discussed. Female characters are described for the first time. Some taxonomic considerations on the genus are briefly presented.

Amphizoa smetanai ROUGHLEY, XIE & YU, 1998 (Coleoptera: Amphizoidae) is synonymized with A. davidis LUCAS, 1882. Amphizoa sinica YU & STORK, 1991 is recorded for the first time from North Korea.

A new family of adephagan Coleoptera, Aspidytidae, was discovered in China (Shaanxi) in 1995 and in South Africa in 2001. The formal description of the family was based on the South African species. In the present paper we describe the Chinese species, Aspidytes wrasei sp.n., provide a detailed account of the adult morphology of the family and include a key to fossil and extant adephagan families. Members of the family are characterised by a noterid- or dytiscid-like habitus in dorsal view, a short and laterally rounded, distinctly retracted head, a flat and broad prosternal process with straight transverse apical margin and rounded apicolateral edges, a small tuft of spines on the profemora, an exposed scutellum, a short, almost straight internal transverse ridge on the metaventrite, an almost completely lacking median discriminal line on the metaventrite, comparatively short metacoxae with distinct metacoxal plates, and slender hind legs without swimming hairs. The strongly shortened pedicellus is an autapomorphy of the genus and family. Assignment to Dytiscoidea is supported by the extensive median fusion of the metacoxae, i.e. the presence of a large midcoxal septum. The globular shape of the basal part of the scapus is similar to what is found in Noteridae, and the presence of a profemoral tuft of hairs is another feature shared with adults of this family, but also with adults of Dytiscidae (in part). The complex mesocoxal cavity is a character state shared with Amphizoidae, Dytiscidae (in part), Trachypachidae († Eodromeinae), and † Liadytidae.

More than 380 specimens of Noteridae (Coleoptera), collected from 58 different localities, are kept in the CWBS (China Water Beetle Survey) collections of the Natural History Museum, Vienna. These specimens represent more or less all the species recorded for the Chinese territory. 14 species are discussed here, one of them is described as new: Canthydrus antonellae sp.n. (Yünnan), which is close to C. luctuosus (AUBÉ) and C. semperi (WEHNCKE). For two species from southeastern China, one Neohydrocoptus SATÔ and one Canthydrus SHARP, it has not been possible to provide specific names with certainty. Hydrocanthus indicus WEHNCKE and Canthydrus morsbachi (WEHNCKE) are recorded for the first time from China; the old record of C. bakeri PESCHET for Taiwan by (KANO 1931) – under the name C. guttula AUBÉ - could in fact refer to the latter species. Keys to the Chinese genera and species are given. Habitus and male characters are illustrated for each species. A check list is given of all the taxa of Noteridae recorded from China.

Copelatus (Papuadytes) shizong sp.n. (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) from Yünnan, China, is described. This is a remarkable discovery, as species of the subgenus Papuadytes BALKE hitherto were thought to be endemic to the Australian region. Currently about 90 species of Papuadytes are known. Possible biogeographical explanations are provided.

The species of Lacconectus MOTSCHULSKY, 1855 (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) from China and neighbouring countries are reviewed. 15 species are recognized, eight of which are described as new: Lacconectus nigrita sp.n. (Laos), L. kubani sp.n. (Laos, China), L. menglunensis sp.n. (China), L. meyeri sp.n. (Laos, China), L. maoyangensis sp.n. (China), L. schillhammeri sp.n. (Laos), L. pseudosimilis sp.n. (Laos) and L. pseudonicolasi sp.n. (Laos, China). In addition, the extensive material now available provides additional information on the distribution of several species: L. punctatus BRANCUCCI and L. basalis SHARP are recorded for the first time from Laos, L. similis BRANCUCCI and L. tonkinoides BRANCUCCI are recorded for the first time from China.

The Central Asian and Chinese species of Deronectes SHARP, 1882 (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) are reviewed. The possible occurrence of some of these species in western China is discussed. Deronectes abnormicollis SEMENOW, 1900 is the only species so far recorded from China and is therefore treated more in detail.

Taxonomic and distributional notes on Hygrotus STEPHENS (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) are provided. Hygrotus zigetangco sp.n. is described from Tibet. Synonymies are proposed as follows: Coelambus trilineatus FENG, 1936 = Hygrotus caspius (WEHNCKE, 1875), Coelambus distinctus FENG, 1936 = Hygrotus parallellogrammus (AHRENS, 1812), Coelambus uzbekorum ZAITZEV, 1953 = Hygrotus inscriptus (SHARP, 1882), Hygrotus alei ABDUL-KARIM & ALI, 1986 = Herophydrus musicus (KLUG, 1834). The synonymy of Coelambus reitteri ZAITZEV, 1908 with Hygrotus caspius (WEHNCKE, 1875) is confirmed. The following subspecific names are treated as junior subjective synonyms of the respective nominotypical subspecies: Coelambus impressopunctatus roborovskii ZAITZEV, 1953, Coelambus impressopunctatus hiurai SATÔ, 1972, and Hygrotus inaequalis hokkaidensis SATÔ, 1972. Hygrotus polonicus sahlbergi (SHARP, 1882) is reintroduced as a subspecies of Hygrotus polonicus (AUBÉ, 1842). The record of Hygrotus confluens (FABRICIUS, 1787) from China (KAMIYA 1940: 119) is found to be a misidentification of H. caspius. Thus at present, 14 species of Hygrotus are known to occur in China. A key to all 30 known Palearctic Hygrotus is presented, and their male and female genitalia are figured, most of them for the first time. Lectotypes are designated for Hydroporus polonicus AUBÉ, 1842, Hydroporus mulsanti PEYRON, 1858, Hydroporus flaviventris MOTSCHULSKY, 1860, Hydrocoptus mixtus MOTSCHULSKY, 1860, Hydroporus caspius WEHNCKE, 1875, Coelambus unguicularis SAHLBERG, 1880, Coelambus chinensis SHARP, 1882, Coelambus vittatus SHARP, 1884, Coelambus awajewi JAKOVLEV, 1899, Coelambus urgensis JAKOVLEV, 1899, Coelambus reitteri ZAITZEV, 1908, Hydroporus lutzi REITTER, 1908, Hygrotus aequalis FALKENSTRÖM, 1932, and Coelambus impressopunctatus roborovskii ZAITZEV, 1953. Several new distributional records are presented: Hygrotus chinensis (SHARP, 1882): North Korea; Hygrotus confluens (FABRICIUS, 1787): Pakistan, Kazakhstan; Hygrotus enneagrammus (AHRENS, 1833): Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iraq; Hygrotus flaviventris (MOTSCHULSKY, 1860): PAKISTAN, KYRGYZSTAN, Turkmenistan; Hygrotus impressopunctatus (SCHALLER, 1783): Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Moldavia, Romania; Hygrotus inscriptus: Turkmenistan; Hygrotus marklini (GYLLENHAL, 1813): Turkmenistan, Estonia; Hygrotus pallidulus (AUBÉ, 1850): Turkmenistan; Hygrotus parallellogrammus (AHRENS, 1812): Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Estonia; Hygrotus polonicus polonicus (AUBÉ, 1842): Kazakhstan, Ukraine; Hygrotus unguicularis (CROTCH, 1874): European Russia.

Colymbetes minimus ZAITZEV (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) is a high altitude species confined to Tibet and Qinghai. Its rediscovery is reported, and its male copulatory organ is illustrated for the first time. Although this aberrant species can be assigned clearly to the genus Colymbetes CLAIRVILLE, its position within the genus remains to be explored.

The third instar of Colymbetes minimus ZAITZEV (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) is described and illustrated. It differs from the known Colymbetes larvae by its smaller size and monotonous yellow coloration.

New Chinese localities of the widespread Rhantus suturalis s.l. (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) are provided, and the first melanistic form of that species, which was discovered in northern Thailand, is reported.

he Platambus specimens collected during CWBS expeditions between 1996 and 2001 were studied. The material includes the following five new species: P. dabieshanensis (Anhui), P. denticulatus (Sichuan), P. heteronychus (Guangdong), P. micropunctatus (Guangdong), and P. yaanensis (Sichuan). The following new synonymies are given: Platambus jilanzhui WEWALKA & BRANCUCCI, 1995, and Agabus nakanei NILSSON, 1997 both are considered junior synonyms of Agabus stygius RÉGIMBART, 1899 (now in Platambus). The paratype of Agabus stygius, earlier identified as Platambus insolitus (SHARP), here is identified as P. schillhammeri WEWALKA & BRANCUCCI, 1995. Consequently, P. insolitus is restricted to Japan. Platambus optatus (SHARP) is recorded from China (Fujian, Jiangxi) for the first time.

Hydrotrupes chinensis sp.n. (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) is described from a single male collected in a stream in Anhui (eastern China). The new species is very similar to the second species of the genus, H. palpalis SHARP, 1882, endemic to western North America. The disjunct distribution of the genus is discussed.

The three Chinese species of Haliplidae (Coleoptera), described by MAKHAN (1999), are synonymised. Peltodytes aschnae is considered as a junior synonym of Peltodytes sinensis (HOPE). Haliplus rishwani is considered as a junior synonym of Haliplus japonicus SHARP and Haliplus amrishi is considered as a junior synonym of Haliplus sharpi WEHNCKE.

Additional faunistic data on the Haliplidae (Coleoptera) of China are given. A new species, Haliplus aliae, is described. Haliplus abbreviatus WEHNCKE and Peltodytes caesus (DUFTSCHMID) are recorded from China for the first time. Haliplus diruptus BALFOUR-BROWNE is recorded from Shandong for the first time, H. eximius CLARK and H. simplex CLARK from Guangdong, H. regimbarti ZAITZEV from Guizhou and H. sharpi WEHNCKE from Chongqing and Yünnan.

The species of Ochthebius LEACH (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae) from Mainland China are revised taxonomically; a total of 41 species is recorded; 23 species are described as new to science: O. (Asiobates) flagellifer, O. (Enicocerus) exiguus, O. (E.) nigrasperulus, O. (E.) obesus, O. (E.) rotundatus, O. (s.str.) andreasi, O. (s.str.) andreasoides, O. (s.str.) argentatus, O. (s.str.) asiobatoides, O. (s.str.) asperatus, O. (s.str.) caligatus, O. (s.str.) castellanus, O. (s.str.) enicoceroides, O. (s.str.) fujianensis, O. (s.str.) gonggashanensis, O. (s.str.) guangdongensis, O. (s.str.) hainanensis, O. (s.str.) jilanzhui, O. (s.str.) sichuanensis, O. (s.str.) stastnyi, O. (s.str.) wangmiaoi, O. (s.str.) wuzhishanensis, and O. (s.str.) yaanensis. One new synonymy is proposed: Ochthebius (s.str.) opacipennis CHAMPION, 1920 (= O. exilis PU, 1958). Ochthebius orientalis JANSSENS, 1962 is considered as a possible junior synonym of O. flexus PU, 1958. Ochthebius salebrosus PU is transferred from subgenus Enicocerus STEPHENS to Ochthebius s.str. The genus Ochthebius is recorded for the first time from Gansu and Fujian. Ochthebius klapperichi JÄCH is recorded for the first time from China (Yünnan) and Myanmar. Ochthebius unimaculatus PU is recorded for the first time from Gansu. Ochthebius lobatus PU is recorded for the first time from Jilin, Liaoning and Yünnan. Ochthebius marinus (PAYKULL) is recorded for the first time from Nei Mongol and Shandong. Ochthebius opacipennis is recorded for the first time from Myanmar. Ochthebius orientalis is recorded from Tajikistan for the first time. Protochthebius PERKINS is recorded for the first time from China. Distribution maps for all species are provided. Holotypes and/or paratypes of all nine species described by PU (1942, 1958) were examined; however, aedeagi of all holotypes and almost all paratypes examined were found to be missing. Therefore, the species concepts for Ochthebius flexus and O. lobatus still remain enigmatic. Furthermore, O. octofoveatus PU and O. salebrosus were described from single females and their specific assignations also remain ambiguous.

The third instar larva of Ochthebius (s.str.) gonggashanensis JÄCH (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae) is described and illustrated, including a detailed analysis of its chaetotaxy and porotaxy. Comparative notes on the morphology of this larva with those of two other species of Ochthebius s.str. already described, are given. The specimens used in this study were collected with adults of O. (s.str.) gonggashanensis and have been identified as such by association.

A systematic synopsis of Palearctic and Oriental genera of aquatic Hydrophilidae including brief statements on their geographical distribution is given, followed by an illustrated dichotomous key. Pseudopelthydrus JIA, 1998 is synonymized with Agraphydrus RÉGIMBART, 1903.

The known Chinese species of Crenitis BEDEL (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae) are reviewed: C. apicalis REITTER (Liaoning, Jilin), C. cordula HEBAUER (Yünnan), C. formosana HEBAUER (Taiwan), C. primorica HEBAUER (Liaoning) and C. satoi HEBAUER (Taiwan); C. primorica is recorded for the first time from China; C. apicalis is recorded for the first time from Liaoning. Two new species are described: C. convexa sp.n. (Shaanxi, Yünnan) and C. shaanxiensis sp.n. (Shaanxi). One new synonymy is proposed: Crenitis apicalis (= C. protuberans JIA syn.n).

Four new species of Laccobius ERICHSON (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae) are described, L. yunnanensis from China (Yünnan) and Myanmar, L. birmanus from Myanmar, L. kyrgyzicus from Kyrgyzstan and L. schawalleri from Nepal. Eight species are new for China or neighbouring countries: L. chiesai GENTILI (Nepal), L. cinereus MOTSCHULSKY (Liaoning, Nei Mongol), L. elegans GENTILI (Laos), L. himalayanus GENTILI (Yünnan), L. minutus (LINNAEUS) (Nei Mongol), L. nepalensis GENTILI (Hainan, Yünnan), L. pallidissimus REITTER (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan), and L. syriacus GUILLEBEAU (Kyrgyzstan). Eight species are new for some Provinces or Autonomous Regions of China: L. binotatus d'ORCHYMONT (Guizhou, Hubei, Nei Mongol), L. elegans GENTILI (Sichuan), L. formosus GENTILI (Gansu, Liaoning, Shandong), L. fragilis NAKANE (Gansu, Shaanxi, Taiwan), L. hammondi GENTILI (Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guizhou, Liaoning, Shandong, Sichuan), L. inopinus GENTILI (Fujian, Guangdong, Liaoning), L. nitidus GENTILI (Anhui, Fujian, Sichuan, Zhejiang), and L. oscillans SHARP (Liaoning). New keys and new figures for the species from China and neighbouring areas are included.

A new aquatic genus, Stenomystax (Coleoptera: Dryopidae), and 12 new species are described: S. convexus from Malaysia (Borneo: Sarawak), S. depressus from Malaysia (Borneo: Sabah, Sarawak) and Indonesia (Borneo: Kalimantan), S. gracilis from Malaysia (Borneo: Sabah, Sarawak), S. inopinatus from Indonesia (Bali, Lombok), S. jengi from China (Taiwan), S. kubani from Thailand and Laos, S. minutus from Indonesia (Sumatra), S. montanus from Malaysia (Borneo: Sabah), S. saetosus from China (Hainan), S. similis from Indonesia (Sumatra), S. splendidus from the Philippines (Palawan) and S. sumatranus from Indonesia (Sumatra). Two species groups are established for these 12 species. Elmomorphellus CHÛJÔ & SATÔ, 1964 is synonymized with Elmomorphus SHARP, 1888.

The genus Ceradryops (Coleoptera: Dryopidae) is recorded from China for the first time. Ceradryops matei sp.n. is described from Hong Kong (China). The new species was collected in a hygropetric habitat. Uenodryops SATÔ is proposed as a junior synonym of Ceradryops HINTON.

All known species of Mataeopsephus WATERHOUSE, 1876 (Coleoptera: Psephenidae) are treated. Mataeopsephus esakii NAKANE, M. japonicus (MATSUMURA), M. maculatus NOMURA, M. nitidipennis WATERHOUSE, and M. taiwanicus LEE et al. are redescribed. Psephenus (Sinopsephenus) chinensis NAKANE, 1964 and Psephenus (s.str.) tenuipes CHAMPION, 1921 are redescribed and transferred to Mataeopsephus. Five new species are described: M. dentatus sp.n. [China: Jiangxi, Guizhou], M. minimus sp.n. [China: Yünnan], M. sichuanensis sp.n. [China: Sichuan, Hubei], M. vietnamensis sp.n. [Vietnam, China: Guizhou], and M. quadribranchiae sp.n. [Taiwan]. Mataeopsephus coreanicus DELÈVE, 1967 and M. japonicus sasajii SATÔ, 1970 are regarded as junior synonyms of M. japonicus (MATSUMURA, 1916). Sinopsephenus NAKANE, 1964 is synonymized with Mataeopsephus. Lectotypes are designated for Betelmis japonicus and Psephenus tenuipes. Larvae of M. chinensis, M. esakii, M. japonicus, M. maculatus, M. nitidipennis, M. quadribranchiae, M. sichuanensis, M. taiwanicus, and M. vietnamensis are described.

Eight new species of the genus Hydrocyphon REDTENBACHER (Coleoptera: Scirtidae) are described from China: H. bicornis sp.n., H. dudgeoni sp.n., H. guangxiensis sp.n., H. hainanensis sp.n., H. jaechi sp.n., H. lii sp.n., H. schoenmanni sp.n., and H. uenoi sp.n. The male genitalia of Hydrocyphon sinicus PIC, 1934 are described and illustrated based on a syntype. A character list of the species groups and a world check list of the species are given. Cyphon dubius KLAUSNITZER, 1980 is transferred to Hydrocyphon.

A synopsis of the Lampyridae (Coleoptera) hitherto reported to be aquatic is given. The authors could confirm aquatic larval stages for five out of the fifteen reported cases: Luciola cruciata MOTSCHULSKY (Japan), L. ficta OLIVIER (China, incl. Taiwan), L. lateralis MOTSCHULSKY (Japan, Korea, China and Russia), L. owadai SATÔ & KIMURA (Japan) and L. substriata Gorham (= L. formosana PIC syn.n.) (Taiwan, Myanmar and India). A sixth species, L. hydrophila sp.n. (Taiwan), is described. The larvae of all but L. substriata have lateral tracheal gills on abdominal segments 1-8; L. substriata has a metapneustic larval stage with a pair of functional spiracles on the eighth abdominal segment. It is suggested that the aquatic habits in Luciola LAPORTE have evolved at least twice. The species with facultatively aquatic larvae are summarized also. A lectotype is designated for L. ficta.

An overview of leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) associated with aquatic habitats in China is provided. It contains a key to genera, a list of species known to be associated with aquatic habitats in China and illustrations of the main leaf beetle groups and characters used for their identification.