A Peculiar Sexual Dimorphism Common between TWO Species of the Genus Attalus (Coleoptera, Malachiidae) form Japan

2010·0.19 MB·English

by  Asano, M

Elytra,Tokyo,38(2):209!211,November13,2010
A Peculiar Sexual Dimorphism Common between Two Species
of the Genus Attalus (Coleoptera, Malachiidae) from Japan
Makoto ASANO
TeisoKaseiCo.Ltd.,164!1Nishijima,Suruga-ku,
Shizuoka,422!8045Japan
and
Hiroaki KOJIMA
LaboratoryofEntomology,TokyoUniversityofAgriculture,
1737Funako,Atsugi,Kanagawa,243!0034Japan
Abstract Sexual dimorphism common between two Japanese species of the
genusAttalusisfoundforthefirsttimeontheabdominaltergite,andthestructureis
described.
Introduction
Some malachiid beetles are known to present the obvious sexual dimorphism of
cuticularmodificationsinthemaleheadcranium,antennae,maxillarypalps,pronotum,
elytral apices, meso-tibiae and abdominal sternite: the so-called “excitator” which is
most probably associated with the pheromone glands (EK:GH, 1987, 1994; M6?:G,
1987, 2002). These structures have been used for the taxonomic characters of higher
classification (M6GH=6AA, 1954; EK:GH, 1987, 1989, etc.).
SuchastructurehasnotbeenknownsofarinthegenusAttalusEG>8=HDC(EK:GH,
1989). However,wefoundapeculiarsexualdimorphicstructurecommonbetweenthe
twoJapaneseAttalusspecies:A.kaimonN6@6C:andA.niponensisP>8forthefirsttime
on the abdominal tergite.
Material and Methods
Two Attalus species, A. kaimon and A. niponensis, were collected at the Nakatane
and Minamitane Towns, Tanegashima, Kagoshima Pref., southern Japan in March
2010. They were captured on the flowers of Elaeagnus sp. (Elaeagnaceae) and
Pittosporumtobira(Pittosporaceae)atthesametime. Intotal,fiveand19specimensof
A. kaimon and A. niponensis were examined, respectively. Nepachys japonicus
210 MakotoAH6CDandHiroakiKD?>B6
Figs.1!2. Abdominaltergites(5thto7th)ofAttalusniponensis,dorsalview.""1,Male;2,female.
Scale!0.5mm.
(K>:H:CL:II:G), formerly classified in the genus Attalus as a subgenus, was also
observed for comparison. Observation was made under stereoscopic and compound
microscopes.
Result and Discussion
Males of A. kaimon and A. niponensis possess same distinctive structures on the
posterior margins of 5th to 7th abdominal tergites (Fig. 1). Posterior margin of the 5
th abdominal tergite possesses a round process, which is about 0.2mm, membranous,
bowl-shaped,andfinelyasperateonsurface. Posterior margins of 6th and 7th abdomi-
nal tergites, each flabby and overlapping anterior margin of the succeeding segment.
Thesestructuresarenotobservedinfemaleatall(Fig.2). Thisisthefirstdiscoveryof
thesexualdimorphismontheabdominaltergiteintheMalachiidaeandispossiblyakind
of excitators known in other parts of the body, although the function is uncertain.
These two species belong to the subgenus Attalus s. str. At least, the above-
mentionedstructureswerenotobservedinNepachysjaponicus(K>:H:CL:II:G)ofthe
tribe Attalini. It is necessary to confirm if these structures are common trait among
closely related species belonging to the same genus, subgenus or not.
Acknowledgments
We thank Dr. S.-I. U´:CD for his critical reading of the manuscript, and Mr. T.
S=>B696(ShizuokaCity)forhiskindnessino#eringmaterials. Theseniorauthoralso
thankMessrs.T.IB6O6L6,Y.T6=>G6andY.N6@6BJG6(TeisoKaseiCo.Ltd.)for
their help in many ways.
SexualDimorphisminAttalus 211
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^_^YP ‘abV/excitatorcdef3456ghijkf3lcimnP lfkKopO-
6qKrstu/vwxkfyz{J lf|}Attalus-/~xyexcitatorK(cid:127)(cid:128)O(cid:129)kfyx
6(cid:130)(cid:131){iP (cid:132)(cid:133)P CDE(cid:134)(cid:135)(cid:136)AB=CDEFG6k(cid:137)/(cid:138)(cid:139)G(cid:135)(cid:136)AB=CDEFGKL/
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Elytra,Tokyo,38(2):211"212,November13,2010
A Host Record of Anadastus atriceps (Coleoptera, Erotylidae,
Languriinae, Languriini)
Susumu MATSUO and Hiroyuki YOSHITOMI
EntomologicalLaboratory,FacultyofAgriculture,EhimeUniversity,
Tarumi3"5"7,Matsuyama,790"8566Japan
ThetribeLanguriinihasbeenknownasaphytophagousgroup,andthelarvaefeedonculm,
stem,leafstalkorleafcostasuchasgrass,legume,oxeye,canola,fiddleheadfern,cycad,andso
on (FJ@J96, 1957; H6N6H=>, 1974; P>E:G, 1978; W6G9 et al., 2007). The larvae of some