A NEW GENUS OF GALERUCINAE FROM WEST CHINA (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE)

In this paper, Pseudespera, a new genus of Galerucinae is created for the reception of four new species collected from Hubei, Sichuan and Yunnan. The type specimens are kept in the Institute of Zoology, Academia Sinica, Beijing.Pseudespera gen. nov.A very distinct genus, characterized hy the tarsal claws different in different sexes: in ♂, anterior and middle claws hifid, posterior claws appendiculate; in ♀, all claws appendiculate. Related to Apophytia Duponchel et Chevrolat, both exhibiting sexual difference in claw-character, but in the latter, all claws are bifid in ♂ and appendiculate in ♀.Resembling the Alticine genus Hespera in general appearance. Upperside densely covered with adpressed pubescence. Antennae long, slender and filiform. Pronotum and elytra finely, closely and granulously punctate. Prosternum very narrow, anterior coxae contiguous, the coxal cavities open behind. All tibiae spined apically, first segment of posterior tarsi as long as the remainder combined. ♂, last sternite trilobed at apes.Type species: Pseudespera femoralis sp. nov.Key to the species1(4) ♂: Metasternum with a pair of long tufts at middle near apex (Fig. 1);body black, pubescence yellowish-gray, subnitid:2(3) Upperside very densely pubescent; antennae nearly as long as body; metaste. rnal tufts longer, more strongly curved (Pig. 1A). Length: 3.5-4 mm, breadth: 1.5-2 mm.——Holotype ♂, Sichuan: Chaike, Xiangcheng County, 3000m, 19. Ⅵ. 1982. Allotype?, ditto, 21. Ⅵ. 1982. Paratypes 5♂♂, same as Holotype; 3♀♀, Xiangcheng, 3500 m, 28. Ⅵ. 1982; 1 ♀ .Yunnan: Yongsheng,2400 m, 8. ⅥI. 1984; ld♂l?, Lijiang, 2800 m, 17, 20. Ⅶ. 1984. sericea sp. nov.3(2) Upperside less densely pubescent; antennae less than 3/4 the length of body; metasternal tufts shorter, less strongly curved (Pig. 1B). Length: 4-4.2 mm, breadth: 1.8-2 mm. ——Holotype♂, Sichuan: Mt. Gonggashan, Luding Co- unty, 2350 m, 5.Ⅵ. 1983. Allotype♀, ditto. Paratypes 1♂4♀♀, ditto sodalis sp. nov.4(1) ♂: Metasternum without such tufts at middle; general colour of body black, pubescence silvery-gray, subnitid;5(6) Femora entirely black; elytral pubescence longer; ♂, abdomen with two longitudinal rows of long erect hairs (Pig. 2). Length: 4-4.5 mm, breadth: 1.8-2mm.——Holotype♀, Hubei: Shennongjia, 1640 m, 9. Ⅶ. 1981. Allotype♂, ditto. Paratypes 7♀♀, ditto, 1250m, 24. Ⅶ. 1980, 5. Ⅶ. 1981 shennongjiana sp. nov.6(5) Basal 1/2-2/3 of femora pale yellow; elytral pubescence shorter; ♂,abdomen without Longitudinal rows of erect hairs. Length: 4.3-4.5 mm, breadth: 2mm. (Fig. 3). ——Holotype♂, Hubei: Shennongjia, 1640m, 24. Ⅶ. 1980. Allotype♀, ditto, 9. Ⅶ. 1981. Paratypes 3♀♀, same to holotype; 1♂2♀♀, same as allotype femoralis sp. nov.