A new species of the genus Plotina Lewis, 1896 (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) from Guangdong, China

345 A new species of the genus Plotina Lewis, 1896 (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) from Guangdong, China Fang Lin1, Xingmin Wang2, Kuan Li2, Chaorong Li3, Zhendong Huang2, Yan Yi1, Yuhua Lin1 1 GuangdongRuyangForestFarm(NanlingMountainNationalForestParkManagementOffice),Shaoguan,Guangdong512727,China 2 CollegeofPlantProtection,SouthChinaAgriculturalUniversity,Guangzhou,510640,China 3 AdministrationofGuangdongNanlingNationalNatureReserve,Shaoguan,Guangdong512727,China Correspondingauthor:XingminWang([email protected]) Copyright: © Fang Lin et al. This is an open access article distributed under terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (Attribution 4.0 International – CC BY 4.0). Short Communication Abstract The genus Plotina Lewis, 1896 (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae, Plotinini) is distributed in the Oriental region. To date, eight species have been described, all of which are currently recorded from China. A new species, Plotina nanlingensis Lin & Wang, sp. nov. is described from the Nanling National Nature Reserve in China. Morphological details and genitalia of the new species are presented. A checklist of all known species in this genus is also provided. Key words: Checklist, imaginal structures, lady beetle, male genitalia, Nanling, Plotinini, taxonomy Introduction The genus Plotina Lewis, 1896 (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae, Plotinini) was established by Lewis (1896) to accommodate a single species from Japan, P. versicolor Lewis, 1896, which is characterized by a dorsal tricolor pattern. Mader (1931) examined a syntype of P. versicolor and reassigned the species to the tribe Coelopterini. This placement was adopted by Korschefsky (1931) in his catalogue. Subsequently, Mader (1955a) described P. muelleri from Fujian, China, and Kovář (1995) added a third species, P. quadrioculata, from Thailand. Miyatake (1969) revised the genus Plotina and related genera (Sphaeroplotina Miyatake, 1969, Haemoplotina Miyatake, 1969, Palaeoneis Crotch, 1874, Paraplotina Miyatake, 1969 and Buprestodera Sicard, 1911), suggesting that they exhibit a close phylogenetic affinity based on similarities in genital structures and many external structural characters. Later, Miyatake (1994) proposed the tribe Plotinini for the genus Plotina and the aforementioned related genera. Wang et al. (2011)described four additional new species of Plotina: P. octomaculata, P. menghaiensis, P. daweishanensis and P. signatella. In this study, we report a new species of Plotina from Guangdong Province, China, providing a detailed description and illustrations. An updated checklist to the known species of Plotina is also presented. Academic editor: Alexander Kirejtshuk Received: 9 July 2025 Accepted: 4 October 2025 Published: 21 November 2025 ZooBank: https://zoobank.org/ F727C2D2-4CE0-4263-BE4417EC859BCE13 Citation: Lin F, Wang X, Li K, Li C, Huang Z, Yi Y, Lin Y (2025) A new species of the genus Plotina Lewis, 1896 (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) from Guangdong, China. ZooKeys 1260: 345–351. https://doi.org/10.3897/ zookeys.1260.164418 ZooKeys 1260: 345–351 (2025) DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1260.164418 346 ZooKeys 1260: 345–351 (2025), DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1260.164418 Fang Lin et al.: A new species of the geuns Plotina from Guangdong Material and methods Examined specimens are deposited at the Department of Entomology, South China Agriculture University (SCAU), Guangzhou, China. All materials were preserved in 85% ethanol. External morphology was observed using a dissecting stereoscope (Zeiss Stemi 2000–CS). The following measurements were taken with an ocular micrometer: length from apical margin of clypeus to apex of elytra (TL); width across both elytra at widest part (TW); height at highest elytral part (TH); head width at widest part including eyes (HW); pronotal length at longest part (PL); pronotal width at widest part (PW); elytral length at longest part (EL); and elytral width across both elytra at widest part (EW). Male and female genitalia were dissected, cleared in a 10% solution of NaOH by boiling for several minutes, and examined with an Olympus BX51 compound microscope. Photographs were imaged with a digital camera (Qimagin 5.0 RTV and Coolsnap–Procf & CRI Micro*Color) mounted on the dissecting microscope. Image capture was performed with the Image-Pro Plus 5.1 software, and photos were processed and arranged into plates using Adobe Photoshop CS 8.0. Morphological terminology follows Ślipiński (2007). Taxonomy Genus Plotina Lewis, 1896 Plotina Lewis, 1896: 35. Type species (original designation): Plotina versicolor Lewis, 1896. Plotina: Mader 1927: 22; 1931: 200; 1934: 294; 1955b: 822; Korschefsky 1931: 213; Pope 1962: 632; Miyatake 1969: 198; Sasaji 1971: 65; Pang and Mao 1979: 24; Hoàng 1982: 106; Miyatake 1994: 281; Kovář 1995: 58. Distribution. China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam. Plotina nanlingensis Lin & Wang, sp. nov. https://zoobank.org/6D7D9547-2F7D-413C-AF77-38683F087F41 Fig. 1a–h Diagnosis. Species closely resembles P. muelleri (Fig. 2a–h) in general morphology. The newly described species is separated from the latter based on the following features: P. nanlingensis has a markedly larger body, lacks two prominent rounded white spots on the pronotum, and a large, elongate black spot on the middle elytron. Penis guide of P. nanlingensis in ventral view is robust, arrow-shaped, with a concave base. In lateral view, the penis guide is subparallel along basal 2/3, then rapidly tapers to a point at the apex. Description. Measurements: TL: 5.37–5.93 mm, TW: 4.24–4.69 mm, TH: 2.34–2.89 mm, TL/TW: 1.26–1.27; PL/PW: 0.30–0.32; EL/EW: 1.05–1.06. Head reddish-brown, eyes dark brown (Fig. 1c). Pronotum dark reddish-brown, anterior angles yellow. Scutellum typically black. Ground color of 347 ZooKeys 1260: 345–351 (2025), DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1260.164418 Fang Lin et al.: A new species of the geuns Plotina from Guangdong Figure 1. Plotina nanlingensis sp. nov. a. Dorsal view; b. Lateral view; c. Frontal view; d. Abdomen; e–h. Male genitalia: e. Penis, lateral; f. Apex of penis; g. Tegmen, lateral view; h. Tegmen, ventral view Scale bars: 1.0 mm (a–c); 0.2 mm (d–h). elytra dark reddish-brown, and each elytron with 2 large yellow maculae and 7 black markings as shown in Fig. 1a. Body broadly oval, moderately convex. Head comparatively small, width 0.39 × elytral width (HW/EW = 2.57); punctures on frons moderately large, separated by 1.0–1.5 × their diameter, white setae in punctures; eyes small, broadly oval, widest interocular distance 0.54 × width of head. Pronotum 0.68 × elytral width (PW/EW = 1: 1.47). Pronotal punctures distinct, in two sizes, separated by 0.5–1.5 × their diameter. Punctures on elytra slightly larger than those on head, separated by 0.5–1.0 × their diameter. Punctures on metaventrite fine, 2.0–4.0 × their diameter, short setae in punctures. Abdominal postcoxal lines complete, almost touching posterior margin of ventrite 1 (Fig. 1d). Male genitalia (Fig. 1e–h): Penis long, slender, penis capsule with both arms well developed; apex simple, pointed, and straight. Penis guide in lateral view, subparallel at basal 2/3, rapidly tapering to apex, apex pointed. Parameres slender, subparallel at basal 2/3, gradually weakly thickening, sparsely setose at apex, longer than penis guide. Penis guide in inner view, arrow-shaped with concave base, apex rounded, widest at basal third. Specimens examined. Holotype. • 1 male, CHINA, Guangdong, Nanling National Nature Reserve, Shaoguan, 800 m, [24°55'42"N, 113°1'27"E], malaise trap, 28.ix.2022–7.i.2023, Huang Z.D. leg. (SCAU). Paratypes. • 7 males, same data as holotype (SCAU). Distribution. China (Guangdong). Etymology. The new species is named after its type locality, Nanling National Nature Reserve. 348 ZooKeys 1260: 345–351 (2025), DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1260.164418 Fang Lin et al.: A new species of the geuns Plotina from Guangdong Checklist of the genus Plotina Plotina muelleri Mader, 1955 Plotina mülleri Mader, 1955a: 73; 1955b: 1026. Plotina muelleri: Miyatake 1969: 202; Pang and Mao 1979: 24; Kovář 1995: 61; Wang et al. 2011: 57. Distribution. China (Fujian, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hainan, Hunan, Sichuan); Vietnam. Plotina octomaculata Wang et al., 2011 Plotina octomaculata Wang et al., 2011: 57. Distribution. China (Tibet). Figure 2. Plotina muelleri Mader a. Dorsal view; b. Lateral view; c. Frontal view; d. Abdomen; e–h. Male genitalia: e. Penis, lateral; f. Apex of penis; g. Tegmen, lateral view; h. Tegmen, ventral view. Adapted from Wang et al. (2011). Scale bars: 1.0 mm (a–c); 0.3 mm (e–h). 349 ZooKeys 1260: 345–351 (2025), DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1260.164418 Fang Lin et al.: A new species of the geuns Plotina from Guangdong Plotina menghaiensis Wang et al., 2011 Plotina menghaiensis Wang et al., 2011: 57. Distribution. China (Yunnan). Plotina versicolor Lewis, 1896 Plotina versicolor Lewis, 1896: 35; Mader 1931: 200; 1955b: 822; Nakane 1963: 209; Miyatake 1969: 200; Sasaji 1971: 66; Wang et al. 2011: 57. Distribution. China (Anhui), Japan. Plotina daweishanensis Wang et al., 2011 Plotina daweishanensis Wang et al., 2011: 57. Distribution. China (Yunnan). Plotina signatella Wang et al., 2011 Plotina signatella Wang et al., 2011: 57. Distribution. China (Guangdong, Hainan). Plotina quadrioculata Kovár, 1995 Plotina quadrioculata Kovář, 1995: 58, Wang et al. 2011: 57. Distribution. China (Yunnan), Thailand. Plotina nanlingensis Lin & Wang, sp. nov. Distribution. China (Guangdong). Acknowledgments We sincerely appreciate Mr Keyi Wang (SCAU) for his advice and English reviewing. Additional information Conflict of interest The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. Ethical statement No ethical statement was reported. Use of AI No use of AI was reported. 350 ZooKeys 1260: 345–351 (2025), DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1260.164418 Fang Lin et al.: A new species of the geuns Plotina from Guangdong Funding No funding was reported. Author contributions Data curation: YY. Formal analysis: ZH, CL. Funding acquisition: XW. Resources: YL. Writing - original draft: FL. Writing - review and editing: KL, XW. 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