A taxonomic review of the genus Physopelta (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Largidae) from Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, with a new record of Ph. parviceps from China

In this paper, we revised the physopeltine genus Physopelta Amyot Serville, 1843 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Largidae) from Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. Five species were recognized and diagnosed, including two new species, Ph. (Neophysopelta) lutaspidata sp. nov. from northern and central Taiwan and Ph. (N.) fusciscutellata sp. nov. from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan and Taiwan, and three known species, Ph. (N.) gutta gutta (Burmeister, 1834), Ph. (N.) parviceps Blote, 1931, and Ph. (N.) quadriguttata Bergroth, 1894. Physopelta (Neophysopelta) fusciscutellata sp. nov., was previously regarded as either of the two species, Ph. (N.) cincticollis Stal, 1863 and Ph. (N.) parviceps, for populations from Taiwan. Previous records of Ph. (N.) cincticollis from Japan proper and Korea, and Ph. (N.) slanbuschii (Fabricius, 1787) from the Ryukyu Islands were considered as misidentifications of Ph. parviceps. A key to facilitate the identification of the five species known in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan is provided. Additionally, Ph. (N.) parviceps is recorded from China (Guangdong Province and Zhejiang Province) for the first time.