Monoctenus cryptomeriae Togashi, 2001

(Figs 2A2, B2, 5A 2c, 6A1, B1, 8B 2, 10A1, 12)

Monoctenus cryptomeriae Yano, 1919a: 457 (Japanese name: Sugi-habachi). Not available. Nomen nudum.

Monoctenus cryptomeriae Yano, 1919b: 370. Not available. Nomen nudum.

Monoctenus sp.: Okutani 1967: 48.

Monoctenus sp. (Japanese name: Sugi-habachi): Hayasaka 1970: 163; Sato 1971: 13; Okutani 1984: 24; Sato 1991: 76, 156.

Monoctenus cryptomeriae Togashi, 2001: 42; Taeger et al. 2010: 211; Yoshida 2010: 28; Hara 2016: 19; Hara 2019: 45; Hara 2020: 287.

Additional description. Female. Length 6.3–8.5 mm (6.3 mm in holotype). Figs 2A2, B2, 12A, B. Head capsule black, with supraclypeal area and dorsomedial part of clypeus yellow brown to brown, often with vertex laterally dark brown (Fig. 12E, F). Labrum brown or dark brown. Prepectus red yellow. Postspiracular sclerite mostly or entirely red yellow. Mesepisternum with one small brown spot centrally (Fig. 12B), sometimes with two small brown spots centrally and dorsally (Fig. 6A 1). Abdomen sometimes yellow on posteroventral parts of laterotergites 2–5, central parts of laterotergites 7 and 8, and wide lateral part of tergum 9 (Figs 2B2, 6A1).

Clypeus without median furrow (Fig. 12F); ventral edge widely concave. Antenna (Fig. 12G, H) with 16–18 antennomeres; flagellomere 6 in lateral view with breadth including serration 1.4–1.7 × dorsal length. Valvula 3 (Fig. 12J–L) tapering and with apex narrowly rounded in dorsal view, with apex narrowly rounded and dorsal edge nearly straight in lateral view. Lance in lateral view with dorsal edge gently rounded at basal third and almost straight from middle to near apex (Fig. 12M). Lancet with 10 annuli (Figs 6B 1, 12N); length from ventral end of ctenidium 1 to apex 4.1–4.3 × breadth; ctenidia 1–7 parallel, inclined anteriorly.

Male. Length 6.2–7.0 mm. Fig. 12C, D. Labrum yellow brown or brown (Fig. 10A 1). Pronotum yellow posterodorsally (Fig. 12I). Antenna with 23–25 rami (26–28 antennomeres). Tegula brown yellow, often darkened medially. Subgenital plate in ventral view rounded or nearly truncate apically. Genitalia Fig. 12O; in penis valve, paravalva with ventral edge roundly convex and inner sclerite broadest near apex (Figs 8B 2, 12P); valviceps 2.8–3.1 × as long as broad.

Immature stages. According to Hayasaka (1970), Sato (1971, 1991) and Okutani (1984), the mature larva is 25 mm long with the head and thoracic legs black and the trunk dark green, and the cocoon is 8 mm long and dark brown.

Material examined. Holotype (Fig. 12A, B, E–G, J–N): ♀, labelled “Tokyo, JAPAN, V-25. 1916, M. YANO ”, “Reared on Cryptomeria japonica ”, “774”, “K. Sato collection, 1975” and “ Holotype Monoctenus cryptomeriae sp. nov. ” (treated as Monoctenus cryptomeriae by Yano 1919a, b). Paratypes: 1♂, with same data labels as holotype (treated as Monoctenus cryptomeriae by Yano 1919a, b); 1♀, Honshu, Miyagi Pref., Kurikoma, 8. VII. 1968, Y. Hayasaka (Fig. 12H) (treated as Monoctenus sp. by Hayasaka 1970 and Okutani 1984). Other material examined: 4♂, with same data labels as holotype (Fig. 10A 1, 12I, P) (treated as Monoctenus cryptomeriae by Yano 1919a, b); 1♂, Honshu, Miyagi Pref., Kurikoma, Toyasaki, Abumigafuchi, 8. VII. 1968, Y. Hayasaka (Figs 8A 2, B2, 12C, D, O) (treated as Monoctenus sp. by Hayasaka 1970 and Okutani 1984); 1♀, Honshu, Toyama Pref., Kurobe, 29. V. 1984 (Figs 2A2, B2, 5A 2c, 6A1, B1).

Distribution. Japan (Honshu) (Yano 1919a, b, Hayasaka 1970, Sato 1971, Togashi 2001).

Host plant. Cupressaceae: Cryptomeria japonica (L.f.) D.Don (Yano 1919a, b, Hayasaka 1970, Sato 1971, Togashi 2001).

Life history. According to Hayasaka’s (1970) and Sato’s (1970) observations in Miyagi and Iwate Prefectures, this species is univoltine, the adults appear in June and July, the eggs are laid individually inside old needles, and the larvae occur from July to September and make cocoons in the soil.

Remarks. Four Japanese species, M. cryptomeriae, M. decoratus, M. fujisanus and M. itoi, are separated from their congeners by the combination of a female head predominantly or entirely black, a female mesonotum widely or mostly red yellow anteriorly, a male head and mesonotum entirely black, an abdomen dorsally entirely black, legs yellow but coxae basally black and wings nearly colorless transparent (compare with the descriptions of other species by Norton 1872, Cresson 1880, Marlatt 1888, Gussakovskij 1947, Smith 1975, Smith et al. 2010, De Lira-Ramos et al. 2022, Japoshvili & Haris 2022 and this study). The four Japanese species are distinguished as in the key.

Togashi (2001) stated that M. cryptomeriae was closely allied to M. decoratus and distinguished them by the color of their postspiracular sclerites and mesepisterna and the shape of their valvulae 3, lancets, male genitalia and penis valves. However, their valvulae 3, lancets, male genitalia and penis valves are not distinctly different.