8. Calleida chloroptera species group

Diagnostic characters: With the character states of Calleida (in the widest sense, see above), restricted or amplified as follows: medium-large sized species (L: 9.5–11.0 mm); body depressed; elytra metallic green to cupreous, disc usually with vague bluish purple patch; metacoxae with accessory pubescence; median lobe of aedeagus of peculiar shape, its ventral side with irregular and sharp ridges; spermathecal pedicel with large apical protuberance, about one third length as spermatheca.

Taxonomic note: Several described taxa are attributed to this species group, including some widely distributed species such as C. lepida Redtenbacher and C. sultana Bates, but some of them are synonyms of previously described taxa, and some others are still undescribed. This species group has a wide geographical range, from the westernmost India to Sulawesi in the east. All valid species are strictly allopatric to each other, and some of them are narrowly distributed. The highly modified male genitalia define the different species, but some species are very difficult to distinguish by external features. We will review this group in our third revision of Asiatic Calleida species (in progress).

The monophyly of the C. chloroptera group is quite clear, for unique and peculiar characters in male genitalia. This group could be closely related to the C. doriae group for the reasons mentioned above.