The members of genus Donacia are aquatic leaf beetles in the subfamily Donaciinae. Their larvae feed on submerged portions of aquatic plants and adults live on surface parts of the same plants. This genus includes 6 species belonging to 2 subgenera in the Korean Peninsula, of which there have been questions about the record of D. (Donacomima) japana. Chûjô and Goecke (1956) described a new species, D. japana, based on specimens collected in Japan and Korea (Unggi, Hamgyeongbuk-do), and Hayashi (2020) stated that records of this species from Korea and NE China may be misidentification of D. aquatica (Linnaeus, 1758). In this study, as a result of comparing specimens collected in South Korea (Gwangneung, Gyeonggi-do) with descriptions of D. japana, male genitalia (Hayashi, 2020) and gene sequences of COI region, we conclude that records of D. japana replace with D. aquatica in the Korean Peninsula, and D. japana is endemic to Japan.

• Yunji Jeong(Department of Agriculture and Life Science, Sunchon National University, Suncheon) Corresponding author
• Jihwan Park(Incheon Sorae Elementary School, Incheon)
• Geonho Cho(Forest Resources Major, Sunchon National University, Suncheon)
• Ki-Jeong Hong(Department of Agriculture and Life Science, Sunchon National University, Suncheon)