Taumacera suturalis ( Duvivier, 1885 ), 2019

Bezděk, Jan, 2019, Taumacera revisited, with new synonyms, new combinations and a revised catalogue of the species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae (Acta. Ent. Mus. Natl. Pragae) 59 (1), pp. 23-52 : 45

Taumacera suturalis ( Duvivier, 1885) , comb. nov.

Platyxantha suturalis Duvivier, 1885b: 398 (original description)

Type material examined. HOLOTYPE: 1 ♀, ‘ Manilla [w, h] // Collect. / Duvivier [w, p] //A. Duvivier det. [p] / Platyxantha / suturalis / Duviv [w, h] // TYPE [pink, p] // cf. Stett. Ent. Zeit. [p] / XLVI, 1885 / p. 398-399 [w, h] // sec.Weise, Col.Cat./ Junk (78), 1924 [p], p. 156: / P. (Haplotes) / suturalis Duviv. [w, h]’ ( ISNB).

Comments. The number of specimens and sex was not specified in the original description of Platyxantha suturalis . The Duvivier’s collection in the ISNB contains only one female which well fits the description. Because there is no evidence about more specimens in the description I treat this specimen as the holotype.

Since the description of Platyxantha suturalis it was listed only in catalogues. While WEISE (1924) classified it in Platyxantha (Haplotes), WILCOX (1973) and KIMOTO (1990) listed it in the genus Polexima . Both Haplotes and Polexima belong to the African fauna, Asian species previously listed in these genera were transferred elsewhere (often to Taumacera ). Since only the female is known which considerably complicates the correct generic placement, I tentatively transfer Platyxantha suturalis to Taumacera based on the structure of the pronotum and antennae. However, the definite position can only be confirmed when the male is discovered.