Cephaloleia perplexa Baly, 1885

Staines, Charles L. & Garcia-Robledo, Carlos, 2014, The genus Cephaloleia Chevrolat, 1836 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae), ZooKeys 436, pp. 1-355 : 209-210

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Chrysomelidae

Cephaloleia perplexa Baly, 1885 Fig. 208

Cephaloleia perplexa Baly 1885: 13. Blackwelder 1946: 719 (catalog); Papp 1953: 20 (catalog); Uhmann 1957a: 23 (catalog); Wilcox 1983: 137 (catalog); Staines 1996: 49 (Central America species); Staines and Staines 1999: 524 (Baly species list); Naczi and Staines 2011: 3 (faunal list); García–Robledo et al. 2013a: 3 (biology), 2013b: 193 (biology).

Cephalolia perplexa Baly. Donckier 1899: 550 (catalog); Weise 1911a: 9 (catalog), 1911b: 11 (catalog).

Description.

Elongate; subparallel; subdepressed; shining; reddish-brown, eyes and antennae darker. Head: vertex sparsely punctate, faint medial carina present; frons not projecting; not depressed between eyes. Antenna: more than ½ body length; slender; antennomere 1 elongate; 2 elongate, shorter than 1, subequal in length to 3; female with 3 triangular, male with 3 elongate; 4-10 transverse, subequal in length; 11 rounded at apex, subequal in length to 1; 1-2 punctate with scattered setae; 3-11 setose. Pronotum: transverse; lateral margin straight then rounding to anterior angle in male, canaliculate, female with margin convergent then rounding to anterior angle, canaliculate; anterior angle obtuse, slightly produced; posterior angle acute; anterior margin emarginate behind head; disc flattened; surface punctate, center of disc impunctate; basal impression absent; pronotal length 1.1-1.3 mm; pronotal width 1.4-1.9 mm. Scutellum: elongate, triangular; impunctate. Elytron: lateral margin straight, smooth, margined; apex rounded; sutural angle without tooth; humerus rounded, not produced; slightly constricted behind humerus; moderately punctate-striate, rows converge and unite apically, at base punctures sparse and slightly confused; elytral length 3.7-4.7 mm; elytral width 2.0-2.6 mm. Venter: pro-, meso-, and metasterna punctate; abdominal sterna punctate, each puncture with pale seta; suture between sterna 1 and 2 obsolete medially; last sternite with apical margin truncate medially in male, rounded in female. Leg: slender; punctate, each puncture with pale seta; tibia with fringe of setae on inner margin of apex. Total length: 5.1-6.3 mm.

Diagnosis.

This immaculate reddish-brown species is recognized by not being depressed between the eyes, by the suture between abdominal sterna 1 and 2 being obsolete medially, and by the elytral punctures being confused basally.

Host plant.

Heliconia bourgaeana Griggs, Heliconia lathispatha Peterson ( Heliconiaceae ) ( Naczi and Staines 2011); Cephaloleia inocephala Kuntze, Cephaloleia lutea Schult., Cephaloleia similis H. Kenn.; Calathea sp., Cephaloleia foliosa Rowlee ex. Woodson and Schery, Cephaloleia guzmanioides L. B. Sm. and Idrodo, Cephaloleia leucostachys Hook., Cephaloleia marantifolia Standl., Pleiostachya leiostachya (Donn. Sm.) Hammel ( Marantaceae ).

Distribution.

Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico.

Type material examined.

Holotype female: Type H.T. [white disk with red border]/ Senahu, Vera Paz. Champion/ B.C.A., Col. VI, 2. Cephaloleia perplexa Baly/ Cephaloleia perplexa Baly, Guatemala (BMNH).

Specimens examined.

BELIZE: Stann Creek- 12 mi SW Stann Creek Town, 17 August 1977 (EGRC). Toledo- ca. 9 mi NNE Medina Bank, N side Bladen Branch, 6 January 2006, 4 January 2007 (USNM); Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education property, 4 January 2007 (USNM). COSTA RICA: Alajuela- Sector Colonia, R. B. San Ramón, 600-700 m (INBIO); Río San Lorencito, 5 km N Colonia Palmareña, 900-1000 m (INBIO); Upala, Sector San Ramón de Dos Ríos, 1.5 km NW Hacienda Nueva Zelandia, 600-700 m (INBIO). Cartago- Estación Quebrada Segundo, 1200-1300 m (INBio); Quebrada Segunda, 1200-1300 m (INBIO); Río Grande de Orosí, 1500-1600 m (INBIO); Turrialba, Santa Teresita, Monumento Nacional Guayabo, 1100-1200 m (INBIO); Grano de Oro, Chirripo, Turrialba, 1100-1200 m (INBIO). Guanacaste- Estación Mengo, SW side Volcán Cacao, 1000-1100 m (INBIO); Estación Pitilla, 9 km S Santa Cecilia, 600-700 m (INBIO); Río San Lorenzo, Tierras Morenas, 900-1000 m (INBIO). Heredia- Finca Naranjo Valenciana, 2 km sur Pueblo Nuevo, Sarapiquí, 90 m, 24 July- 22 August 1992, 9-30 September 1992 (INBIO); Sarapiquí, La Virgen, P. N. Braulio Carrillo, Estació Magsasay, 100-200 m (INBIO); Rara Avis Biological Station, 6 July 2011, 7 November 2011, 8 November 2011, 13 November 2011, 15 November 2011 (USNM). Limón- R. B. Hitoy Cerere, Sendero Toma de Agua, 0-100 m (INBIO); Valle La Estrella, 100-200 m (INBIO); Pococí, Colorado, Estació Cuatro Esquinas (INBIO); Cerro Tortuguero, R. V. S. Barra del Colorado, 0-100 m (INBIO); Sardinas, Barra del Colorado, 4 km NW Cerro Cocorí, 0-100 m (INBIO); Río Sardinas, Pococí, Barra del Colorado, 0-100 m (INBIO); Pococí, Sector Cerro Cocorí, 30 km N Cariari, 100-200 m (INBIO); Pococí, Sector Cedrales de la Rita, 3 km N Puente Río suerte, Ruta Puerto Lindo, 0-100 m (INBIO); R.V.S. Gandoca Manzanillo, 0-100 m (INBIO). Puntarenas- 1 km SW Cerro Biolley, Sector Altamira, 1300-1400 m (INBIO); Estación Altamira, 1 km S Cerro Biolley, 1400-1500 m (INBIO); Altamire, Biolley, Sector Buenos Aires, 1700-1800 m (INBIO); Golfito, F. Las Cruces, Fca Ilama, 1400-1500 m (INBIO); Coto Brus, Estación Pittier, Sendero La Escuadra, 1600-1700 m (INBIO); Estación Pittier, 4.2 km SW Cerro Gemelo, 1600-1700 m (INBIO); Estación Pittier, Sendero Altamira, 1700-1800 m (INBIO); Finca Cafrosa, El Embalse, 1300-1400 m (INBIO); Finca Las Alturas, 1300-1400 m (INBIO); Garabito, Reserva Biol Carara, Est Quebrada Bonita, 0-100 m (INBIO); Garabito, Tarcoles, Estación Quebrada Bonita, 100-200 m (INBIO); Estación Esquinas, Peninsula de Osa, 0-100 m (INBIO); Golfito, Pque Nal Corcovado, Est Sirena, 0-100 m (INBIO); Estación Sirena, 0-100 m (INBIO); Cerro La Torre, Fca La Purruja, Fila Matahambre, 100-200 m (INBIO); Cerro Anguciana, Llano Bonito, Piedras Blancas, Pen. Osa, 800-900 m (INBIO); Cerro Oscuro, Llano Bonito de Piedras Blancas, 900-1000 m (INBIO); Osa, Sierpe, 0.2 km NW Estación Esquinas, 0-100 m (INBIO); Osa, Sierpe, Rancho Quemado, 200-300 m (INBIO); Guacimal, Finca Buen Amigo, Monteverde, 1000-1100 m (INBIO); Bosque Eterno de los Niños, Sector Monteverde, 1500-1600 m (INBIO); Monteverde, Estación La Casona, 1500-1600 m (INBIO). San José- Finca El Gringo, Estación Las Nubes de Santa Elena, 1200-1300 m (INBIO). Total: 62.