Calyptocephala gerstaeckeri Boheman, 1862

Naczi, R. F. C. & Staines, C. L., 2011, Noteworthy Records of Hispines from Belize (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Insecta Mundi 2011 (190), pp. 1-6 : 1-2

Calyptocephala gerstaeckeri Boheman [Tribe Spilophorini ]

Belize. Toledo District: ca. 9 mi NNE of Medina Bank, N side of Bladen Branch, 16 o 33’07”N, 88 o 42’00”W, 12 Apr 2008, R. Naczi; on Chamaedorea tepejilote Liebm. leaves ( Arecaceae ); (2 specimens, USNM). New Host Record

Calyptocephala gerstaeckeri is known from Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama ( Borowiec 1999, 2009).

Beetles of the genus Calyptocephala Chevrolat appear to be restricted to various genera of Arecaceae . Recorded host plant species include Arecastrum romanzoffiana (Cham.) Becc. ( C. brevicornis Boheman ), Astrocaryum sp. ( C. paralutea Buzzi and Miyazaki ), Bactris gasipaes Kunth. ( C. marginipennis Boheman ), Elaeis guineensis Jacq. ( C. brevicornis and C. paralutea ), Chamaedorea tepejilote ( C. brevicornis and C. marginipennis ), and Chamaedorea wendlandiana Hemsl. ( C. brevicornis ) ( Monrós and Viana 1951; Moura 1985; Oyama and Mendoza 1990; Buzzi and Miyazaki 1992; Windsor et al. 1992; Mora-Urpí et al. 1997; Meskens et al. 2008). Córdova-Ballona and Sánchez-Soto (2008) described the immature stages of C. gerstaeckeri on Elaeis guineensis and Chamaedorea elegans Mart. in Mexico. Chamaedorea tepejilote appears to be a new host record for this beetle.

The host palm grows in small colonies scattered in the rainforest over many hectares of the floodplain of the Bladen Branch. Feeding damage was quite evident on fronds of most plants in each of the four colonies observed. Adult beetles occurred on undersides of leaflets of mature palm fronds. However, individuals of C. gerstaeckeri were infrequent, and many of them were dead, adhering as dried remains on the palm leaves. Perhaps the date of collection is near the end of the adult season for the beetle.