Asteriza blakeae Shin , Chaboo & Clark

Shin, Chulwoo, Chaboo, Caroline S. & Clark, Shawn M., 2012, Revision of the endemic Hispaniolan genus Asteriza Chevrolat, 1836, with description of two new species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Ischyrosonychini), Zootaxa 3227, pp. 34-53 : 48-49

Asteriza blakeae Shin, Chaboo & Clark , new species

Diagnosis. This species differs from the other three species by its coloration of the pronotal lateral margin, the elytral lateral margin and the femora. The pronotum (Figs. 7–8) is nearly as wide as the elytral base; in dorsal view it forms a nearly regular oval together with the elytra. The pronotal lateral margin is reddish brown and translucent; the elytral margin ( Figs. 49–50 ) is also reddish and translucent without black coloration. The femora (Fig. 9) are mostly or entirely reddish brown.

Description. Adult: Male (n=3) length 9.0–9.5 mm, width 7.0–8.0 mm; female (n=7) length 9.8–11.3 mm, width 8.2–9.0 mm. Body (Figs. 7–8), oval or slightly discontinuous between pronotum and elytra, broadest at middle in dorsal view; profile hemispherical, highest at middle ( Figs. 18–19 ). Head entirely concealed in dorsal view; gena and subgena black or dark reddish-brown (Fig. 31). Pronotum (Figs. 7–8) hemispherical with posteromedial angle in dorsal view; blotch pattern same as in A. flavicornis ; lateral edges reddish, often translucent. Thoracic sterna shiny, black, flattened medially. Elytra (Figs. 7–8, 49–50) color mottled, black with irregular brown spots, shiny, punctate, with distinct lateral bulging areas; pale color ranging from yellowish-brown to reddish-brown; lateral margin reddish and transparent without black coloration. Legs (Fig. 9) shiny, reddish with coxae black. Spermatheca (Fig. 68) with inner margin long and narrow.

Type material. Holotype: Male. Dominican Republic: Prov. Barahona:, Eastern Sierra Bahoruco, Reserva Cachote 12.8 km NE, Paraiso, 18˚ 05’ 54”N, 71˚ 11’ 21 W, Alt. 1230m, 12 21 2004, C. Young, C, Nunez, J. Rawlins, J. Fetzner, Cloud forest with tree ferns, yellow pan trap ( CMNH). Paratypes (7 specimens): Dominican Republic: Prov. Barahona: Eastern Sierra Bahoruco, Reserva Cachote 12.8 km NE, Paraiso, 18˚ 05’ 54”N, 71˚ 11’ 21 W, Alt. 1230m, 12 21 2004, C. Young, C, Nunez, J. Rawlins, J. Fetzner, Cloud forest with tree ferns, yellow pan trap ( CMNH: male, 3 females; BYU: 1 female); Eastern Sierra Bahoruco, Reserva Cachote 12.8 km NE, Paraiso, 18˚ 05’ 52 N, 71˚ 11’ 19 W, 1198 m, 19–21 V 2004, C. Young, C, Nunez, J. Rawlins, J. Fetzner, semi-disturbed wet broadleaf, UV light ( CMNH: 3 females);ca. 35 km N. Cabo Rojo, Las Abejas, 1250 m, 0 9 Sep 1988, M. Ivie, Philips & Johnson ( WIBF: 1 male).

Etymology. The species epithet honors Doris H. Blake (1892–1978) for her valuable contributions on Caribbean Chrysomelidae ( Froeschner et al. 1981; Bevelheimer 2007).

Figures

FIGURES 47 – 54. Elytra, dorsal view: Asteriza tainosa, new species, 47, male; 48, female; Asteriza blakeae, new species, 49, male; 50, female; Asteriza flavicornis, 51, male; 52, female; Asteriza darlingtoni, 53, male; 54, female. Figs. 55 – 56. Elytra, ventral view,: Asteriza tainosa, new species, 55, male; 56, female. Figs. 57 – 58. Hind-wings: Asteriza tainosa, new species, 57, male; 58, female. Scale bar = 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 16 – 23. Lateral view: Asteriza tainosa, new species, 16, male; 17, female; Asteriza blakeae, new species, 18, male; 19, female; Asteriza flavicornis, 20, male; 21, female; Asteriza darlingtoni, 22, male; 23, female. Scale bar = 1.0 mm.