Xenochalepus (Neochalepus) morio (Fabricius)

Ramsey, Cameron, 2023, Taxonomic Changes in the Genera Pentispa Chapuis and Xenochalepus Weise (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Chalepini), The Coleopterists Bulletin 77 (3), pp. 359-364 : 360-362

Xenochalepus (Neochalepus) morio (Fabricius) , restored combination

( Figs. 1, 4, 7 )

Hispa morio Fabricius 1801: 60 (original description) (type locality: America meridionali); Schönherr 1817: 5 (catalog); Zimsen 1964: 125 (types).

Chalepus morio (Fabricius) . Gemminger and Harold 1876: 3613 (catalog); Baly 1885: 50, 120 (distribution); Donckier de Donceel 1899: 589 (catalog); Moldenke 1971: 114 (host plants).

Odontota morio (Fabricius) . Chapuis 1877: 6 (description).

Penthispa morio (Fabricius) . Weise 1910: 157 (transfer); Weise 1911a: 37 (catalog); Weise 1911b: 52 (catalog); Weise 1911c: 72 (priority established).

Pentispa morio (Fabricius) . Uhmann 1939: 342 (noted); Uhmann 1957a: 147 (catalog); Papp 1953: 118 (catalog); Zaragoza 1966: 153 (faunal list); Wilcox 1975: 147 (catalog); Santiago-Blay 2004: 72 (host plants); Staines 2006: 101 (added to fauna north of Mexico); Staines 2007: 163 (distribution); Staines 2012: 190 (catalog).

Xenochalepus (Hemichalepus) morio (Fabricius) . Uhmann 1957b: 122 (type); Uhmann 1964: 420 (catalog).

TYpe Specimen. Type [p, red label] || H: morio | Am: mer: Schmidt [h, brown label] || Xenochalepus | (Hemichalepus) | morio (F) [h] | Uhmann det. 195[p]6[h] || Holotype | Hispa | morio | Fabricius, 1801 | L. Sekerka des. 2012 [p] || ZMUC | 00031249 [p, red label].

Although the type material was formerly at the ZMUC ( Staines 2012) , it has since been moved to the SDEI.

Description. The following description is translated from Uhmann (1957b): outline and sculpture like that of Xenochalepus (Hemichalepus) thoracicus ( Fabricius, 1801) except above and below completely matte black. Head and elytral costae shiny, vertex of head with deep median sulci and two shorter sulci, one on either side continuing between the antennae. Frons square, granular, each granule with a fine, short bristle.Antennae: the right is missing all antennomeres except the 2 basal antennomeres. The left is missing the apical two, leaving 9. Antennae are somewhat slim. Antennomeres 1 and 2 spherical, 3 subcylindrical and large, nearly the size of 1 and 2 combined, antennomeres 4 and 5 subequal, each shorter than 3, antennomere 6 slightly conical, hardly longer than wide, 7–9 equal to each other, tomentose, each about as long as 6, but a little wider. Pronotum: wider by half as long, arched like a pillow, from the apex up the center then down to the base. Margin parallel at base, converging from center toward apex, front angles tooth-like, margins fine. Disc with fine center line, coarse, flat, densely punctured. Elytra: parallel sided, rounded at apex, without emargination. Side margins indistinctly serrated in front half and clearly serrated on the back half. Apical margin with long denticle, with smaller short serrations in between. Costa 1 strong, costa 4 weak, both complete from base to apex. The former at the end tooth-like, steeply sloping, the latter with fine serrations at the end. Costa 2 present at the base, flattening, then rising again at apex. Costa 3 clearly present from base through first quarter of elytron, apical piece slightly present. Profemur wide at top, mesofemur with tooth at tip, and metafemur widened at tip. 8.5 mm × 2.5 mm.

The description above includes details that cannot be observed on the specimen today. The antennae are no longer present on the specimen. Additional features of the specimen not included in Uhmann’s (1957b) redescription are: elytra wider than base of pronotum and having 10 puncture rows at which are continuous from the base to the apex; a small row of scutellar punctures also present. Apical portion of costa 4 is serrulate. In lateral view, pronotum raised, steadily inclining from apex, peaking in the center, then abruptly declining at basal third of pronotum. Lateral margins of pronotum slightly round- ed to arcuate-sinuate. Xenochalepus morio belongs in the subgenus Neochalepus Staines and Riley, 1994 based on the description of the elytron and mesoventrite (Staines and Riley 1994).

Pentispa bivittaticollis (BalY), restored status ( Figs. 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9 )

Chalepus bivittaticollis Baly 1885: 121 (original description) (type locality: Mexico, Parada, Oaxaca); Donckier de Donceel 1899: 586 (catalog); Weise 1911a: 37 (synonymy); Weise 1911b: 52 (synonymy); Weise 1911c: 72 (synonymy); Staines and Staines 1999: 524 (Baly species list).

Pentispa morio bivittaticollis (Baly) . Papp 1953: 118 (catalog).

Pentispa morio (Fabricius) , in part. Staines 2006: 101 (as synonym of Pentispa morio ); Staines 2007: 163 (distribution).

Pentispa morio fabricii Weise 1910: 158 (type locality not given); Weise 1911c: 72 (synonymy).

Pentispa larssoni Uhmann 1957b:123 (type: Mexico, SDEI); Uhmann 1964: 435 (catalog); Gaedike and Döbler 1971: 352 (types); Wilcox 1975: 147 (catalog); Staines 1997: 418 (Uhmann species list); Staines 2012: 189 (catalog). New sYnonYm.

TYpe Specimen. Parada [p] || Mexico | Salle Coll. [p] || 1418 [p, blue label] || Type [h, round label with red border] || Godman-Salvin | Coll., Biol. | Centr.

Amer. [p] || Chalepus | bivittaticollis | baly | Mexico [h] || Lectotype | Chalepus bivittaticollis | Baly 1885 | Designated 2021 | C. W. Ramsey [p, red label].

TYpe LocalitY. Parada , Oaxaca, Mexico .

Description. Color and form: Length 4.9–6.3 mm (n = 25); width 1.5–2.0 mm. General shape long and slender, quadrate. Elytra black; pronotum black, some specimens with orange vittae on lateral margins; head, antennae, scutellum, venter, and legs black. Antenna: Total length 2.25 mm. Black, filiform with sparsely placed setae on antennomeres 1–6, 7 and 8 densely setose. Antennomere 1 (0.15 mm × 0.2 mm) larger than 2, subglobulose; antennomere 2 (0.15 mm × 0.15 mm) quadrate, antennomere 3 (0.15 mm × 0.35 mm) longer than 2 and conical from base expanding to apex, antennomere 4 (0.15 mm × 0.25 mm) quadrate, antennomere 5 (0.15 mm × 0.2 mm) quadrate, antennomere 6 (0.15 mm × 0.15 mm) quadrate, antennomere 7 (0.2 mm × 0.25 mm) round, rectangulate with setae sparse at base and becoming more dense towards apex, antennomere 8 (0.15 mm × 0.65 mm) longest, densely setose, not expanded, conical and pointed at apex. Head: Vertex with 2 well defined sulci plus 1 median, less defined sulcus; 2 lesser defined sulci along inner margin of eyes. Frons projecting to form sharp ridge in center, just below antennal insertion. Small patch of small punctures below eye, extending upward as a single row of small, sparse punctures along posterior margin of eye. Pronotum: Length 0.8 mm; width 0.9 mm. Luster dull. Punctures dense. Lateral calli present, extending up sides of pronotum, not reaching lateral margins. Margins from dorsal view arcuate to subsinuate. Each anterolateral angle forming knob, equipped with single seta. Scutellar shield: Luster dull. Transversely rounded at apex, transversely straight at base. ElYtra: Length 2.2 mm; width 4.5 mm. Luster dull. Lateral margins parallel, serrulate from humeri through basal three-fourths, with serrations increasing in size in distal fourth; apical margin serrate, dilated, with deep emargination at sutural angle; apical angle obtusely curving into expanded dilations. Scutellar row of 2 punctures present, each elytron with 8 regular uninterrupted puncture rows. Suture and interstria 2 costate along entire length; interstria 1 flat and wider than puncture rows 1 and 2 combined. Interstriae 3–7 slightly raised, with interstria 4 costate at apex. Legs: Mesotibial spur present. Inner margin of protibia distally serrulate.

Host Plant. Unknown.

Additional Specimens Examined (25). MEXICO: Guanajuato: 1.6 km N. Santa Rosa, vi.8.1990, coll. Ferreira and Schnaffer [2 TAMU]; 5.8 km northeast Guanajuato , vii.5.1985, coll. Jones and Schnaffer [1 TAMU] . Hidalgo: Zacualtipan, Hoge collection [2 BMNH]; Tulancingo , 8.1 km W, vi. 11.1967, 2,225 m, coll. SL Wood. [3 BYU] . México: Teotihuacan, viii.16.1994, coll. Baumann and Kondratieff [1 BYU] . Michoacán: Hwy 15, 9.3 km SE Quiroga , 2,356 m, viii.25.1991, coll. J. Rifkind [1 WFBM] . Morelos: 55 km Carr, Xochimilco, Oaxtepec , viii.2.1989, coll. A. Equihua M. [1 WFBM] . Oaxaca: Parada [1 BMNH]; 10.8 km N Jct. hwy 175/195, 1,859 m, vii.19.1987, coll. R . Anderson, oak-acacia woodland [1 TAMU]; 17.7 km S. Suchixtepec, Hwy 175, 2073 m, vi.2.1983, coll. C. W. and L. B. O’Brien and G. B. Marshall [2 BYU]; 35.4 km NE Oaxaca, Hwy 175, 2,408 m, v.30.1983, coll. C. W. and L. B. O’Brien, oak hillside [1 BYU] . Puebla: 6.4 km NE Chapulco , 2,135 m, x.15.1989, coll. R . L. Westcott [3 WFBM]; 8.1 km S. Zacapoaxtla , vi.12.1983, coll. C. W. and L. B. O’Brien and G. B. Marshall [1 BYU] . San Luis Potosí: Rio Verde , Media Luna, vi. 19.1982, 1,000 m, colls. R . S. Miller [1 BYU] . Veracruz: Cumbres de Acultzingo, x.21.2005, coll. B. Smith, beating vegetation [1 EGRC]; 50 m SW of Puerto de Aire , xi.13.1993, R . W. Baumann [1 BYU]. No Specific LocalitY: J. Flohr G. coll., Mexico , Holotypus, Pentispa larssoni Uhmann det. 1956, SDEI Col – 07555, SDEI Coleoptera #302712 [1 SDEI]. UNITED STATES: Arizona: Santa Cruz Co., Nogales, x.4.86, coll. F.W. Nunenmacher [1 FMNH] .

Figures

Figs. 1–9. Hispa morio holotype: 1) Dorsal habitus; 4) Labels; 7) Lateral habitus (photos provided by Dr. Michael Kuhlmann, ZMUK). Pentispa bivittaticollis: 2) Dorsal habitus; 5) Labels; 8) Lateral habitus. P. larssoni holotype: 3) Dorsal habitus; 6) Labels; 9) Lateral habitus (photos provided by Laura Marrero Palma and Mandy Schröter, SDEI).