Sceloenopla pretiosa (Baly, 1858)

Casari, Sônia A. & Queiroz, Jarbas M., 2005, Description of two leaf­miner larvae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) from the Brazilian Atlantic forest, Zootaxa 1081, pp. 47-59 : 49-53

Sceloenopla pretiosa (Baly, 1858)

( Figs. 1–15 )

Larva.

Body length/width of pronotum (mm): 5.0/1.4, 5.3/1.5, 5.5/1.5, 6.2/1.5, 6.8/1.6.

Body form elongate, wide, strongly flattened; slightly sclerotized; meso­ and metathorax and abdominal segments I–VIII each with one lateral process on each side, bearing one distal seta ( Figs.1, 2 ). Integument generally cream; head, pronotum, prosternum and distal half of abdominal segment VIII yellowish; tarsungulus and spiracular openings sclerotized and brown. Integument granulated especially near and on lateral processes; granules, in higher magnification, sclerotized bearing small apical teeth; all segments (except prothorax ventral and segments IX, X) bearing a transverse irregular row of asperities of variable sizes.

Head ( Figs. 7 , 12 ): Prognathous, narrower than prothorax, partially retracted into prothorax; epicranial stem absent; median endocarina well developed, extending between frontal arms; frontal arms V­shaped. Six stemmata each side: four dorsally positioned and two ventrally positioned. Frons bearing 14 pairs of very short setae, two pairs positioned at apex of endocarina and three positioned laterad of clypeal area. Each side of epicranial plate bearing six short setae positioned in longitudinal row near middle, one near base and eight or nine setae laterad. Frontoclypeal suture absent. Hypostomal rods well developed. Labrum ( Figs. 6, 7 ) free, transverse with anterior margin rounded; anterior margin with row of stout setae, declivous laterally; each side with one pore anteriorly and three short setae, positioned in inclined row near base. Epipharynx ( Fig. 10 ) densely setose anteriorly and medially; each side with a group of sensorial pores and three short setae. Antennae ( Figs. 8, 9 ) 3­segmented; basal segment short, transverse, bearing two short setae ventrally near base and two dorsally near middle (represented only by rings); median segment elongate, apex with an elongate membranous sensory appendix internally and distal segment externally, and two dorsal microsetae near apex and one ventro­lateral; distal segment shorter, elongate, inserted lateroexternally of apex of median segment, bearing five short stout setae apically. Mandibles ( Figs. 14, 15 ) stout with three distal teeth; one dorsal pore and two lateral setae; penicillus absent. Maxillae ( Figs. 11–13 ) elongate; cardo indistinguishable; mala ventrally with 8–10 wide distal setae and dorsally brush­like, densely setose, setae wide. Maxillary palps 2­segmented; basal segment bearing one lateroanterior external seta; distal segment bearing dorsally 6–7 distal sensorium. Stipes elongated, partially membranous bearing five very short setae near palp and four near base (represented by punctures). Labium ( Figs. 11, 12 ) as long as ventral head, slightly widened at base; apparently formed by unique piece; ligula well developed, anterior margin setose; each side with two pores above palpi; labial palpi one segmented; each side with four short setae near each lateral sclerite and three near base (represented by punctures). Hypopharynx densely setose, setae wide.

Thorax: Pronotum transverse, sub­rectangular with lateral margins rounded; meso­ and metanotum shorter than pronotum, band­like, and slightly wider than pronotum, each side with one lateral process; mesosternum with lateroanterior projection bearing spiracular opening.

Abdomen: Abdominal segments I–VIII band­like, each with one pair of scoli bearing one seta at apex; segments I–VII with dorsolateral elevated spiracular openings; spiracles ( Fig. 4 ) annular; segment IX ( Fig. 5 ) narrower than segment VIII, apex bifid, spiracles dorso­apically positioned; segment X ventral, reduced, bilobed with four short setae and two pores.

Legs ( Figs. 1, 3 ): Widely separate, robust, 4­segmented; coxa narrow, bearing short setae irregularly distributed; trochanter fused to femur, wider than long, bearing mesally a group with six short setae near coxa, one transverse row near anterior margin and some setae irregularly distributed; tibia almost triangular, bearing two dorsal setae medially and 10 setae near anterior margin; tarsunguli sclerotized, with one lateroexternal seta at base. Material examined. Brazil. São Paulo: Salesópolis, Estação Biológica de Boracéia, 04.iii.2002, one adult; 27.iv.2002, one adult; 20.vii.2002, five larvae fixed; 22.vii.2002, five adults. J.M. Queiroz col. ( MZSP).

Host plant. Anthurium sp.( Araceae ).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 5, Sceloenopla pretiosa (Baly, 1858). Larva: 1, ventral; 2, dorsal; 3, metathoracic leg; 4, thoracic spiracle; 5, apex of abdomen (dorsal). Figs 1, 2 to same scale. Bars = 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 6 – 10, Sceloenopla pretiosa (Baly, 1858). Larva: 6, clypeus and labrum; 7, head (dorsal); 8, 9, antenna (ventral, dorsal); 10, epipharynx. Figs 6, 10, to same scale. Bars = 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 11 – 15. Sceloenopla pretiosa (Baly, 1858). Larva: 11, maxilla and labium (ventral); 12, head (ventral); 13, apex of maxilla (dorsal); 14, 15, mandible (dorsal, ventral). Bars = 1.0 mm.