Cephaloleia gemma Staines

Staines, Charles L. & Garcia-Robledo, Carlos, 2014, The genus Cephaloleia Chevrolat, 1836 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae), ZooKeys 436, pp. 1-355 : 150-151

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Chrysomelidae

Cephaloleia gemma Staines sp. n. Fig. 151

Description.

Elongate; small; subparallel; subconvex; black, lateral margin of pronotum paler; elytra with broad pale yellow vitta from puncture rows 2-6 from base extending to humerus to near apex, lateral margin pale; venter dark brown, abdominal sterna paler laterally; legs yellow. Head: eyes large; vertex coarsely, irregularly punctate, medial sulcus absent; frons not projecting; not depressed between eyes. Antenna: as long as head and pronotum combined; robust; antennomere 1 incrassate, longer than 2; 2 subglobose; 3 cylindrical, subequal in length to 1; 4-10 transverse, subequal in length, each about ¾ length of 3; 11 2 × length of 10, pointed at apex; 1-2 punctate with scattered setae; 3 punctate basally, setose apically; 4-11 setose. Pronotum: transverse; lateral margin straight then rounding to anterior angle, canaliculate; anterior angle obtuse, produced; posterior angle acute; anterior margin emarginate behind head; disc subconvex; surface irregularly punctate except medial longitudinal area; basal impression absent; pronotal length 0.7 mm; pronotal width 1.0 mm. Scutellum: pentagonal; impunctate. Elytron: lateral margin straight then rounding to apex, smooth; apex rounded; sutural angle without tooth; humerus rounded, not produced; slightly constricted behind humerus; moderately punctate-striate, punctures mostly large; elytral length 3.1 mm; elytral width 1.4 mm. Venter: pro- and mesosterna punctate; metasternum impunctate medially, punctate laterally; abdominal sterna punctate, each puncture with pale seta; suture between abdominal sterna 1 and 2 obsolete medially; apical margin of last sternite with apical margin emarginate medially in male. Leg: slender; femur and tibia punctate; tibia with fringe of setae on inner margin of apex. Total length: 4.0 mm.

Etymology.

From gemma (Latin) bud, eye, jewel for the large eyes and beautiful appearance of this species. The name is feminine.

Diagnosis.

This species is similar to Cephaloleia abdita sp. n. and Cephaloleia trilineata . It can be distinguished by the smaller size and the overall black dorsal coloration.

Host plant.

Adults have been collected off Calathea sp. ( Marantaceae ).

Distribution.

Bolivia, Brazil (Matto Grosso, Rondonia).

Type material.

Holotype male: Brazil, Rondonia, 62 km SW Ariquames, Fazfa. Rancho Grande, nr. Cacaulandia, Nov. 3, 1989, R. W. Flowers/ Holotype Cephaloleia gemma Staines, des. C. L. Staines 2012 [red label] (USNM). Paratypes (14): Brazil, Mato Gr., 10°25'S, 59°28'W, 17-22.III.77, 300 m, Col: D. Engleman/ Edward G. Riley Collection/ Paratype Cephaloleia gemma Staines, des. C. L. Staines 2012 [red label] (EGRC); Bolivia, Santa Cruz dpt., Nuflo de Chavez, 28 xi-5 xii 2011, Concepeción- FCBC, Alta Vista, 16°08.15"S, 61°56.1"W, 425 m, MAR. Calathea sp. (green+violet leaf), L. Sekerka and D. Windsor lgt. (LSC, DWC).