Cassida viridipennis Boheman, 1854

Borowiec, Lech & Świętojańska, Jolanta, 2022, A monograph of the Afrotropical Cassidinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Part 6. Revision of the tribe Cassidini 3, the genus Cassida L., Zootaxa 5171 (1), pp. 1-250 : 173-176

Cassida viridipennis Boheman, 1854

( figs. 32 , 246–249 )

Cassida viridipennis Boheman, 1854: 394, 1856: 129 , 1862: 307; Gemminger & Harold, 1876: 3659; Spaeth, 1928: 9; Shaw, 1956: 271; Heron & Borowiec, 1997: 632; Borowiec, 1999 a: 294, 2005 a: 128; Heron, 2003: 34.

Cassida (Cassida) viridipennis: Spaeth, 1914 b: 119, 1924: 333 .

Cassida viridipennis ab. togata Spaeth, 1928: 9, unavailable name.

Odontionycha neglecta Weise, 1900: 216 ; Spaeth, 1928: 9 (as syn. of viridipennis ).

Cassida (Cassida) neglecta: Spaeth, 1914 b: 119 .

Description. L: 4.80–5.80 mm, W: 3.95–4.95 mm, Lp: 1.75–2.20 mm, Wp: 3.00–3.75 mm, L/W: 1.17–1.24, Wp/ Lp: 1.70–1.79. Body stout, distinctly converging posterad ( figs. 246, 247, 249 ).

In typically coloured form entire body, including head, ventrites, legs and antennae green or yellow ( figs. 246, 247 ), only last antennal segment infuscate apically. Some specimens preserve life green colour on entire dorsum or only in part of body. Occasionally thin brownish bands along elytral sides form on disc lyriform figure as in fig. 249 , area between bands usually orange–yellow while rest of dorsum has rather yellowish green ground colour, occasionally in such coloured specimens occur also very small brown patches in postscutellar impressions and in the middle of intervals 1–3 and on slope in front of brown band.

Pronotum elliptical, with maximum width in the middle, anterior margin regularly convex, sides broadly rounded, no basal corners. Area above head only slightly impressed, sides of disc indistinctly bordered from explanate margin. Surface of disc from slightly alutaceous to shiny, from impunctate to shallowly, sparsely punctate, always appears regular. Explanate margin broad, impunctate or with extremely shallow punctation, transparent with well visible honeycomb structure, surface from slightly alutaceous to slightly shiny, appears regular.

Base of elytra moderately wider than base of pronotum, humeral angles moderately protruding anterad, subangulate to angulate. Disc slightly irregularly convex in profile with well marked H–shaped elevation ( fig. 248 ), with distinct postscutellar, principal but usually without posterolateral impressions. Punctation coarse and dense tend to form regular rows, but in postscutellar impressions and in posterolateral parts of disc additional punctures disturbed regularity but elytra appear mostly regularly punctate, especially on sides on disc, distance between punctures from twice narrower to as wide as puncture diameter. Marginal row distinct, its punctures from as coarse as to slightly coarser than punctures in central rows. Intervals on top of disc from as wide as to slightly wider than rows, second interval often slightly convex, on sides of disc intervals as wide as to twice narrower than rows, marginal interval broad, as wide as submarginal row and submarginal interval combined, without humeral but with more or less visible lateral folds. Explanate margin moderately, moderately declivous, in the widest part 4.5 times as wide as disc, surface from slightly alutaceous to slightly shiny with shallow but coarse and dense punctation, appears irregular to rugose, transparent with well visible honeycomb structure.

Eyes very large, gena obsolete. Clypeus very broad, approximately 1.5 times as wide as long. Clypeal grooves fine but well marked, in basal part run close to margin of eye, converging in angulate top, surface of clypeus flat, its surface shiny with few very small, setose punctures. Labrum narrowly emarginate to 1/4 length. Antennae stout, segments 9–10 slightly longer than wide. Length ratio of antennal segments: 100:63:69:63:56:44:53:50:50:53:116. Segment 3 approximately 1.1 times as long as segment 2 and approximately 1.1 times as long as segment 4.

Prosternum moderately broad in the middle, strongly expanded apically, area between coxa flat to shallowly impressed, shiny, without special sculpture except several very small setose punctures, expanded apex shiny, slightly convex in central part, shallowly impressed laterally, lateral lobes with few moderately coarse, elongate punctures or shallow short grooves but surface appears regular.

Claws with large basal tooth.

Host plants. Amaranthaceae : Achyranthes aspera var. pubescens (Moq.) Towns. ( Heron & Borowiec 1997, Heron 2003); Achyranthes aspera var. sicula L. ( Heron 2003); Achyropsis avicularis (E. Meyer & Moq.) Hooker f. ( Heron & Borowiec 1997, Heron 2003); Cyathula cylindrica Moq. ( Heron & Borowiec 1997, Heron 2003); Cyathula uncinulata (Schrad.) Schinz ( Heron & Borowiec 1997) ; Pupalia lappacea (L.) Juss. ( Heron & Borowiec 1997, Heron 2003).

Distribution. South and East Africa north to Somalia ( fig. 32 ).

Remarks. A member of the Cassida viridipennis species–group. It belongs to the complex of species with a broad elytra and elytral punctation partly regular. The complex comprises also C. granula and C. mashonensis . The typical form of C. viridipennis distinctly differs from both relatives in its dorsum uniformly green or yellowish green ( figs. 246, 247 ). Cassida granula differs in its yellow background of elytra and central part of elytral disc partly red due to reddish centres of punctures and red lateral stripes (figs. 250, 251) while in the maculate form of C. viridipennis the yellow background occupies only the central part of the disc while the sides and apex are green or yellowish green and the pattern is brown formings small spots or a stripe on the sides of the central yellow spot ( fig. 249 ). Both species are separated geographically, as C. granula is wide spread in West and Central Africa ( fig. 18 ) while C. viridipennis is widely dsitributed in East and South Africa ( fig. 32 ). Maculate forms of C. viridipennis are similar to C. mashonensis but differ in the pronotal disc moderately coarse and moderately densely punctate with the distance between punctures from slightly narrower to twice wider than puncture diameter and in body more regularly oval with sides slightly converging posterad (figs. 279, 280).

Types examined. Lectotype of Cassida viridipennis Boheman, 1854 , designated by Borowiec, 1999: 294: [ SOUTH AFRICA]: Cap. B. Sp., 1, Vahlberg (NRS); paralectotype of Cassida viridipennis Boheman, 1854 , designated by Borowiec, 1999: 294: [ SOUTH AFRICA]: Port Natal, Popp. (ZMHU); lectotype and paralectotype of Odontionycha neglecta Weise, 1900 , present designation: [ TANZANIA]: Mombo, VII 1899 (ZMHU); syntype of Cassida viridipennis ab. togata Spaeth, 1928: [ SOUTH AFRICA]: Pondoland, Port St. John, 30 XII 1923, 1, R.E. Turner (BMNH); syntype of Cassida viridipennis ab. togata Spaeth, 1928: [ MOZAMBIQUE]: Delagoa Bay (MM).

Other specimens examined. KENYA: Arabuko Sokoke Forest Res., 20 km S Malindi, 27 IX–X 1992, 1, L. Bartolozzi ( MZUF) ; Bura, Wa – Taita, 1050 m, III 1912, 1, Alluaud & Jeannel ( MNHN) ; 20 km S Malindi , 10 XI–6 XII 1989, 5, L. Bartolozzi, L. Pardi and A. Ugolini ( MZUF) .

NAMIBIA: Omaruru , Farm Otjna, 5–7 X 1991, 1, U. Göllner ( ZMHU) ; Otjiwarongo Distr. , Abachaus, I 1957, 1, XII 1957, 1, I 1959, 1, G. Hobohm ( MM) ; Windhoek , III–IV 1989, 2, J. Irish ( ZMHU) .

SOMALIA: Afgoi , X 1937, 1, Nicotra ( DS); Mogadiscio, III 1974, 4 ( JM) .

SOUTH AFRICA: Camperdown , 18 IV 1908, 1, G.F. Leigh ( TM) ; Cape, Katberg , 4000 ft., X 1932, 1, R.E. Turner ( BMNH) ; Cape, Kimberley , 10 IX 1896, 1, H.E. Haviland ( TM) ; Cape, Somerset East , 27–31 I 1931, 1, R.E. Turner ( BMNH) ; Cape, Transkei, Owese forest , 11 XII 1979, 1, S. Endrödy – Younga ( TM) ; Eshowe, Natal , I 1957, 1, N. L. H. Krauss ( BMNH) ; Howick, Natal , I 1900, 1, Hilton ( BMNH) ; Karkloof, Natal , II 1897, 1, G. A. K. Marshall ( BMNH) ; Katberg , 4.000 ft., E Cape province, X 1932, 1, R. E. Turner ( BMNH) ; E Cape, N of Ndwalane , 60-120 m, -31.5964 / 29.4626, 30 XI 2019, 1, P. Jałoszyński ( MNHW) ; E Cape, Silaka Reserve , 10 m, -31.6528 / 29.5061, 28 XI 2019, 1, leg. M. Wanat, 29 XI 2019, 2, P. Jałoszyński ( MNHW) ; Limpopo Prov., Lapalala Nat. Res. , NE of Nylstroom, 23°51’S, 28°17’E, 1 ( ARC) ; Limpopo Prov., Moketsi, Koedoes Moketsi , 23°27’S, 30°15’E, 1 ( ARC) ; Limpopo Prov., Wyliespoort, Soutspanberg north of Louis Trichardt , 22°54’S, 29°56’E, 1 ( ARC) ; Malvern, Natal , VI 1897, 1, G. A. K. Marshall ( BMNH) ; Maputoland , SE of Ndumo, 24 I 2003. 1, M. Snižek ( MS) ; Natal , 2, Dr. Martin ( MKB) ; Natal, Anerley , 10 km NE of Port Shepstone, 30°40’S, 30°30’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Assagay, near Hillcrest , 29°47’S, 30°44’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, „Bethel Farm”, Waterfall Valley Estates, Paddock , 30°44’S, 30°12’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Bisley Valley Reserve, Pietermaritzburg , 29°39’S, 30°23’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Bluff ( Happy Valley ) Nat. Res. , Bluff , Durban , 31°00’S, 29°50’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Bothas Hill , 29°45’S, 30°44’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Burman Bush Nat. Res. , Morningside, Durban, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Crowned Eagle Conservancy , Gillitts, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Delville Wood Station , near Shongweni, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Durban , 1902, 1, F. Muir ( MM) , II 1904, 1, VIII 1904, 1, 21 II 1906, 1, G.F. Leigh ( TM) ; Natal, Entumeni Nat. Res., 16 km from Eshowe on Nkandla Road , Zululand , 28°33’05’’S, 31°22’48’’E, 1 ( ARC) ; Natal, Escombe, Queensburgh , 29°53’S, 30°54’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Ferncliffe Forest Reserve , Pietermaritzburg, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Giba Gorge, Hillcrest , 29°48’23’’S, 30°46’29’’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Gillits , near Kloof, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Harrison, near Cato Ridge , 29°44’S, 30°38’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Hibberden, South Coast , 30°34’S, 30°34’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Hillary, Durban , 29°55’S, 30°57’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal , Hillcrest C.B.D., 29°47’S, 30°46’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Hilton , 1 ( TM) ; Natal, Illanda Wilds Reserve , 30°03’S, 30°53’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Ingeli Lodge Trail, Ingeli , 30°30’S, 29°41’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Insuzi River bridge, Nkandla district , Zululand , 28°49’17’’S, 31°04’13’’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Ixopo , 30°10’S, 30°05’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Kenneth Stainbank Nat. Res., Yellowwood Park , Durban , 29°54’S, 30°56’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Kloof , 29°47’S, 30°50’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Kranskop to Middeldrift road, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Krantzkloof Nat. Res., Kloof , 29°45’S, 30°50’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Lake Sibaya, Eastern shore, Maputoland , 27°32’S, 32°41’E, 1 ( ARC) ; Natal, Malvern, Queensburgh , 29°53’S, 30°55’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Mhlalane Riverbridge, Wartburg / New Hanover distr. , 29°23’07’’S, 30°32’09’’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Moor Partk Nat. Res., Estcourt , 29°03’S, 29°23’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Nagle Dam, Umgeni Valley , near Cato Ridge , 29°35’S, 30°37’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, New Germany Nat. Res., Pinetown , 29°48’S, 30°53’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, New Hanover , 9 X 1916, 1, C.B. Herdenberg ( MNHW) ; Natal, Ngeli Forest , 23 km NW of Harding, 30°31’31’’S, 29°40’23’’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Nhlazatshe , NNW of Denny Dalton, Zululand, 28°10’S, 31°15’E, 1 ( ARC) ; Natal , 20 km NW Nongoma forest, 8 II 2000, 1, J. Halada ( MS) ; Natal, Northdene, Queensburgh , 12 III 2000, 1, H. Heron ( MNHW) ; Natal, Old Main Road, Drummond , 29°46’S, 30°41’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Oribi Gorge Reserve, 8 km inland Port Shepstone , 30°42’S, 30°14’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Padfield Park , Pinetown, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Palmiet Reserve, Westville , 29°49’S, 30°56’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Paradise Valley Nat. Res., Pinetown , 29°49’54’’S, 30°53’30’’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Pennigton, South Coast , 30°23’S, 30°42’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Roosfontein Nat. Res., Umbilo Valley , Westville / Queensburgh, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, S. Lucia , 29 X 1981, 2, J. Klapperich ( MZSNV) ; Natal, Shongweni Resources Reserve, Umlaas Valley , 29°51’S, 30°43’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Sordwana Bay , 8–10 XI 1984, 2, C.L. Bellamy et al., 9–11 XI 1986, 4, D. d’Hotmann ( ER) ; Natal, Springside Nat. Res., Hillcrest , 29°46’S, 30°46’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Tanglewood Farm Nat. Res. , Pinetown, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, „The Farm Malokiba”, Shelly Beach, lower South Coast , 30°48’S, 30°25’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Treasure Beach Reserve , Bluff, Durban, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Umgeni Valley Reserve , Howick, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Umhlanga Lagoon Reserve, Umhlanga Rocks , 29°42’S, 31°405’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Umkomaas , 8 II 1962, 6, A. Capener ( ZSM, MNHW) ; Natal, Umtentweni , VII 1955, 1, A.L. Capener ( MNHW) ; Natal, University of Natal , Durban, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Uvongo Nat. Res., Lower South Coast , 30°49’S, 30°23’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Vernon Crookes Nat. Res., 8 km N of Umzinto, South Coast , 30°35’S, 30°16’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Weza, Doma Doone Forest , 1100 m, 6 XII 1995, 1, M. Biondi ( DS) ; Natal, Winkelspruit, Kingsburgh , 30°05’S, 30°51’E, 1 ( HH) ; Port St. John, Pondoland , X 1923, 1 R. E. Turner ( BMNH) ; Somerset , Cape province, 31 I 1931 ( LS) ; nr. Verwoerd Tunnels, Rt. n. 1 and Rt. R 523, 26 XII 1994, 1, A. Freidberg ( TAU) ; Transvaal , 1 ( ZMHU) ; Transvaal, Kruger Nat. Park, Sataro , 15–17 XII 1985, 2, M. Sanborne ( MZSNV) ; Zululand, Empangeni Univ. , II 1975, 2, P.E. Reavel ( TM) ; Zululand, Sordwana Bay , 0–50 m, 8–10 XI 1984, 4, Bellamy & Howden ( TM) .

TANZANIA:; Mtotohovu, Trockenwald , III 1916, 1, Methner ( ZMHU) ; Tanga Reg., Mambo , swept, 20 II 1987, 1, S. Mahunka and A. Zicsi ( HNHM) ; Utete, Rufiji riv., 08.02 S 38.52 E, 30 m, 23 XII 2005, 1, Halada & Snižek ( MS) .

ZAIRE (DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO): Upemba Nat. Park , Kaziba , aff. Senze, aff. Lufira, 1140 m, 4–12 II 1948, 1, de Witte ( MRAC) .

ZIMBABWE: Vumba , 10–15 XII 1937, 1, G. van Son ( MNHW) .

Figures

FIGURE 18. Distribution of Cassida granula (black circles) and Cassida limpopoana (black diamonds).

FIGURE 32. Distribution of Cassida overlaeti (black squares), Cassida viridipennis (black circles) and Cassida weinmanni (black diamonds).

FIGURES 246–249. Cassida viridipennis. 250–251. Cassida granula. 246–247, 249–250. Dorsal; 248, 251. Lateral.