Aslamidium (Neoaslamidium) lepidum Staines, New Species, 2006

Staines, C. L., 2006, A new combination and two new species of Aslamidium Borowiec (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae), Zootaxa 1195, pp. 61-68 : 63-65

Aslamidium (Neoaslamidium) lepidum Staines, New Species

Figure 2

Type material

Holotype: Colombia, Amazonas , PNN Amacayacu, Matamata, 3°23’N 70°06’W, 150 m, Malaise, 6–14.i.2001, A. Alvarado Leg., M.1321/ Aslamidium lepidum Staines 2006 [red label] ( IAVH).

Description

Head, scutellum, and basal ½ of venter black; antennae with antennomeres I–III black, remainder dark brown; pronotum yellow with darker disc and medial black spot from base to apical ¼ th; elytra yellow with black spots; apical ½ of venter dark medially, paler laterally; legs (except tarsi and spot on mesotibia) yellow. Head: slightly depressed between antennae; vertex punctate; medial carina present. Antenna: antennomere I long; II ½ length of I; III slightly longer than I; IV–X subequal in length, each ¾s length of III; XI acutely pointed at apex; I–II micropunctate, III with some setae, IV–XI setose. Pronotum: transverse; lateral margin straight and divergent for basal ¼ th then rounded and converging; anterior angle rounded; posterior angle acute; disc strongly convex; sparsely coarsely punctate, punctures more dense laterally and basally; apical margin nearly impunctate; slight basal impression present; pronotal length 0.9 mm; pronotal width 1.6 mm. Scutellum: pentagonal, micropunctate. Elytron: lateral and apical margins smooth, slightly explanate; humerus prominent, rounded; puncture rows moderately impressed; elytral markings as follows­ spot just behind scutellum reaching to puncture row 3, humeral spot from base to lateral margin, irregular transverse band from suture to lateral margin just behind middle, quadrate spot at apex from suture to puncture row 3, suture between transverse band and apical spot dark; elytral length 3.3 mm; elytral width 2.3 mm. Venter: pro­, meso­, and metasterna punctate, slightly rugose medially; prosternal process expanding apically, with deep groove on each side; abdominal sterna punctate; apical abdominal sternite emarginate in middle, setose. Leg: femur and tibia punctate; tibia with fringe of setae at apex. Total length: 4.3 mm.

Etymology From lepidum (Latin= elegant), for the elegant appearance of this beetle.

Comparative notes

This species is most similar to A. pichinchaensis Borowiec. It can be distinguished by the pronotal spot being much larger, extending beyond the middle of the pronotum; the basal three antennomeres being black; the postscutellar spots on the elytra are rounded; the apical elytral spots are quadrate; the pronotal disc is reddish; and antennomere III only slightly longer than I.

Figures

FIGURE 2.