Sceloenopla rubivittata Staines

Staines, C. L., 2002, Nomenclatural notes and new species of Sceloenoplini (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae), Zootaxa 89, pp. 1-32 : 25-26

Sceloenopla rubivittata Staines , new species

Figure 16

Type material. Holotype (): Est. Sirena, 0­100 m, P. N. Corcovado, Prov. Puntarenas, Costa Rica, 21 mar a 21 abr 1992, Z. Fuentes, L­S 270500, 508300// 772280 ( INBio). Paratypes (3): 1­ Estación Sirena, Prov. Punt., Costa Rica, 1­100 m, set 1993, G. Fonseca, L S 270500 _508300 #2362// 628344 ( INBio); 1­ Est. Sirena, ACOSA, Prov. Punta., Costa Rica, 1­100 m, 5­24 abr 1995, B. Gamboa, L N 270500 507900 #4378// 187925 ( INBio); 1­ Albergue Cerro de Oro, Prov. Punta. Costa Rica, 150 m, 30 ago 1995, L. Angulo de Luz, L_S_279650_518450 #5982// 350026 ( INBio).

Derivation of name. From rubinus (Latin= ruby) plus vitta (Latin= stripe) for the ruby­red stripe on the elytra.

Diagnosis. This species is in group 6 ( Uhmann 1937). It can be distinguished from all other species in group 6 by the serrate apical margins of the elytra, by the pronotum without a basal impression, by antennomeres III­IV that are subequal in length, and by the ruby­red elytral vitta.

Description. Brownish­yellow; eyes dark; lamina on exterior apical angles of the elytra dark; elytra with suture, vitta from humeri to apical 1/4, and base of exterior apical angles ruby­red. Head: vertex convex, smooth; faint medial sulcus present; moderate tooth present between antennal bases; frons not angulate. Antenna: antennomere I subglobose; II­VII cylindrical, III­IV subequal in length, longer than others; VIII­X transverse; XI pointed at apex; I­VII with scattered setae; VIII­XI setose. Pronotum: convex; lateral margin sinuate at base, distinctly angulate in middle, sinuate and converging to apex; each anterior angle with small, blunt tooth; posterior angle acute; surface coarsely, moderately punctate; basal impression absent; pronotal length 1.3 mm; pronotal width 2.7 mm. Scutellum: quadrate; smooth. Elytron: slightly expanding to apex; lateral margin smooth; apical margin serrate; exterior apical angle laminate, with backwardly directed tooth; humerus produced, angulate; with 10 rows of punctures and short scutellar row; interspace 2 costate for entire length, 4 carinate for entire length, 6 and 8 costate at apex; elytral length 5.3 mm; elytral width 2.8 mm. Venter: prosternum smooth medially, punctate laterally; mesosternum smooth medially, rugose laterally; suture between abdominal sterna 1 and 2 obsolete in middle. Total length: 7.0 mm.

Variation. Specimens vary in pronotal width from 2.7­2.8 mm, in elytral length from 5.3­5.4 mm, in elytral width from 2.7­2.8 mm, and in total length from 7.0­ 7.1 mm. The color and sculpture is very similar to that of the holotype.

Figures

FIGURES 16 - 20. Habitus. 16. Sceloenopla rubivittata. 17. Sceloenopla sanguinea. 18. Sceloenopla trivittata. 19. Sceloenopla unicostata. 20. Sceloenopla univitata.