Pseudispa tuberculata Staines

Staines, C. L., 2002, Nomenclatural notes and new species of Sceloenoplini (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae), Zootaxa 89, pp. 1-32 : 9-10

Pseudispa tuberculata Staines , new species

Figure 6

Type material. Holotype (): Fca. Cafrosa, Est. La Mellizas, P. N. Armistad, 1300 m, Prov. Punt., Costa Rica, M. Ramirez, abr 1991, L­S­316100, 596100// 475172 ( INBio). Paratypes (6, 9): 1­ R. San Lorencito, 900 m, R. F. San Ramón, 5 km N de Colonia Palmareña, Prov. Alaju, Costa Rica, 13­18 Jun 1993, I Curso, Scarabaeidae L­N­244500, 470700// 364846 ( INBio); 1­ Costa Rica, Heredia Prov., 16 km SSE La Virgen, 1050­1150 m, 10°16'N 84°05'W, III­9­14­2001, E. G. Riley, flight intercept trap, primary forest// 769795 ( INBio); 1­ Costa Rica, Heredia Prov., 16 km SSE La Virgen, 1050­1150 m, 10°16'N 84° 05'W, III­9­14­2001, E. G. Riley, yellow pan trap// 769796 ( INBio); 2­ Costa Rica, Heredia, 16 km SSE La Virgen, 1050­1150 m, 10°16'N 84° 05'W, OET ALAS transect, 11/M/20/060, 21/03/2001 // 769783, 769784 ( INBio, CLS); 1­ Costa Rica, Heredia, 16 km SSE La Virgen, 1050­1150 m, 10°16'N 84° 05'W, 21 marzo 2001, INBio­ OET­ALAS transect// 21 marzo 2001, transect, 11/M/10/50// 0 0 0 320322 ( INBio); 1­ same first label// 21 marzo 2001, transect, 11/M/07/47// 0 0 0 3205124 ( INBio); 1­ same first label// 21 marzo 2001, transect, 11/TN/20/020// 0 0 0 3211397 ( INBio); 1­ 0 9 abril 2001, Costa Rica, Heredia, 16 km SSE La Virgen, 1050­1150 m, 10°16'N 84°05'W // 0 9 abril 2001, transect, 11/M/20/100// 0 0 0 3211183 ( INBio); 1­ same first label// 0 9 abril 2001, transect, 11/M/03/063// 0 0 0 3200137 ( INBio); 1­ Costa Rica, Heredia, 16 km SSE La Virgen, 21 abril 2001, 1050­ 1150 m, 10°16'N 84° 05'W // 21 abril 2001, transect, 11/TN/07/ 022// 0 0 0 3205334 ( INBio); 1­ same first label// 21 abril 2001, transect, 11/TN/06/021// 0 0 0 3210388 ( INBio); 1­ Costa Rica, Heredia, 16 km SSE La Virgen, 23 febrero 2001,1050­ 1150 m, 10°16'N 84° 05'W // 23 febrero 2001, transect, 11/WF/01/19// 0 0 0 3213454 ( INBio); 1­ 9/03/2001, Costa Rica, Heredia, 16 km SSE La Virgen, 1050­ 1150 m, 10°16'N 84° 05'W // 0 9 marzo 2001, transect, 11/M/18/058// 0 0 0 3211016 ( INBio); 1­ same first label// 0 9 marzo 2001, transect, 11/M/12/032// 0 0 0 3202786 ( INBio).

Derivation of name. From tuber (Latin= a swelling) for the elytral tubercles.

Diagnosis. This species is most similar to P. g e m m a n s (Baly) and can be distinguished by antennomere I being subglobose, by antennomere III being the longest, and by having four tubercles on each elytron.

Description. Metallic green and yellow, with antennae and legs paler. Head: vertex alutaceous; slight medial sulcus present; tooth present between antennal bases; frons with small tubercle in middle. Antenna: antennomere I globose; II­VII cylindrical, II thicker than others, III longest; VII­X transverse; XI pointed at apex; I­VII glabrous; VIII­XI setose. Pronotum: lateral margin sinuate for basal, angulate in middle, sinuate and converging to apex; each anterior angle with small tooth; disc strongly convex, densely, coarsely punctate; longitudinal medial sulcus present; pronotal length 0.7 mm; pronotal width 0.7 mm. Scutellum: quadrate; alutaceous. Elytron: lateral margin sinuate, smooth; apical margin rounded, smooth; humerus produced, flattened; interspace 7 strongly carinate; with 10 rows of punctures plus short scutellar row and four elongate tubercles­ first between puncture rows 2 & 3 on basal, second between puncture rows 2 & 3 near middle, third between puncture rows 4 & 5 just behind middle, fourth between puncture rows 2 & 3 on apical 1/4; elytral length 2.4 mm; elytral width 1.4 mm. Venter: pro­ and mesosterna punctate medially, rugose laterally; metasternum granulose. Leg: tibia expanded at apex. Total length: 3.6 mm.

Variation. Specimens vary in pronotal length from 0.7­0.8 mm, in pronotal width from 0.7­0.8 mm, in elytral length from 2.2­2.6 mm, in elytral width from 1.3­1.5 mm, and in total length from 3.4­3.8 mm. The color and sculpture is very similar to that of the holotype.

Figures

FIGURES 4 - 6. Habitus. 4. Pseudispa bellula. 5. Pseudispa sinuata. 6. Pseudispa tuberculata.