Paratorquispa, Borowiec & Świętojańska & Sekerka, 2019

Borowiec, Lech, Świętojańska, Jolanta & Sekerka, Lukáš, 2019, Revision of the tribe Cryptonychini (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) of New Caledonia, Zootaxa 4690 (1), pp. 1-71 : 38

Genus Paratorquispa gen. nov.

Type species. Torquispa caledoniae Uhmann, 1954 by monotypy.

Etymology. In Greek ‘pará’ means ‘near’ or ‘close’ as type species of the new genus was previously classified in the genus Torquispa .

Diagnosis. This genus is close to Torquispa as the anterior margin of prosternum is forming distinct collar projecting towards mouthparts and separated by sulcus from prosternum but differs in interorcular plate flat, lower than vertex and separated from it by shallow sulcus (in Torquispa interorcular plate strongly convex, separated from vertex by deep sulcus), interocular process broad with deep sulcus dorsally (in Torquispa interocular process flattened, without sulcus dorsally), pronotum on each side with broadly rounded projection at anterior corners (in Torquispa pronotum on each side with conical tubercle at ⅓ length), eyes large, gena obsolete (in Torquispa eyes small, gena distinct); elytra without scutellar row of punctures (in Torquispa with scutellar row).

Description. Moderately large beetles, body length 14.90–16.10 mm. Antennae 11-segmented. Body slim and elongate, at least 3 × as long as wide. Head wider than long, interocular plate rectangular, flat, separated from vertex by shallow sulcus. Interantennal process elongate, only slightly shorter than length of antennomere I, not keel-shaped, sides deeply impressed but dorsal part broad with deep sulcus. Frontoclypeus narrow and elongate. Prosternum with prosternal collar, anterior margin of collar shallowly emarginate. Prosternal process in intercoxal area wider than half width of coxa, mostly smooth and shiny. Pronotum slightly longer than wide, with obtuse lateral carina, with broadly rounded projection at anterior corners. Punctation of pronotal disc moderate to coarse, disposed irregularly, at least top of pronotum partly impunctate with smooth and shiny surface. Elytra without scutellar row of punctures, eigth rows in posthumeral part, eigth rows behind middle and ten rows apically, interspaces narrow, flat or only slightly convex. Thorax and abdomen mostly smooth and shiny, without special sculpture. Legs moderately stout, not sexually dimorphic. Lateral margins of last sternite before apex with brush of long hair.

Distribution. One species endemic to New Caledonia.