Cassida pfefferi, Sekerka, 2006

Świętojańska, Jolanta & Belczyk, Ewa, 2021, A comparative study of the immature stages of closely related species Cassida pfefferi Sekerka, 2006, Cassida nobilis Linnaeus, 1758 and Cassida vittata Villers 1789 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Cassidini), Zootaxa 4942 (4), pp. 451-500 : 486-488

Pupa of Cassida pfefferi

( Figs 16, 17 , 190 – 193 )

Measurements (n=7) are presented in Table 3.

Body oval. Living specimens greenish-white with white cross in the middle of pronotum; two brown spots placed on pronotum medially—each spot placed on side of white cross; two brown spots on each elytral portion dorsally and four brown spots on each abdominal tergite. Spiracles white. Antennae brown. Head, mouthparts and legs infuscate ( Figs 16, 17 ). Pupae preserved in alcohol light yellow with brown spots, distributed as in living specimens ( Figs 190 – 193 ).

Anterior margin of pronotum regularly rounded. Lateral margins of pronotum in front of basal angles shallowly emarginate. Pronotum with regularly distributed marginal processes. Six of these processes are distinctly stouter than remainder, four of them are also the longest and covered with few fine lateral processes ( Figs 190–193 ). Each marginal process of pronotum armed with short blunt sensillum, but four the longest processes have distinctly longer sensilla than remainder.

Pro-, meso-and metanotum without lateral scoli. Margin of pronotum with mostly short projections distributed regularly along margin except for two projections on each anterior side which are distinctly stouter and longer (approximately three times) than remainder, moreover projections placed on posterior angles are two times longer and placed closer to each other than remainder.

Abdominal segments I – V with leaf-like lateral scoli which are gradually shortened posterad, these scoli are distinctly visible in dorsal as well as ventral view. Scoli of segments VI – VIII short, in form of simple processes. Segment IX with two short processes at posterior border.

Abdomen with 7 pairs of spiracles; spiracles of first pair the most elevated and with the greatest diameter; diameter and elevation of all spiracles slightly decrease posteriorly, 7 th pair hardly visible.

Exuvium of last instar larva remains attached to last abdominal segments (VI – IX) of pupa ( Figs 190, 191 ).

Figures

FIGURES 14–17. Living immature stages. 14. Mature larva of Cassida pfefferi Sekerka, 2006; 15. pupa of Cassida vittata Villers, 1789; 16. pupa of Cassida pfefferi, dorsal aspect; 17. pupa of Cassida pfefferi, ventral aspect.

FIGURES 190–193. Cassida pfefferi Sekerka, 2006, pupa. 190, 192. Dorsal aspect; 191, 193. ventral aspect; 190, 191. pupa with last larval skin.