Palmaraltica heteronycha Bechyné, 1959

Roie, Martijn Van, D’Hont, Anouk, Konstantinov, Alexander & Furth, David, 2023, Types of Cuyabasa Bechyné, Palmaraltica Bechyné and Rhynchasphaera Bechyné (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini: Oedionychina) of the Naturhistorisches Museum, Basel, with keys to species and descriptions of genitalia, and new combinations for species transferred to the oedionychine, Zootaxa 5318 (1), pp. 67-82 : 73

Palmaraltica heteronycha Bechyné, 1959

( Figure 4 )

Palmaraltica heteronycha Bechyné 1959:347 ( Bolivia, Yungas del Palmar , holotype female).

Measurements. LB = 8.98 mm; WB = 5.80 mm (N=1)

Distribution. Bolivia.

Type examined. Holotype female: Bolivia, Yungas del Palmar 2000m, Zischka Ew. Reitter, Type Palmaraltica heteronycha ns. J. Bechyne det., 1956 ( NMB).

Literature records. BOLIVIA: Yungas del Palmar, 2000m (R. Zischka, Mus. G. Frey) ( Bechyné 1959).

Description of genitalia. Spermatheca ( Figure 4E ) coil-shaped, 4–5 times as long as wide. Spermathecal pump rounded, about one-fifth as long as receptacle. Division between receptacle and pump faint.Apex of pump flattened, blunt, short. Receptacle widest at base. Canal attached at base of receptacle. Vaginal palpi ( Figure 4F ) conical, slightly rounded; apex with some setae. Male genitalia not available for study.

Diagnosis. Palmaraltica heteronycha can be separated from P. yepezi by general coloration and habitus ( Figure 4 ), together with having simple front tarsal claws. Only the female of this species is currently known. Palmaraltica heteronycha differs from P. tomentosa by the broader shoulders, more rounded pronotal edges and dark coloration of the apex and basal third of the elytra. The female genitalia of both species seem to be different as well, with strongly arched vaginal palpi and a downward facing spermathecal pump in P. tomentosa ( Figure 5D&E ).

Figures

FIGURE 4. Holotype female of Palmaraltica heteronycha Bechyné from the NMB. A. Dorsal view; B. Lateral view; C. Frontal view; D. Label; E. Spermatheca; F. Vaginal palpi. Scale bar: 1 mm.

FIGURE 5. Female specimen of Palmaraltica tomentosa Jacoby, comb. nov. from the BMNH. A. Dorsal view; B. Lateral view; C. Frontal view; D. Spermatheca; E. Vaginal palpi. Scale bar: 1 mm.