Euxema Baly, 1885

Sekerka, Lukáš, 2014, Review of Imatidiini genera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 54 (1), pp. 257-314 : 280

Euxema Baly, 1885

( Fig. 11 )

Euxema Baly, 1885: 3 . Type species: Euxema insignis Baly, 1885 by monotypy.

Distinguishing characters. Euxema can be separated from other Imatidiini genera by the pronotum having the anterior margin convex and strongly projecting beyond, small and obtuse anterior corners ( Fig. 11 ) and this character is so far unique for Euxema . The genus also possesses prognathous, but not projecting mouthparts, a parallel-sided pronotum, and the serrate lateroapical margins of the elytra. Externally it is most close to Xenispa , and perhaps some species included currently in the latter genus may actually belong to Euxema . However, this requires further study.

Remarks. BALY (1885) proposed this genus for a single species differing from all other Imatidiini in the anterior margin of the pronotum being strongly protruding anteriad. PIC (1934a), based on this character, placed his new species, elongata , in Euxema . However, it is not congeneric with E. insignis , and is here transferred to a new genus, Katkispa gen. nov. (see description on p. 282).

Number of species. Monotypic (present paper).

Biology. Nothing is known about the biology of this genus. According to Champion ( BALY 1885), specimens were collected in high montane cloud forest (ca. 1830–2130 m a.s.l.). Euxema insignis resembles several species, here included in Xenispa , living in Panama in the similar habitats situated at lower altitude (ca. 1000–1400 m). All of them are associated with native bamboo of the genus Chusquea (Poaceae) . Based on its body shape, E. insignis may also live on Chusquea , however, I was not able to rediscover it in Panama so far.

Distribution. Colombia: Magdalena ( STAINES 2007) and Panama: Chiriquí ( BALY 1885).

Figures

Figs 1–11. Dorsal habitus. 1 – Homalispa batesii Baly, 1858, French Guyana: Mt. Kaw; 2 – Cyclantispa gracilis (Baly, 1885), Panama: La Fortuna; 3 –Xanthispa cimicoides (Guérin-Méneville, 1844), French Guyana: Le Larivot; 4 – Imatidium thoracicum Fabricius, 1801, Ecuador: Cascada San Rafael; 5 – Aslamidium (s. str.) capense (Herbst, 1799), French Guyana: Fourgassie; 6 – Aslamidium (Neoaslamidium) pichinchaensis Borowiec, 1998, Ecuador: Puerto Misahuallí; 7 – Calliaspis sachaensis Borowiec & Stojczew, 1998, Ecuador: Shushu¿ndi; 8 – Spaethaspis lloydi Hincks, 1952, Ecuador: Río Puno. 9 – Xenispa testaceicornis (Pic, 1926), Bolivia: Refugio Los Volcanes; 10 – Xenispa costaricensis (Uhmann, 1930), Panama:La Fortuna;11 – Euxema insignis Baly, 1858, syntype, Panama: Volcan de Barú. All scale bars = 2.5 mm.