Neochlamisus bebbianae ( Brown, 1943 ) III

Chaboo, Caroline S., Brown, Christopher G. & Funk, Daniel J., 2008, Faecal case architecture in the gibbosus species group of Neochlamisus Karren, 1972 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae: Chlamisini), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 152 (2), pp. 315-351 : 325-327

Neochlamisus bebbianae ( Brown, 1943) III :

Betula nigra host form ( Figs 7 , 8 )

Egg case ( Fig. 7B–F ): Size (N = 10): L, 0.89– 1.28 mm; W at roof, 0.79–0.84 mm. Colour: unevenly dark-brown/black. Shape: bell-like, symmetrical in lateral aspect; apex conical. Egg stalk: present basally, short, translucent, slender. Roof: transverse ( Fig. 7C ) in lateral aspect, discoid, flattened, not convex; margin simple, not flanged. External surface: coarse with overlapping faecal plates ( Fig. 7E, F ); plates most apparent apically, their margins exposed apically; short, discontinuous longitudinal ridges present, spanning two or three scales ( Fig. 7D ). Internal surface: smoother than external surface; slight space between case wall and egg. Trichomes: present, simple, dense, deeply embedded in faecal matrix.

Larva-I case ( Fig. 8A ): Size (N = 4): L, 1.53–1.89 mm; W at base opening, 1.51–2.89 mm. Colour: uneven brownish-black. Shape: asymmetrical in lateral view; egg case distinct, occupying two-thirds of the total case length; apex conical; egg stalk present or absent; base opening slightly transverse. Ventral surface: with suture extending subapically through egg case to basal margin; faecal rows, inserted adjacent to ventral suture, occupy triangular wedge; younger rows of medium brown colour. External surface: rough, faecal rows orientated longitudinally ventrad, transversely lateral, and dorsad. Internal surface: without plates or ridges; texture smoother and darker in larval section than egg section. Case walls: evenly thin, apex slightly thicker. Trichomes: present in larval section, sparse.

Larva-II case ( Fig. 8B, C ): Size (N = 7): L, 3.84– 4.02 mm; W at base opening, 1.65–1.87 mm. Colour: uneven dark brown, larval sections appearing striate because of colour tone variation. Shape: tubular; asymmetrical in lateral view; ventral, lateral, and dorsal walls distinguishable by varying orientation of faecal rows; apex rounded. Egg case: apparent, shape distorted by ventral surface expansion. External surface: coarse, with larval faeces in rows. Ventral surface: with suture extending subapically to basal margin; adjacent triangular field occupying half of the ventral surface area. Base opening: oblique; ventral wall shorter than dorsal wall; margin simple. Internal surface: smooth, boundary between larval instars indistinct. Walls: slightly thicker apically than laterally. Trichomes: at medium density, some protuberant.

Larva-III case ( Fig. 8D ): Size (N = 10): L, 5.12– 5.45 mm; W at base opening, 2.5–3.19 mm. Colour: unevenly brownish black with lighter brown striations. Shape: tubular, asymmetrical in lateral view with dorsal wall slightly longer than ventral wall, and egg case inclined ventrad. Egg case: distinguishable by position, surface texture, and colour; general shape distorted, split hemispherically by ventral suture and large ventral insertion of faeces. Ventral surface: with ventral suture extending from apex to base; adjacent longitudinal faecal rows slightly protuberant, occupying three-quarters of the ventral surface. Walls of larval sections: thicker than in egg case. Base opening: transverse, margin simple. Internal surface: smooth; plates, ridges, and rows, not apparent; larval sections not distinguishable. Trichomes: present, deeply embedded into matrix, with some protuberant.

Larva-IV case ( Fig. 8E ): Size (N = 4): L, 4.85– 6.51 mm; W at base opening, 3.60–3.88 mm. Colour: uneven dark brownish black. Shape: barrel-like, asymmetrical with distinct ventral, lateral, and dorsal surfaces; egg case hemispherical, inclined ventrad, dissected by ventral suture; apex rounded. External surface: variable; densely covered with trichomes; trichome coat thick dorsally, thinner ventrally. Ventral suture: extending from apex to base; larval faecal insertion occupying most of ventral surface. Base opening: transverse, margin simple. Internal surface texture: smoothened; walls evenly thin, apex wall slightly thicker.

Pupal case ( Fig. 8F, G ): Size (N = 4): L, 6.27– 7.54 mm; W at base opening, 5.25–6.02 mm. Shape: texture and colour as in late larval case IV; basal seal lacking trichome coat.

Figures

Figure 7. Neochlamisus bebbianae III: Betula (river birch) host form. A, adult habitus. B, case series from egg case (left) to pupal case (right). C–F, egg case, scanning electron micrographs. C, lateral aspect. E–F, external surface.

Figure 8. Neochlamisus bebbianae III: Betula host form. A, instar-I case, lateral aspect. B, instar-II case, lateral aspect. C, instar-II case, ventral aspect. D, instar-III case, ventral aspect. E, instar-IV case, lateral aspect. F, pupal case, ventral aspect.