Miopristis colon ( Thunberg, 1787 )

Bezděk, Jan, 2019, Annotated review of Cryptocephalinae (Clytrini), Synetinae and part of Galerucinae (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) described by Carl Peter Thunberg, European Journal of Taxonomy 499, pp. 1-42 : 13-15

Miopristis colon ( Thunberg, 1787)

Fig. 6

Chrysomela colon Thunberg, 1787: 45 , fig. 9 (original description).

Clythra colon – Schoenherr 1808: 345. — Forsberg 1821: 263, 278 (redescription).

Miopristis (Miopristis) colon – Jacoby & Clavareau 1906: 12 (catalogue). — Clavareau 1913: 29 (catalogue).

Type locality

Not stated.

Material examined

Holotype

SOUTH AFRICA • ♀; type locality not stated (see Comments); “ colon . / 12 / Mus. Thunb. [box label, w, h]”; UUZM.

Distribution

Probably RSA (see comments).

Comments

Lacordaire (1848) listed Clythra colon among the species not known to him and reported it from “Promont. Bonae Spei” [= Cape of Good Hope] although neither Thunberg (1787) nor Forsberg (1821) provided any type locality. Habitually, Miopristis colon is very similar to many South African Clytrini which, in accordance with Lacordaire (1848), allows me to believe that the holotype was collected in the Cape together with many other specimens during Thunberg’s expeditions.

The holotype of Chrysomela colon was not traced, or was overlooked, by Wallin & Wallin (2001) and thus it lacks the typical printed red label they added to all type specimens.

The species identity of Chrysomela colon is unclear. The holotype is a relatively small female (5.5 mm) with a reduced black elytral pattern. Jacoby & Clavareau (1906) and Clavareau (1913) classified it in Miopristis with some doubt. Currently, the genus Miopristis comprises more than 20 species and I examined the primary type specimens of about 90% of the species. The colouration of Chrysomela colon does not exactly fit with any of the described species. However, as in many Clytrini , the colouration of species of Miopristis is extremely variable and I cannot exclude that the holotype of Ch. colon is a pale specimen with reduced black pattern of some other already described species. In summary, I leave Chrysomela colon as a valid species in Miopristis , and its identity can be resolved in the future if more specimens, including males, are discovered.

Figures

Fig. 6. Miopristis colon (Thunberg, 1821), holotype, ♀, 5.5 mm, UUZM. A. Dorsal view. B. Lateral view. C. ventral view. D. Frontal view. E. Box label.