Oxychalepus Uhmann 1937b

Staines, C. L., 2010, A review of the genus Oxychalepus Uhmann, 1937 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae), Zootaxa 2573 (1), pp. 35-56 : 35-36

Oxychalepus Uhmann 1937b

Oxychalepus Uhmann 1936: 614 (nomen nudum).

Oxychalepus Uhmann 1937b: 467 . Type species: Odontota proxima Guérin-Méneville by original designation. Uhmann 1938b: 438 (description), 1940b: 143 (type species); 1957a: 107 (catalog), 1964b: 423 (catalog); Monrós & Viana 1947: 247 ( Argentina species); Papp 1953: 84 (catalog); Buck 1958: 148 (museum list); Wilcox 1975: 143 (catalog); Seeno & Wilcox 1982: 160 (catalog); Maes & Staines 1991: 38 (faunal list); Staines 1996 (1997): 42 ( Nicaragua species), 2002: 767 (redescription), 2009: 24 (Caribbean species); Cox 1994: 446, 453 (parasites); Jolivet 1989: 305 (host plant); Jolivet & Hawkeswood 1995:147 (host plants); Ramos 1998: 305 ( Brazil species); Takizawa 2003: 95 (faunal list); Santiago-Blay 2004: 72 (host plants).

Generic description. Head: vertex sulcate; slightly constricted behind eyes; projection present at base of antenna. Antenna: with 11 antennomeres; antennomere 11 sharply pointed at apex; antennomeres 3 to 11 laterally compressed; 7 to 11 closely articulated. Pronotum: trapezoidal or obconical, widest at base. Elytron: lateral margin dentate; exterior apical angle rounded, dentate; apical margin strongly dentate; with 10 rows of punctures, scutellar row present or absent; 4 costae, 1, 2, and 4 complete, 3 visible at humerus and apex. Male genitalia: adaegus curved, pointed at apex.

Host plants: Canavalia , Cassia , Cymbosema , Dioclea , Inga , Mucuna , Phaseolus (Fabaceae) ; Solanum (Solanaceae) ; Heliconia (Heliconiaceae) ; Flagellaria (Flagellariaceae) ; Cocos (Arecaceae) ; Freycinetia , Pandanus (Pandanaceae) ; Pleomele (Agavaceae) ( Jolivet & Hawkeswood 1995).

Biology. The biology is unknown for all species. The pupa of O. anchora was described by Uhmann (1953).

1. Elytron with scutellar row ........................................................................................................................................ 2

- Elytron without scutellar row ................................................................................................................................... 4

2(1). Pronotum with basal impression............................................................................................................................... 3

- Pronotum without basal impression; Brazil, Paraguay............................................................. O. centralis Uhmann

3(2). Pronotum with lateral margin bisinuate; México to Nicaragua................................................. O. balyanus (Weise)

- Pronotum with lateral margin slightly convergent from basal ⅔ then sinuate to apex; Brazil.................................. ............................................................................................................................................... O. elongatus (Chapuis)

4(1). Elytron with black markings..................................................................................................................................... 5

- Elytron entirely pale; Caribbean (?), Costa Rica to Brazil..................................................... O. normalis (Chapuis)

5(4). Vertex of head with medial sulcus only.................................................................................................................... 6

- Vertex of head trisulcate ........................................................................................................................................... 7

6(5). Antennomere 2 subglobose; disc of pronotum irregularly punctate; México to Argentina.... O. anchora (Chapuis)

- Antennomere 2 transverse; disc of pronotum impunctate; Brazil, Ecuador, Peru................... O. opacicollis Ramos

7(5). Antennomere 1 subglobose ...................................................................................................................................... 8

- Antennomere 1 not subglobose .............................................................................................................................. 12

8(7). Antennomeres 1 and 2 subglobose; Brazil, Paraguay............................................................. O. externus (Chapuis)

- Antennomere 1 subglobose, 2 transverse ................................................................................................................. 9

9(8). Lateral margin of pronotum bisinuate .................................................................................................................... 10

- Lateral margin of pronotum slightly convergent on basal ½, strongly constricted on apical ¼; Brazil..................... ............................................................................................................................................. O. paranormalis Ramos

10(9). Elytral costae 1 and 2 unite near apex; Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay.......................... O. proximus (Guérin-Méneville)

- Elytral costae 1 and 2 do not unite near apex ......................................................................................................... 11

11(10).Disc of pronotum finely punctate; Argentina, Bolivia........................................ O. angulatus Staines New Species

- Disc of pronotum coarsely, irregularly punctate; Brazil........................................................ O. insignitus (Chapuis)

12(7). Antennomeres 1 and 2 transverse ........................................................................................................................... 13

- Antennomeres 1 and 2 cylindrical; Nicaragua to Brazil............................................................. O. posticatus (Baly)

13(12).Lateral margin of pronotum bisinuate; antennomeres 3–4 subequal in length; México to Colombia and Venezuela........................................................................................................................................................ O. alienus (Baly)

- Lateral margin of pronotum straight, sinuate at base and apex; antennomeres 3–5 subequal in length; Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador...................................................................................................................... O. bisignatus (Chapuis)