Sceloenopla apicispina Staines

Staines, C. L., 2002, Nomenclatural notes and new species of Sceloenoplini (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae), Zootaxa 89, pp. 1-32 : 16

Sceloenopla apicispina Staines , new species

Figure 7

Type material. Holotype (): Tierras Morenas, Bajo Los Cartagos, Sn Lorenzo, 1050 m, Zona Prot. Tenerio, A. C. Arenal, Prov. Guan., Costa Rica, C. Alvarado, Feb 1991, L­N 287800, 427600// 637389 ( INBio). Paratype (): Rio San Lorenzo, 1050 m, Tierras Morenas, Z. P. Tenerio, Prov. Guanacaste, Costa Rica, M. Segura, 28 mar a 21 abr 1992, L­N 287800, 427600// 422603 ( INBio).

Derivation of name. From apici (Latin= small) plus spina (Latin= spine) for the small spine in the exterior apical angles of the elytra.

Diagnosis. This species is in group 6 ( Uhmann 1937). It can be distinguished from all other members of species group 6 by the fovea on the vertex of the head, having antennomeres II and III subequal in length, by the pronotum lacking a basal impression, and by the small spine in the apical exterior angles of the elytra.

Description. Brownish­yellow; eyes black; elytra with humeral and exterior apical angles margined with black, lateral margins from base to just past middle with black aeneous vitta, puncture row 2 with black vitta on first four punctures. Head: vertex with fovea which becomes sulcus, smooth; small tooth present between antennal bases; frons not angulate. Antenna: antennomere I subglobose; II­VII cylindrical, II­III subequal in length, V­VII decreasing in length; VIII­X transverse; XI pointed at apex; I­VII glabrous; VIII­XI setose. Pronotum: lateral margin angulate before middle, sinuate at base, strongly converging to apex; each anterior angle with blunt tooth; posterior angle acute; disc convex, densely, coarsely punctate; basal impression absent; pronotal length 1.4 mm; pronotal width 2.0 mm. Scutellum: quadrate; alutaceous. Elytron: lateral margin parallel for basal 1/2 then expanding, smooth; apical margin smooth; exterior apical angle with large, flattened, curved lamina; humerus produced, angular; with 10 rows of punctures plus short scutellar row; interspaces 2 and 4 costate for entire length, 6 and 8 costate at apex; elytral length 6.1 mm; elytral width 3.4 mm. Venter: prosternum punctate laterally; metasternum black laterally; abdomen variable, with diffuse black and yellow. Total length: 7.9 mm.

Variation. Specimens vary in pronotal width from 1.7­2.0 mm, in elytral length from 6.0­ 6.1 mm, and in total length from 7.7­7.9 mm. The color and sculpture is very similar to that of the holotype.

Figures

FIGURES 7 - 12. Habitus. 7. Sceloenopla apicispina. 8. Sceloenopla bicolorata. 9. Sceloenopla bidentata. 10. Sceloenopla expanda. 11. Sceloenopla flava. 12. Sceloenopla lampyridiformis.