Calligrapha
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.3922.1.1 |
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publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F62A98A5-5B57-415F-BC44-845B097A5436 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6102879 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039E355D-642D-FFA5-8F9C-F8F3FA72FB4E |
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treatment provided by |
Plazi |
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scientific name |
Calligrapha |
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Key to main species groups in Calligrapha View in CoL
The current study focuses on a single important group of species typical from Central America, the Calligrapha argus group. I was able to diagnose the group in the context of the whole phenotypic diversity represented by species currently recognized as part of Calligrapha . Below I provide a tentative, pragmatic key to recognize the main morphological groups in Calligrapha based on characters easy to distinguish, mostly on elytral designs. These characters are not to be confused with colour variation, which may be perceived as an inferior character for taxonomic assessment, due to colour polymorphisms known to reflect intraspecific variation or response to environmental factors in many insects ( Quicke 1993, p. 38). Elytral patterns in Calligrapha represent in fact several complex structural characters which proved to have strong systematic value, given their covariation with other character systems, and also confirmed based on preliminary molecular phylogenetic results ( Montelongo & Gómez-Zurita 2014). For the nomenclature and positions of elytral markings, I refer to Gómez-Zurita et al. (2004) and Montelongo & Gómez-Zurita (2013).
1 Claws fused at base ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 a). Nearctic and Central American group............... Group of C. (Zygospila) suturalis (F.)
- Claws divergent at base ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 b). Nearctic and Neotropical groups.............................................. 2
2 Hypomeral suture obliterated ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 c) and elytra striped ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 e)............................................... 3
- Hypomeral suture deep, running nearly parallel ventrally to pronotal margin ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 d) or if obliterated, then elytra spotted ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 f)................................................................................................. 4
3 Last maxillary palpomere subquadrate, at least as wide as apex of previous palpomere. Penis broad, with conspicuous median tooth at apex. Distributed in North America, north of Mexico........................... Group of C. bidenticola Brown
- Last maxillary palpomere oblong, longer than wide and clearly narrower than apex of previous palpomere. Penis slender, with rounded apical end. Distributed in South America...................................... Group of C. curvilinea Stål
4 Pattern of pale spots on dark background ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 g). Central American species only, from Mexico to Nicaragua. (One species in North America with pale spots, C. pnirsa Stål , belongs to the C. philadelphica group).................................................................................................... Group of C. vigintimaculata (Chevrolat)
- Pattern of dark spots on pale background ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 h).......................................................... 5
5 Two spots enclosed by humeral lunule, longitudinally arranged ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 j). Distal end of flagellum of transversal U-shaped pro- file ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 d). Species present in Central America, from Mexico to Panama................. Group of C. labyrinthica Stål
- Spot enclosed by humeral lunule simple ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 i). Distal end of flagellum shaped differently......................... 6
6 Subhumeral spot present ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 k). Distal end of flagellum as flattened disc with central orifice ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 c). Species in the south- ern Nearctic and Neotropical regions, from Mexico to Argentina....................... Group of C. polyspila (Germar)
- Subhumeral spot absent ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 l). Distal end of flagellum with deep V-shaped or U-shaped ventral emargination ( Figs 1 View FIGURE 1 a, 1b).................................................................................................... 7
7 Hypomeral suture deep, running nearly parallel to pronotal border ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 d)...................................... 8
- Hypomeral suture obliterated ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 c). Distributed in North America, north of Mexico...... Group of C. philadelphica (L.)
8 Striped elytra ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 e). Western Nearctic species................................... Group of C. dislocata (Rogers)
- Spotted elytra, with pattern of dark spots on pale background ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 f). Species in the southern Nearctic and Neotropical regions, from southern USA to Venezuela................................................ Group of C. argus Stål
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