Phrynocepha pueblae Gilbert, 2011

Gilbert, Arthur J., 2011, A review and clarification of the alticine genera Hemiphrynus Horn 1889 and Phrynocepha Baly 1861 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini), Insecta Mundi 2011 (200), pp. 1-57 : 49-51

Phrynocepha pueblae Gilbert sp. nov.

( Fig. 45 , 53 , 61 , 68 , 72-73 , 79 )

Type Specimens. Holotype (male): MEXICO. PUEBLA: 4 mi. W. Acatepec , 26 July 1973, Mastro and Schaffner . Allotype (female): 4.4 mi. SW Acatepec , 26 July 1974, Clark, Murray, Ashe and Schaffner . Holotype and allotype deposited in the collection of Texas A&M University.

Paratypes (20 males and 26 females) – same data as holotype (1) [ TAMU] ; 4 mi. sw. Acatepec , 11 July 1973, Mastro and Schaffner [6,300ft.] (2) [ TAMU] ; 4.4 mi. sw. Acatepec , 9 July 1981, Bogar, Schaffner, Friedlander [4,200ft.] (1) [ TAMU] ; 4.3 mi. sw. Acatepec , 16 July 1971, Clark, Murray, Hart, Schaffner (5) [ TAMU] ; 4.4 mi. SW Acatepec , 26 July 1974, Clark, Murray, Ashe and Schaffner (6) [ TAMU], (2) [ AJGC] ; 33.8 mi. SE Acatlan , 2 July 1992, B. K. Dozier (3) [ FSCA] ; 14 mi. W of I. de Matamoros [ Izucar de Matamoros ], 3 July 1992, B. K. Dozier (3) [ FSCA] ; 8.5 mi. SW of I de Matamoros , 3 July 1992, B. K. Dozier [3,750ft.] (8) [ FSCA], (2) [ AJGC] ; 2.5 mi. W and 8 mi. N I de Matamoros , 5 July 1992, B. K. Dozier [4,770ft.] (8) [ FSCA] ; 7.3 miles southwest Izucar de Matamoros , 22 July 1981, Bogar, Schaffner, Friedlander [3,800ft.] (3) [ TAMU] ; 15 mi. SW Puebla , 6,900ft., 1 June 1974, C. W. and L. O’Brien and Marshall (2) [ TAMU] .

Description. Male (holotype). Body length 5.47 mm; width at elytral humeri 2.10 mm; form elongate. Elytra greenish-black; head, pronotum, legs yellow-orange. Head elongate, with a non-carinate curvature ventrally extending from eye to front edge of clypeus, appearing “jowl-like;” genal length 1.40x longer than maximum length of eye; vertex darker than rest of head, indistinctly reticulate with coarse, coalescing punctures; postclypeus appearing deeply, acutely emarginate, with a thickened, “vshaped” prefrontal ridge; an acute frontal carina extends between antennal fossae, curving upward between antennal fossae before descending to front edge of postclypeus; anteclypeus entire, same color as labrum; labrum quadrate, lighter in color than rest of head; labral notch indistinct; antennal fossae separated by frontal carina; antennal fossae separated by distance slightly narrower than antennal fossa (fossal width measured from inside edges); frontal tubercles distinct, separated by coronal suture; area in front of antennal fossa with sunken appearance; interocular distance 2.10x wider than width of both eyes combined; eyes nearly round, very small relative to head; antennae stout, 0.80x length of body; antennomeres 1-2 dark orange; 3 bicolored, orange to brown; 4-11 dark brown; antennomeres 1 and 3 longest, approximately equal in length; antennomere 2 shortest; antennomeres 4-11 subequal in length. Pronotum reticulate with moderate, separated punctures; lateral margins widest behind middle, tapering to apex, narrowest at anterior margin, maximum length at midline; basolateral projections small, blunt; anterolateral projections rectangular, with corners rounded, strongly projected; basal depression faint, poorly delimited, over 1/2 width of pronotum; two faint depressions on each side of anterior margin along longitudinal midline. Scutellum dark brown, obtusely triangular, impunctate. Elytra distinctly reticulate; punctures inconspicuous; humeral costa faint; humeral depression faint. Prosternal intercoxal process grooved, approximately 1/4 width of procoxa, elevated ventrally over plane of prosternum, even with plane of tip of procoxae, separating procoxae and curving towards mesosternum. Procoxae globose. Procoxal cavities open. Mesosternum dark brown. Legs orange to dark brown; tarsi dark brown, darker than femora or tibiae; pro- and mesofemora enlarged, not distinctly sulcate; tarsomere 1 of protarsi enlarged, heart-shaped, wider than tarsomere 3; tarsomere 1 of mesotarsi enlarged, more elongate than tarsomere 1 of protarsi, but still wider than tarsomere 3 of mesotarsi; tarsomere 1 of metatarsi enlarged, more elongate than tarsomere 1 of pro- or mesotarsi, wider than tarsomere 3 of metatarsi; all tibiae stout, sulcate, expanded apically, with central carina. Abdomen dark brown, shiny, impunctate, moderately pubescent; last abdominal ventrite shallowly, broadly emarginate. Aedeagus sharply bent ventrally at midpoint about 60 degrees; dorsal transverse undulations behind ostium ( Fig. 61 ); lateral tip with series of nodules ( Fig. 72-73 ); basal piece about 22% total length of aedeagus ( Fig. 61 ); ventral end slightly widened subapically, narrowing uniformly to obtuse tip, with lateral nodules visible ( Fig. 68 ).

Female. Similar to male, except anterior margin of the clypeus less obviously emarginate in most individuals; all tibiae similar, slender, gradually expanded apically; tarsomere 1 not widened on all legs; fifth abdominal ventrite not emarginate. All noteworthy features of the head less pronounced.

Variation. Male: length 4.94 – 5.88 mm; width at humeri 2.00 – 2.24 mm. Female: length 5.12 – 6.00 mm; width 1.94 – 2.47 mm. The degree of clypeal emargination varies among individuals, with males often with a more obvious emargination than females. The stout or slender appearance of the antennae, as represented by the fourth antennomere (length to width ratio), varies. In the specimens selected, the ratio of the fourth antennomere of the male is stout, approximately 2.9x longer than wide, while in the female the ratio of the fourth antennomere is even more stout, approximately 2.7x longer than wide.

Remarks. Phrynocepha pueblae can be distinguished from all other Phrynocepha , except P. deyrollei , by the same characters that will distinguish P. deyrollei . Comparison of the aedeagi is the only way to differentiate P. pueblae from P. deyrollei . The aedeagus of P. pueblae ( Fig. 61 ) is more strongly angled than P. deyrollei ( Fig. 57 ) and has unique ridging along the dorsal side, as well as unusual structures on the tip ( Fig. 72-73 ).

Distribution. Known only from the Mexican state of Puebla at elevations between 3,750 and 6,900 feet.

Host. Unknown.

Etymology. Named for the only Mexican state in which it seems to occur, Puebla.

Specimens Examined. See “ Type Specimens.”

Figures

Figures 43-46. Frontal view of faces of Phrynocepha. 43) P. deyrollei. 44) P. marciae. 45) P. pueblae. 46) P. punctulata.

Figures 51-54. Pronota of Phrynocepha. 51) P. marciae. 52) P. pseudocapitata. 53) P. pueblae. 54) P. punctulata.

Figures 60-63. Aedeagi, lateral view. 60) Phrynocepha pseudocapitata. 61) P. pueblae. 62) P. pulchella. 63) P. punctulata.

Figures 64-71. Tips of aedeagi, ventral view. 64) Phrynocepha capitata. 65) P. deyrollei. 66) P. kendrae. 67) P. marciae. 68) P. pueblae. 69) P. pulchella. 70) P. punctulata. 71) P. pseudocapitata.

Figures 72-77. Tips of selected aedeagi, lateral view. 72) P. pueblae. 73) P. pueblae. 74) P. deyrollei. 75) P. capitata. 76) P. kendrae. 77) P. marciae.

Figures 78-79. Distribution of Phrynocepha in Mexico.

Figures 56-59. Aedeagi, lateral view. 56) Phrynocepha capitata. 57) P. deyrollei. 58) P. kendrae. 59) P. marciae.