Phrynocepha pulchella Baly 1861

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 : 51-52

Phrynocepha pulchella Baly 1861

( Fig. 42 , 62 , 69 , 79 )

Phrynocepha pulchella Baly 1861: 201 (tab. 11, fig. 8). Gemminger and Harold 1876: 3495. Jacoby 1884: 291 (tab. 17, fig. 24). Heikertinger and Csiki 1939: 215. Blackwelder 1946: 699. Wilcox 1975: 108. Maes and Staines 1991: 33. Furth and Savini 1996: 64. Furth 2006: 233.

Romalocera forticornis Dejean 1836: 389 [nomen nudum]. Gemminger and Harold 1876: 3495. Blackwelder 1946: 699. Wilcox 1975: 108. [as synonym of Phrynocepha pulchella Baly ].

Type Specimens. Lectotype (here designated and labeled). Male with aedeagus dissected on a card [ BMNH], labeled: “Sp. figured.” [printed on white], “Baly Coll./? Syntype / Phrynocepha / pulchella Baly / BM(NH)” [printed on white].

Paralectotypes (three here designated and labeled). Male [ BMNH] labeled: “TYPE/ H.T.” [printed on circular white with red border], “Oax” [?] [unreadable, handwritten on white], “Baly Coll.” [printed on white], “ Phrynocepha / pulchella / Baly/ Mexico ” [handwritten on blue]. Female [ BMNH] labeled: “Oax” [handwritten on white], “Baly Coll.” [printed on white], “? Syntype,” “ Phrynocepha / pulchella Baly ,” “BM(NH)” [all handwritten and printed on white]. Male [ BMNH] labeled: “Oax” [handwritten on white], “Baly Coll.” [printed on white], “? Syntype,” “ Phrynocepha / pulchella Baly ,” “BM(NH)” [all handwritten and printed on white].

The male lectotype was selected from four specimens in the British Museum of Natural History because it is labeled as the specimen pictured in the original description.

Redescription. Male [BMNH, lectotype]. Body length 8.53 mm; width at elytral humeri 3.94 mm; form elongate. Elytra bluish-black; head, thorax, legs yellow-orange. Head elongate, “jowl” not obvious; genal length 1.50x longer than maximum length of eye; vertex with coarse, coalescing punctures; postclypeus with thickened, “v-shaped” prefrontal ridge; an acute, uniformly elevated frontal carina extends between antennal fossae; antennal fossae separated by frontal carina, coronal suture; anteclypeus entire; antennal fossae separated by distance 1/2 width of antennal fossa (fossal width measured from inside edges); frontal tubercles quadrate, distinct, separated by thin coronal suture; area in front of antennal fossa with sunken appearance, not bordered by lateral carina; labrum rounded, shallowly emarginate, shiny, impunctate, with 11 long setae; labral notch indistinct; interocular distance 2.10x wider than width of both eyes combined; eyes nearly round, very small relative to head; antennae stout, 0.70x length of body; antennomeres 1-2 orange; 3-4 bicolored, orange to brown; 5 brown; 6-11 dark brown; antennomeres 1 and 3 approximately equal in length, both longer than antennomere 4; 5-11 subequal in length, shorter than 4. Pronotum orange, dorsal surface uneven, shining, indistinctly punctate, with punctures more obvious near basal depression; lateral margins widest at center, narrowed at anterior margin, parallel in basal 1/2; basolateral projections distinct, acute; anterolateral projections replaced by a slight, short inward curve; basal depression distinct, clearly limited anteriorly, not clearly lim- ited laterally, over 1/2 width of pronotum. Scutellum bicolored black to orange, shining, impunctate, obtusely triangular. Elytra reticulate, with coarse, shallow, confluent punctures; faint longitudinal carina behind humeri. Prosternal intercoxal process not grooved, narrowly, distinctly separating procoxae, elevated ventrally over plane of prosternum. Procoxae conical. Procoxal cavities open. Legs orange; pro- and mesofemora enlarged, but smaller than metafemora; tarsi orange with brownish margins; tarsomere 3 brown; 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 gradually expanded apically, with indistinct medial carina, appearing bicarinate (carina more apparent at some angles). Abdomen dark brown, shiny, coarsely punctured, moderately pubescent; last abdominal ventrite shallowly emarginate. Aedeagus (from non-type specimen) slightly bent ventrally near point two-fifths from tip ( Fig. 62 ); basal piece about 20% total length of aedeagus; ventral end with weak subapical notch, narrowing uniformly to obtuse tip ( Fig. 69 ).

Female. Similar to male except slightly larger (see “Variation”), antennae shorter, 0.52x length of body; pro- and mesofemora not enlarged; all tibiae more slender; tarsomere 1 not expanded, narrower than tarsomere 3 on all legs; fifth abdominal ventrite entire.

Variation. Male: length 7.18 – 10.18 mm; width at humeri 3.23 – 4.41 mm. Female: length 7.35 – 10.59 mm; width 3.18 – 4.59 mm. 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 2.2x longer than wide, while in the female the ratio of the fourth antennomere is even more stout, approximately 1.9x longer than wide. Abdominal segments can vary from dark brown to yellow-orange.

Remarks. Although P. pulchella possesses all of the major characteristics of the genus, most are less well developed than in other species. The “jowl” is not obvious, the first tarsomere of the pro- and mesotarsi is just barely wider than the third tarsomere, the genal ratio is smaller than in the other species, except P. natalieae , and the prosternal intercoxal process is just barely elevated ventrally over plane of the prosternum. In addition, the basal margin of the pronotum is obviously sinuate as opposed to the other species which all have the basal margin straight or only slightly sinuate (except as they curve to the basolateral projections of the lateral margin). The procoxae are conical rather than globose. The antennae are stout in both the male and female, much more so than for other species in the genus. These moderated characters and the large size will serve to distinguish this species from all others in the genus. See also the remarks for other species.

Distribution. Phrynocepha pulchella primarily inhabits the tropical wet areas of western Mexico and into adjacent Guatemala at elevations between 1,850 and 7,800 feet ( Fig. 79 ). Additionally, Furth (2006) records this species from the state of Veracruz in eastern Mexico. A rather disjunct collection record is established by a specimen in the Museo Entomológico, León, Nicaragua labeled from central Nicaragua. Placement of the Nicaraguan specimen using Google Earth™ would put this collection at about 1,850 feet elevation.

Host. A few of the collection records indicate Acacia spp. , Acaci -like plant or collected in an Acacia -oak woodland. Various species of Acacia would appear to be the adult host for this species, although a series of thirteen specimens from north of Durango were collected from cactus.

Specimens Examined. In addition to the lectotype and the paralectotypes, other specimens examined included 128 males and 136 females. GUATEMALA. B. Verapaz, 19-24 km N Salama, 25/ 31 May 1989, 4,500ft., J. E. Wappes (1) [EGRC]; Salle Coll. (2) [BMNH]; MEXICO. CHIAPAS: [No other data] (8) [USNM]; Municipio de Ixtapa, Between Atzalan and El Palmar, 914m [3,016ft.], 13 August 1981, D. E. and P. M. Breedlove and C. G. Whitefield [3,645ft.] (1) [CASC]; Las Margaritas, 18 June 1965, Burke, Meyer, Schaffner [5,091ft.] (1) [TAMU]; Sumidero Natl. Pk., 17 May 1989, D. Thomas, H. Howden, B. Ratcliffe (1) [EGRC]; Sumidero Cyn. N Park, 20 May 1990, D. B. Thomas [3,666ft.] (1) [EGRC]; Fry Coll. 1905-100 [on bottom of second label] (2) [BMNH]; El Sumidero, 23 June 1990, R. Turnbow [3,980 ft.] (3) [RHTC]; COLIMA: Colima Vulcano [Volcano], L. Conrad (18) [USNM]; 9 mi. ne Comala, 17/ 18 July 1983, Kovarik, Harrison, Schaffner (1) [TAMU]; 9.7 mi. ne. Comala, 1 August 1988, Ferreira, Schaffner [4,876ft.] (1) [TAMU]; DURANGO: 5 mi. W of Durango (1) [MELN]; Sierra de Durango (14) [USNM]; Durango city, Höge (1) [AMNH], (1) [BMNH]; Ventanas, Höge (1) [AMNH], (1) [BMNH]; Ventanas, Höge, 96463 (1) [ZMHB]; 3 mi. SW Durango, 21 July 1972 [6,264ft.] (1) [EGRC]; Canelas (2) [ZMHB]; 650, Durango City (1) [ZMHB]; Durango City (2) [ZMHB]; Durango City [label different than previous] (3) [ZMHB]; La Borrega, [date?] (1) [ZMHB]; Refugio, Höge (1) [BMNH]; N. of Durango, 16 July 1969, Coll. Ward, Tenarino and Bennett, ex. Cactus (13) [TTUZ]; GUANAJUATO: Guanajuato [6,727ft.] (3) [USNM]; Guanajuato, Salle Coll. (2) [BMNH]; on road btwn. Silao and Guanajuato. Dunes, 13 July 1970, B. S. Cheary Collr. (2) [UCRC]; GUERRERO: 3.3 km Cacahuamilpa, 1494 m [4,902ft.], 2 July 1992, C. Bellamy (2) [EGRC]; 1 mi. ne La Laguna, 17 July 1984, Carroll, Schaffner, Friedlander [6,406ft.] (1) [TAMU], (1) [EGRC]; Chilpancingo, 4,600 ft., June, H. H. Smith (1) [BMNH]; JALISCO: 48.7 km NE La Huerta, 4,200ft., 19° 41.763’N / 104° 23.016’W, 9 July 2003 (8) [AJGC]; same data as previous except 13 July 2003 (8) [AJGC]; Guadalajara, 29 June 1903 [5,098ft.] (3) [USNM]; Guadalajara, 30 June 1955, Derham Giuliani (2) [CASC]; Lagos de Moreno, 19 August 1960, P. H. Arnaud, Jr., E. S. Ross, D. C. Rentz [5,038ft.] (2) [CASC]; S. edge Guadalajara at perifecto, 6,000 ft., 11 July 1973, ME-98, R. R. and M. E. Murray (2) [TAMU]; rd. to Parque Nacional de Volcan de Colima, 2 mi. w. hwy. junct. 54 (near Atenquique), 12 July 1984, Carroll, Schaffner, Friedlander (1) [TAMU]; 13.8 mi. S. Autlan at Puerto los Mazos, 5,510ft., 30 July 1996, Wm. Godwin, cloud forest sweep (6) [TAMU]; 9 mi. SW Autlan, 4,300ft., hwy. 80, 11 August 1982, C. and L. O’Brien and Wibmer (1) [EGRC]; Guadalajara (2) [ZMHB]; Tamazula, 11 June 1967, J. R. McClellan (1) [BYUC]; MEXICO: 8 mi. N. Chalco, 29 June 1973, R. R. and M. E. Murray [7,813ft.] (1) [TAMU]; MEXICO D.F.: Mexico DF [7,345ft.] (1) [USNM]; MICHOACAN: 16 mi. west Jacona, 18 July 1966, P. M. and P. K. Wagner [5,379ft.] (1) [TAMU]; 10.6 mi. s. Uruapan, 24 July 1983, Kovarik, Harrison, Schaffner (1) [TAMU]; 14.3 km. S. Uruapan, 1370- 1465m [4,495 -4,806 ft.], 29 July 1988, R. S. Anderson, oak- Acacia woodland, 88-10, (1) [TAMU]; Hwy. 35 5 km NW Zamora, 1740m [5,709ft.], 17 August 1991, J. Rifkind (1) [AJGC]; 5 km NW Zamora, beating Acacia -like plt., 17 August 1991, W. F. Barr (2) [WFBM]; Hwy. 15, 5 mi. S. of Tuxpan, G. H. Nelson, on Acacia sp. (Fabaceae) [6,183ft.] (3) [WFBM]; Hwy. 15, 5 mi. S. Tuxpan, 9 August 1972, G. H. Nelson (2) [AJGC]; MORELOS: Cuernavaca, 7 June, 1934, M. Rodriguez [5,880ft.] (1) [TAMU]; Cuernavaca, June 1934, Coll. H. E. Hinton, Hinton Coll. B. M. 1939-583 [on bottom of second label]; NAYARIT: 33 km. se. Tepic, 1130m [3,707ft.], 27 June 1975, E. M. Fisher (1) [CASC]; 24 mi. SE Tepic, 3 July 1962, E. Sleeper, R. Anderson, A. Hardy, R. Somerby (1) [CASC]; same data as previous but without date (3) [CASC]; Vol. Ceboruco, 15/ 16 July 1993, J. Huether (1) [TAMU]; OAXACA: Monte Al-Ban ruins, 8 mi. S.W. of Oaxaca, 2 May 1965, H. V. Weems, Jr. coll. (1) [FSCA]; Oaxaca, 5,034 ft., 1 July 1955, P. and C. Vaurie (1) [AMNH]; same data except 16 July 1955 (1) [AMNH]; same data except 30 June 1955 (1) [AMNH]; Huajuapan de Leon, 5,085 ft., 18 July 1955, P. and C. Vaurie (6) [AMNH]; 15, Coll. J. Flohr (1) [ZMHB]; Hoege, 96464 (1) [ZMHB]; Höge (3) [BMNH]; Salle Coll. (2) [BMNH]; PUEBLA: Atlixco, May, [green star as a label], [silver star as a label], A. Fenyes Collection (2) [CASC]; SINALOA: 20 mi W El Palmito, 13 July 1974, R L Mangan and D S Chandler (1) [FSCA]; 36.6 mi. NE Villa Union, nr La Capilla Detaxte, 2 July 1982, A. J. Gilbert (63) [AJGC]; Venedio[?], 27 June 1918, Van Dyke Collection (1) [CASC]; UNKNOWN STATE: [No other data] (7) [USNM]; Ciudad Granja[?] del, 16 June 1965, W. F. Chamberlain (1) [TAMU]; Coll. J. Flohr (4) [ZMHB]; (1) [ZMHB]; Coll. L. W. Schauffus (1) [ZMHB]; (2) [ZMHB]; 21576 [green label], Fry Coll. 1905-100 [on bottom of second label] (1) [BMNH]; Ex Coll J. Strum, Romalocera forticornis Dej., Salle Coll. (1) [BMNH]; [label illegible], Fry Coll. 1905-100 [on bottom of second label] (1) [BMNH]; NICARAGUA: 3 km N Jinotega, July 1989, [1,850ft.], col. F. Reinboldt (1) [MELN]; NO COUNTRY DATA: [Bowditch collection material] (6) [USNM]; 67-56 (2) [BMNH].

Figures

Figures 39-42. Habitus of adult Phrynocepha. 39) P. kendrae, male. 40) P. marciae, male holotype. 41) P. natalieae, male holotype. 42) P. pulchella, male.

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 78-79. Distribution of Phrynocepha in Mexico.