Phrynocepha 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 : 25-26

Phrynocepha Baly 1861

( Fig. 7-10 , 12 , 39-80 )

Phrynocepha Baly 1861: 201 . Type Species. Phrynocepha pulchella Baly 1861 , by original designation. Romalocera Dejean 1836: 389 [nomen nudum, no diagnosis or indication]. Gemminger and Harold 1876:

3494 [as synonym of Phrynocepha Baly ].

Redescription. Body elongate; head, pronotum, legs yellow-orange; elytra dark bluish, greenish or purplish-black. Head elongate; eyes small, maximum length of eye less than genal length; clypeus truncate with prefrontal lateral ridge; frontogenal suture distinct; maxillary palpi not stout, last pal- pomere smallest, narrow, attenuate; antennae inserted below eyes, filiform/moniliform, extending 2/3 to 3/4 length of body; antennomere 3 longer than 4; ventral side of face from eye to front of clypeus curving downward in “jowl-like” appearance ( Fig. 7, 9 ); antennal fossae separated by distance equal to or slightly narrower than antennal fossa. Pronotum transverse, laterally margined, with vague basomedial depression extending across central half of basal margin; basal margin straight to vaguely sinuate. Elytra reticulate, impunctate to irregularly, shallowly punctate, with or without vague carinae. Prosternal intercoxal process elevated ventrally over plane of prosternum, projecting between procoxae, distinctly separating procoxae, curving posterior to procoxae, terminating at mesosternum in a distinct knob or projection. Procoxae globose. Procoxal cavity open. Legs in male with pro- and mesofemora enlarged, but not as large as metafemora; pro- and mesotarsi in male with tarsomere 1 enlarged, as wide as or wider than 3; tarsomere 1 of metatarsi less expanded, more elongate than pro- and mesotarsi; tibiae in male enlarged, strongly expanded from base to apex in ventral aspect, sulcate, bicarinate; tarsal claws appendiculate. Sexes dimorphic in size; length, shape of antennae; size, shape of pro- and mesofemora; size, shape of tarsomeres; shape of last abdominal ventrite; degree of development of “jowl.”

Remarks. Baly (1861) described Phrynocepha for a single species, P. pulchella ( Fig. 42 ). Subsequently, Baly (1876) added a second species to the genus, P. deyrollei . Jacoby (1884) added three more species, P. capitata Jacoby 1884 , P. elongatus (= H. elongatus above), and P. laevicollis Jacoby 1884 . Phrynocepha elongatus is transferred to Hemiphrynus herein. Pallister (1953) described P. punctulata from northern Mexico. Harold (1876) added P. heydeni from Paraguay. The placement of this species is doubtful based on the Paraguayan distribution. However, until the type can be studied, P. heydeni remains in Phrynocepha . These seven species composed the genus Phrynocepha until Scherer (1962) synonymized Hemiphrynus with Phrynocepha (see “Remarks” for Hemiphrynus for additional history). The genus now consists of eleven species.

The name Phrynocepha is derived from the Greek “phryno” or “toad-like” and the Latin “cephalo” or head. Although the head in the species of this genus is rather unusual, it is hard to characterize it as a “toad-like head.”

Although similar in general appearance to Hemiphrynus in body shape, sculpture, color, and punctation, Phrynocepha can be readily distinguished by a number of morphological features. Most notably is the extended genal area that is longer than the maximum length of the eye ( Fig. 7, 9 ). Also, when viewed from the lateral perspective, the anterodorsal half of the head curves down from the eye and then back up to the clypeal area ( Fig. 7, 9 ). At first glance, it is reminiscent of the “jowl” below the chin of a plump human. In Phrynocepha the third antennomere is longer than the fourth ( Fig. 12 ). In Hemiphrynus the fourth antennomere is longer than the third ( Fig. 11 ). The procoxae in Phrynocepha are globose, while they are conical in Hemiphrynus . The antennae are inserted below the eyes in Phrynocepha ( Fig. 7, 9-10 , 12 ) and at the lower margin of the eyes in Hemiphrynus ( Fig. 5-6 , 11 ). In Phrynocepha , the prosternal intercoxal process is elevated between the procoxae. The prosternal intercoxal process rises ventrally over the plane of the prosternum and separates the procoxae before curving posterior to procoxae and terminating on the mesosternum, sometimes with a short posteriorly facing projection at the terminal point. In Hemiphrynus the prosternal intercoxal process is flat, indistinct and only very narrowly separates the procoxae. Other characters that separate Phrynocepha from Hemiphrynus that may not be as noticeable include a slightly more obvious basal depression on the pronotum of Phrynocepha , the relatively greater distance between the antennae of Hemiphrynus and the more prominent pronotal angles in Phrynocepha . The tibiae of Hemiphrynus are slender compared to the broad, apically expanded tibiae of Phrynocepha . The metatibiae in Phrynocepha and Hemiphrynus are structurally distinct (see “Remarks” for Hemiphrynus ).

Five species in this genus are associated with Acacia spp. and Mimosa spp. (Fabaceae) or Acacia - oak woodlands.

A single female specimen in the KSBS collection possesses many of the defining characteristics of the genus, except that the length of the gena is slightly less than the maximum length of the eye. Since some of the characteristics are limited to the male of the species and with only a single female specimen at hand, it would not be prudent to address this specimen in any detail in this paper. However, it does demonstrate that there is still work to be done within these two genera and beyond.

Figures

Figures 5-10. Male heads (fgs = frontogenal suture, jl = jowl, lc = lateral carina). 5) Hemiphrynus intermedius, lateral view. 6) H. intermedius, frontal view. 7) Phrynocepha deyrollei, lateral view. 8) P. deyrollei, frontal view. 9) P. pseudocapitata, lateral view. 10) P. pseudocapitata, frontal view.

Figures 11-12. Male third and fourth antennomeres. 11) H. intermedius. 12) P. deyrollei.

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

Figures 47-50. Pronota of Phrynocepha. 47) P. capitata. 48) P. deyrollei. 49) P. kendrae. 50) P. laevicollis.

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

Figure 55. Protibia of Phrynocepha laevicollis.

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

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.

Figure 80. Distribution of Phrynocepha in Central America south of Mexico.