Deloyala guttata (Olivier)

Clark, Shawn M., Lillrose, Tiffany & Belo Neto, Luiz A., 2013, Leaf Beetles of the Cayman Islands (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Insecta Mundi 2013 (279), pp. 1-41 : 15-16

Deloyala guttata (Olivier)

( Figure 5)

Cassida guttata Olivier 1791: 383 .

Cassida signifer Herbst 1799: 313 .

Cassida fuliginosa Olivier 1808: 971 .

Coptocycla extensa Boheman 1855: 261 .

Coptocycla hamulata Boheman 1855: 316 .

Coptocycla lugubrina Boheman 1855: 317 .

Coptocycla immuntia Boheman 1855: 318 .

Coptocycla trabeata Boheman 1855: 319 .

Coptocycla immunda Boheman 1855: 320 .

Coptocycla lucidula Boheman 1855: 321 .

Coptocycla glabricula Boheman 1855: 341 .

Chirida signifera bohemani Spaeth 1914: 124 .

Chirida signifera , ab. pennsilvanica Spaeth 1914: 124 [unavailable name].

Chirida guttata columbica Spaeth 1936: 139 .

Diagnosis. As with other species in the tribes Ischyrosonychini and Cassidini (tortoise beetles), the prothorax is broadly explanate, completely covering the head in dorsal view. The elytral epipleura are also broadly explanate, resulting in the roundish dorsal shape. In this species, each tarsal claw is simple, although appearing to be appendiculate due to distally projecting flanks of the distal tarsomere. The basal margin of each elytron is finely crenulate for much of its distance, and the prothorax immediately laterad to the head is grooved for reception of the antennae. These characters together distinguish this species from all other chrysomelids known to occur in the Cayman Islands. The dorsal coloration is extremely variable. Pale specimens are almost uniformly yellowish brown, with the margins only slightly paler. The elytral disc of dark specimens is black, with this color extending to the anterolateral corners, the paler coloration being limited to the lateral margin behind the anterolateral corners and to the posterior margin. Intermediately colored specimens have the dark area interrupted by pale markings, thereby forming a mottled pattern, and the black areas may be lightened to various shades of brown.

Material examined. Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman, 0.7 mi. N Sand Bluff, 20-V-2009, R. Turnbow (1, RHTC).

Extralimital distribution. This species is widely distributed, not only in the West Indies, but also throughout much of North, Central, and South America ( Riley et al. 2003).

Plant associations. This beetle species has been associated with various plants in the family Convolvulaceae ( Clark et al. 2004) .

Comments. Our interpretation of this species follows that of Riley et al. (2003), rather than the more narrow interpretation of Borowiec (1999) who treated most of the Latin American forms as Deloyala fuliginosa (Olivier) .