Metachroma adustum Suffrian

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 : 29

Metachroma adustum Suffrian

( Figure 22)

Metachroma adusta Suffrian 1866: 339 .

Metachroma terminale Horn 1892: 215 .

Diagnosis. In this species, the hind femora are not greatly enlarged in comparison to those of the front and middle legs, the pronotum has well developed lateral and posterior marginal beads, and the elytral punctures are arranged in regular striae. The prothorax is dark brown, but the elytra vary from entirely light brown (unusual specimens) to entirely dark brown. In many specimens, the elytra are mostly dark, but with the apical area light. The elytra are not like Metachroma clarkei in having isolated dark spots or a reticulate pattern. These characters distinguish M. adustum from all other chrysomelid species known to occur in the Cayman Islands.

Material examined. Cayman Islands, Cayman Brac, West End Point , 22-V-2009, R. Turnbow (4, BYUC; 12, FSCA) ; Cayman Islands, Cayman Brac, West End Point , 6-VI-2008, M. C. Thomas (2, FSCA) ; Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman, Boatswain Point, Lime Tree Estate , 27-II-1987, E. J. Gerberg (2, FSCA) ; Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman, vicinity Gun Bay, 3-VI-2008, M. C. Thomas (10, FSCA) ; Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman, vicinity Gun Bay, 4-VI-2008, R. Turnbow, on Conocarpus erecta (5, BYUC; 75, RHTC) ; Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman, Mastic Trail , 20-V-2009, R. Turnbow (1, FSCA) ; Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman, Mastic Trail , 28-V-2009, R. Turnbow (1, RHTC) ; Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman, Mastic Trailhead S., 20-V-2009, R. Turnbow (1, BYUC) ; Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman, Mastic Trailhead S., 27-V-2009, R. Turnbow (1, RHTC) ; Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman, Meagre Bay Pond , 4-IV-1997, S. A. Wells (4, BYUC) ; Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman , North Side, l9°212N, 8l°122W, 22-II-1993, W. E. Steiner & J. M. Swearingen, at black light in forest clearing near coast (2, BYUC; 7, USNM) ; Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman, Rum Point , 3-VI-2008, R. Turnbow (1, BYUC; 1, RHTC) ; Cayman Islands, Little Cayman, 2.4 km E. Blossom Village , 26-V-2009, M. C. Thomas (2, FSCA) ; Cayman Islands, Little Cayman, 2.4 km E. Blossom Village , 26-V-2009, R. Turnbow (1, RHTC) ; Cayman Islands, Little Cayman, Coot Marsh , 27-V-2009, Thomas, Turnbow & Ball, blacklight trap (2, FSCA) ; Cayman Islands, Little Cayman, North Coast Road , 0.1 km west Olivine Kirk Dr., 26-V-2009, Thomas, Turnbow & Ball blacklight trap (1, FSCA) ; Cayman Islands, Little Cayman , 0.3 km SE Spot Bay, 26-V-2009, Thomas, Turnbow & Ball, bl trap (2, FSCA) ; Cayman Islands, Little Cayman , 0.3 km SE Spot Bay, 27-V-2009, R. Turnbow (2, RHTC) .

Extralimital distribution. Cuba and U.S.A. (Florida) ( Takizawa 2003). We have also examined specimens from several islands in the Bahamas ( BYUC, previously unpublished data).

Plant associations. Outside of the Cayman Islands, this species has been reported in association with Conocarpus erectus L. ( Combretaceae ), Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) , Psidium guajava L. ( Myrtaceae ), Rosa (Rosaceae) , and Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck ( Rutaceae ) ( Clark et al. 2004). As noted in the Material Examined section above, one large series from the Cayman Islands was also collected from C. erectus .

Comments. Blake (1970) reported this species from Grand Cayman. Probably based on her report, Peck (2005) also listed M. adustum from Grand Cayman.