Elytrogona quatuordecimmaculata (Latreille)

Chaboo, Caroline S., 2000, Revision And Phylogeny Of The Caribbean Genus Elytrogona Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Stolaini), The Coleopterists Bulletin 54 (3), pp. 379-394 : 389-392

Elytrogona quatuordecimmaculata (Latreille)

Figs. 7 , 12, 19, 23

Cassida quatuordecimmaculata Latreille, 1802: 298 [original description]; Gundlach, 1881: 400 [synonym of E. ampulla ]; Spaeth, 1914: 51 [catalog].

Cassida ampulla Olivier, 1808: 958 [original description]; Boheman, 1850: 440 [variety a; description]; Boheman, 1862: 192 [list]; Gemminger and Harold, 1876: 3638 [catalog]; Gundlach, 1881: 400 [synonym of E. ampulla ]; Spaeth, 1914: 51 [synonym of E. ampulla ]; Leng and Mutchler, 1914: 458 [list]; Blackwelder, 1946: 743 [checklist; synonym of E. quatuordecimmaculata ].

Cassida morbillosa Olivier, 1808: 949 [original description]; Boheman, 1855: 521 [description]; Spaeth, 1914: 51 [synonym of E. ampulla ]; Blackwelder, 1946: 743 [checklist; aberration].

Cassida fornicata Dalman, 1823: 82 [original description]; Boheman, 1850: 440 [synonym of E. ampulla ]; Boheman, 1856: 72 [synonym of E. ampulla ]; Gemminger and Harold, 1876: 3638 [catalog]; Gundlach, 1881: 400 [synonym of E. ampulla ]; Spaeth, 1914: 51 [synonym of E. ampulla ]; Blackwelder, 1946: 743 [checklist; synonym of E. quatuordecimmaculata ].

Cyphoptera ampulla (Olivier) : Hope, 1840: 160 [list].

Elytrogona ampulla (Olivier) : Boheman, 1850: 440 [description]; Boheman, 1862: 192 [list]; Gemminger and Harold, 1876: 3638 [catalog]; Gundlach, 1881: 400 [description].

Elytrogona interjecta Boheman, 1856: 72 [original description]; Boheman, 1862: 192 [description]; Gemminger and Harold, 1876: 3638 [catalog]; Leng and Mutchler, 1914: 458 [list]; Spaeth, 1914: 51 [catalog]; Blackwelder, 1946: 743 [checklist]. New Synonym.

Elytrogona quadrimaculata (Latreille) : Leng and Mutchler, 1914: 458 [misspelling]; Blackwelder, 1946: 743 [checklist; synonym of E. quatuordecimmaculata ].

Elytrogona quatrodecimmaculata (Latreille) : Leng and Mutchler, 1917: 212 [misspelling]; Blackwelder, 1946: 743 [checklist; synonym of E. quatuordecimmaculata ].

Elytrogona quatuordecimmaculata (Latreille) : Gemminger and Harold, 1876: 3638 [misspelling]; Wolcott, 1927: 243 [list]; Blackwelder, 1946: 743 [checklist].

Diagnosis. The elytral disc and explanate margins have similar punctation pattern, and the disc has 14 black spots of variable sizes and intensity ( Fig. 7 ).

Description. Body length 4.3–7.0 mm, width 3.6–5.4 mm. Ventrally brown to black, antenna yellow. Pronotum with slight median groove; anterior margin shallowly emarginate over head; posterior margin black; slight medial projection at scutellum. Scutellum apparent externally. Elytral suture flat, extension not very wide. Elytral base not broader than pronotum. Metasternum narrowed 2–3 times wider than long, distorted and protuberant. Spermatheca ( Fig. 23 ) duct short, with 2–6 coils.

Type. Deposit : uncertain (see remarks). Published locality: Saint­Domingue .

Specimens Examined. Type not examined. Two hundred and five specimens (males and females) with the following label data:

HAITI: 1943, coll. A. Curtis (1, USNM); Port au Prince , 23–26 February 1908 , coll. M. Cameron (9, BMNH); Furcy , 1954 , coll. M. W. Mann (5, USNM); Furcy , coll. M. W. Mann (7, MCZC); Furcy , 15 July 1950 , coll. A. Curtiss (2, AMNH); Furcy , 25 July 1950 , coll. A. Curtiss (1, AMNH); Furcy , 4,000̍ 9 July 1956 , colls. B. & B. Valentine (1, MAIC); Furcy, 4,000̍, 10 July, 1956, colls. B. & B. Valentine (1, MAIC); Furcy, 4,000̍, 9 July, 1956, colls. B. & B. Valentine (15, SMCC); Furcy, 4,000̍, 10 July, 1956, colls. B. & B. Valentine (3, SMCC); Furcy , Dept. de l’Ouest, 15 May 1959 , coll. M. W. Sanderson (4, INHS); June 1944 , coll. A. Curtis (2, USNM); 3 mi East Kenscoff , 30 April 1973 , coll. B. K. Dozier (1, FSCA); mi East Kenscoff , 30 April 1973 , coll. B. K. Dozier (1, EGRC); Kenscoff , 24 June 1934 , coll. E. M. Loom (1, MCZC); Kenscoff , nr. Port au Prince, 4–6,000 ft, 2 September 1934 , coll. Darlington (1, MCZC); Morne Guimby , 22 Km SE Fond Verrettes, 18 July 1956 , 6,500̍, colls. B. & B. Valentine (1, EGRC); Morne Guimby , 22 Km SE Fond Verrettes, 19 July 1956 , 6,500̍, colls. B. & B. Valentine (1, SMCC); Hinche , July , coll. Eyerdam (1, MCZC); Trou d’Eau , 19 November 1931 , 4,000 ft, coll. Darlington (1, MCZC); Trianon , 2,000̍, 5 July 1956 , colls. B. & B. Valentine (1, SMCC); St. Roc , 10 November 1925 , coll. W. A. Hoffman (1, USNM); L’Attalaye , 8 March 1928 , coll. A. J. Poole (2, USNM); Hinche , 2 May 1925 , coll. W. A. Hoffman (1, USNM); Hinche , 18 May 1925 , coll. W. A. Hoffman (1, USNM); Dept Sud­Oueste , road east of Peredo, 570 m, 11 February 1984 , ex. Ipomoea sp. , coll. S. R. Yocom (5, FSCA); Dept Sud­Oueste , Parc Nat’l La Visite, between park headquarters and Morne d’Enfer, 1,750 m, 14 May 1984 , coll. M. C. Thomas (1, FSCA); Morne Guimby , 22 Km SE Fond Verrettes, 20 July 1956 , 6,500̍, colls. B. & B. Valentine (1, EGRC); St. Marc , 10 March 1925 (1, USNM) ; St. Marc , 10 March 1925 (1, BMNH).

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Domingo (2, BMNH; 3, LBC); St. Domingo , coll. Baly (1, BMNH) ; Bonao El Casebito , 3,400̍, 1 September 1977, coll. Martorrel (1, EGRC) ; La Vega Prov., 10 km W Jima , 24 May 1992, coll. R. Turnbow (1, EGRC) ; La Vega Prov., 4.7 Km S. Jarabacoa, 24–25 May 1992, coll. R. Turnbow (2, RHTC; 1, EGRC) ; La Vega Prov., 4.7 Km S. Jarabacoa, 25 May 1992, coll. M. C. Thomas (2, FSCA) ; La Vega Prov., 4.7 Km S. Jarabacoa, 24 May 1992, coll. M. C. Thomas (1, FSCA) ; La Vega Prov., 4.7 Km S Jarabacoa, 16 July 1996, coll. M. C. Thomas (1, FSCA) ; La Vega Prov., 10 Km W. Jima , 27 May 1992, coll. R. Turnbow (3, RHTC) ; La Vega Prov., 10 Km W. Jima , 20 July 1996, coll. M. C. Thomas (2, FSCA) ; La Vega Prov., 10 Km W. Jima , 27 May 1992, coll. M. C. Thomas (3, FSCA) ; La Vega Prov., 9 August 1967, coll. L. H. Rolston (2, TAMU) ; Pedernales Prov., 25.5 Km N Cabo Rojo, 21 May 1992, coll. R. Turnbow (1, RHTC; 1, EGRC) ; Pedernales Prov., 24 Km N Cabo Rojo, 18°06̍N, 71°38̍W, 11 July 1993, colls. D. Sikes & R. Rosenfield (10, MAIC) ; Pedernales Prov., 23 Km N Cabo Rojo, 612 m, 18°06̍N, 71°38̍W, 9 July 1993, colls. D. Sikes & R. Rosenfield (1, MAIC) ; Pedernales Prov., 25.5 Km N Cabo Rojo, 12–21 May 1992 (5, FSCA) ; Pedernales Prov., 13.5 Km N Cabo Rojo, 140 m, 10 September 1988, colls. M. A. Ivie, K. Philipps & K. A. Johnson (1, MAIC) ; Pedernales Prov., 24 Km N Cabo Rojo, 535 m, 11 July 1996, coll. M. C. Thomas (8, RHTC; 10, FSCA) ; Pedernales, La Abeja, 38 Km NNW Cabo Rojo , 18°9̍N, 71°38̍W, 1,160 m, 14 July 1987, colls. R. L. Davidson & J. E. Rawlins (1, SMCC) ; Jarabacoa, Pinar Quemado , 500–850 m, 26 July 1987, coll. A. L. Norrbom (1, USNM) ; Prov . Barahona, nr. Filipinas Larimer Mine , 20–26 June 1992, colls. R. E. Woodruff & P. E. Skelley (1, EGRC) ; Prov . Barahona, nr. Filipinas Larimer Mine , 20–26 June 1992, colls. R. E. Woodruff & P. E. Skelley (37, FSCA) ; Prov . Barahona, nr. Filipinas Larimer Mine , 26 June–7 August 1992, colls. R. E. Woodruff & P. E. Skelley (11, EGRC) ; Prov . Barahona, 7 Km S Cabral, 240 m, Cabral­Polo Rd , 4 July 1992, coll. M. A. Ivie & R. O. Ivie (2, MAIC) ; Upper Paralso Valley Baraham , 600–800 m, 29 March 1978, coll. S. Plasner (1, CMNC) ; Barahona, 7 Km NW Paraiso, 200 m, 27 November 1991, colls. Masner and Peck (1, CMNC) ; San Lorenzo , 27–29 June 1915 (1, AMNH) ; Puerto Playa Prov., Sosua , 23 July 1986, coll. G. C. Eickwort (1, CUIC) ; Puerto Playa Prov., Pico Isabel de Torres , 22 July 1986, coll. G. C. Eickwort (1, CUIC) ; Monte Cristi, 8.2 Km N Villa Elisa, 31 May 1994, coll. R. Turnbow (1, RHTC) ; Monte Cristi, 8.2 Km N Villa Elisa, 31 May 1992, coll. M. C. Thomas (1, FSCA) ; Monte Cristi, 5.9 Km N Villa Elisa, 26 May 1992, coll. M. C. Thomas (1, FSCA) ; Monte Cristi Prov., 8.6 Km N Villa Elisa, 26 May 1992, coll. R. Turnbow (1, EGRC) ; San Juan, 1–30 July 1955, coll. R. Paniagua (8, USNM) ; Puerto Plata, 20 July 1937 (1, USNM) ; Baroruco Prov. , August 1967 (1, TAMU) .

Variation. Specimens vary in overall size, background color and in the maculation shape, size and intensity. Background color varies from yellow brown to reddish brown to dark brown. Maculation does not vary in position, but there are slight differences in shape. The size of maculation is quite variable from large black spots to vague pin points. The coronal sulcus extends slightly beyond the dorso­posterior eye margin in some individuals.

Remarks. The variation in body sizes and slight variations in number, size, shape and position of elytral maculation probably account for the number of synonyms. The features of E. interjecta Boheman fall within this variation, and this overlap is my justification for synonymy of the names.

Label data indicate that specimens have been collected from a variety of habitats from forest to cactus thorn scrub and at elevations up to 2,000 m. Specimens (FSCA) with the plant label data ‘‘ Ipomoea ’’ suggest the first host record for the species.

The published type deposit is supposedly the Musée d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, but this collection is currently inaccessible (N. Berti, pers. comm.).

Figures

Figs. 1–7. 1–2) Profiles, scale bar = 2 mm; 1) Elytrogona gemmata, profile; 2) Stoiba swartzii, profile; 3–7) Elytral punctation, square = 1 mm2; 3) E. bacca; 4). E. bulla; 5) E. gemmata; 6) E. nigrodorsta; 7) E. quatuordecimmaculata.

Figs. 23–25. 23–24) Cladograms depicting hypothesized relationships among taxa described in the text; 25) Consensus, Length = 23, Ci = 69, Ri = 75. Character numbers correspond to characters in Table 1 as discussed in character discussion.