Neochlamisus (Karren, 1972)

Chaboo, Caroline S., Brown, Christopher G. & Funk, Daniel J., 2008, Faecal case architecture in the gibbosus species group of Neochlamisus Karren, 1972 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae: Chlamisini), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 152 (2), pp. 315-351 : 320-323

DESCRIPTIONS OF NEOCHLAMISUS CASES

Neochlamisus bebbianae ( Brown, 1943) I:

Salix bebbiana host form ( Figs 3–5 )

Egg case ( Fig. 3 ): Size (N = 8): length (L), 1.87– 2.68 mm, width (W) at roof, 0.95–1.05 mm. Colour: dark brown with longitudinal ridges lighter brown. Shape: bell-like, symmetrical in lateral aspect. Apex: conical, transverse in lateral aspect; flange uneven. Egg stalk: present ( Fig. 3B ), coiled and narrowed, colour translucent white. Roof: slightly convex in lateral view; texture coarse. External surface: texture of walls coarse; faeces arranged as overlapping plates ( Fig. 3C ). Plates: quadriform, slightly domed medially, with basal edges exposed; longitudinal ridges present, arising from multiple plates of variable lengths, with heights also variable but generally short. Trichomes: present, simple, incorporated deeply into plate matrix; decumbent, some slightly protuberant at surface ( Fig. 3C ). Internal surface: texture rough, but smoother than external surface, lacking apparent plates and ridges; slight space between case wall and egg.

Larva-I case ( Figs 3A , 4A ): Size (N = 9): L, 1.98– 2.12 mm; W at base opening, 0.91–1.09 mm. Colour: unevenly dark-brown–black. Egg case: mostly intact, distinguishable from new larval section by width, colour, wall thickness texture, trichome placement, and patterning of faecal deposit; egg stalk present or absent. Walls of larval section: slightly wider and thicker than those of egg case. Larval faeces granular: deposited in rows, not in plates. Ventral wall: with suture continuous, extending subapically from egg case through larval section to opening; faecal rows few in number, positioned obliquely; dark triangular wedge spanning ventral suture. Lateral and dorsal walls: with transverse faecal rows. Base opening: slightly oblique in lateral view; basal margin simple. External surface of larval section with trichomes unevenly distributed, protruding as dense fur-like patches in some sections. Internal surface: smooth, lacking apparent plates and ridges.

Larva-II case ( Figs 3 , 4 ): Size (N = 8): L, 2.41– 3.48 mm; W at base opening, 1.32–1.58 mm. Shape: tubular, slightly asymmetrical in lateral aspect with dorsal wall longer than ventral wall. Apex: rounded; egg stalk absent. Egg case: generally intact, except for ventral suture; position, shape, colour and other characteristics as above. Larval case additions during phases I and II: not distinguishable; similar in colour and surface texture characteristics. Ventral suture: extended from apex through egg case to base opening. Trichomes present, as in case of instar I. Internal surface: smooth.

Larva-III case ( Fig. 3 ): Size (N = 10): L, 3.66– 3.91 mm; W at base opening, 1.82–1.91 mm. Colour of larval sections I, II, and III: generally dark, unevenly striate. Shape: tubular; egg case apparent, position inclined ventrad. Trichomes of sections I, II, and III of medium density.

Larva-IV younger case ( Figs 3 , 4E–G , 5 ): Size (N = 9): L, 4.06–6.07 mm; W at base opening, 3.53–3.95 mm. Colour: medium to dark brown, striated appearance, sections deposited by each larval instar not distinguishable. Shape: tubular; apex elongate and conelike; shape asymmetrical in lateral aspect, ventral wall shorter than dorsal wall and egg case inclined ventrad. External surface texture: coarse, with fine rows of faecal deposits and dense trichomes ( Fig. 4D–F ). Ventral wall: with large triangular insertion around ventral suture, flattened in lateral view; wall thickened, slightly protuberant from adjacent wall; suture not particularly protuberant; faecal deposit at suture lighter brown than in wall. Lateral wall: expanded to twice original width as a result of faecal insertion into ventral wall. Dorsal wall: with evenly tapered lateral margins, rounded at apex; surface generally rounded in lateral view, with transverse, even faecal rows. Base opening: oblique, margin simple. Internal surface texture ( Fig. 4G ): smooth, trichomes not apparent. Larva densely covered in trichomes, evenly distributed.

Larva-IV older case ( Fig. 5 ): Size (N = 2): L, 4.60– 7.04 mm; W at base opening, 3.59–4.00 mm. Case slightly longer than younger instar-IV case, but two times wider, greatly expanded below egg and instar-I sections. Shape: barrel-like; egg case reduced to a small apical nipple. Trichomes: increasingly dense with age in instar-IV section, eventually with furry appearance; dense trichomes span dorsal and lateral walls, but not ventral wall.

Pupal case ( Fig. 3A ): Size (N = 8): L, 6.07–6.54 mm; W at base opening, 3.53–3.95 mm. Colour: medium to dark brown, striated; seal, lighter brown. Shape: barrel-like; base opening obliquely angled, sealed by flattened circular disc. External surface and basal seal surface: rough, trichomes sparse. Ventral wall: flattened in lateral view, striated longitudinally. Lateral walls: symmetrical, evenly widened below apex and slightly narrowed at basal margins. Dorsal wall: striated transversely. Internal surface: smooth.

Figures

Figure 3. Neochlamisus bebbianae I: Salix bebbianae (willow) host form. A, case series from egg case (left) to pupal case (right). B, egg case, lateral aspect, scanning electron micrograph. C, egg case, scanning electron micrograph.

Figure 4. Neochlamisus bebbianae I: Salix bebbianae (willow) host form. A, instar-I case, lateral aspect. B, instar-I case, ventral aspect. C, instar-II case, dorsal aspect. D, instar-II case, lateral aspect, scanning electron micrograph. E, instar-IV case, lateral aspect. F, instar-IV case, trichomes on external surface. G, instar-IV case, internal surface. H, instar-IV case, wall section showing trichome–faecal matrix.

Figure 5. Larval case IV of Neochlamisus bebbianae I: Salix bebbiana (willow) host form. A, ventral view. B, dorsal view. C, lateral view.