Cephaloleia apertura ( Staines, 2013 ) Sekerka, 2017

Sekerka, Lukáš, 2017, Taxonomic changes within Imatidiini and Hybosispini (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae (Acta. Ent. Mus. Natl. Pragae) 57 (2), pp. 351-380 : 353-354

Cephaloleia apertura ( Staines, 2013) comb. nov.

( Fig. 1 )

Aslamidium (Neoaslamidium) apertura Staines, 2013: 286 (original description incl. black-and-white photograph).

Type locality. Venezuela, Aragua State, Rancho Grande Biological Station, 1550 m a.s.l.

Type material examined. HOLOTYPE: glued, ‘ VENEZUELA: Aragua | Rancho Grande Biol.Stn., 1550 m | 10°21’38”N, 67°41’38”W | 12-14 MAY1998; J. Ashe,R.Brooks,P.Hanley | VEN1ABH98 029 ex: flight intercept trap [w, p, cb] || [bar code] | SM0128228 | KUNHM-ENT [w, p, cb] || HOLOTYPE | Aslamidium | ( Neoaslamidium ) | apertura Staines | des. C. L. Staines 2013 [r, p, cb]’ ( SEMC).

Remarks. STAINES (2013) described this species based on a single specimen and placed it in the subgenus Neoaslamidium Borowiec, 1998 of the genus Aslamidium Borowiec, 1984 based on antennomere I being longer than antennomere II.

The genus Aslamidium is characteristized by pronotum with distinctly explanate margin with conspicuous latero-basal impression on each side. The subgenus Neoaslamidium differs in pronotum being much narrower than the base of elytra and at least basally parallel-sided while the nominotypical subgenus has pronotum as broad as base of elytra and semicircular ( SEKERKA 2014).

I studied the holotype of A. apertura ( Fig. 1 ) and find it does not conform to the characteristics of the genus Aslamidium . It is true that species of Aslamidium have antennomere I longer than II but this is not a unique diagnostic character for the genus as many other taxa among Imatidiini have this character. Moreover A. apertura also has antennomere III very long, somewhat shorter than antennomere I while all species of Aslamidium have antennomere I shorter than III. The present species has subquadratic pronotum with lateral margins very narrowly widened only in anterior half and lateral slopes of the disc without any impression; elytra with narrowly explanate margin and smooth outer edge. Based on above mentioned characters I find the species belongs to the genus Cephaloleia and I hereby transfer A. apertura to that genus.

Cephaloleia apertura has body size 4.3 mm, densely punctate vertex, head brown infuscate with black, black pronotum with anterior 1/5 and lateral widened margin yellow, and elytra yellow with black diffused pattern forming 16 more or less isolated spots ( Fig. 1 ). Such pattern is not present in any other described species as all similarly sized species have elytra either with only two to eight spots or vittae. Cephaloleia apertura also has antennomere I with short apical projection on lower side and is distinctly longer than III and the latter is twice as long as II while small species of Cephaloleia with yellow-black dorsum has antennomere I shorter than III and not expanded on apex.

The coordinates on the locality label do not accurately represent the collection site as they are at elevation of 930 m a.s.l. and situated in the Carabobo State. Therefore I do not mention them in the type locality.

Distribution. Venezuela: Aragua ( STAINES 2013).

Figures

Figs. 1–8. 1 – Cephaloleia apertura (Staines, 2013) (holotype, 4.3 mm); 2 – Cephaloleia atripes (Pic, 1926) (holotype, 5.1 mm); 3 – Cephaloleia fernandoi (Bondar, 1940) (paratype, LSPC, 6.3 mm); 4 – Cephaloleia opaca Baly, 1859 (Rio de Janeiro: Trinidad, LSPC, 6.0 mm); 5 – Cephaloleia impressa Uhmann, 1930 (holotype, 3.5 mm); 6 – Demothispa clermonti Pic, 1934 (holotype, 3.5 mm); 7 – Cephaloleia jataiensis (Pic, 1923) (holotype, 4.2 mm); 14 – Xenispa aeneipennis (Baly, 1859) (holotype, 3.7 mm).