Mesomphalia turrita ( Illiger, 1801 )

Simões, Marianna V. P. & Monné, Marcela L., 2014, Taxonomic Revision of the genus Mesomphalia Hope, 1839 (Insecta, Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae), Zootaxa 3835 (2), pp. 151-197 : 168-170

Mesomphalia turrita ( Illiger, 1801)

( Figs. 64–72 ; 110–113, 157, 161)

Cassida turrita Illiger, 1801: 180 ; Schönherr, 1817: 230.

Mesomphalia turrita: Boheman, 1850: 225 ; 1856: 38; 1862: 103; Gemminger & Harold, 1876: 3636; Wagener, 1881: 63; Spaeth, 1901: 339; 1914g: 33; Blackwelder, 1946: 738; Borowiec, 1996: 192; 1999: 118; 2009f: 677; Flinte et al., 2009: 590.

Mesomphalia sexmaculata Boheman, 1850: 232 ; 1856: 39; 1862: 105; Gemminger & Harold, 1876: 3635; Wagener, 1881: 63; Spaeth, 1901: 339; 1914g: 33; Blackwelder, 1946: 738; Borowiec, 1996: 192; 1999: 117; 2009: 677; Chaboo’ 2007; Flinte et al., 2009: 589; Borowiec & Takizawa, 2011:448. (syn. nov.).

Measurements (56 males / 44 females). Total length: 11.5–14.0/13.0–14.0; greatest elytral width: 10.0–12.5/ 11.4–12.8; pronotum length: 2.9–3.5/3.1–3.8; greatest width of pronotum: 6.4–7.9/7.0–8.5; elytral length/ width ratio: 1.12–1.15/1.09–1.14; pronotal length/ width ratio: 0.44–0.45/0.44–0.45.

Diagnosis. Mesomphalia turrita differs from other species in the genus by the following characteristics: pronotum with two subtriangular macules of yellow to yellowish-brown setae; elytra with dense punctation, obtuse gibbosity at the basal third of the disc, and four well-delimited spots of yellow to yellowish-brown setae at the elytral disc, two rounded under the humeral angle and two ellipsoidal close to apex.

Redescription. Body with yellowish-brown setae. Vertex with long, erect and sparse setae; punctation coarse and dense. Coronal suture with reddish-brown ellipsoidal macules. Frontoclypeus strongly swollen with subtle median groove.

Antennae black, except apex of scape, pedicel and antennomeres III–IV reddish-brown; long, sparse setae on scape, pedicel, antennomeres III–IV and basal half of V; apical half of V with shorter and dense setae, except long and erect setae at apex; XI with erect, long setae, denser at apex and at anteapical region. Antennomeres III, VI and VIII subequal in length, slightly shorter that IV; IV–V and VI–VII decreasing in length; VII around 1.2x shorter than VIII; VIII–IX decreasing in length; IX–X subequal in length; XI nearly twice as long as X with rounded apex.

Prothorax finely punctuate, with a pair of subtriangular spots of long and decumbent setae. Pronotum with sinuous anterior margin; posterior angle truncate. Prosternum with long, dense and semidecumbent setae, except anterior margin of procoxal cavity with short, erect and decumbent setae. Prosternal collar slightly projected anteriorly, with lateral apices divergent, followed by deep and short transverse groove. Prosternal process with wide lateral margins, with deep longitudinal sulcus, wider at anteapical region, starting at base and extending to anteapical region; lateral margins parallel; rounded apex.

Mesoventrite, mesepisterna, mesepimera glabrous, except mesoventrite process with long and sparse setae, with wide lateral margins, apex U-shaped.

Elytra densely punctate, except parascutellar disc without points and margins with transverse striations and smooth elytral suture. Two subtriangular spots under humeral angles and two ellipsoidal spots at apical third of disc. Basal margin somewhat sinuous; lateral margin uniformly expanded, reduced at apical third; apical angle slightly truncate and convergent. Gibbosity about half the length of elytra and slightly tilted forward in lateral view.

Metaventrite with posterior margin bearing a range of short, erect and dense setae; metepimera glabrous and metanepisterna with short, dense and decumbent setae.

Abdominal ventrites II–V with yellowish-brown ellipsoid spots; I–IV with short row of decumbent setae, elongate along lateral margins; V with long and erect setae becoming denser at median region, covering apical third.

Male terminalia ( Figs. 64–67 ). Tergite VIII convex, sclerotized, with rounded apical margin and basal margin with lateral apodemes; long and dense setae. Tegmen ( Figs. 66–67 ) furcate; thicker medially and narrow close to apex; apex rounded and curved in lateral view; manubrium less than half length of arms, sclerotized and laterally flattened. Median lobe ( Figs. 64–65 ) sclerotized, long, laterally curved with apex ( Fig. 65 ) narrowed and truncate; internal sac membranous, ostium with two semi-sclerotized plates.

Female terminalia ( Figs. 68–72 ). Tergite VIII similar to male. Sternite VIII ( Fig. 68 ) slightly sclerotized with long setae at apical margin, and short setae laterally; lateral arms fused to sternite IX, forming transverse membranous sacs; apodeme narrow, about 1.5x the length of apical region. Sternite IX ( Fig. 71 ) subdivided into two plates with long and erect setae at apical margin; a small, sclerotized, drop-shaped region at median, next to base. Tergite X ( Fig. 70 ) with two sclerotized regions next to apical margin. Spermatheca ( Fig. 72 ) strongly sclerotized, falcate; vasculum hook-shaped; ampulla present, about half the length of vasculum; ampulla present, about 1.5x the length of vasculum. Spermathecal gland laterally attached to ampulla.

Remarks. Illiger (1801) described Cassida turrita from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Boheman (1850) redescribed and transferred it to Mesomphalia , and described M. sexmaculata , and differentiated them by describing the body of M. turrita as slightly longer and thinner and with a narrower prothorax, the elytra with conspicuous punctation anteriorly to the scutellum, and an obtuse gibbosity with colored macules on both sides.

We examined specimens deposited in many institutions (MNRJ, DZUP, MZSP, MNHN, USNM), as well as photographs of the lectotype and paralectotype of M. turrita , deposited in the ZMHB collection. The type material of M. sexmaculata , which should be deposited at the MNHN or at the SMNH, was not found. In an unpublished MS by Spaeth, held in the Zoological Institute, University of Wrocaw, he suggested that the main difference between the species, the height of the gibbosity, may be intraspecific variation. We dissected five females which varied in body proportions between those described for the two species. All had identical genitalia.

Based on the examined material, type material photography, original descriptions and redescriptions, we consider that the assigned characteristics by Boheman (1850) to delimit the two species constitute intraspecific variation. Thus we synonymise M. sexmaculata with M. turrita .

Geographic distribution. Brazil (Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Santa Catarina) and Argentina (Misiones) ( Borowiec & Świętojańska2014). Two new state records to Brazil are added: Goiás and Paraná. ( Figs. 157 , 161 ). Borowiec & Takizawa (2011) recorded M. sexmaculata from Peru, but the record is probably based on a mislabelled specimen (Borowiec, pers. com.).

Material examined (100). Type material. Lectotype and paralectotype ( Figs. 112–113 ), deposited at the ZMHB, photographs examined. BRAZIL: Goiás: Leopoldo Bulhões, XII.1947, Diringshofen (1 male, MZSP); Paraná: Marumbi, 2.IV.1944, Hatschbach (1 male, MNRJ); São José dos Pinhais, IV.1980, B. Silva (1 female, MNRJ); Rio de Janeiro: Angra dos Reis, VIII.1934, Dario Mendes (3 males, MNRJ); ( Ilha Grande), 07.VII.2001, G. (4 females, MNRJ); (Jussaral), I.1935, Dario Mendes (2 males, MNRJ); Itatiaia, Diringshofen (2 males, MZSP); 15.I.1933, W. Zikán (2 females, MNRJ); 28.XII.1933, 1100 m, W. Zikán (1 male, MNRJ); 17.I.1934, 1100 m, W. Zikán (1 male, MNRJ); II.1935, Diringshofen (1 male, MNRJ); XII. 1935, 800 m, S. Lopes & R. Cunha (2 males, MNRJ); 26.IV.1938, 1100 m, W. Zikán (2 females, MNRJ); 30.XI.1942, 1100 m, W. Zikán (2 females, MNRJ); I.1958, H. Gouveia (1 male, MNRJ); II.1959, 1100m, W. Zikán (2 females, MNRJ); II.1967, 1100 m, Diringshofen (4 males, MZSP); XI.1992, Mariana Monné (3 females, MNRJ); 22–26.XII.2007, 1250 m, J.R. Mermudes, M.L. Monné & M.A. Monné (1 male, MNRJ); 01–04.X.2009, 1250 m, M.L. Monné, J.R. Mermudes, M.A. Monné (1 male, MNRJ); 06–08.XI. 2009, 750 m, M.L & M.A. Monné (1 male, MNRJ); 23.X.2010, M.A. & M.L. Monné (1 male, MNRJ); (Maromba), 5.II.1926, J.F. Zikán (1 male, MNRJ); 26.XII.1953, 1200 m, Seabra & Alvarenga (1 male, MNRJ); Silva Jardim, (Reserva Biológica do Poço das Antas), 31.VII.94, Margarete V. de Macedo (3 females, DZUP); Santa Catarina: I.1933, A. Maller ( MNHN); Corupá: XII.41, (1 male, MNRJ); II–III.1953, A. Maller (3 males, MNRJ); XI.1956, A. Maller (2 females, MNRJ); I.1980, A. Maller (2 males, MNRJ); Guarujá do Sul, 1.XI.1920, Mehn (1 female, MNRJ); IV.1927, Mehn (1 male, MNRJ); (São Bento do Sul), XII.1943 (1 male, USNM); III.1944 (3 females, DZUP); I.1952, A. Maller (2 males, MNRJ); II.1952, A. Maller (2 males, MNRJ); II.1956, A. Maller (3 females, MNRJ); X.1956, A. Maller (1 male, MNRJ); X.1955, A. Maller (1 male, MNRJ); XII.1956, A. Maller (1 male, MNRJ); I.1957, A. Maller (1 male, MNRJ); I.1958, Diringshofen (1 male, MZSP); I.1961, Diringshofen (1 male, MZSP); III.1962, Diringshofen (2 males, MZSP); III.1962, Diringshofen leg., (2 females, MZSP); I.1969 (1 male, MNRJ); Rio Natal, Diringshofen (3 females, MZSP); Timb, XII.1954, Diringshofen (1 male, 2 females, MZSP); III.1964, Diringshofen (1 male, MZSP). São Paulo: Cubatão, XI.1935 (2 females, MZSP); Joinville, XII.1964, Bruckner (3 females, MNRJ); Mogi da Cruzes, 7.I.1987, M.A. Monné (1 male, MNRJ); São Paulo, A. Reis (1 male, MNRJ); 28.VII.1929, R. Spitz (1 male, MZSP); 24.X.1931, J. Melzer (1 male, MNRJ); IV.1938, Diringshofen (1 male, MZSP); Campos do Jordão, 1600 m, III.1945, Wygodzinsky (2 females, MNRJ); (Serra da Cantareira), I–II.1965, J. Halik (1 male, MZSP); 29.III.65, J. Halik (2 females, MZSP); (Serra da Bocaina), IX.1956, Ary de Faria (2 males, MNRJ).

Figures

FIGURES 157. Map of geographic distribution of Mesomphalia denudata Boheman, 1850; M. sublaevis Boheman, 1850; M. subnitens Spaeth, 1917; M. tumidula Boheman, 1850; M. turrita (Illiger, 1801); M. variolaris Boheman, 1850.

FIGURES 64 – 72. Mesomphalia turrita (Illiger, 1801). 64 – 67, male: 64 – 65, median lobe: 64, lateral view; 65, dorsal view of the apex; 66 – 67, tegmen: 66, dorsal view; 67, lateral view; 68 – 72, female: 68, sternite VIII; 69, sternite IX; 70, tergite X; 71, sternite IX and tergite X, lateral view; 72, spermatheca. Scale = 1 mm.

FIGURES 158 – 163. Map of geographic distribution of 158, Mesomphalia gibbosa (Fabricius, 1781); 159, M. sublaevis Boheman, 1850; 160, Mesomphalia spaethi Simões & Monné, sp. nov.; 161, M. turrita (Illiger, 1801); 162, M. subnitens Spaeth, 1917; 163, M. sexmaculosa Boheman, 1856.

FIGURES 105 – 113. Mesomphalia species: 105 – 106, Mesomphalia sublaevis Boheman, 1850: 105, dorsal view; 106, lateral view; 107 – 109, Mesomphalia spaethi Simões & Monné, sp. nov. holotype: 107, dorsal view; 108, ventral view; 109, lateral view; 110 – 113, Mesomphalia turrita (Illiger, 1801): 110, dorsal view; 111, lateral view; 112 – 113, lectotype: 112, dorsal view; 113, labels.