Geethaluperus, Viswajyothi & Clark, 2022

Viswajyothi, Keezhpattillam & Clark, Shawn M., 2022, New World genera of Galerucinae Latreille, 1802 (tribes Galerucini Latreille, 1802, Metacyclini Chapuis, 1875, and Luperini Gistel, 1848): an annotated list and identification key (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 842, pp. 1-102 : 29-30

Genus Geethaluperus gen. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:D8D6888A-CDA6-4370-9528-8DC8EABA3438

Type species

Luperus flavofemoratus Jacoby, 1888 , by present designation.

Diagnosis

In this genus, the genal length is less than the width of the basal antennomere, the antennal fossae are separated from each other by a distance much less than the diameter of each fossa, the base of the pronotum has a fine yet distinct bead, the tarsal claws are bluntly appendiculate, the rectangular lobe at the apex of the male abdomen is much less than half as long as wide, and the aedeagus is symmetrical and lacks a sclerotized covering to the orifice. However, the most remarkable character is the mesal appendage that extends posteriorly from the posterior margin of second abdominal sternite of the male. This appendage is single at the base but separates into two divergent lobes in the distal half.

Etymology

The name of the genus should be treated as a male noun, and it honors Geetha, the mother of the first author.

Remarks

Although male abdominal appendages are present in some other Scelidites ( Cornuventer tuberculatus comb. nov., Androlyperus fulvus , some species of Scelida ), the morphology is quite different. See Figs 117 and 174 for a habitus illustration and morphological details of Geethaluperus gen. nov. The single described species included in this genus is G. flavofemoratus ( Jacoby, 1888) comb. nov. This species is pale brown, except for the antennae and legs. Most recently, it was included in Pseudoluperus , but it was quite out of place there. An undescribed species from Mexico is very similar in color and morphology (including the abdominal appendage), but the eyes are much smaller (in G. flavofemoratus , the width of the head across the eyes if fully twice as great as the interocular distance, and the genal length is less than the diameter of an ommatidium).

Figures

Figs 109–117. Dorsal views. 109. Parabrotica subtilis (Weise, 1921). 110. Trichobrotica sexplagiata (Jacoby, 1878). 111. Luperosoma marginatum Jacoby, 1891. 112. Carpiradialis pueblensis Niño- Maldonado & Clark, 2020. 113. Deinocladus sp. 114. Coronabrotica amazonensis Moura, 2010 [reproduced from Moura (2010), with permission from the copyright holder, Magnolia Press]. 115. Trachyscelida venezuelensis (Bechyné, 1956). 116. Synetocephalus penrosei Gilbert & Clark, 2012. 117. Geethaluperus flavofemoratus (Jacoby) comb. nov.

Figs 170–175. Heads, anterior views. 170. Eccoptopsis costaricensis Blake, 1966, ♂. 171. E. costaricensis, ♀. 172. Oroetes flavicollis Jacoby, 1888, ♂. 173. Porechontes wilcoxi Blake, 1966. 174. Geethaluperus flavofemoratus (Jacoby, 1888) comb. nov. 175. Scelolyperus cyanellus (LeConte, 1865).