Cassida guttipennis Boheman, 1862

Borowiec, Lech & Świętojańska, Jolanta, 2022, A monograph of the Afrotropical Cassidinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Part 6. Revision of the tribe Cassidini 3, the genus Cassida L., Zootaxa 5171 (1), pp. 1-250 : 77-78

Cassida guttipennis Boheman, 1862

(figs.11, 158–161)

Cassida guttipennis Boheman, 1862: 301 ; Gemminger & Harold, 1876: 3654; Spaeth, 1933 a: 347; Shaw, 1956: 269; Heron & Borowiec, 1997: 630; Borowiec, 1999: 254; Heron, 2003: 33, 2011: 135.

Cassida (Cassida) guttipennis: Spaeth, 1914 b: 118 .

Cassida guttipennis ab. fenestralis Spaeth, 1933 a: 347, unavailable name.

Cassida coloraria Boheman, 1862: 309 ; Gemminger & Harold, 1876: 3652; Spaeth, 1933 a: 347 (as syn. of guttipennis ).

Cassida (Cassida) coloraria: Spaeth, 1914 b: 118 .

Cassida romula Spaeth, 1911: 268 .

Cassida (Cassida) romula: Spaeth, 1914 b: 119 .

Cassida guttipennis ab. romula: Spaeth, 1933 a: 348 .

Description. L: 4.65–5.50 mm, W: 3.55–4.50 mm, Lp: 1.70–1.90 mm, Wp: 2.95–3.3.45 mm, L/W: 1.18–1.31, Wp/ Lp: 1.64–1.82. Body from almost circular to short–oval, males slightly stouter than females ( figs. 158, 160, 161 ).

Polymorphic species. In typically coloured specimens pronotum uniformly yellow, scutellum yellow, elytral disc yellow with several black spots: four small at base of elytra, two large on humeri, two small between humeral spots and suture, four moderate in transverse row in 2/3 length of disc, and four on apex of disc including two large inside and two small outside. Explanate margin yellow ( fig. 158 ). Sometimes spots are reduced to 12 very small spots arranged as in fig. 160 . In intermediate form (= ab. romula ) pronotum is yellow, elytral disc is yellow on top, black on sides and four large spot on yellow dorsum usually connected with lateral band, explanate margin yellow with broad humeral and posterolateral spots, humeral spot at least in external half runs in distance from anterior margin of elytra thus humeral angles always yellow. In the darkest form (= ab. fenestralis) elytral disc is mostly black, scutellum yellowish brown, elytral disc mostly black except yellow apex and two more or less visible yellowish ochraceous spots on top of disc, explanate margin of elytra in anterior 3/4 of space black, except yellow humeral angle, yellow extreme margin and yellow fenestrate spot in the middle, close to border of disc ( fig. 161 ). Head usually black, sometimes with yellowish central spot of diffused borders. Thorax completely black, abdomen mostly black surrounded by yellow. Legs mostly yellow but usually coxa and trochanters more or less infuscate and extreme base of femora brown to black. Antennal segments 1–6 yellow, segment 5 from yellow to infuscate, apical segments black.

Pronotum elliptical, with maximum width slightly behind the middle, anterior margin regularly, strongly convex, sides rounded, no basal corners. Disc indistinctly bordered from explanate margin, without lateral lobes, surface of disc shiny, with very fine pricks. Explanate margin broad, impunctate, transparent with well visible honeycomb structure, its surface shiny.

Base of elytra slightly to moderately wider than base of pronotum, humeral angles moderately protruding anterad, rounded. Disc regularly convex in profile ( fig. 159 ), with very shallow postscutellar impressions and without or only hardly marked principal impressions, no H–shaped elevations and other sculpture. Punctation moderately coarse, arranged in completely regular rows, dense, distance between punctures from slightly narrower to twice. Marginal row distinct, its punctures distinctly coarser than punctures in central rows. Intervals slightly convex, in sutural part of disc mostly as wide as rows but second interval in the middle slightly wider than first and third interval, on sides of disc intervals slightly narrower than rows, marginal interval broad, as wide as two submarginal rows and submarginal interval combined, no humeral or lateral folds. Explanate margin moderately broad, in the widest part four times narrower than disc, inner half moderately declivous, external margin almost horizontal, surface shiny, very shallowly punctate, appears regular, yellow parts transparent with well visible honeycomb structure.

Eyes very large, gena obsolete. Clypeus moderately broad, approximately 1.1 times as wide as long. Clypeal grooves fine but well marked, converging in triangle with angulate top, surface of clypeus with shallow apical impression, shiny with several very small punctures. Labrum minutely emarginate to 1/6 length.Antennae moderate, segments 9–10 approximately 1.2–1.3 as long as wide. Length ratio of antennal segments: 100:42:63:55:50:42:5 0:42:47:50:100. Segment 3 approximately 1.5 times as long as segment 2 and approximately 1.1 times as long as segment 4.

Prosternum moderately narrow in the middle, strongly expanded apically, area between coxa slightly convex, shiny, small, setose punctures, expanded apex slightly convex, shiny, with small, setose punctures centrally and row of coarser punctures across apical margin.

Claws simple.

Remarks. A member of the Cassida sphaerula species–group. Maculate forms are similar to C. quatuordecimsignata . Both species have a very similar arrangement of black spots on the elytral disc but C. quatuordecimsignata differs in a smaller and slimmer body, with L 3.85–4.85, L/W ratio 1.35–1.51 and in the explanate margin of elytra narrower and less explanate, declivous ( figs. 158, 160 ) while in C. quatuordecimsignata the body is larger and broader with L 4.65–5.50, L/W ratio 1.18–1.31 and the explanate margin of elytra is broader and more explanate ( figs. 158, 160 ). The dark form of C. guttipennis has a dorsal pattern similar to the pattern of the darkest form of C. vespertilio but it differs in a smaller body with length les than 4.2 mm and a narrower explanate margin of elytra (fig. 136).

Host plants. Asteraceae : Berkheya bipinnatifida (Harv.) Roessl. , Berkheya speciosa (DC) O. Hoffm. ( Heron & Borowiec 1997, Heron, 2003, 2011); Berkheya heterophylla O. Hoffm. , Berkheya seminivea Harvey & Sond. (label data); Berkheya rhapontica (DC) Hutch. & Burtt Davy (H. Heron pers. comm.); Berkheya sp. (cobwebby) (= Berkheya sp. (Hilliards 2786) (H. Heron pers. comm.).

Distribution. South Africa (fig. 11).

Types examined. Lectotype of Cassida guttipennis Boheman, 1862 , designated by Borowiec, 1999: 255: [ SOUTH AFRICA]: Natal, Port Natal, (NRS); holotype of Cassida coloraria Boheman, 1862 ; [ SOUTH AFRICA]: Cap. B. Spei, Drege (NRS); holotype of Cassida romula Spaeth, 1911: 268 : [ SOUTH AFRICA]: Natal, Malvern, J.P. Cregoe (BMNH).

Other specimens examined. SOUTH AFRICA: Cape, Bushman’s River , 12 IX 1984, 4, on Berkheya, H. Zimmermann (NIC) ; Cape, Grahamstown , 10 XI 1985, 3 on Berkheya heterophylla, M.M. Clark (NIC, MNHW) ; Cape, Zuurberg n. Addo , 24 IX 1984, 1 on Berkheya sp. , H. Zimmermann ( NIC) ; Eastern Cape Prov., Bushman’s River, near Paterson , 33°23’S, 26°02’E, 1 ( ARC) ; Eastern Cape Prov., Grahamstown , 33°19’S, 26°31’E, 1 ( ARC) ; Eastern Cape Prov., Hogsback Mountain , 38 km W of Stutterheim, 32°35’S, 27°05’E, 1 ( ARC) ; E Cape, Silaka Nat. Res. , 36 m, 31.6511S / 29.5086E, night collectin, 27.11.2019, leg. M. Wanat ( MNHW) ; Eastern Cape Prov., Umzamba River Mouth, northern Pondoland , 31°07’S, 30°10’E, 1 ( HH) ; Eastern Cape Prov., Zuurberg, near Addo , 33°17’S, 25°48’E, 1 ( ARC) ; KwaZulu-Natal, Umtavuna (Pont), Kigfisher trail, 10-15 m, -31.0639 / 30.1749, 2 XII 2019, 1, P. Jałoszyński ( MNHW) ; Mpumalanga Prov., Boskrans Dam , 25°21’S, 30°01’E, 1 ( ARC) ; Mpumalanga Prov., Houtenbeck Farm , NW of Dullstroom, 1 ( ARC) ; Natal, Crowned Eagle Conservancy , Gillitts, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Drummond , 29°46’S, 30°53’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Everton Gorge Molweni River Trail, Pinetown Distr. , 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Glen Park station , Pinetown, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Oribi Gorge Reserve, 8 km inland of Port Shepshtone , 30°42.11’S, 30°16.03’E, 1 ( ARC) ; Natal, Queensburgh, Escombe , XII 1986, 2, H. Heron ( MNHW) ; Natal, Sarnia , 8 I 1912, 1, A,J, Janse ( TM) ; Natal, Springside Nat. Reserve, Hillcrest , 29°46’S, 30°46’E, 1 ( ARC) ; Natal, Tanglewood Farm Nat. Res. , Pinetown, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Vernon Crookes Nat. Res., 8 km N of Umzinto, South Coast , 30°16’S, 30°35’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Vernon Crookes Nat. Res., Umzinto , 30°35’S, 30°16’E, 1 ( HH) ; Transvaal, Nelshoogte, Knuckles grass veld, 4 XII 1986, 1, S. Endrödy – Younga ( TM) ; Transvaal, Tzaneen, Letaba Valley , 10–31 XII 1953, 1, A.L. Capener ( MNHW) .

Figures

FIGURES 158–161. Cassida guttipennis. 158, 160–161. Dorsal; 159. Lateral.