Macrispa, Baly, 1859

Sekerka, Lukáš, 2015, Wallacea, Pistosia and Neodownesia: three distinct genera and their tribal placement (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 55 (2), pp. 713-743 : 718

Macrispa – a valid genus in Bothryonopini

BALY (1859) described the genus Macrispa for a single species, M. saundersii Baly, 1859 , and differentiated it from Bothryonopa by slenderer antennae, larger body size and more convex elytra. UHMANN (1958) listed four species in the genus: M. bipartita Pic, 1927 , M. krishnalohita Maulik, 1915 , M. perakensis Maulik, 1929 , and M. saundersii . WÜRMLI (1975) revised the genera of Old World Hispinae , considered the genus valid, stated that it includes four species, and synonymized Bothryonopa ingenua Gestro, 1904 with M. perakensis . WÜRMLI (1976) revised Bothryonopini and synonymized Macrispa with Bothryonopa on the basis that Macrispa contained only two species and possessed no character that would separate it from the latter. This action was similar to WEISE (1911a) synomizing Hispopria with Bothryonopa . KIMOTO (2005) listed Macrispa as a valid taxon without comment. More recently BOROWIEC & SEKERKA (2010) listed Macrispa as a synonym of Bothryonopa .

Würmliʼs decision was likely based on the enlarged fore legs as he compared the situation to Hispopria . However, the fore legs are sexually dimorphic, appearing very large in males and normal in females. Macrispa elytra differ distinctly from Bothryonopa in being mostly irregularly punctate (only first two rows are more or less regular) and convex, forming a regular arch in cross-section while the latter genus has completely regular punctation and the disc of elytra flattened. Additionally, the antennae of Macrispa are slenderer, longer and not tubular as in Bothryonopa . Hence I restore the generic status of Macrispa and include two species previously classified in Macrispa , M. ingenua (syn. M. perakensis ) and M. saundersii (syn. M. krishnalohita ). Macrispa bipartita is a typical member of Bothryonopa as indicated by WÜRMLI (1976).