Pseudispa bellula Staines

Staines, C. L., 2002, Nomenclatural notes and new species of Sceloenoplini (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae), Zootaxa 89, pp. 1-32 : 7

Pseudispa bellula Staines , new species

Figure 4

Type material. Holotype (): Sector Cerro Cocori, Fca. de E. Rojas, 150 m, Prov. Limon, Costa Rica, E. Rojas, ene 1992, L­N­286000, 567500// 517570 ( INBio). Paratypes (1, 1): same first label as holotype // 517571 & 517565 ( INBio).

Derivation of name. From bellulus (Latin= beautiful) for the beautiful aspect of this beetle.

Diagnosis. This species differs from all other Pseudispa by the strong medial sulcus on the vertex of the head and by the center of the pronotal disc being impunctate.

Description. Subelongate, dorsum bright metallic green with basal and apical margins of pronotum and lateral and apical margins of elytra brownish; legs black, except base of femora; antennae brown with apical four antennomeres black; venter brown. Head: vertex triangularly produced, with strong medial sulcus, sparsely punctate; frons with small tubercle; clypeus smooth. Antenna: reaching near mid­length of elytra; antennomere I subglobose; II­VII cylindrical, III­VI subequal in length; VIII­X transverse, shorter than preceding; XI pointed at apex; I­VII with scattered setae; VIII­XI setose. Pronotum: transverse, convex; lateral margin sinuate, slightly angulate in middle; each anterior angle with small tooth; posterior angle angulate; surface coarsely, densely punctate; center of disc impunctate; slight transverse basal impression present; pronotal length 1.0 mm; pronotal width 1.2 mm. Scutellum: quadrate; punctate. Elytron: humerus angulate, projecting; lateral margin sinuate; slightly expanding to apex, smooth; exterior apical angle rounded, smooth; apices smooth, conjointly rounded; 10 rows of punctures plus short scutellar row; interspaces 2, 4, and 6 costate, 6 most pronounced, 2 and 4 sinuate basally; elytra length 3.5 mm; elytral width 1.6 mm. Venter: pro­, meso­, and metasterna smooth medially, punctate laterally. Total length: 4.6 mm.

Variation. Specimens vary in pronotal width from 1.1­1.3 mm, in elytral width from 1.6­1.7 mm, in elytral length from 3.3­3.6 mm, and in total length from 4.4­4.8 mm. The color and sculpture is very similar to that of the holotype.

Figures

FIGURES 4 - 6. Habitus. 4. Pseudispa bellula. 5. Pseudispa sinuata. 6. Pseudispa tuberculata.