Sceloenopla trivittata Staines

Staines, C. L., 2002, Nomenclatural notes and new species of Sceloenoplini (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae), Zootaxa 89, pp. 1-32 : 27-28

Sceloenopla trivittata Staines , new species

Figure 18

Type material. Holotype (): Rio San Lorenzo, 1050 m, Tierras Morenas, Z. P. Tenorio, Prov. Guanacaste, Costa Rica, A. Martin, 23 mar a 21 abr 1992, L­N 287800, 427600// 412958 ( INBio). Paratype (): Est. Pitilla, 700 m, 9 km S Sta. Cecilia, P. N. Guanacaste, Costa Rica, C. Moraga, 8 a 24 ago 1991, L­N 330200, 3802000// 409424 ( INBio).

Derivation of name. From tri (Latin= three) plus vitta (Latin= stripe) for the three black vittae on the pronotum.

Diagnosis. This species is in group 13 ( Uhmann 1937). It can be distinguished from all other species in group 13 by the medial carina on the vertex of the head, by the angulate frons, by antennomeres II­VII that are laterally compressed, and by the black pronotal vittae.

Description. Yellowish to orangish­red; antennae black, except apical two antennomeres paler; head with vertex black; pronotum with medial longitudinal and lateral margins black; elytra with apical 1/4 black; femora, except at base, black; tibiae black; tarsi yellowish­red. Head: medial carina present; vertex punctate; tooth present between antennal bases; frons angulate in middle. Antenna: antennomere I transverse; II cylindrical; III­ VII laterally compressed, expanded, III largest; VIII­X transverse; XI bluntly pointed at apex; VIII­XI setose; II­VII sulcate. Pronotum: convex; lateral margin bisinuate, constricted behind anterior angle; each anterior angle with small blunt tooth; surface densely, coarsely punctate; moderate transverse basal impression present; pronotal length 1.3 mm; pronotal width 1.6 mm. Scutellum: quadrate; alutaceous. Elytron: expanded to apex; lateral margin smooth; apical margin sparsely dentate; exterior apical angle with backwardly directed tooth; sutural angle with flattened tooth­like lamina; humerus prominent, angulate; with 10 rows of punctures plus short scutellar row; interspace 4 costate for entire length, 6 and 8 costate on apical third; elytral length 6.2 mm; elytral width 2.4 mm. Venter: pro­, meso­, and metasterna yellowish medially, black laterally; pro­ and mesosterna punctate laterally. Total length: 7.8 mm.

Variation. Specimens vary in pronotal length from 1.1-1.3 mm, in pronotal width from 1.4-1.6 mm, in elytral length from 5.4-6.4 mm, in elytral width from 2.3-2.4 mm, and in total length from 6.9-8.1 mm. The color and sculpture is very similar to that of the holotype.

Figures

FIGURES 16 - 20. Habitus. 16. Sceloenopla rubivittata. 17. Sceloenopla sanguinea. 18. Sceloenopla trivittata. 19. Sceloenopla unicostata. 20. Sceloenopla univitata.