Chiridopsis boutareli ( Spaeth, 1917 )

Świ, Jolanta, 2017, A monograph of the Afrotropical Cassidinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Part 4. Revision of the genus Chiridopsis Spaeth, Zootaxa 4316 (1), pp. 1-85 : 22-23

Chiridopsis boutareli ( Spaeth, 1917)

( figs 3 , 43–45 )

Chirida Boutareli Spaeth, 1917: 442 .

Chiridopsis Boutareli Spaeth, 1924: 352, 1933 a: 356 ; Borowiec, 1999: 298. Chirida subgibbosa Spaeth, 1917: 442 , n. syn.

Chiridopsis subgibbosa: Spaeth, 1924: 345 .

Chiridopsis boutareli ab. subgibbosa: Spaeth, 1933 a: 356 .

Description. Le: 4.8–6.35 mm, Wi: 4.1–5.35 mm, Lp: 1.85–2.2 mm, Wp: 3.0– 3.7 mm, Le/Wi: 1.16–1.28, Wp/Lp: 1.62–1.74.

Pronotum yellow ( figs 43–45 ), disc with large black spot usually of truncate anterior margin maked with two large handle-shaped yellow spots at base and small yellow spot anteriorly, sometimes the small spot obsolete or forming narrow cleft. Scutellum black or yellow with black margins. Elytra yellow, suture broadly black, along sides runs moderately broad black vitta surrounding apex, only extreme apical part of disc yellow, and extending externally to marginal row, across disc runs broad black band but connected with black suture only in a short distance in anterior part, occasionally the band completely separated by yellow from sutural stripe. Head, ventrites, legs, and antennae yellow, sometimes apex of last segment infuscate, humeral parts of elytral epipleura brown to black.

Pronotum elliptical ( figs 43, 44 ), with maximum width in the middle, anterior margin softly convex, sides broadly rounded, no basal corners. Surface of disc impunctate, shiny. Explanate margin broad, impunctate, shiny, transparent with well visible honeycomb structure.

Base of elytra much wider than base of pronotum, humeral angles distinctly protruding anterad, subrounded ( figs 43, 44 ). Disc slightly unevenly convex in profile ( fig. 45 ), gibbous in postscutellar area, without impressions. Punctation very fine, on sides coarser than on top of disc, arranged in regular rows, but some rows create wavy lines, distance between punctures from as wide as to four times wider than puncture diameter. Marginal row distinct, its punctures slightly coarser than punctures in central rows. Intervals flat, on top of disc four to six times, on sides twice to thrice wider than rows, marginal interval 1.2–1.5 times wider than submarginal one, no humeral or lateral folds. Explanate margin broad, moderately declivous, in the widest part 4.5 times narrower than disc, surface impunctate, shiny, transparent with well visible honeycomb structure.

Eyes very large, gena obsolete. Clypeus broad, approximately 1.4 times as wide as long. Clypeal grooves fine but well marked, converging in regular triangle, surface of clypeus slightly convex, shiny with few very small, setose punctures. Labrum minutely emarginate to 1/5 length. Antennae slim, segments 9–10 approximately 1.6 times as long as wide. Length ratio of antennal segments: 100:45:58:61:58:47:66:53:63:63:116. Segment 3 approximately 1.3 times as long as segment 2 and approximately 0.9 times as long as segment 4.

Prosternum broad in the middle, strongly expanded apically, area between coxa flat, surface without special sculpture, shiny, with few setose punctures, expanded apex flat, without special sculpture, shiny, with few setose punctures.

Claws with moderate basal tooth.

Distribution. Central Africa from Republic of Central Africa to N Angola ( fig. 3 ).

Remarks. We examined syntypes of Chirida boutareli Spaeth and Chiridopsis subgibbosa Spaeth and they are conspecific. Elytral convexity varies among samples from the same locality from regularly convex to slightly gibbous in postscutellar area.

This species belongs to the group of taxa with black vitta along margin of elytral disc, broadly black suture and broad band across elytra. Chiridopsis boutareli and Ch. opposita ( figs 43–45 , 87–89 ) are the only similarly coloured species with clypeus and ventrites yellow. Chiridopsis opposita differs in elytral band V-shaped, thin to moderately broad, approximately equal width in lateral and sutural part ( figs 87, 88 ) while in Ch. boutareli the band is narrowest in the lateral connection and broadest in the sutural part but with a posterior narrow yellow emargination along sutural connection, sometimes the yellow emargination complete, thus the band is narrowly interrupted along suture, or black band broadened and enclosing two small yellow spots near suture ( figs 43, 44 ).

Types examined. 2 syntypes of Chirida boutareli : [ REPUBLIC OF CONGO] Brazzaville, Boutarel (MM, ZMHU).

3 syntypes of Chiridopsis subgibbosa : DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO ( ZAIRE): Kindu , XI 1913, L. Burgeon (1 MRAC, 1 MM, 1 DBET) ; 1 syntype of Chiridopsis subgibbosa : DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO ( ZAIRE): Maniema, Kindu , VII 1924, J. Ghesquière ( MRAC) ; 2 syntypes of Chiridopsis subgibbosa : DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO ( ZAIRE): Maniema, Kindu , VII 1924, J. Ghesquière ( MRAC): Ponthierville, 22 X 1910, Bequaert (1 MRAC, 1 MM).

Other specimens examined. ANGOLA: Salvador, 1, R. Büttner ( ZMHU).

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO ( ZAIRE): Bukama, VII 1937, 1, Lt. Marée ( DBET) ; Lokandu, 1937, 20, Lt. Marée ( MRAC, DBET) ; Mandungu, 25 XI 1912, 9, R. Mayné ( MRAC, MM, DBET) ; Maniema, Kindu, 1917, 1, L. Burgeon ( MNHN); Ronge , V 1980, 2 (SD).

REPUBLIC OF CENTRAL AFRICA: Dar-Banda Mérid., Fort Sibut , 1904, 5, J. Decorse ( MNHN).

REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Brazzaville, 1904, 10 (MNHN).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Distribution of Chiridopsis boutareli (black circles) and Chiridopsis castaneoplagiata (white circles).

FIGURES 43 – 49. Chiridopsis boutareli. 43. Male dorsal, 44. Female dorsal, 45. Female lateral; 46 – 47. Chiridopsis castaneoplagiata. 46. Dorsal, 47. Lateral, 48 – 49. Chiridopsis circe. 48. Dorsal, 49. Lateral.

FIGURES 87 – 93. Chiridopsis opposita. 87. Male dorsal, 88. Female dorsal, 89. Female lateral; 90 – 91. Chiridopsis octoguttata. 90. Dorsal, 91. Lateral; 92 – 93. Chiridopsis subornata, black form. 92. Dorsal, 93. Lateral.