Discomorpha atahualpai, Borowiec, Lech, 2006

Borowiec, Lech, 2006, Four new species of Discomorpha Chevrolat, 1837 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Omocerini), with key to Discomorpha s. str., Zootaxa 1357, pp. 45-60 : 47-49

Discomorpha (s. str.) atahualpai sp. nov.

Diagnosis

This species belongs to a group of species with a subtriangular pronotum, moderately broad apex of elytral epipleura, elytral disc almost completely metallic, and black ventrites. The group comprises 9 species, somewhat difficult to identify, distinguishable by combination of the following characters: presence or absence of dorsal pubescence, shape of pale pattern of explanate margin of elytra, dimensions of elytral punctation, body outline and degree of sexual dimorphism, and intensity of metallic tint. Discomorpha atahualpai sp. nov. distinctly differs from all relatives in extremely large red spot on explanate margin of elytra which occupies almost whole surface of explanate marginalia except narrowly black external margin of elytra. The spot is without markings or before the middle of marginalia with two black transverse stripes. In relatives pale spot occupies not more than 2/3 length of the explanate margin, sometimes pattern forms 2–5 small spots or transverse stripes or bands, or if spot is large then marked with few dark smaller spots.

Description

All measurements taken from a males: length: 13.4–14.4 mm, width: 13.4–15.0 mm, width of pronotum: 8.5–9.0 mm, length of pronotum: 3.6–4.0 mm, length/width ratio: 0.96–1.00, width/length ratio of pronotum: 2.25–2.36. Body in male very broad, strongly converging posterad ( Fig. 1, 2 ).

Head black with two small, round, red spots between eyes. Pronotum black with dark green metallic tint. Scutellum black. Elytral disc black with dark green metallic tint, only in the mid length of disc red spot of explanate margin of elytra slightly reaching behind margin of disc. Punctures more metallic than interspaces. Explanate margin of elytra almost completely red except moderately broad, black lateral margin. In holotype before the middle of explanate margin two transverse, black spots, not connected with black lateral margin; in paratype red spot of explanate margin of elytra immaculate. Antennal segments 1 and 2 reddish ventrally and black dorsally, segment 3 black only at base of ventral side reddish, segments 4–11 black. Ventrites black. Legs black with dark green metallic tint.

Pronotum subtriangular, sides strongly converging anterad, lateral margins straight. Anterior margin straight thus anterior corners completely obsolete. Top of disc with two small but deep impressions. Disc dull, median smooth line present only in anterior 1/4 length of disc. Punctation of disc very fine and sparse. Whole surface covered by very short adherent hair.

Elytra very broad, humeri regularly rounded, elytra widest in anterior 1/4 length then distinctly converging posterad. Disc with large postscutellar tubercle ( Fig. 3 ). Elytral profile behind the top of tubercle almost straight. Postscutellar impressions distinct, bordered laterally by low and slightly shiny fold. Punctation of disc coarse and dense, on sides of disc punctures almost touching each other and surface appears finely reticulate. Punctures dull, interspaces slightly shiny. Explanate margin of elytra impunctate, its surface dull. Whole elytra covered by short and moderately dense pubescence. Pubescence erect in postscutellar impressions and humeral part of elytra, on sides of disc semierect, on slope almost adherent. Apex of elytral epipleura with only few erect setae.

Antennae long, distal part with long and dull segments 1.92–1.95 times as long as basal part with short and glabrous segments. Segments 3 slightly shorter than segment 4, and segment 4 slightly shorter than segment 5. Segment 7 approximately 1.09 times as long as segments 5 and 6 combined.

Ventrites without diagnostic characters. Male genitalia typical for the genus ( Fig. 12, 13 ).

Types

Holotype male: “ PERU, Puerto Inca, II 1995, leg. Kondler” // “ HOLOTYPE ” [red label] // “ Discomorpha (s. str.) atahualpai n. sp., HOLOTYPUS, des. L. Borowiec ‘06”; Paratype: “ PERU, Puerto Inca, II 1995, leg. Kondler” // “ PARATYPE ” [red label] // “ Discomorpha (s. str.) atahualpai n. sp., PARATYPUS, des. L. Borowiec ‘06” (holotype and paratype preserved in DBET).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 5. 1 – 3. Discomorpha atahualpai sp. nov.: 1. Paratype male dorsal; 2. Holotype male dorsal; 3. Holotype male lateral; 4, 5. Discomorpha howdenrum sp. nov.: 4. Holotype female dorsal; 5. Holotype female lateral.

FIGURES 12 – 19. 12, 13. Discomorpha atahualpai sp. nov.: 12. Apex of penis; 13. Penis lateral; 8. Paratype female lateral; 14, 15, 19. Discomorpha putumayoensis sp. nov.: 14. Apex of penis; 15. Penis lateral; 19. Spermatheca; 16, 17. Discomorpha giganteensis sp. nov.: 16. Apex of penis; 17. Penis lateral; 18. Discomorpha howdenorum sp. nov.: Spermatheca.