Cephaloleia amba Staines

Staines, Charles L. & Garcia-Robledo, Carlos, 2014, The genus Cephaloleia Chevrolat, 1836 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae), ZooKeys 436, pp. 1-355 : 57-58

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Chrysomelidae

Cephaloleia amba Staines sp. n. Fig. 70

Description.

Obovate; subconvex; head, scutellum, and pronotum (except lateral margin) black; elytra pale yellow with black irregular transverse band from puncture row 1 to 10 across humerus, apical ½ (except lateral and apical margins) black; venter brownish. Head: vertex finely punctate, each puncture with white seta, medial sulcus faint; frons not projecting; not depressed between eyes. Antenna: reaches beyond humerus; slender; antennomeres 1 and 2 transverse, short; 3-4 subequal in length, each 2 × length of 2; 5-10 subequal in length, each ¾ length of 3; 11 2 × length of 10, pointed at apex; 1-2 punctate with scattered setae, 3-11 setose. Pronotum: transverse; lateral margin straight then rounding to anterior angle, serrulate; anterior angle obtusely rounded, not produced; posterior angle acute; anterior margin emarginate behind head; disc subvoncex; surface irregularly punctate, punctures more dense basally and laterally; basal impression absent; pronotal length 1.1 mm; pronotal width 1.7-2.0 mm. Scutellum: pentagonal; alutaceous. Elytron: lateral margin straight for basal ⅔ then rounded to apex, smooth; apical margin rounded, smooth; sutural angle without tooth; humerus rounded, not produced; slightly constricted behind humerus; moderately punctate-striate, row 10 removed from lateral margin; elytral length 3.7-4.3 mm; elytral width 2.4-2.6 mm. Venter: prosternum slightly rugose medially, punctate laterally; meso- and metasterna slightly punctate medially, punctate laterally; abdominal sterna punctate, each puncture with pale seta; suture between abdominal sterna 1 and 2 obsolete medially; last sternite with apical margin broadly emarginate medially in male. Leg: femur and tibia punctate, each puncture with seta; tibia with fringe of setae on inner margin of apex. Total length: 4.9-5.6 mm.

Etymology.

From ambon (Greek) meaning edge for the pale flange of the pronotum and elytra. The name is a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis.

This species belongs to the group of species with a mostly dark pronotum which yellowish elytra with black transverse bands. It is most similar to Cephaloleia degandei and can be distinguished by the serrulate lateral margin of the pronotum and by antennomeres 1 and 2 being subequal in length.

Host plant.

Accodring to label data adults have been collected on Costus sp. ( Costaceae ).

Distribution.

Colombia, Ecuador, Peru.

Type material.

Holotype male: Colombia, Amazonas Pr., Mico ( “Monkey”) Island, R. Amazonas, ca. 3°56'S, 70°8'W / 3-VII-1978/ Costus / Holotype Cephaloleia amba Staines, des. C. L. Staines 2012 [red label] (USNM). Paratypes (6) (each with Paratype Cephaloleia amba Staines, des. C. L. Staines 2012 [red label]): with same label data as holotype (USNM); Ecuador, Napo prov., 2 km S Puerto Misahauli, 01°02'46"S, 77°39'23"W, 450 m, second growth, 8.xii.2009, COST. Costus sp., L. Sekerka and L. Stajerova lgt. [green printed label] (LSC); Ecuador, Napo prov., Rio Puno, 13.xii.2009, 8 km SE of Misahuali, 400 m, 01°05'55"S, 77°38'30"W, Costus sp., tall, white flowers, L. Sekerka and L. Stajerova lgt [green printed label] (BMNH, LSC); Ecuador, Sucumbios pr., Lumbaqui, Cost. Costus sp., D. Windsor lgt., 5.ii.2007 (DWC); Peru, Madre de Dios, Rio Tambopata Reserve, 30 air km SW of Puerto Maldenado, 290 m, November 1-26 1982, Edward S. Ross (CASC).