Xenispa gilvipes (Uhmann, 1930) Sekerka, 2017

Sekerka, Lukáš, 2017, Taxonomic changes within Imatidiini and Hybosispini (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae (Acta. Ent. Mus. Natl. Pragae) 57 (2), pp. 351-380 : 374

Xenispa gilvipes (Uhmann, 1930) comb. nov.

( Fig. 18 )

Cephalolia gilvipes Uhmann, 1930b: 230 (original description).

Type locality. Costa Rica, San José Province, Santa María de Dota, approx. 9°39′N, 83°58′W, ca. 1500–1600 m.

Type material examined. HOLOTYPE: pinned (both antennae missing, right elytron partly broken), ‘ COSTA RICA | F. NEVERMANN | 4.I.24 [g, p, cb, last row hw] || Sta. Maria de | Dota | an Blüten [verso of the previous label, hw] || Type No. | 54603 [hw] | USNM [r, p, cb] || HOLOTYPE [r, t, s] || Cephalolia | gilvipes n. sp. [w, hw by Uhmann, s] || USNM ENT | [data matrix code] | 00871395 [w, p, cb]’ ( USNM) .

Additional material examined. COSTA RICA: CARTAGO: Cañon, 2450 m, 28.xi.1994, 22 spec., H. Forster lgt. (15 spec. NHMW, 6 spec. LSPC, 1 spec. NMPC).

Remarks. UHMANN (1930b) described this species based on a single specimen and stated that it was collected on flowers. The holotype is strongly damaged missing both antennae from the antennomere II on and right elytron is broken due to the pin. In my opinion this species does not belong to Cephaloleia as it has conspicuously serrate apical margin of elytra, long antennae compared to the length of body and smooth convex frons and vertex. These characters are typical for the genus Xenispa and C. gilvipes conforms to other species currently classified in that genus. Therefore I hereby transfer C. gilvipes to Xenispa .

The species was so far reported only three times based on specimens collected in high mountains of central Costa Rica above 1500 m a.s.l. ( FLOWERS & HANSON 2003, MCKENNA & FARELL 2005, STAINES & GARCÍA- ROBLEDO 2014). I had no opportunity to verify any of the recently published specimens, thus I cannot confirm their identifications. The specimens reported here agree perfectly with the holotype, having the same shape, colouration and punctation. Particularly characteristic is the shape of pronotum as it has only very narrow lateral margins, which are not explanate. A similarly shaped pronotum is known only in Xenispa uhmanni ( Pic, 1934) from Colombia, which differs in having black antennae and legs while X. gilvipes has them pale brown. The locality Cañon is situated on the Pan-American Highway and is about 6 km air distance to NW from the type locality of X. gilvipes .

Distribition. Costa Rica: Cartago, Limón, Puntarenas (STAINES & GARCÍA- ROBLEDO 2014, present paper), Heredia (MCKENNA & FARELL 2005), and San José ( FLOWERS & HANSON 2003).

Figures

Figs 15–22. 15 – Cephaloleia cyanea Staines, 1996 (holotype, 4.0 mm); 16 – Xenispa gilvipes (Uhmann, 1930) (holotype, 4.4 mm); 17 – Xenispa pulchella Baly, 1859 (holotype, 7.7 mm); 18 – Xenispa fouquei sp. nov. (♂ paratype from the type locality, 6.9 mm); 19 – Xenispa argentina (Monrós & Viana, 1947) (holotype, 5.1 mm); 20 – Hybosispa delectabilis (Staines, 1996) (holotype, 3.9 mm); 21 – Hybosispa sulciceps (Baly, 1885) (syntype, BMNH, 3.1 mm); 22 – Hybosispa truncatipennis (Baly, 1869) (holotype, 6.75 mm).