Zepherina Bechyné, 1958

Viswajyothi, Keezhpattillam & Clark, Shawn M., 2022, New World genera of Galerucinae Latreille, 1802 (tribes Galerucini Latreille, 1802, Metacyclini Chapuis, 1875, and Luperini Gistel, 1848): an annotated list and identification key (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 842, pp. 1-102 : 18

Genus Zepherina Bechyné, 1958

Zepherina Bechyné, 1958: 590 (type species Malacosoma bellum Bowditch, 1925 , by original designation).

Remarks

This genus is reported to occur in Central and South America. An undescribed species from the Bahamas may also belong here. However, the genus is composed of a heterogeneous mixture of species. Most notably, the aedeagi vary dramatically in form. The beetles are also very heterogeneous in their externally visible characters (hence, the numerous places the genus appears in the key). Future systematic study will surely result in the genus being subdivided into numerous smaller genera. The following key accounts for much of the heterogeneity, but may not allow for identification of all of the species currently in the genus. Moreover, minimal characters differentiate Zepherina from Masurius . Some of the species currently placed in Zepherina might more properly belong in Masurius . Together, the two genera currently contain approximately 60 named species. See Figs 52–55 and 155 for illustrations of Zepherina .

Figures

Figs 46–54. Dorsal views. 46. Hecataeus nigricollis Jacoby, 1888. 47. Nyctiplanctus? farri Blake, 1963. 48. Nyctiplanctus ferrugineus (Blake, 1963). 49. Metacycla sallei Baly, 1861. 50. Metalepta degandii Baly, 1961. 51. Zepherina defensa (Bechyné, 1956). 52. Zepherina trinidadensis (Weise, 1929). 53. Zepherina brevicollis (Weise, 1921). 54. Zepherina parvicollis Bechyné & Bechyné, 1976.

Figs 55–63. Dorsal views. 55. Zepherina variegata (Weise, 1921). 56. Exora olivacea (Fabricius, 1801). 57. Masurius sp. 58. Elyces? quadrimaculatus Jacoby, 1888. 59. Byblitea jansoni (Jacoby, 1878). 60. Sonyadora quadripustulata (Bowditch, 1925). 61. Malacorhinus foveipennis (Jacoby, 1879). 62. Trigonexora diversemaculata (Bechyné, 1956). 63. Pyesexora sp.

Figs 153–157. 153. Galerucella nymphaeae (Linnaeus, 1758), ventral view. 154. Ophraea rugosa Jacoby, 1886, ventral view. 155. Zepherina defensa (Bechyné, 1956), head, including maxillary palpi. 156. Pyesexora sp., head, including maxillary palpi. 157. Byblitea sp., lower portion of head, including maxillary palpi.