Cassida praetimida Spaeth, 1912

Borowiec, Lech & Świętojańska, Jolanta, 2022, A monograph of the Afrotropical Cassidinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Part 6. Revision of the tribe Cassidini 3, the genus Cassida L., Zootaxa 5171 (1), pp. 1-250 : 126-129

Cassida praetimida Spaeth, 1912

( figs. 36 , 303–304)

Cassida (Odontionycha) praetimida Spaeth, 1912 a: 497, 1914 b: 93 ; Bryant, 1957: 354; Medvedev, 1996: 262; Borowiec, 1999 a: 262 (as syn. of liquefacta ).

Cassida (Odontionycha) liquefacta Spaeth, 1912 a: 499, 1914 b: 93 .

Cassida liquefacta: Borowiec, 1985: 241, 1986: 805 , 1999 a: 262.

Cassida (Odontionycha) sincera Spaeth, 1912 a: 498, 1914 b: 93 ; Borowiec, 1999 a: 262 (as syn. of liquefacta ).

Cassida (Odontionycha) semipallens Spaeth, 1912 a: 500, 1914 b: 93 ; Borowiec, 1999 a: 262 (as syn. of liquefacta ).

Cassida Chapuisi Spaeth, 1912 a: 502 ; Borowiec, 1999 a: 242, new synonymy.

Cassida (Cassida) Chapuisi: Spaeth, 1914 b: 118 .

Cassida (Odontionycha) concolor Spaeth, 1926 c: 11 ; Borowiec, 1999 a: 262 (as syn. of liquefacta ).

Description. L: 3.95–4.90 mm, W: 2.80–3.70 mm, Lp: 1.50–1.92 mm, Wp: 2.45–3.00 mm, L/W: 1.29–1.41, Wp/ Lp: 1.51–1.72. Body short–oval, widest in 1/3 length then distinctly converging posterad (fig. 303).

Body uniformly yellow, sometimes apex of last antennal segments slightly infuscate (figs. 303, 304).

Pronotum subelliptical, with maximum width at anterior 1/3 length, anterior margin forms subangulate arch, sides broadly rounded, no basal corners. Disc not bordered from explanate margin, area above head hardly marked. Surface of disc alutaceous, with fine and sparse pricks. Explanate margin broad, impunctate, alutaceous only extreme margin shiny, semitransparent with more or less visible honeycomb structure.

Base of elytra moderately wider than base of pronotum, humeral angles distinctly protruding anterad,subangulate. Disc irregularly convex in profile (fig. 304), without impressions, without H–shaped elevation, at most on top of disc with small transverse, impunctate very low fold. Punctation moderately coarse, completely irregular, distance between punctures smaller than puncture diameter, in some populations punctures extremely dense, almost touching each other. Marginal row distinct, not interrupted, its punctures slightly coarser than punctures in central rows. Interspaces usually flat, sometime is more or less marked linear second interval, marginal interval well marked, in some populations only slightly wider than marginal row, in other populations at least in humeral part twice wider than marginal row. Explanate margin moderately broad, strongly declivous, in the widest part 4.5 times narrower than disc, surface as punctate as on disc, alutaceous, semitransparent with more or less visible honeycomb structure.

Eyes moderately large, gena as long as last palpomere. Clypeus broad, 1.3–1.5 times as wide as long. Clypeal grooves fine but well marked, converging in triangle with obtuse top, surface of clypeus flat or shallowly impressed, shiny with several very small, hairy punctures, between clypeal groove and margin of eye row of hairy punctures. Labrum shallowly emarginate to 1/5 length. Antennae stout, segments 9–10 slightly transverse. Length ratio of antennal segments: 100:50:54:50:46:46:50:46:54:54:100. Segment 3 approximately 1.1 times as long as segments 2 and 4.

Prosternum narrow in the middle, moderately expanded apically, area between coxa impressed, without special sculpture except, shiny with several very small, setose punctures, expanded apex slightly convex in the middle, shiny, without special sculpture, with several very small setose punctures.

Claws with moderate basal tooth.

Distribution. Arid part of subsaharian Africa south to southern Tanzania ( fig. 36 ).

Remarks. A distinct species with no close relatives in Africa. At first glance seems to be similar to irregularly punctate, small and stout species of the C. litigiosa species–group but differs in claws with large basal tooth. From other African small, uniformly yellow or green species it differs in completely irregular punctation of elytra. The completely yellow form of C. rothschildi has a similar size, body shape and elytral convexity (figs. 234, 235) but differs in mostly regular elytral punctation.

Types examined. Two syntypes of Cassida (Odontionycha) praetimida Spaeth, 1912 : [ TANZANIA]: Shirati, V 1909, Katona ( MM) ; 10 syntypes of Cassida (Odontionycha) liquefacta Spaeth, 1912 : [ SENEGAL]: Senegal ( MM, IRSN) ; syntype of Cassida (Odontionycha) sincera Spaeth, 1912 : [ TANZANIA]: Kilimandjaro Bornemissza ( MM) ; syntype of Cassida (Odontionycha) semipallens Spaeth, 1912 : [ ERITREA]: Erithrea Bellini ( MM) ; syntype of Cassida (Odontionycha) semipallens Spaeth, 1912 : [ ERITREA]: Erithrea, Ghinda, Bellini ( MM) ; holotype of Cassida chapuisi Spaeth, 1912 : [ ERITREA]: Erithrea, Cheren ( MM) .

Other specimens examined. BENIN: Abomey , 7 V 1950, 2, A. Villiers ( IFAN, MNHW); Kandi, Amarante, 11 VIII 1990, 3, Gondengon ( MNHN) .

CHAD: 17 km S Fort Lamy, Chari–Ufer, 8 III 1973, 1 (J. Mauser).

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (ZAIRE): Ubangi , M’Paka, 17 X 1959, 1, M. Pecheur ( MRAC) ; Uele , Dingilla, 4 III 1933, 8, J. Vrydagh ( MRAC, MM, MNHW) ; Uele , Gangala na Bodio, 14 V 1936, 3, L. Lippens ( MRAC) .

ETHIOPIA: Addis Abeba, 6 XII 1926, 1, H. Scott ( MNHW); Awash N.P., Awash river , 8 XI 1980, 4, A. Demeter ( HNHM, MNHW); 11 km E Bati , 20 IX 1980, 1, A. Demeter ( HNHM); Gamu Gofa Prov., Konso , 1610 m , 1 IV 1960, 1, 10 IV 1960, 1, W. Richter ( SMNS); SNNPR Prov. , 20 km SE of Konso, 5°15’N, 37°32’E, 850 m , 11–13 V 2016, 1, J. Halada leg. ( LS), 11–13 + 18 V 2015, 1, A. Kudrna jr. leg. ( LS) .

GABON: Gabon, 1 (IRSN).

GAMBIA: Bakau , 6–26 XI 1984, 2, T. Palm ( LU) ; Bathurst , I 1968, 1, T. Palm ( LU) , 6 I 1968, 1, T.–E. Leiler ( NRS) ; Jokadu Distr. , 4 km ESE Dasilami, 9 XI 1992, 16, M. Söderlund ( LU, MNHW) ; Mc Carthy Isl. , 1, G. Svensson ( NRS) ; Maccarthy Island , S–side, 8 XI 1992, 1, M. Söderlund ( LU) .

GHANA: Accra Airport , 21 V 1988, 1, F.–T. Krell ( MNHW) ; Kumasi , 15 V 1988, 1, 17 V 1988, 1, F.–T. Krell ( SMNS) ; Northern regin, Damongo Game Res., 1 VIII 1967, 1, S. Endrödy – Younga ( HNHM) .

KENYA: Amboseli , 7 VI 1980, 3, D. Furth ( PMNH) ; L. Bogoria, Fig Tree Camp , 13 X 2004, 2, ABD ( TD) ; Garsen, Witu , 8 IV 2007, 1, M. Snižek ( MNHW) ; Naivasha, Joan Root , 8 IV 2002, 1, ABD ( TD) ; Tana – Guasa Nyero , 1200–2000 m, I 1910, 1 ( MNHN) ; Tsavo, Taita Hills, Wundanyi , 6–10 IV 1997, 1, M. Snižek ( MS) ; Tsavo, Voi , 27 III–4 IV 1997, 1, M. Snižek ( MS) .

LIBERIA: Bong Town , 22 XI 1988, 1, F.–T. Krell ( SMNS) .

MALI: Kassarola , 31 XII 1970, 1, G. Pierrard ( MRAC) .

NIGER: env. Agadès , XI 1938, 1, L. Chopard ( MNHN) ; Mt. Baguezane , 1500–1600 m, 31 VIII–4 IX 1947, 1, A. Villiers ( IFAN) ; Niger, 3, Benn. (ZMHU).

NIGERIA: Apeji , 10 ( BMNH, LS) ; near Gudi , 7 VIII 1973, 1, R. Linnavuori ( ZMUH) ; Ibadan, Oyo St. , 3–4 XI 1979, 1, Polish Students Exp. ( MNHW) ; Kontagoa River, 3 miles from Niger, 13 VIII 1970, 1, P. H. Ward ( BMNH) .

REPUBLIC OF CENTRAL AFRICA: Fort Crampel , Ubanghi, X 1953, 1, IX 1954, 1, X 1955, 1 ( MRAC, MNHW) ; Fort Sibut , Haut Chari, 1 ( MNHW) ; Fort Sibut , Ubangi Shari, 1 ( MNHW) .

SENEGAL: Bambey , 1946, 21, J. Risbec ( BMNH, LS) ; Dakar, VII 1945, 9, A. Villiers, 30 XII 1952, 2, M. Condamin ( IFAN, MNHW) ; M’Bambey , 28 II 1939, 2, 22 IV 1939, 4, M. Risbec ( MRAC) ; 14 km S of M’Bour, Club Aldiana und Umgebung , 8–20 X 1992, 2, U. Schmidt leg. ( NME) ; Sangalkam , 21 IV 1953, 1, A. Villiers ( IFAN) ; Senegal , 3 ( SD) .

SOMALIA: Afgoi , VIII 1977, 1, Olmi ( MNHW) ; Borama–Silil , 29 VI 1963, 1, R. Linnavuori ( ZMUH) ; Mogadiscio , III 1974, 1 ( JM) .

SUDAN: Blue Nile Prov., Wad Medani , 21 IX 1979, 1, H. Bremer ( ZSM) ; Wad Medani , VIII 1930, 1, H. B. Johnson ( BMNH) ; Wad Medani , n . Blue Nile, 29 X 1979, 4, Hieke ( ZMHU, MNHW) .

TANZANIA: Kigonsera , 2, Haeflinger ( ZMHU) ; SO Kilimandjaro, 20–21 I 1906, 2, Schröder ( ZMHU, MNHW) ; Kilosa , IX 1929, 1, G. A. K. Marshall ( BMNH) ; Magamba–Bge., n. Masinde , 700–1600m, 5 I 1906, 1, Schröder ( MNHW) ; Panganisteppe, Mombo–Masinde , I 1906, 1, Schröder ( ZMHU) ; Ukiriguru , 5 IX 1960, 2, I. A. D. Robertson ( BMNH) .

TOGO: Kolokope , 1 VII 1990, 2, P. Silvie ( HPA) .

UGANDA: Bussu , 1909, 1, E. Bayon ( MM); NE of Kasese, 23 XI 2001, 1, M. Snižek ( MS) .

YEMEN: Sana Distr., El Kabar Pass, 9300 ft., 2, Brit. Mus. Exp. ( BMNH, MNHW) .

Figures

FIGURE 36. Distribution of Cassida praetimida.