Cassida ancorifera Boheman, 1856

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 : 29-31

Cassida ancorifera Boheman, 1856

( figs. 4 , 147–154 )

Cassida ancorifera Boheman, 1856: 130, 1862: 319 ; Gemminger & Harold, 1876: 3652; Shaw, 1961: 27; Borowiec, 1986: 805, 1999: 237; Rice, 2003: 80 .

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

Cassida insignis Spaeth, 1924: 359, 1933 a: 345 ; Shaw, 1972: 75; Borowiec, 1999: 237 (as syn. of ancorifera ).

Cassida ancorifera ssp. insignis: Spaeth, 1943: 59 .

Cassida insignis ab. Seydeli Spaeth, 1933 a: 345, unavailable name.

Cassida comtula Spaeth, 1924: 361 ; Borowiec, 1999: 237 (as syn. of ancorifera ).

Description. L: 3.90–4.60 mm, W: 3.35–3.85 mm, Lp: 1.45–1.70 mm, Wp: 2.45–2.8 mm, L/W: 1.16–1.22, Wp/Lp: 1.65–1.86. Body almost circular ( figs. 147, 148, 150–153 ).

Very variable species. In typically coloured specimens pronotum yellow, disc with large, fungiform black spots; scutellum black, elytral disc with black humeri and postscutellar impressions, black stripe around disc and black transverse band in 2/3 length of disc interrupted on suture, area on top of disc reddish with yellow elevated U–shaped figure on top of disc ( fig. 150 ). In dark forms black on disc increases and only marginal interval, lateral fold and two spots on top of disc yellow, and black spot on pronotum covers almost entire pronotal disc except size ( fig. 151 ). In extreme dark form entire elytral disc black except yellow marginal interval ( fig. 152 ). In pale forms dark pattern is reduced, band around disc mostly brown or reddish brown, top of disc mostly yellow only punctures with dark centre, pronotal spot reduced to a small brown to black patch in front of scutellum ( figs. 148 , 153 ). In very pale specimens pattern of dorsum is reddish, including pronotal spot ( fig. 147 ), in extreme case dorsum uniformly yellow (only one such coloured specimen was examined). Explanate margin always yellow. Head yellow, sometimes basal corners reddish, thorax, abdomen and legs yellow, antennae yellow, in northern populations usually only last segment infuscate to brown, in southern populations two to four apical segments more or less infuscate to almost black.

Pronotum elliptical, with maximum in the middle, anterior margin regularly convex, sides narrowly rounded, no basal corners. Surface of disc shiny, impunctate. Explanate margin broad, impunctate, shiny, transparent with well visible honeycomb structure.

Base of elytra much wider than base of pronotum, humeral angles distinctly protruding anterad, angulate, margins of elytra behind humeral angle usually very shallowly emarginate. Disc depressed in profile ( fig. 149 ), with shallow postscutellar and posterolateral and deep principal impressions and slightly elevated postscutellar Hshaped figure. Punctation variable, from fine in northern populations to moderately coarse in southern populations, tends to form regular rows but they are often interrupted by pale elytral sculpture, punctation in rows from sparse to moderately dense, distance between punctures from as wide as to thrice wider than puncture diameter. Marginal row distinct, but its punctation forms rather shallow impressions than regular punctures. Intervals when well marked than on top of disc thrice on side twice wider than rows, flat, shiny, marginal interval always complete with more or less marked yellow lateral fold. Explanate margin broad, moderately declivous, in the widest part three times narrower than disc, surface shiny, slightly irregular, transparent with well visible honeycomb structure.

Eyes very large, gena obsolete. Clypeus narrow, slightly longer than wide. Clypeal grooves fine but well marked, runs close to margin of eye then converging in triangle, surface of clypeus flat or very shallowly impressed, its surface shiny with few small punctures. Labrum shallowly emarginate to 1/5 length. Antennae slim, segments 9–10 approximately 1.5 times as long as wide. Length ratio of antennal segments: 100:50:53:53:53:47:53:44:50:50:112. Segment 3 approximately 1.1 times as long as segment 2 and as long as segment 4.

Prosternum moderately broad in the middle, strongly expanded apically, area between coxa flat without special sculpture, expanded part with several dense punctures, often appears irregular.

Claws simple.

Distribution. Central Africa from Cameroon to Ethiopia, south to Mozambique and Zimbabwe ( fig. 4 ).

Remarks. A very distinct species not belonging to any defined group of species. The combination of characters: extremely variable dorsal pattern with a basal spot on the pronotum always present ( figs. 147–154 ) but ventrites yellow, depressed elytral disc with shallow postscutellar and posterolateral and deep principal impressions and slightly elevated postscutellar H–shaped figure, shiny and impunctate pronotum, base of elytra much wider than base of pronotum with angulate humeral angles distinctly protruding anterad, elytral punctation sparse, from fine to moderate, arranged in more or less regular rows but regularity often disturbed by pale elytral sculpture, and simple claws is unique. A form with a completely black elytral disc ( fig. 152 ) at first glanc is similar to the similarly coloured form of Cassida amorifica ( fig. 118 ) but this species differs in base of elytra only slightly wider than pronotum, pronotal disc punctate, pronotum with two black spots, small triangular anteriorly and large, transverse at base, body more elongate (L/W ratio 1.33–1.43 vs. 1.16–1.22) and ventrites mostly black. Maculate forms of C. ancorifera ( figs. 150, 151 ) are similar to C. bamendana and C. flavosignata but both congeners distinctly differs in coarsely and densely punctate elytral disc, numerous yellow relief spots on elytral disc and ventrites partly brown to black (figs. 122, 124). Pale form of C. ancorifera ( fig. 147 ) differs from all small species with reddish dorsal pattern in simple claws.

Types examined. Syntype of Cassida insignis Spaeth : [ MALAWI]: Zomba, Nyassaland, H.S. Staunus (syntype of insignis, BMNH ); syntype of Cassida insignis Spaeth : [ TANZANIA]: Victoria See, Ukerewe Is., Conrads (MM); Holotype of Cassida comtula Spaeth : [ EQUATORIAL GUINEA]: Fernando Poo, Basile, 400–600 m, VIII–IX 1901, L. Fea (MZSNG).

Other specimens examined. CAMEROON: Douala , 1, David ( NMP); Yaunde, 27 III 1923, 1 ( CMNH) .

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (ZAIRE): Bas Congo , Mangembo, 1932, 1, Zwolakowski ( MRAC) ; Garamba Nat. Park , km 17, 6 VII 1950, 1, 25 V 1951, 1, De Saeger ( IRSN, MRAC) ; Kivu , Ibanda, 1951–1952, 4, M. Vandelannoite ( MRAC, MNHW) ; Kivu , Irangi, 26 I 1957, 1, Dr. Jilly ( SMNS) , 24 VIII 1985, 1, H. Mühle ( HK) ; Kivu , Rutshuru, riv. Kanzarue, 1200 m, 16 VII 1935, 1, de Witte ( MRAC) ; Kivu , Tshibinda, XI 1932, 1, L. Burgeon ( MRAC) ; Leopoldville , 20 IX 1950, 1, M. Leclerq ( MNHW) ; Mayumbe , Kuni, 23 V 1925, 1, A. Collart ( MRAC) ; Nioka , VII 1937, 1, J. Ghesquière ( MRAC) ; Rutshuru , I 1937, 1, J. Ghesquière ( MRAC) ; Stanleyville , 13 VII 1929, 1, A. Collart ( IRSN) ; Tanganika , Moba, 780 m, XI 1953, 1, H. Bomans ( MNHW) ; Uele , Gangala na Bodio, 15 IV 1936, 1, L. Lippens ( MNHW) ; Upemba Nat. Park , Kamitungulu , af. Lusinga, 1700 m, 4–7 III 1947, 2, Miss. de Witte ( IRSN, MM) ; Upemba Nat. Park , Kenia, 1700 m, 28 III 1947, 1, de Witte ( MRAC) ; Upemba Nat. Park , Lusinga, 1760 m, 19 III 1947, 1, de Witte ( MRAC) .

ERITREA: Erithrea, 1 (NRS).

ETHIOPIA: Belleta Forest , 13–14 VI 1963, 1, R. Linnavuori ( ZMUH); Kaffa, Gore–Tepi, 6 V 2002, 1, K. Werner ( MS) .

KENYA: Nairobi , II 1943, 1, Meneghetti ( LS) .

MALAWI: Masenjere env., 50 km S Blantyre, 21 XII 2001, 1, F. & L. Kantner ( FK); Mulanje Mts., 23–26 XII 2001, 1, F. & L. Kantner ( FK) .

MOZAMBIQUE: Zambesia prov. , Mount Lico, 921 m, V 2018, 3, G. Bittencourt ( BMNH) .

REPUBLIC OF CENTRAL AFRICA: Fort Crampel , 4 ( IRSN); Uamgeb., Bosum, 21–30 IV 1914, 1, Tesmann ( MNHW) .

TANZANIA: Kilimandjaro, 1905–1906, 1, Sjoestedt ( NRS) ; SW Tanganyika, Mt Mbize , 12 mls NE Sumbawanga, VI 1960, 1, N. Leleup ( MRAC) ; Victoria See, Ukerewe Is., 3, Conrads (, BMNH, MNHW) .

UGANDA: Victoria–Nyanza, Sesse Is., Bugala, 1908, 1, E. Bayon (MZSNG).

ZAMBIA: NW Province, 50 km E of Mwinilunga , 28 X 2008, 1, M. Snižek ( MNHW) .

ZIMBABWE: 21 km N Centenary, Miware Raffia Palm Reserve , 26 VIII 1998, 1, M. Rice ( MER) ; Mazowe , Dam, 17°31’06’’S / 30°59’13’’E, 19 VI 1998, 1, 20 VI 1998, 2, 23 VI 1998, 6, 9 VII 1998, 3, 14 VII 1998, 2, 19 VII 1998, 2, M. Rice ( MER) ; 40 km N Mhangura, Chipiri lake , 16°37’31”S, 30°06’42”E, 19 IX 1998, 1, M. Rice ( MER, MNHW) .

Figures

FIGURE 4. Distribution of Cassida ancorifera.

FIGURES 147–152. Cassida ancorifera. 147–148, 150–152. Dorsal; 149. Lateral.

FIGURES 153–154. Cassida ancorifera. 155–157. Cassida delenifica. 153, 155–156. Dorsal; 154, 157. Lateral.

FIGURES 115–118. Cassida amorifica. 115, 117–118. Dorsal; 116. Lateral.