Cassida amorifica Boheman, 1862

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 : 26-28

Cassida amorifica Boheman, 1862

( figs. 3 , 115–118 )

Cassida amorifica Boheman, 1862: 315 ; Gemminger & Harold, 1876: 3652; Spaeth, 1938: 63; Shaw, 1956: 268, 1963: 457; Borowiec, 1995: 370, 1999: 236, 2005: 122.

Coptocycla amorifica: Spaeth, 1909: 275, 1912 b: 504 , 1914 b: 131, 1935: 175.

Coptocycla venustula Weise, 1896: 27, 1902: 404 ; Spaeth, 1909: 275 (as syn.).

Description. L: 4.15–5.10 mm, W: 3.10–3.60 mm, Lp: 1.55–1.75 mm, Wp: 2.55–2.95 mm, L/W: 1.33–1.43, Wp/ Lp: 1.59–1.74. Body oval ( figs. 115, 117, 118 ).

Variable species, in typically coloured specimens pronotum yellow, disc with large black goblet–like spot; scutellum black, elytral disc yellow with black pattern: large goblet–like spot behind scutellum, two large round spots behind the middle close to suture, elongate spot on sutural apex extending to explanate margin, large elongate spot on sides extending from humeral callus to half length of disc and elongate L–shaped spot in posterolateral parts of disc ( fig. 115, 116 ). In dark intermediate forms pronotum with small triangular spot in area above head and large trapezoidal or square spot at basal part of disc, elytral anterolateral spots connected with round spots behind the middle of disc and posterolateral elongate spots connected with apical sutural spot then elytral disc predominantly black with yellow relief as in fig. 117 . In the darkest form entire elytral disc black except yellow anterior half of marginal interval ( fig. 118 ). Explanate margin always yellow. Ventrites variable, in most common form head yellow with narrow black band across base, thorax black except yellow lateral plates, abdomen in the middle brown to black surrounded by yellow. Legs mostly yellowish, including coxae, but trochanters always infuscate to black. In extreme pale form ventrites almost completely yellow only abdomen in the middle yellowish brown, in extreme dark form basal 1/3 of clypeus black and abdomen mostly black only narrowly surrounded by yellow. The degree of dark maculation of ventrites is not correlated with degree of black colouration of dorsal part of body. Antennal segments 1 yellow usually more or less infuscate to completely brown, segments 2–4 yellow, segment 5 yellow to partly infuscate, segments 6–11 gradually darker to completely black.

Pronotum elliptical, with maximum behind the middle, anterior margin regularly convex, sides broadly rounded, no basal corners. Surface of disc from slightly alutaceous to slightly shiny, with very fine but dense punctation. Distance between punctures from as wide as to slightly wider than puncture diameter, interspaces regular with distinct microreticulation. Explanate margin broad, moderately bordered from disc with distinct lateral impressions, impunctate, transparent with well visible honeycomb structure its surface from slightly alutaceous to slightly shiny.

Base of elytra slightly to moderately wider than base of pronotum, humeral angles moderately protruding anterad, subangulate. Disc depressed in profile ( fig. 116 ), without impressions, in form with predominate black pattern yellow in postscutellar area forms a relief. Punctation in forms predominantly yellow or completely black arranged in completely regular rows, in intermediate forms yellow relief partly impunctate. Punctures moderately coarse, distance between punctures mostly as wide as or slightly wider than puncture diameter. Marginal row distinct, its punctures not or only slightly coarser than punctures in central rows. Intervals flat to slightly convex, three to four times wider than rows, marginal interval as wide as submarginal one, without humeral but with distinct lateral fold. Explanate margin narrow, moderately declivous, in the widest part five times narrower than disc, surface from slightly alutaceous to slightly shiny with fine and very dense punctation, appears slightly irregular, transparent with well visible honeycomb structure.

Eyes very large, gena obsolete. Clypeus moderately broad, approximately as wide as long. Clypeal grooves fine but well marked, runs close to margin of eye and converging in sharp angle, surface of clypeal plate flat or shallowly impressed in apical half, shiny with several very small punctures. Labrum deeply emarginate to 1/3 length. Antennae stout, segments 9–10 slightly transverse. Length ratio of antennal segments: 100:49:59:56:56:44:50:49:56:59:125. Segment 3 approximately 1.3 times as long as segment 2 and only slightly longer than segment 4.

Prosternum moderately broad in the middle, strongly expanded apically, between coxae almost flat, expanded part with irregular sculpture.

Claws simple.

Distribution. South and Central Africa north to Rwanda ( fig. 3 ).

Remarks. A member of the Cassida aethiopica species–group. Pale specimens have a dorsal pattern similar to the pattern of typically coloured C. aethiopica but this species has a pair of two small round spots on pronotal disc while C. amorifica has pronotum with a single black spot in front of the scutellum and sometimes an additional small triangular spot anteriorly. Specimens with a more expanded black pattern ( fig. 117 ) are distinct from all African members of the genus Cassida . Specimens with a completely black elytral disc and yellow explanate margin of elytra are similar to such coloured members of Cassida lacrymosa species–group ( C. depicta , C. humerosa and C. schoutedeni ) but differ in slimmer body, more narrowly rounded sides of pronotum and base of elytra only slightly wider than pronotum while members of Cassida lacrymosa species–group are stouter and have base of elytra distinctly wider than pronotum.

Types examined. Holotype of Cassida amorifica Boheman : [ SOUTH AFRICA]: N’Gami Africae , 1, Vahlberg ( NRS) ; Lectotype and 2 paralectotypes of Coptocycla venustula Weise , present designation: [ SOUTH AFRICA]: Natal , 3, Gorham ( ZMHU) .

Other specimens examined. BOTSWANA: W. Chobe Nat. Park , Saruti Channel W., 13 III 1976, 1 ( NMM) .

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (ZAIRE): 18 km SW of Elisabethville, 1927, 1, H.S. Evans ( BMNH); Katanga , Kolwezi, X 1951, 1, V. Allard ( MNHW) .

KENYA: Stony Athi, E.A.U., VII 1940, 4 ( BMNH) .

MALAWI: Mulanje Mts., 23–26 XII 2001, 1, J. Halada ( MS) ; Nkhotatoka env., 2–3 I 2002, 1, J. Bezdek ( JB) ; Ntchisi, 25–29 III 2000, 1, F. Pavel ( MS) .

NAMIBIA: Abachaus , Otjiwarongo Distr., III 1950, 4, G. Hobohm ( TM, MNHW) ; Grootfontein , Farm Hurisib, IV 1989, 2, J. Irish ( ZMHU) ; Grootfontein , Otavi Fontein, 4 km E Otavi, 17 II 1992, 1, M. Uhlig ( ZMHU) ; Outjo , Delhi, 14–16 III 1979, 5, S. Louw & M.–L. Penrith ( WM, MNHW) ; Swakopmund , I 1955, 3, G. Hobohm ( MNHW) .

RWANDA: Muko , Bugamza N., 1500–1800 m, 20 VI 1951, 1, A.E. Bertrand ( MNHW) .

SOUTH AFRICA: Bouaccordam , 18 VII 1953, 1, A. Peez ( ZSM) ; Gauteng Prov., Pretoria , 25°36’S / 28°12’E, 1 ( ARC) ; Gauteng Prov., Roodeplaat , 25 km NE of Pretoria, 25°35’S / 28°22’E, 1 ( ARC) ; Gauteng Prov., Windy Brow, Cullinan , 25°41’S / 28°30’E, 1 ( TM) ; Limpopo Prov., Pienaarsrivier , 25°16’S / 28°16’E, 1 ( ARC) ; Mpulalanga Prov., Loskop Dam Nat. Res. , 50 km NW of Middelburg, 25°25’S / 29°20’E, 1 ( ARC) ; Mpumalanga, 30 km NE Lydenburg N.P., 22–25 XI 2003, 1, Halada ( MS) ; Natal, Estcourt , IX 1896, 1, under bark ( ZMHU) ; Natal, Ladysmith , VII 1957, 2, R.M. Martin ( TM, MNHW) ; Natal , [Pieter] Maritzburg, 1 ( BMNH) ; Natal, S. Lucia , 29 X 1981, 2, J. Klapperich ( MZSNV) ; Transvaal, vic. Melodie , 6–10 XII 1985, 1, D. d’Hotmann ( ER) , 14–16 XII 1985, 1, Bellamy and d’Hotmann ( ER) ; 29–31 XII1985, 1, C.L. Bellamy ( ER) ; Transvaal, Pretoria , 1, A. Botto ( MZSNV) ; Transvaal , 20–25 km E Pretoria, 17–18 XI 1984, 1, H. and A. Howden ( CMN) ; Transvaal, Ratshipe , 28 XI 1985, 1, C.L. Bellamy ( ER) ; Transvaal, Rivonia , 18 III 1967, 1, M. I. Rusell ( BMNH) ; Transvaal, Rustenburg, near Meyjes Farm , 11–17 XI 1949, 1, A.L. Capener ( MM) ; Transvaal, Saartjiesnek , 30 XI–1 XII 1985, 1, Bellamy and d’Hotmann ( ER) ; Transvaal, Zoutpansberg , 1 ( ZMHU) .

TANZANIA: Kitwei Plain , W of Kiberashi, 16 III 2002, 1, M. Snižek ( MS); Mabawe, 22 III 1961, 1, I. A. D. Robertson ( BMNH) .

ZAMBIA: Livingstone , Victoria Falls, 26–31 XII 1993, 2, M. Snižek ( MS); Victoria Falls, 17.55 S / 25.51 E, 13–14 III 1993, 1, U. Göllner ( MNHW) .

ZIMBABWE: Hope Fontain , 6 I 1922, 1, J. Neville ( NMM); Salisbury, 24 IV 1913, 3, J. O’Neil ( NMM, MNHW) .

VARIA: Margelan, 3, Stauding. (ZMHU).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Distribution of Cassida amorifica.

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