Cassida aethiopica Boheman, 1854

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 : 22-24

Cassida aethiopica Boheman, 1854

( figs. 1 , 111–114 )

Cassida aethiopica Boheman, 1854: 368, 1856: 125 , 1862: 303; Gemminger and Harold, 1876: 3651; Spaeth, 1943: 58; Shaw, 1968 a: 371; Borowiec, 1986: 806, 1999: 235.

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

Chiridopsis aethiopica: Tiberghien, 1976: 180 .

Description. L: 4.70–5.95 mm, W: 3.30–4.00 mm, Lp: 1.70–2.00 mm, Wp: 2.75–3.25 mm, L/W: 1.38–1.55, Wp/ Lp: 1.62–1.71. Body elongate–oval ( figs. 111, 113, 114 ).

In typically coloured specimens pronotum yellow with two round, black spots at top of disc. Scutellum yellow, elytral disc yellow with black pattern: round spot close to humerus, large spot on suture behind scutellum, two large round spots behind the middle close to suture, two small spots on slope and irregular band on sides of disc from humeral callus to 3/4 length of disc. Explanate margin always yellow ( figs. 111, 112 ). The pattern is quite constant but sometimes large spots behind the middle of disc are connected with lateral band or the lateral band is interrupted in the middle. In rare aberrations elytral pattern is brown or yellowish brown ( fig. 114 ), in extreme case dorsum uniformly yellow, sometimes with paler yellow patches ( fig. 113 ). Head and prosternum yellow, mesosternum from yellow to brown, metasternum usually mostly brown to black with paler lateral plates but sometimes only yellowish brown, abdomen at least in the middle brown to black surrounded by yellow. Legs mostly yellowish but usually with partly infuscate femora and tibiae, often femora in the middle with brownish ring. Antennal segments 1–6 yellow, apical segments gradually infuscate to mostly black.

Pronotum elliptical, with maximum width 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 and sparse punctation. Distance between punctures several times wider than puncture diameter, interspaces regular with distinct microreticulation. Explanate margin indistinctly bordered from disc, broad, impunctate, transparent with well visible honeycomb structure its surface from slightly alutaceous to slightly shiny.

Base of elytra moderately wider than base of pronotum, humeral angles moderately protruding anterad, rounded. Disc depressed in profile, without impressions ( fig. 112 ). Punctation moderately coarse arranged in completely regular rows, sparse, distance between punctures mostly twice to thrice wider than puncture diameter. Marginal row distinct, its punctures only slightly coarser than punctures in central rows. Intervals flat to slightly convex, three to four times wider than rows, marginal interval slightly narrower than submarginal one, no humeral or lateral folds. Explanate margin narrow, strongly declivous, in the widest part five times narrower than disc, surface from slightly alutaceous to slightly shiny with fine and sparse punctation, transparent with well visible honeycomb structure.

Eyes very large, gena obsolete. Clypeus broad, approximately 1.2 times as wide as long. Clypeal grooves fine but well marked, converging in triangle with obtuse top, surface of clypeus flat or very shallowly impressed, its surface from slightly alutaceous to slightly shiny with several very small punctures. Labrum broadly emarginate to 1/4 length. Antennae stout, segments 9–10 slightly transverse. Length ratio of antennal segments: 100:53:80:67:60: 60:60:57:60:63:120. Segment 3 approximately 1.5 times as long as segment 2 and approximately 1.2 times as long as segment 4.

Prosternum narrow in the middle, strongly expanded apically, flat without special sculpture except several very small, setose punctures.

Claws simple.

Distribution. Common in western, eastern and central Africa west to Mali, north to Sudan, and south to N Tanzania ( fig. 1 ).

Remarks. A member of the Cassida aethiopica species–group. Typical maculate form ( fig. 111 ) is distinct from all African members of the genus Cassida . The combination of two black, round spots on pronotal disc and black pattern on yellow background on elytral disc is unique. The most similar elytral pattern has typical form of Cassida amorifica ( figs. 115, 117 ) but differs in pronotal disc with only one black, basal spot and sometimes with additional triangular spots anteriorly. Cassida aethiopica has prosternum and first antennomere yellow while in C. amorifica prosternum is often black and first antennomere more or less infuscate. Pale specimens of C. aethiopica with elytral pattern reddish or completely reduced ( figs. 113, 114 ) are similar to Cassida andreinii ( fig. 237 ) but differ in larger size (length 4.70–5.95 mm vs. 3.65–4.55 mm), longer antennae with antennomeres 9 and 10 distinctly longer than wide (wider than long in C. andreinii ), abdomen at least in the middle brown to black (uniformly yellow in Cassida andreinii ), finer elytral punctation, and simple claws (with large basal tooth in C. andreinii ).

Types examined. Types not examined. According to Boheman (1854) type material was preserved in Paris Museum but we couldn’t find them in the MNHM collection.

Other specimens examined. BENIN: Ouédéme–Adja, Mono River , 30 XII 2016, ultra violet, 1, A. Coache ( AC) ; Parakou , 14 VII 1990, 3 ( MNHN) ; Savalou, Kpataba , 14 XII 2016, ultra violet, 2, A. Coache ( AC) .

CAMEROON: Benuë ad Garua, 12–18 VII 1909, Riggenbach ( ZMHU) ; Garua , 2–3 IX 1909, 3, Riggenbach ( ZMHU) ; Guétalé , Sodecoton, 22 IX 1977, 2, F. Appolinaire ( HPA, MNHW) ; Kinadare–Benuë , 20 VII 1909, 1, Riggenbach ( ZMHU) ; Kindoa , 20 VII 1909, 1, Riggenbach ( ZMHU) ; Koza , 18 IX 1977, 1, F. Appolinaire ( HPA) ; Kumba Station , 31 VII 1988, 1, F.–T. Krell ( SMNS) ; Maroua , route Kousseri, 6 IX 1977, 1, F. Appolinaire ( HPA) ; Wasa , 28 VIII 1978, 1, B. de Miré ( HPA) .

CHAD: Bas– Chari , Fort Lamy, X 1904, 19, J. Decorse ( MNHN, MNHW); Bebedja, 20–21 V 1973, 1, R. Linnavuori ( ZMUH) .

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (ZAIRE): Albert Nat. Park , Bitshumbi, 925 m, 29 IX 1933, 1, de Witte ( MRAC) ; Albert Nat. Park , Rwindi, 1000 m, 16 II 1936, 2, L. Lippens ( MRAC, MNHW) ; Lac Albert , Kasenyi, 15 V 1935, 2, H.J. Brédo ( MRAC) , XII 1938, 2, P. Lefèvre ( MRAC) .

GABON: Gabon, 1, Staudinger (ZMHU).

GHANA: Accra Airport , 28–29 V 1988, 1, F.–T. Krell ( SMNS); Northern Region, Tamale, 18 VII 1970, 2, S. Endrödi ( HNHM, MNHW) .

IVORY COAST: Adiopodoume , 7 V 1988, 1, F.–T. Krell ( SMNS) ; Bouaké , 17 II 1978, 1, R. Etienne ( HPA) ; 6 km E Dabou , 4 IV 1988, 2, F.–T. Krell ( SMNS) ; Ferkessédougou , 10–20 V 1964, 1, J. Decelle ( MRAC) ; Ferkessedougou , 25 X 1973, 1, R. Linnavuori ( ZMUH) ; Lamto , 8 VIII 1979, 1, J.M. Maldes ( HPA) .

KENYA: Kisumu, 2 VI 1975, 1, H. Gønget ( ZMC) .

MALI: Kogoni , X 1966, 28, G. Schmitz ( MRAC, MNHW) .

NIGER: Niamey, 4 IX 1985 , 1, 25 IX 1985, 1, 6 X 1985, 2, T.J. McNary ( CMNH); Niger, 1, Benne ( ZMHU) .

SUDAN: Fung Prov. , 10 IX 1930, 1, H.B. Johnston ( MM) .

TANZANIA: Victoria See, Ukerewe Is., 2, Conrads (DEI, BMNH).

TOGO: Sokode , Kpangalam, 7 VI 1988, 1, F.–T. Krell ( MNHW) .

UGANDA: Jinja, XII 1954 – II 1955, 2, P.S. Corbett ( BMNH) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Distribution of Cassida aethiopica (black circles) and Cassida benguelica (black diamond).

FIGURES 111–114. Cassida aethiopica. 111, 113–114. Dorsal; 112. Lateral.

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

FIGURES 236–238. Cassida andreinii. 239–240. Cassida heroni. 236–237, 239. Dorsal; 238, 240. Lateral.