Elytrogona gemmata Blake, 1930

Chaboo, Caroline S., 2000, Revision And Phylogeny Of The Caribbean Genus Elytrogona Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Stolaini), The Coleopterists Bulletin 54 (3), pp. 379-394 : 388-389

Elytrogona gemmata Blake

Figs. 1, 5 , 10, 17 , 21

Elytrogona gemmata Blake, 1930: 222 [original description]; Blackwelder, 1946: 743 [checklist].

Diagnosis. The species is distinguished from other Elytrogona species by the following combination of unique features: the pronotal extension and the anterior portion of the elytral extension are similarly lobed. The scutellum is not apparent externally. The elytral suture is elevated slightly and not flat as in the other species, and the elytral apex is acuminate. Like E. bulla , this species has a discontinuous body outline due to the pronotal shape.

Description. Body length 8.5–10.9 mm, width 5.7–8.2 mm. Ventral color brown to black. Dorsally brown; pronotum brown or brown with medial black maculation of varying sizes; elytral maculation present with four black spots on disc and one on extension, spots of varying sizes. Pronotum postero­lateral corners acuminate; anterior margin entire; posterior margin not projected at scutellum; slight median groove present; prosternal collar clearly defined, protuberant; prosternal process slightly inflated posteriorly, surface without depression. Elytral disc and explanate margins with similar pattern of fine punctation ( Fig. 5 ). Metasternum 3 times wider than long, distorted and concave. Spermatheca ( Fig. 21 ) duct short, with 2–6 coils.

Type. Male, Deposit U.S. National Museum Type Cat. No. 43119. Collected by E. C. Leonard, 1920. Published locality: Haiti ( Blake 1930).

Specimens Examined. Type, and eleven specimens (males and females) with the following label data:

HAITI: Dept. Sud­Oueste Parc National La Visite vicinity park hdqtrs., 1,880 m., 23 V 1984, coll. M. C. Thomas (1, FSCA; 1, EGRC); Dept. SudOueste Parc National La Visite ca. 1 Km S. Roche Plat, 22 V 1984, coll. M. C. Thomas (2, EGRC); Dept. Sud­Oueste Parc National La Visite, S. slope, 2,040–2,150 m, 23 V 1984, coll. M. C. Thomas (2, FSCA); Dept. Sud­Oueste Parc National La Visite ca. 1 Km S. Roche Plat, 23 V 1984, coll. M. C. Thomas (1, FSCA); Dept. Sud­Oueste Parc National La Visite, Morne La Visite, SE slope, 17.V.1984, coll. M. C. Thomas (1, EGRC); Morne Guimby, 22 km SE Fond Verrettes, Haiti, 19.VI.1956, Foret des Pins, hardwood cloud forest, coll. B. & H. Valentine (1, SMCC).

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: St. Domingo, coll. Baly (1, BMNH); Prov. Pedernales ca. 35 km N Cabo Rojo, Las Abejas, 1250 m, 26.VIII.1988, mixed forest, colls. M. Ivie, Philipps & Johnson (1, MAIC).

Variation. Body size and maculation size are variable. Maculation on the antero­medial area of the pronotal disc occurs in some individuals and is of variable size.

Remarks. Locality data indicate high elevation forest as the habitat.

Figures

Figs. 1–7. 1–2) Profiles, scale bar = 2 mm; 1) Elytrogona gemmata, profile; 2) Stoiba swartzii, profile; 3–7) Elytral punctation, square = 1 mm2; 3) E. bacca; 4). E. bulla; 5) E. gemmata; 6) E. nigrodorsta; 7) E. quatuordecimmaculata. Figs. 8–14. Claw tooth, scale bar = 0.125 mm. 8) E. bacca; 9) E. bulla; 10) E. gemmata; 11) E. nigrodorsata; 12) E. quatuordecimmaculata; 13) Stoiba indivisa; 14) Stoiba swartzii.

Figs. 15–19. Habitus, scale bar = 1 mm. 15) E. bacca; 16) E. bulla; 17) E. gemmata; 18) E. nigrodorsata; 19) E. quatuordecimmaculata.

Figs. 20–22. Elytrogona spermatheca. 20) E. bulla, scale bar = 0.3 mm; 21) E. gemmata, scale bar = 0.2 mm; 22) E. quatuordecimmaculata, scale bar = 0.2 mm.