Cassida sublesta (Weise, 1904)

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 : 154-156

Cassida sublesta (Weise, 1904)

( figs. 43 , 266–268 )

Odontionycha sublesta Weise, 1904 b: 173, 1910: 43 ; Spaeth, 1933 a: 346.

Cassida sublesta: Spaeth, 1928: 10, 1933 a: 346 , 1943: 58; Shaw, 1955: 237, 1956 a: 270, 1960: 370, 1961: 31; Nummelin & Borowiec, 1991: 14; Borowiec, 1999 a: 286.

Cassida (Cassida) sublesta: Spaeth, 1914 b: 119, 1924: 332 .

Cassida (Odontionycha) sublesta Weise, 1910 d: 43 , objective synonym and homonym.

Cassida (Odontionycha) kilimana Spaeth, 1909: 269 ; Borowiec, 1999 a: 286.

Cassida Kilimana : Spaeth, 1912 a: 497, 1924: 332 (as syn.).

Cassida (Cassida) kilimana: Spaeth, 1914 b: 119 .

Description. L: 4.70–5.50 mm, W: 3.80–4.35 mm, Lp: 1.70–2.00 mm, Wp: 3.00–3.45 mm, L/W: 1.23–1.29, Wp/ Lp: 1.73–1.78. Body oval, more or less distinctly converging posterad, males stouter than females ( figs. 266, 267 ). Body uniformly yellow or green, including head, ventrites, legs and antennae, some dry specimens preserve life green colour, especially on elytra ( figs. 266–268 ).

Pronotum elliptical, with maximum width in the middle, anterior margin regularly convex, sides rounded, no basal corners. Disc almost flat, indistinctly bordered from explanate margin. Entire surface of disc with moderately coarse punctation and dense wrinkles, appears more or less irregular. Explanate margin broad, with shallow, coarse and dense punctation and with irregular interspaces, semitransparent with more or less well visible honeycomb structure.

Base of elytra slightly to moderately wider than base of pronotum, humeral angles moderately protruding anterad, rounded. Disc irregularly convex in profile ( fig. 268 ), with distinct postscutellar and shallow principal impressions, often with very shallow posterolateral impressions, with H–shaped postscutellar elevation with short branches, second interval more or less convex, also central part of fourth interval convex. Punctation coarse and dense, partly regular and partly irregular, irregular punctation occupies postscutellar impressions, area laterally to the postscutellar impressions and posterolateral parts of disc, at least two sutural and two submarginal rows completely regular, distance between punctures mostly narrower or as wide as puncture diameter. Marginal row distinct, its punctures as coarse as or slightly coarser than punctures in central rows. Intervals mostly not marked, except first, second, central part of fourth, and two submarginal intervals more or less distinct, interspaces more or less convex thus surface of disc appears irregular, marginal interval distinct, broad, in humeral part as wides as two rows and one interval combined, no humeral or lateral folds. Explanate margin narrow, strongly declivous, in the widest part five times narrower than disc, surface coarsely, densely, irregular punctate, appears rugose, semitransparent with more or less visible honeycomb structure.

Eyes very large, gena very short, as long as width of last palpomere. Clypeus very broad, approximately 1.4 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, shiny with few very small, setose punctures. Labrum narrowly emarginate to 1/4 length. Antennae stout, segments 9–10 slightly transverse. Length ratio of antennal segments: 100:47:62:56:53:30:50:41:47:47:120. Segment 3 approximately 1.3 times as long as segment 2 and approximately 1.1 times as long as segment 4.

Prosternum broad in the middle, strongly expanded apically, area between coxa flat or only slightly impressed, shiny, without special sculpture, expanded apex flat, shiny, with several moderate, setose punctures.

Claws with large basal tooth.

Distribution. East Africa from Ethiopia to Zimbabwe ( fig. 43 ).

Remarks. A member of the Cassida viridipennis species–group. It belongs to the complex of three species with the punctation of the elytral disc in large part irregular. The complex comprises also C. franklinmuelleri and C. kantnerorum . Cassida franklinmuelleri well differs in elytral disc in profile forming a regular arch without a postscutellar elevation and a slimmer body with L/W ratio 1.28–1.41 (figs. 269, 270). Cassida kantnerorum is very similar but differs in a slimmer body with L/W ratio 1.31–1.40 (in C. sublesta 1.23–1.29) and the explanate margin of elytra slightly narrower and more declivous ( figs. 276–278 ).

Both relatives differ in the elytral disc less regularly convex with a well marked postscutellar angulation ( figs. 268 , 278 ) while Cassida sublesta differs also in a distinctly stouter body with L/W ratio 1.23–1.29 (1.28–1.41 in C. franklinmuelleri ) and the explanate margin of elytra slightly broader and less declivous ( figs. 266, 267 ). Cassida kantnerorum looks very similar, except for the irregular elytral convexity, differs also in a slightly broader explanate margin of elytra, especially in the posterior third of elytral length.

Types examined. Lectotype of Odontionycha sublesta Weise, 1904 , present designation: [ TANZANIA]: Usambar., Schulz (ZMHU); holotype of Cassida (Odontionycha) kilimana Spaeth, 1909 : [ TANZANIA]: Kilimandjaro, Kibonoto, 1000–1200 m, 7 X, Sjöstedt (NRS).

Other specimens examined. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (ZAIRE): Albert Nat. Park , Bitshumbi, lac Edward, 27 IX 1933, 1, de Witte ( IRSN) ; Albert Nat. Park , Bugazia, 912 m, 16 V 1935, 1, H. Damas ( MRAC) ; Albert Nat. Park , Ishango, 9 XII 1935, 1 H. Damas ( MRAC) ; Albert Nat. Park , Kabasha, Kanyabayongo, 1760 m, 7–15 XII 1934, 1, de Witte ( IRSN) ; Albert Nat. Park , Kihubuma, rég. Mugando, 27 IV 1945, 1, G.F. de Witte ( MRAC) ; Albert Nat. Park , Lac Kivu, I. Nyamarang, 9 X 1935, 1, H. Damas ( MRAC) ; Albert Nat. Park , Lac Mokoto, Lukulu, 15 VIII 1935, 1, H. Damas ( MRAC) ; Albert Nat. Park , Massif Ruwenzori , Moyenne Lume , Kiribata, Migeri, 1760 m, 10–15 IV 1953, 1, P. Vanschuytbroeck and J. Kekenbosch ( MRAC) ; Albert Nat. Park , Mont Hoyo, sur plantes basses, 1280 m, 7–15 VII 1955, 3, P. Vanschuytbroeck (2 MRAC, 1 MNHW) ; Albert Nat. Park , Mont Hoyo, grotte Yolohafiri, 1030 m, 8–9 VIII 1955, 1, P. Vanschuytbroeck ( MRAC) ; Albert Nat. Park , Ngoma, 1460 m, 16 IX 1935, 3, H. Damas (2 MRAC, 1 MNHW) ; Albert Nat. Park , Nzulu, Sake, 9–14 II 1934, 1, de Witte ( MRAC) ; Albert Nat. Park , Secteur Nord , Nyakahera, affl. g. Mukandwe, 1220 m, 4 IV 1957, 1, P. Vanschuytbroeck ( MRAC) ; Costermansville , 3 VII 1937, 7, H.J. Brédo ( MRAC) ; Haut Uele , Moto, VI–VII 1923, 1, L. Burgeon ( MRAC) ; Irumu–Mombassa , X 1931, 1, L. Lebrun ( MRAC) ; Ituri , Bunia, VII 1937, 1, H.J. Brédo ( MRAC) , 1938, 2, P. Lefčvre ( MRAC) ; Kafora , Irsak–Lwiro, 24 II 1967, 1 ( SMNS) ; Kahuzi–Biega Park , VIII 1984, 1, L. Bartolozzi ( MZUF) ; Kibali–Ituri , Lodjo, VIII 1939, 1, Mme Lepersonne ( MRAC) ; Kivu , Lwiro, 23 XII 1966, 1, Dr. Jiily ( SMNS) ; Kivu , Sake, 19–22 II 1934, 1, de Witte ( MRAC) ; Kivu , Sange, Ruzizi, III 1957, 3, J. Decelle ( MRAC, MNHW) ; Kivu , Uvira, XII 1932, 1, L. Burgeon ( MRAC) ; Rutshuru , 12 V 1936, 1, 26 V 1936, 1, L. Lippens ( MRAC) ; Tanganika terr., Musosa, 980 m, XI 1953, 1, H. Bomans ( MNHW) ; Uele , Dingila, 4 V 1933, 1, 1 VIII 1933, 1, H.J. Bredo ( MRAC) ; Upemba Nat. Park , Kalumogongo, 1780 m, 21 I 1948, 1, de Witte ( MRAC) .

ETHIOPIA: Beda–Kesa , 5 III 1947, 1, G. Bexell ( NRS) ; Gumma , V 1938, 1, C. Recchia ( MZSNV) ; Shawa pr., mt. Managesha , 30 km SW Adis Ababa, 2700 m, XI 1990, 1, Medvedev & Samodrzhenkov ( LM) .

KENYA: Elsamere , 27 III 1997, 3, 5 IV 1998, 1, ABD ( TD, MNHW) ; Kaimosi , II 1949, 1, van Someren ( BMNH) ; Kikuyu–Est, Kijabe , 2100 m, XII 1911, 9, Alluaud & Jeannel ( MNHN) ; Meru Park, Upper Imenti Forest , VI 1973, 1, H. Gřnget ( ZMC) ; Molo, Mau Esc. , 2150–2200 m, 1, P. Basilevsky and N. Leleup ( MRAC) ; Mt Elgon , 2010 m, 19–25 I 1979, 1, T. Palm ( LU) ; Naivasha, Joan Root , 8 IV 2002, 1, ABD ( TD) ; Naivasha, Rift Valley , XII 1903, 1, Ch. Alluaud ( MNHN) ; Nandi occ., Nyangueri , X 1904, 1, Ch. Alluaud ( MNHN) ; Nyanza, Macalder , 9–11 XII 1973, 1, H. Silfverberg ( MNHW) ; Yala River , Kisumu, IX 1916, 1, G. Babault ( MNHN) .

MALAWI: Cholo. 1919–1920, 3, R.C. Wood ( BMNH); Zomba Plateau , 1500 m, 16 III 1991, 1, C. Bayer ( MS) .

RWANDA: Gatsibu, 1800 m, terr. Biumba, 6 II 1953, 1, P. Basilevsky (MRAC); Kagogo, Terr. Ruhengeri, 29 I 1953, 1, P. Basilevsky (MRAC); Kayove, terr. Kisenyi, 14 II 1953, 1, P. Basilevsky (MRAC); Kinazi, terr. Nyanza, 5–8 I 1953, 3, P. Basilevsky (MRAC); Nyngwe, Mt. Muzimu, 2°20’S /29L17’E, 2750 m, 24 III 2007, 1, T. Wagner (TW); Rusumo, Ibanda, Makera, X 1993, 1 ex. Teclea nobilis (Rutaceae) , T. Wagner (TW); SW Ruanda, 2000 m, 7 IX 1911, 1, H. Meyer (ZMHU).

SUDAN: Equatoria , Lotti forest, 14–17 III 1963, 1, R. Linnavuori ( ZMUH)

TANZANIA: Moschi , 1000 m, V 1902, 1, Merker ( ZMHU); N Nyassa, Kinga – Geb. n. Langenburg, I 1899, 1, Fülleborn ( MNHW) .

UGANDA: Burindi Nat. Park, Nyaigura , 40 km NW Kabale, 2500 m., 30 XII 1995, 1, A. Freidberg & I. Yarom ( TAU) ; Entebbe , 1, F.J. Jackson ( BMNH) ; Kampala, 1930, 1 ( LS) ; Kibale Forest , 1 XII 1983, 1, 19 I 1985, 1, 23 III 1985, 1, M. Nummelin ( ZMUH) ; Kibale Forest, Toro Distr. , 4 III 1973, 1, H. Gřnget ( ZMC) ; Mabira , 1, R.A. Dummar ( MNHW) ; Mabira Forest, Chagwe , 3.500 –3.800 ft., 16–25 VII 1911, 1, S. A. Neave ( BMNH) ; Mujenje , IX 1913, 1, Katona ( HNHM) ; Victoria–Nyanza , Sesse Is., Bugala, 1908, 1, E. Bayon ( MZSNG) .

ZAMBIA: Musosa , IX 1939, 3, H.J. Bredo ( IRSN, MNHW) .

ZIMBABWE: Matopos, Matabele, 1, G.A. Marshall ( BMNH) .

Figures

FIGURE 43. Distribution of Cassida sparteiformis (black diamonds) and Cassida sublesta (black circles).

FIGURES 266–268. Cassida sublesta. 269–270. Cassida franklinmuelleri. 266–267, 269. Dorsal; 268, 270. Lateral.

FIGURES 276–278. Cassida kantnerorum. 279–281. Cassida mashonensis. 276–277, 269. Dorsal; 279–280, 278, 281. Lateral.