Chiridopsis laetifica ( Boheman, 1862 )

Świ, Jolanta, 2017, A monograph of the Afrotropical Cassidinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Part 4. Revision of the genus Chiridopsis Spaeth, Zootaxa 4316 (1), pp. 1-85 : 36-38

Chiridopsis laetifica ( Boheman, 1862)

( figs 11 , 68–73 )

Coptocycla laetifica Boheman, 1862: 397 ; Gemminger and Harold, 1876: 3671. Chirida laetifica: Spaeth, 1903: 179, 1914: 126 .

Chiridopsis laetifica: Spaeth, 1924: 350 ; Shaw, 1956: 596; Borowiec, 1985 b: 448, 1999: 299. Chirida insignis Weise, 1896 c: 26, 1898: 223 (as syn. of Ch. laetifica ).

Description. Le: 6.20–7.30 mm, Wi: 5.60–6.55 mm, Lp: 2.40–2.70 mm, Wp: 3.80–4.40 mm, Le/Wi: 1.07–1.14, Wp/Lp ratio: 1.56–1.68.

Variable species. Ground-colour of dorsum yellow to rusty-yellow, pale parts of pronotal and elytral disc darker than external parts of explanate margins. Pronotal disc black with large central yellow to rusty-yellow spot, area above head usually with black triangle, base and explanate margin narrowly black, and lateral parts of explanate margin with large black patch ( figs 68–73 ). Scutellum black. Elytral disc in typically coloured specimens yellow to rusty-yellow with black round spot behind scutellum ( figs 68, 69 ), three black spots along each middle of elytron, black round spot posterolaterally, black spot in the middle of border of disc connected with black pattern of explanate margin and black posterior half of suture. Explanate margin of elytra with black stripe along border of disc, in area below humerus not extending to marginal row and never extending to lateral margin of elytra. In pale aberrations black pattern of disc reduced to small postscutellar and humeral spots and black posterior half of suture ( fig. 72 ), in extreme pale aberration disc only with small humeral spots and black apex of suture ( fig. 71 ). In dark aberrations spots on disc partly more or less connected, in extreme case form reticulate pattern ( fig. 73 ). Head, thorax and abdomen yellow rusty-yellow. Legs from mostly brown to completely black, anterior femora often with reddish ring. Antennal segments 1–5 yellow to rusty-yellow, segments 6–11 more or less infuscate, occasionally antennae mostly brown with only two or three pale basal segments.

Pronotum elliptical ( figs 68, 69, 71–73 ), with maximum width in the middle, anterior margin softly convex, sides rounded, no basal corners. Surface of disc often impunctate, shiny. Explanate margin broad, impunctate, shiny, on pale parts transparent with well visible honeycomb structure.

Base of elytra much wider than base of pronotum ( figs 68, 69, 71–73 ), humeral angles distinctly protruding anterad, subangulate to angulate, elytral margin behind the humeral angle usually shallowly emarginate. Disc strongly convex in profile ( fig. 70 ), with well marked postscutellar and principal impressions. Punctation varies from very fine to moderate, on sides not or only slightly coarser than on top of disc, arranged in more or less regular rows, postscutellar area and posterolateral parts of disc with numerous additional punctures on intervals thus elytra appears partly irregularly punctate. Marginal row distinct, its punctures twice coarser than punctures in lateral rows. Intervals flat, in finely punctate specimens on top of disc five to seven, on sides three to four times wider than rows, in moderately punctate specimens on top of disc four to six, on sides twice to thrice wider wider than rows, marginal interval in humeral half twice wider than submarginal one, no humeral or lateral folds. Explanate margin moderately broad, moderately declivous, in the widest part 5.0–5.5 times narrower than disc, surface on black parts with shallow and sparse punctation, on yellow parts impunctate, shiny, transparent with well visible honeycomb structure.

Eyes very large, gena obsolete. Clypeus broad, approximately 1.4 times as wide as long. Clypeal grooves very fine, in basal half almost invisible, running close to margin of eye, on top converging in broad arch, surface of clypeus moderately convex, microreticulate but shiny with several small, setose punctures. Labrum broadly emarginate to 1/5 length. Antennae slim, segments 9–10 approximately 1.6 times as long as wide. Length ratio of antennal segments: 100:43:50:80:67:52:54:50:50:54:106. Segment 3 approximately 1.2 times as long as segment 2 and 0.6 times as long as segment 4.

Prosternum broad in the middle, moderately expanded apically, area between coxa impressed to canaliculate with some oblique wrinkles and short grooves and only few small setose punctures, expanded apex impressed, with more or less irregular sculpture and few small setose punctures.

Claws with small basal tooth, apex of last tarsomere expanded, dentiform thus claws appear more dentate than in reality.

Distribution. Central Africa west to Ghana ( fig. 11 ).

Remarks. A very distinct species ( figs 68–73 ). Its partly irregular punctate elytra, reddish-yellow ground colour and alutaceous surface of pronotal and elytral disc are unique.

Types examined. Lectotype of Coptocycla laetifica (designated by Borowiec 1999: 299): [NIGERIA] Old Calabar, Murray (NRS).

Lectotype and 2 paralectotypes of Chirida insignis (designated by Borowiec 1999: 299): [ CAMEROON] Lolodorf ( ZMHU).

Other specimens examined. CAMEROON: Abong Mbang, 1959, 1, Lenczy ( HNHM) ; Barombi, 2, Conradt (DBET); Barombi St. , 2, Zeuner ( ZMHU) ; Barombi-Likoko road, 20 I 1958, 1, W. Hartwig (MKB); Batanga, 3 (LS, MRAC, NMP), IV 1910, 1, 20 IV 1910, 1, IX 1910, 1, 4 X 1910, 1, I 1911, 1, II 1911, 3, IV 1911, 1, A.I. Good ( CMNH), IV 1914, 2, V 1914, 1, F.H. Hope ( CMNH) ; Batibo , 16 VII 1982, 2 (ML); Bibundi, 1–15 V 1905, 2, G. Tessmann ( ZMHU) ; Bipindi , IX 1898, 5, Zenker ( ZMHU) ; Cameroon , 2 ( HNHM) ; Cameroon merid., 5 ( HNHM) ; Doum , 10 VII 1970, 1, B. de Miré (HPA); Duala, 1 ( ZMHU) ; Ebolowa, 2, Vandon (MNHN); Edea , 6 VI 1922, 1, 7 VIII 1922, 1, J. A. Reis ( CMNH) ; Efulen , XI 1911, 1, IX 1912, 3, X 1912, 3, XI 1912, 2, J. A. Reis ( CMNH), II 1910, 1, IV 1923, 1, VI 1922, 1, VIII 1920, 1, VI 1922, 1, H.L. Weber ( CMNH, DBET, 1 LS); Jaunde, IV–V 1897, 1, V. Carnap ( ZMHU) ; Joh.-Albrechthöhe , 29 VIII– 13 IX 1 898, 1, Conradt ( ZMHU) ; Joko, 1 (DBET); Katho- Barombi See , I 1958, 1, Hartwig (MKB); Kribi, 9, Carret (7 MRAC, 2 DBET), 1890, 1, Morgen ( ZMHU) ; Lolodorf, 10 (MCZC), 1 (IRSN); XII 1894 - III 1895, 4, XI 1897 - IV 1898, 4, L. Conradt ( ZMHU), XI 1913, 1, A.I. Good ( CMNH), 12 V 1914, 1, 20 V 1914, 1, 23 V 1914, 1, 26 VI 1914, 1, 17 X 1914, 1, 2 XI 1914, 2, 22 XII 1914, 1, 7 II 1918, 1, J. A. Reis ( CMNH), V 1923, 1, III 1925, 1, VI 1 925, 1, IX 1925, 1, X 1925, 1, A.I. Good ( CMNH) ; Makundange , 1–15 VI 1905, 1, G. Tessmann ( ZMHU) ; Mbalmayo , 25 VI 1976, 1 (BB); 40 km SW Messamena, Somalomo, 9–10 I 1978, 1, Lund University Exp. (LU); Mouiame, VIII 2002, 1, Bindizi (ACO); Metet, 3, G. Schwab ( MCZC) ; Mt. Balmayo , 9, J. Cantaloube, 25, Barga ( MRAC, DBET) ; Muëli , 560 m, 1 II 1958, 8, H. Knorr ( SMNS), 600 m, II 1958, 14, Hartwig (MKB); Mukonje Farm, 2, H. Rohde ( IRSN) ; Mundame, 3, R. Rohde (ZMHU); Mvaa , XII 1961, 1, Chassot ( MRAC) ; Namiong n. Lolodorf, 1, O. Ulbrich (ZMHU); Nanga Eboko , VII– X 1959, 4, Lenczy ( HNHM) ; Nkolbisson, Dept. Nyong–Sanaga, IX 1963, 6, X 1963, 9, L.G. Saegers (MRAC, DBET); Sardi n. Dengdeng , III–IV 1914, 9, Mildbraed ( ZMHU) ; Région Batouri, 1, Vandon (MNHN); Victoria, 1 (ZMHU), 1, Preuss (ZMHU); 10 km NW of Victoria , 22 I 1978, 1, Lund University Exp. (LU); Victoria Div., Mabeta, VII–VIII 1949, 1, S. Tita ( CAS) ; 80 km NW Yaounde, Rt. n. 9, 6 XI 1987, 1, F. Kaplan ( TAU) ; Yaoundé , 8, IX 1930, 3, X 1930, 6, Vadon ( MNHN, 4 LS).

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO ( ZAIRE): Tshuapa, Ikela, 1955, 1, Lootens ( MRAC).

EQUATORIAL GUINEA: Benito , 1 ( NMP) ; San Benito, 1885, 1, Guiral ( MNHN) ; Benitogeb., 1–15 VIII 1906, 2, G. Tessmann ( ZMHU) ; Makomo, Campogeb., 16–30 IV 1906, 1, G. Tessmann ( ZMHU) ; Mongo , 1946– 1948, 13, J. Palau ( MRAC), 8 IX 1946, 1, 6 X 1946, 1, J. Palau ( MCNB) ; Nkolentangan , XI 1907 – V 1908, 12, G. Tessmann ( ZMHU) ; Sendye, II 1959, 2, B. Simon ( MCNB) ; Sendye, Rio Benito, II 1954, Sabater ( MCNB) .

GABON: Gabon , 1 ( NMP) ; Haut Ivindo, affl. Ogooué, 1906, 4, J. Gravot (MNHN); Ogove R., 1, Good (CMNH).

GHANA: Takoradi , 1, Besnard ( MRAC).

NIGERIA: Nigeria , 1, Škulina ( NMP).

REPUBLIC OF CENTRAL AFRICA: Nola, 1 (NMP).

Figures

FIGURE 11. Distribution of Chiridopsis laetifica.

FIGURES 68 – 73. Chiridopsis laetifica. 68. Male dorsal, 69. Female dorsal, 70. Female lateral, 71 – 73. Variation of dorsal pattern.