Discomorpha howdenorum, Borowiec, Lech, 2006

Borowiec, Lech, 2006, Four new species of Discomorpha Chevrolat, 1837 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Omocerini), with key to Discomorpha s. str., Zootaxa 1357, pp. 45-60 : 46-47

Discomorpha (s. str.) howdenorum sp. nov.

Etymology

Dedicated to Henry and Anne Howden, collectors of the new species.

Diagnosis

A very distinct species, the only within the nominotypical subgenus with yellowishred pronotum and elytra. Almost all species have pronotum black or black with metallic tint. Species with elytra are mostly reddish or yellowish usually have a pronotum black or black with indistinct metallic tint, only Discomorpha variegata (Linnaeus) , D. davidsoni (Borowiec et Dabrowska) , and D. howdenorum sp. nov. have a pale ground colour of pronotum, the same colour as the elytral disc. Discomorpha howdenorum at first glance differs in ground colour of the pronotum and the yellowish red of the elytra, while in D. variegata the ground colour is blood red and in D. davidsoni violet red. In D. howdenorum the inner margin of the elytral epipleuron ends very close to the apical angle of the elytra and the elytral epipleura is very narrow in posterior 1/4 length, while in both relatives the inner margin of the elytral epipleuron ends a short distance from the apical angle of the elytra and the elytral epipleura in posterior 1/4 length is moderately narrow.

Description

All measurements taken from a females: length: 14.1–14.5 mm, width: 12.4–13.2 mm, width of pronotum: 8.3–9.0 mm, length of pronotum: 3.7–4.1 mm, length/width ratio: 1.10–1.14, width/length ratio of pronotum: 2.20–2.24. Body in female moderately broad, sides regularly converging posterad ( Fig. 4 ).

Head yellowish-red to reddish. Pronotum yellowish-red to reddish, basal and lateral margins black. Scutellum reddish to brown. Elytra yellowish-red to reddish except for brown to black suture and narrowly black lateral margin. Disc on sides with black humeral callus, four moderately large black spots in the middle, and two to three very small black spots on slope. Explanate margin of elytra in the middle with two short transverse spots. Dark spots have no metallic tint. Antennal segments 1–6 reddish ventrally and black dorsally, segments 7–11 black. Ventrites reddish. Femora and tibiae yellowish-red, tarsi brown, external margin of tibiae in basal third sometimes infuscate.

Pronotum subtriangular, sides strongly converging anterad, lateral margins straight. Anterior margin shallowly emarginate. Top of disc with two small impressions. Disc dull, except narrow, median smooth line, fine and sparsely punctate. Whole surface covered by short adherent hair.

Elytra moderately broad, humeri regularly rounded, elytra widest in anterior 1/4 length then regularly converging posterad. Disc with large postscutellar tubercle ( Fig. 5 ). Elytral profile behind the top of tubercle straight or slightly concave. Postscutellar impressions distinct, bordered laterally by shiny fold. Punctation of disc coarse and dense, on sides of disc punctures almost touching each other and surface appears finely reticulate. Punctures dull, interspaces slightly shiny. Explanate margin of elytra impunctate, its surface dull. Whole elytra covered by moderately long and dense, erect or semierect pubescence. Hair in postscutellar impressions and humeral part of elytra slightly longer than on slope. Apex of elytral epipleura with dense, erect pubescence.

Antennae long, distal part with long and dull segments 2.3 times longer than basal part with short and glabrous segments. Segments 3–5 approximately the same length. Segment 7 approximately 1.18 times as long as segments 5 and 6 combined.

Ventrites without diagnostic characters. Spermatheca a little characteristic ( Fig. 18 )

Types

Holotype female: “ VENEZUELA, Bolivar, Guri, 4 VII.1998, H. & A. Howden, Wet mono forest” // “ HOLOTYPE ” [red label] // “ Discomorpha (s. str.) howdenorum n. sp., HOLOTYPUS, des. L. Borowiec ‘06”; Paratype female: “ VENEZUELA, Bolivar, Guri, 2 VII.1998, H. & A. Howden” // “ PARATYPE ” [red label] // “ Discomorpha (s. str.) howdenorum n. sp., PARATYPUS, des. L. Borowiec ‘06” (holotype preserved in CMN, paratype in DBET).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 5. 1 – 3. Discomorpha atahualpai sp. nov.: 1. Paratype male dorsal; 2. Holotype male dorsal; 3. Holotype male lateral; 4, 5. Discomorpha howdenrum sp. nov.: 4. Holotype female dorsal; 5. Holotype female lateral.

FIGURES 12 – 19. 12, 13. Discomorpha atahualpai sp. nov.: 12. Apex of penis; 13. Penis lateral; 8. Paratype female lateral; 14, 15, 19. Discomorpha putumayoensis sp. nov.: 14. Apex of penis; 15. Penis lateral; 19. Spermatheca; 16, 17. Discomorpha giganteensis sp. nov.: 16. Apex of penis; 17. Penis lateral; 18. Discomorpha howdenorum sp. nov.: Spermatheca.