Chiridopsis picturata Spaeth, 1939

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 : 50

Chiridopsis picturata Spaeth, 1939

( figs 15 , 18 , 94, 95 )

Chiridopsis picturata Spaeth, 1939: 21 ; Borowiec, 1999: 302.

Description. Le: 6.10 mm, Wi: 4.10 mm, Lp: 2.25 mm, Wp: 3.55 mm; Le/Wi: 1.49, Wp/Lp: 1.56. Body elongateoval.

Pronotum yellow ( figs 94, 95 ), disc with four black spots: elongate stripe before scutellum, elliptical in front of median stripe, and square on sides. Scutellum black. Elytra yellow with black suture. Each elytron with 7–8 black spots: 5 along sides, 1 in the middle of anterior margin, 2 along middle of disc, first larger in 1/4, second small in 2/ 3 length of disc; sometimes posterior median spot obsolete, or suture in 2/3 length with narrow spot, slightly reaching behind black sutural margin. Clypeus black, thorax and abdomen mostly black, only abdominal sternites with yellow margins. Legs and antennae yellow.

Pronotum regularly elliptical ( fig. 94 ), approximately 1.5 times wider than long, with maximum width slightly behind middle, sides rounded. Disc moderately convex, microreticulate but smooth and glabrous. Explanate margin very broad, almost horizontal, smooth and glabrous.

Scutellum triangular, impunctate. Base of elytra distinctly wider than pronotum ( fig. 94 ), humeri moderately protruding anterad, angulate, margin behind humeral angle not emarginate. Disc moderately, regularly convex ( fig. 95 ), with top of convexity in 1/3 length, without impressions. Punctation regular, very fine, especially on slope. Additional punctures along sutural rows disturb regularity of rows. Punctures in marginal row approximately twice coarser than on sides of disc. Intervals flat, in sutural half of disc several times, in lateral half of disc approximately twice wider than rows, their surface smooth and glabrous. Explanate margin narrow, in the widest part approximately 3.5 times narrower than width of each disc, distinctly declivous, its surface glabrous, in side-light appears shallowly punctate.

Clypeus broad ( fig. 18 ), approximately 1.4 times wider than long, slightly convex, along whole length with distinct median groove; deep clypeal lines converging in triangle with blunt top. Surface of clypeal plate microreticulate, only slightly glabrous. Antennal grooves deep and long. Antennae slim, extending behind basal margin of pronotum by two segments, segments 9–10 slightly longer than wide, segment 3 approximately 1.6 times as long as segment 2, segment 4 approximately 1.2 times as long as segment 3.

Prosternal process moderately expanded apically, its surface regular. Prosternal collar moderately long, slightly shorter than length of third antennal segment, on sides distinctly angulate.

Claws with large basal tooth.

Distribution. Kenya and Tanzania ( fig. 15 ).

Remarks. Its dorsal pattern ( figs 94, 95 ) is similar to that of Ch. tessellata ( figs 100, 101 ) but Ch. picturata differs in prosternal collar distinctly angulate on sides. In Ch. picturata suture is almost completely black while in Ch. tessellata suture is mostly or completely yellow. Some forms of Ch. aubei ( fig. 40 ), especially populations from Quitondo in Angola, have similar pattern to Ch. picturata but differ in prosternal collar not angulate on sides.

Types examined. Holotype and paratype: [ KENYA] Makuyu, I–II 1937, C.D. Knight (holotype in BMNH, paratype in MM).

Other specimen examined. TANZANIA: Burigi, 16 V 1954, 1 ( DBET).

Figures

FIGURE 15. Distribution of Chiridopsis picturata (black squares), Chiridopsis quadriguttata (black circles), Chiridopsis ruandana (white square) and Chiridopsis spadix (white circles).

FIGURES 17 – 19. Head. 17. Chiridopsis nigrostillata — species with broad clypeus; 18. Chiridopsis picturata — species with narrow clypeus; 19. Chiridopsis aequinoctialis — species with yellow clypeus.

FIGURES 94 – 101. Chiridopsis picturata. 94. Dorsal, 95. Lateral, 96 – 99. Chiridopsis tanganikana. 96. Male dorsal, 97. Male lateral, 98. Female dorsal, 99. Female lateral; 100 – 101. Chiridopsis tessellata. 100. Dorsal, 101. Lateral.

FIGURES 37 – 42. Chiridopsis aubei. 37 – 38. Form described as ab. signaticollis, 39. Form described as ab. baumanni, 40 – 42. Form described as ab. dissoluta.