Agenysa calvata ( Boheman, 1862 ), 2016

Sekerka, Lukáš, 2016, Taxonomic and nomenclatural changes in Cassidinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 56 (1), pp. 275-344 : 303-304

Agenysa calvata ( Boheman, 1862) comb. nov.

Mesomphalia calvata Boheman, 1862: 162 (original description).

Agenysa connectens aequatoriensis Spaeth, 1916: 276 (original description), syn. nov.

Type localities. Agenysa connectens aequatoriensis : ‘West-Ecuador (Llanos)’; Mesomphalia calvata : ‘Peruvia’.

Type material examined. Agenysa connectens aequator i ensis: SYNTYPES: 1 ♂, pinned, ‘W. Ecuad. | Llanos R. [w, hw, cb] || aequatoriensis [hw] | m. Typus ♂ [hw] | Spaeth det. [w, p and hw by Spaeth, cb] || TYPE [r, p, cb] || M/CR MUS | SPAETH COLL. [w, p, cb] || Manchester Museum | Syntype [b, p, cb]’ ( MMUE); 1 ♀, pinned, ‘W. Ecuad. | Llanos R. [w, hw, cb] || aequatoriensis [hw] | m. Typus ♀ [hw] | Spaeth det. [w, p and hw by Spaeth, cb] || TYPE [r, p, cb] || M/CR MUS | SPAETH COLL. [w, p, cb] || Manchester Museum | Syntype [b, p, cb]’ ( MMUE); 1 ♀, pinned, ‘W. Ecuad. | Llanos R. [w, hw, cb] || aequatoriensis [hw] | m. cTyp. ♀ [hw] | Spaeth det. [w, p and hw by Spaeth, cb] || COTYPE [r, p, cb] || M/CR MUS | SPAETH COLL. [w, p, cb] || Manchester Museum | Syntype [b, p, cb]’ ( MMUE).

Mesomphalia calvata : HOLOTYPE: ♀, pinned, ‘Type [w, p, s, c, rf] || Peru [hw] | Baly Coll. | 1905—54. [w, p, cb] || Mesomphalia | calvata | Boh | Peru [w, hw by Boheman, cb] || Cuming | This species | was returned | by Boheman | under the name | of collumbilis | it is however I | believe the type of | calvata | 17 [hw by Baly on underside of preceding label]’ ( BMNH).

Remarks. Mesomphalia calvata was until now an enigmatic species to cassidinae workers and was listed only in catalogues and last assigned to the genus Stolas ( BOROWIEC 1999a) . However, the holotype of the species has broad ultimate tarsomere and belongs to Agenysa . In my opinion it is conspecific with A. connectens aequatoriensis , which is, however, very different from typical A. connectens as it has high reticulation on elytra.

It is possible that A. calvata is conspecific also with A. lacertosa ( Boheman, 1862) (= A. crassicornis Spaeth, 1905 ), which might represent only a montane form with black elytra while A. calvata always has a red reticulation on explanate margin of elytra. However, this problem requires further study and I provisionally consider both, A. calvata and A. lacertosa , as distinct species.

This species is distributed in the northern part of the Andes and adjacent foothills mostly on eastern slopes or central valleys.

Distribution. Ecuador ( SPAETH 1916) and Peru ( BOHEMAN 1862).