Microctenochira jousselini ( Boheman, 1855 )

Sekerka, Lukáš, 2016, Taxonomic and nomenclatural changes in Cassidinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 56 (1), pp. 275-344 : 294-295

Microctenochira jousselini ( Boheman, 1855)

Coptocycla Jousselini Boheman, 1855: 227 (original description).

Coptocycla semifasciata Boheman, 1855: 228 (original description), syn. nov.

Type localities. Coptocycla Jousselini : ‘Nova Grenada’; Coptocycla semifasciata : ‘Columbia’.

Type material examined. Coptocycla Jousselini : SYNTYPE: pinned, ‘ Colum- | bia [w, p, s] || Mhm. [w, p, s] || Type. [w, p, s] || NHRS-JLKB | 000022321 [w, p, cb] ’ ( NHRS).

Coptocycla semifasciata : HOLOTYPE: pinned, ‘Colum- | bia [w, p, cb] || Bhn. [w, p, s] || Type. [w, p, s] || Ctenochira | semifasciata | = Microctenoch. | Jousselini ab.[w, hw by Spaeth, cb] || NHRS-JLKB | 000022352 [w, p, cb]’ ( NHRS).

Remarks. The description of Coptocycla semifasciata follows immediately that of Coptocycla jousselini and BOHEMAN (1855) differentiated them by elytral pattern. Both have the disc of pronotum and elytra brownish-red outside bordered by black and yellow explanate margins. Coptocycla jousselini has a yellow band running approximately in the basal third of elytra and reaching laterally the explanate margin, while in C. semifasciata the first band is shortened and laterally reaching only to the fifth row of punctures. Both taxa were transferred to Charidotis by SPAETH (1914). Subsequently, SPAETH (1926) redescribed C. jousselini and designated it as the type species of Microctenochira and after a decade he also transferred C. semifasciata to the same genus ( SPAETH 1936), leaving it as valid species.

I have studied types of both taxa and I could not find any relevant morphological differences to separate them except for the colouration of elytra. Species of Microctenochira are very variable regarding dorsal colouration. I hereby synonymize the two taxa. Since both were described in the same publication I followed the Principle of the first reviser ( ICZN 1999: Article 24.2) and chose M. jousselini as valid, as it was constantly and correctly applied since SPAETH (1926) and moreover it is the type species of the genus Microctenochira .

Distribution. Colombia ( BOHEMAN 1855) and Trinidad ( SPAETH 1926).