Microctenochira scabra ( Boheman, 1855 )

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

Microctenochira scabra ( Boheman, 1855)

Coptocycla scabra Boheman, 1855: 495 (original description).

Ctenochira pumicosa [misidentification]: SPAETH (1926): 70 (redescription, key).

Type locality. ‘Brasilia’.

Type material examined. HOLOTYPE: pinned: ‘ Brasil [w, p, s] || Type. [w, p, s] || NHRS-JLKB | 000022351 [w, p, cb] ’ ( NHRS).

Remarks. BOHEMAN (1855) described Coptocycla scabra presumably based on a single specimen. GEMMINGER & HAROLD (1876) transferred it to Ctenochira (= Microctenochira ). SPAETH (1926) revised the genus Ctenochira but C. pumicosa was unknown to him and he did not include it in the key but pointed that it could be an immaculate specimen of M. quadrata (DeGeer, 1775) or M. aciculata ( Boheman, 1855) . Using SPAETHʼs (1926) key, the holotype of M. scabra falls under M. pumicosa ( Boheman, 1862) and it is to replace the latter species in the key as it is transferred here to Charidotis (see further details under C. subrugosa ).

The holotype of C. scabra fits well Spaethʼs definition of M. pumicosa as it has a uniformly yellow body and elytra with rather sparse punctation. Punctures are deep, foveolate but of the same colour as the elytra. Antennae are yellow with antennomere IX slightly darker than the rest. Clypeus has a shallow oval impression like many species of Microctenochira .

Distribution. Brazil ( BOHEMAN 1855).