Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Chrysomelidae

Cephaloleia gemma Staines sp. n. Fig. 151

Description.

Elongate; small; subparallel; subconvex; black, lateral margin of pronotum paler; elytra with broad pale yellow vitta from puncture rows 2-6 from base extending to humerus to near apex, lateral margin pale; venter dark brown, abdominal sterna paler laterally; legs yellow. Head: eyes large; vertex coarsely, irregularly punctate, medial sulcus absent; frons not projecting; not depressed between eyes. Antenna: as long as head and pronotum combined; robust; antennomere 1 incrassate, longer than 2; 2 subglobose; 3 cylindrical, subequal in length to 1; 4-10 transverse, subequal in length, each about ¾ length of 3; 11 2 × length of 10, pointed at apex; 1-2 punctate with scattered setae; 3 punctate basally, setose apically; 4-11 setose. Pronotum: transverse; lateral margin straight then rounding to anterior angle, canaliculate; anterior angle obtuse, produced; posterior angle acute; anterior margin emarginate behind head; disc subconvex; surface irregularly punctate except medial longitudinal area; basal impression absent; pronotal length 0.7 mm; pronotal width 1.0 mm. Scutellum: pentagonal; impunctate. Elytron: lateral margin straight then rounding to apex, smooth; apex rounded; sutural angle without tooth; humerus rounded, not produced; slightly constricted behind humerus; moderately punctate-striate, punctures mostly large; elytral length 3.1 mm; elytral width 1.4 mm. Venter: pro- and mesosterna punctate; metasternum impunctate medially, punctate laterally; abdominal sterna punctate, each puncture with pale seta; suture between abdominal sterna 1 and 2 obsolete medially; apical margin of last sternite with apical margin emarginate medially in male. Leg: slender; femur and tibia punctate; tibia with fringe of setae on inner margin of apex. Total length: 4.0 mm.

Etymology.

From gemma (Latin) bud, eye, jewel for the large eyes and beautiful appearance of this species. The name is feminine.

Diagnosis .

This species is similar to Cephaloleia abdita sp. n. and Cephaloleia trilineata . It can be distinguished by the smaller size and the overall black dorsal coloration.

Host plant.

Adults have been collected off Calathea sp. ( Marantaceae).

Distribution.

Bolivia, Brazil (Matto Grosso, Rondonia).

Type material.

Holotype male: Brazil, Rondonia, 62 km SW Ariquames, Fazfa. Rancho Grande, nr. Cacaulandia, Nov. 3, 1989, R. W. Flowers/ Holotype Cephaloleia gemma Staines, des. C. L. Staines 2012 [red label] (USNM). Paratypes (14): Brazil, Mato Gr., 10°25'S, 59°28'W, 17-22.III.77, 300 m, Col: D. Engleman/ Edward G. Riley Collection/ Paratype Cephaloleia gemma Staines, des. C. L. Staines 2012 [red label] (EGRC); Bolivia, Santa Cruz dpt., Nuflo de Chavez, 28 xi-5 xii 2011, Concepeción- FCBC, Alta Vista, 16°08.15"S, 61°56.1"W, 425 m, MAR. Calathea sp. (green+violet leaf), L. Sekerka and D. Windsor lgt. (LSC, DWC).