Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Chrysomelidae

Cephaloleia lepida Staines, 1996 Fig. 175

Cephaloleia lepida Staines 1996: 42. Staines 2004: 312 (host plants); McKenna and Farrell 2005: 119 (phylogeny), 2006: 10949 (phylogeny).

Description.

Elongate; subparallel; subconvex; head, antennae, pronotum, scutellum, and venter reddish-brown; elytra metallic blue. Head: vertex punctate, medial carina present; frons not projecting; not depressed between eyes. Antenna: reaches to hu merus; slender; antennomere 1 robust, elongate; 2 transverse; 3 elongate, subequal in length to 1; 4-10 transverse, decreasing in length; 11 rounded at apex, subequal in length to 3; 1-2 punctate with scattered setae; 3-11 setose. Pronotum: transverse; lateral margin straight for basal ¾ then rounding to anterior angle, canaliculate; anterior angle rounded, slightly produced; posterior angle acute; anterior margin emarginate behind head; disc flattened; surface sparsely, irregularly punctate; basal impression absent; pronotal length 1.3-1.4 mm; pronotal width 1.7-2.0 mm. Scutellum: pentagonal, impunctate. Elytron: lateral margin straight, smooth, margined; apex rounded; sutural angle without tooth; humerus rounded, slightly produced; slightly constricted behind humerus; declivity beginning just behind humerus at puncture row 7 edged with faint carina; subconvex; moderately punctate-striate, rows converge and unite apically; row 10 removed from margin; elytral length 4.1-5.1 mm; elytral width 2.3-2.7 mm. Venter: pro-, meso-, and metasterna impunctate medially, punctate laterally; abdominal sterna punctate, each puncture with pale seta; suture between sterna 1 and 2 complete; last sternite with apical margin sinuate medially in male. Leg: femora robust, sparsely punctate; tibia with fringe of setae on inner margin of apex. Total length: 5.7-6.9 mm.

Diagnosis.

This species is similar to Cephaloleia gratiosa . It can be distinguished by the sparsely punctate pronotum and by the elongate antennomere 1.

Host plant.

Adults have been collected in rolled leaves of gingers ( Zingiberaceae) (Staines 1996).

Distribution.

Panama.

Type material examined.

Holotype: Panama, Chiriqui Repr. la Fortuna, 17-21, IX.76: 3200', Col: D. Engleman/ Holotype Cephaloleia lepida Staines, Des. C. L. Staines 1994 [red label] (USNM).

Specimens examined.

PANAMA: Chiriquí- Repr. La Fortuna, 17-21 September 1976, 3200' (USNM, EGRC); Reserva La Fortuna, Hydrographic sta. trail, 28 May 1993 (EGRC, USNM). Total: 19.