Diplacaspis Jacobson

(Figs. 1 E; 2 D; 3 D; 4 D; 5 D)

Diaspis Lacordaire, 1848: 645; Type species: Diaspis paradoxa Lacordaire, 1848, by monotypy; Jacoby, 1881: 74; Diaspsis Jacoby, 1889: 155 (misspelling; summary); [preoccupied by Diaspis Costa, 1835, Coccidae]

Diplacaspis Jacobson, 1924: 239 (new name for Diaspis Lacordaire); Blackwelder, 1946: 647 (catalog); Seeno and Wilcox, 1982: 43 (catalog); Riley et al., 2003: 183 (catalog).

Skwarraia van Emden, 1932: 9 (new name for Diaspis Lacordaire).

Diagnosis. Length 3.00- 3.81 mm, width 2.36-3.18 mm. General body shape subcylindrical, widest near shoulders. Antenna serrate beyond 4 th antennomere, 3 rd and 4 th antennomeres slightly widened, but not dilated distally. Pronotum medially elevated, with two tall projections separated by furrow. Pronotal base opposite mesoscutellum (posterior pronotal lobe) with wide notch. Prosternum gradually narrowing posteriorly, abruptly narrowing before middle, widening between mesocoxae. Anterior margin of metasternum concave. Mesoscutellum short, transverse. Metascutellum broadly exposed. Elytral suture serrate, entire (not serrate) in part that exposes metascutellum. Elytral tubercules well developed. Tibiae slightly curved, flattened, with sharp dorsal edge. Fore- and midtibial apices with spine. Tarsal claw appendiculate.

Distribution. New World (Monrós, 1952).

Remarks. This genus may be distinguished from other Chlamisini by the shape of the prosternum, and an exposed metascutellum in combination with the appendiculate tarsal claw. According to Karren (1972), South American species of Diplacaspis may not possess bifid claws or a posteriorly expanded prosternal process between the mesocoxae. However, the only two species available for our study [ D. batesi (Baly) and D. prosternalis (Schaeffer)] share character states consistent with the diagnosis.

A total of 6 species currently are known in this genus (Monrós, 1952).

Material examined.

Diplacaspis batesi (Baly):

1) a. Brazil, Minas Gerais, col. M. Pic/ b. F. Monrós Collection, 1959/ c. Diplacaspis

batesi (Baly) F. Monrós det. 1950.

Diplacaspis prosternalis (Schaeffer):

1) a. [Mexico] EA Schwarz Collector/ b. Monterrey, Mex. 25.II/ c. Diplacaspis

prosternalis (Schaeffer) det. Karren 1968. 2) a. Granada, Nicaragua, Coll. Bak-

er/ b. Diplacaspis prosternalis (Schaeffer) det. Karren 1968.