Physonota (Eurypepla) jamaicensis (Linnaeus)

Clark, Shawn M., Lillrose, Tiffany & Belo Neto, Luiz A., 2013, Leaf Beetles of the Cayman Islands (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Insecta Mundi 2013 (279), pp. 1-41 : 12-14

Physonota (Eurypepla) jamaicensis (Linnaeus)

( Figure 4)

Cassida jamaicensis Linnaeus 1758: 364 .

Diagnosis. The broadly explanate prothorax and elytral epipleura result in the roundish dorsal habitus of this species ( Fig. 4). This, in combination with the comparatively large body size (approximately 1 cm long), the simple (not toothed) tarsal claws of all legs, and the basal margin of each elytron that is finely crenulate for much of its length, is adequate to distinguish this species from others that are known from the Cayman Islands. The prothorax is not ventrally grooved for reception of the antennae. The color is mostly yellow, but with a few dark, sometimes faint spots. A few specimens have a faint metallic sheen. This sheen is much more pronounced in live beetles.

Material examined. Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman, Boatswain Point, Lime Tree Estate , 21-VI-1976, E. J. Gerberg (2, FSCA) ; Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman, Botanic Garden , 4-VI-2008, M. C. Thomas, R. H. Turnbow, B. K. Dozier, blacklight trap (1, FSCA) ; Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman , Georgetown, UCCI campus, 2-VI-2008, M. C. Thomas, beating at night (2, FSCA) ; Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman , Georgetown, UCCI campus, 3-VI-2008, M. C. Thomas, at light (1, FSCA) ; Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman Growers , east end of island, 7-IX-2009, V. Hanraj, on Geiger tree (2, BYUC; 3, FSCA) .

Extralimital distribution. Hispaniola, Jamaica, Puerto Rico ( Blake 1966, Takizawa 2003).

Plant associations. Virkki et al. (1992) reported this species in Puerto Rico from Cordia (Boraginaceae) . Edward G. Riley (personal communication) has seen a specimen from Grand Cayman that was associated with Cordia sebestena L. Five of the specimens listed above were also collected from Geiger tree ( Cordia ).

Comments. The name Eurypepla Boheman has been variously treated in recent years. Although, Borowiec (1999) listed it at generic rank in his monumental catalog, we have chosen to follow Riley et al. (2003) who treated it at subgeneric rank.

In addition to material we have examined, Edward G. Riley (personal communication) has seen a specimen with a short, dark, median streak on the pronotum, similar to that found on specimens from the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. Data are as follow: Grand Cayman Island, Georgetown, 23-II-1980, W. Carter, on Cordia sebestena (1 specimen, EGRC). The Cayman Islands specimens we have seen also have such a median streak. In this character, the specimens differ from the original description of P. jamaicensis (type locality “America” but here presumed to be Jamaica). The subgenus Eurypepla Boheman occurs elsewhere in the West Indies, as well as on mainland North America (Florida). In many instances, specimens from each area are very similar to those found in other parts of the subgeneric distribution, although exhibiting slight differences. It is unclear whether or not they should be recognized as distinct species. At this time, we have assigned the Cayman Islands material to P. jamaicensis , but further study may prove this to be incorrect.