Microctenochira usta ( Boheman, 1855 ) Sekerka, 2016

Sekerka, Lukáš, 2016, Taxonomic and nomenclatural changes in Cassidinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 56 (1), pp. 275-344 : 296-297

Microctenochira usta ( Boheman, 1855) comb. nov.

Coptocycla usta Boheman, 1855: 306 (original description).

Coptocycla semilunaris Boheman, 1862: 475 (original description), syn. nov.

Coptocycla conspersa Kirsch, 1865: 96 (original description), syn. nov.

Ctenochira tristicula Spaeth, 1902: 93 (original description), syn. nov.

Ctenochira tristicula var. subvittata Spaeth, 1902: 92 (original description), syn. nov.

Type localities. Coptocycla conspersa : ‘ Bogota ’; C. semilunaris : ‘Brasilia?’; C. usta : ‘Cayenna’; Ctenochira tristicula incl. var. subvittata : Peru, Cuzco Region, Marcapata.

Type material examined. Coptocycla usta : HOLOTYPE: pinned, ‘E. Coll. | Chevt. [w, p, cb] || Type [w, p, s, c, rf] || TYPE [w, p, s] || 32. [w, p, s] || Coptocycla | usta Bhn | Cayenna [w, hw by Chevrolat, s] || 67·56 [w, p, s] || Coptocycla | usta, Bhn | Type ex coll. Chev. [w, hw by Gahan, cb]’ ( BMNH).

Coptocycla semilunaris : HOLOTYPE: pinned, ‘Type [w, p, s, c, rf] || 122 [g, hw, cb] || loc-? [hw] | Baly Coll. | 1905—54. [w, p, cb] || semilunaris MS | 25 [w, hw, s] || semilunaris Boh [w, hw, s] || Coptocycla | semilunaris | Type Bhn [w, hw by Gahan, cb]’ ( BMNH).

Ctenochira tristicula incl. var. subvittata : SYNTYPES ( MMUE). [Examined but label data not recorded].

Remarks. SPAETH (1902) described Ctenochira tristicula as a distinct species similar only to Microctenochira quadrata due to similarly shaped and deeply impressed clypeus. Later on, SPAETH (1919) studied the type of Coptocycla conspersa and found it is conspecific with C. tristicula . SPAETH (1926) revised Neotropical species of the tribe Cassidini with pectinate tarsal claws and synonymized C. conspersa with Ctenochira semilunaris . Since then the latter name is used as valid for this species. I have studied types of all abovementioned nominal taxa with the exception of C. conspersa and found that they are conspecific with Coptocycla usta . Hence, I transfer the latter species to Microctenochira and synonymize with it M. semilunaris , including all the taxa previously considered as its synonyms.

Distribution. Bolivia: La Paz (SPHAETH 1962); Brazil: Goiás ( SPAETH 1926), Pará ( BOROWIEC 1996); Colombia ( KIRSCH 1865); Ecuador: Napo ( BOROWIEC 1996); French Guyana ( BOHEMAN 1855, BOROWIEC 2002); Peru: Cuzco ( SPAETH 1902, BOROWIEC 2002).