Calligrapha multiplagata (Achard, 1923)

Gómez-Zurita, Jesús, 2021, Systematic revision of Calligrapha s. str. Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Chrysomelinae), Zootaxa 4953 (1), pp. 1-111 : 30-35

Calligrapha multiplagata (Achard, 1923)

( Figs 2c–e , 3 , 5a–c )

Polyspila multiplagata Achard, J. 1923b . Fragm. Entom., 5-6, p. 70.

Calligrapha multiplagata: Blackwelder, 1946 , Checklist Col., 4, p. 674.

Calligrapha multiplagata: Bechyné, 1952 . Ent. Arb. Mus. Frey, 3, p. 25.

Calligrapha multiplagata: Bechyné, 1954 , Ent. Arb. Mus. Frey, 5, p. 586.

Calligrapha multiplagata cochabambana Bechyné, 1954 , Ent. Arb. Mus. Frey, 5, p. 585. syn. nov.

Calligrapha melasomina Bechyné, 1954 , Ent. Arb. Mus. Frey, 5, p. 586. syn. nov.

Julien Achard described C. multiplagata based on two specimens from Tucumán, in Argentina ( Achard 1923b). The two specimens are part of the NMCZ collection in Prague ( Czech Republic) and I select the first one cited in the article as the lectotype for this taxon .

Lectotype ( Fig. 5a ), by present designation: male, R. A. Tucuman, Abril 16, 1897, P. Girard, TYPE [red label], multiplagata m. TYPE J. Achard det., Coll. Achard Mus. Pragense ( NMCZ). Aedeagus dissected by the author and glued on card. The specimen lacks right pro- and metaonychia, as well as left mesonychium.

Paralectotype, by present designation: San Pedro de Calalao [Colalao], 1100 m. 26.i.21, TYPE [red label], multiplagata m. TYPE J. Achard det., Coll. Achard Mus. Pragense ( NMCZ). Specimen glued on card, lacking left mesonychium and three apical segments of right metatarsus .

Description. Body elongate elliptic, moderately convex. Head, most of mandibles, pronotum, scutellum, prosternum and hypomera black with slight greenish metallic reflection; elytral markings, epipleura, meso- and metaventrite, abdominal ventrites and legs very dark brown with feeble, slightly greenish metallic reflection, perhaps more accentuated on legs and sides of metaventrite; labrum, apex of mandibles, palpi, apical antennomeres, trochanters, knees and narrow apex of abdominal ventrites dark reddish brown; basal antennomeres, apex of tarsomeres and claws bright reddish brown; background of elytra creamy yellow. Length: 7.6 mm (paralectotype: 8.6 mm); width: 4.6 mm (paralectotype: 5.1 mm).

Head broad, deeply inserted into prothorax, up to dorsal border of eyes; frons feebly convex, finely microsculptured, nearly unpunctured at middle, with moderate, deep punctures particularly at sides and near eyes, punctures with appressed short whitish setae, erect near upper eye margin; antennal calli slightly swollen and unpunctured anteriorly; frons longitudinally and very finely impressed medially, with frontoclypeal area depressed medially below level of frons and antennal calli; clypeal suture broadly bisinuous, obsolete toward sides; supraocular furrow weak but long, following dorsal contour of eye entirely. Eyes relatively small, dorsoventrally elongate, entire, finely faceted. Clypeus short, transverse, finely alutaceous, with punctures similar to frontal punctation, denser and larger at sides; anterior border very feebly concave, deflexed, with long medially convergent setae. Labrum short, with round angles and weakly emarginate anterior border; surface glossy, with relatively strong punctures anteriorly and numerous, medially convergent and nearly straight setae. Mandibles large, strongly protruding, about 3x longer than labrum; sides nearly parallel at base and strongly curved at middle, densely and strongly punctured, with nearly straight long pale yellow setae. Apical palpomere of maxillary palpi subtrapezoidal, with sides feebly curved and apex oblique, nearly as broad as base; previous palpomere longer and preapically wider than last palpomere, very narrow at base, externally longer, sinuous and convex for most of its length; basal palpomere relatively short, as long or only slightly longer than second palpomere, club-shaped. Antennae relatively short, reaching behind humerus, slightly clavate beyond sixth antennomere; antennomeres 1–6 and base of seventh antennomere with scattered semierect setae, apex of seventh antennomere and antennomeres 8–11 with dense fine recumbent and scattered semierect setae; scape as long as transverse diameter of eye, convex anteriorly and widest in apical 1/3, flattened and slightly concave posteriorly; pedicel slightly more than half as long as scape, longer than wide, slightly constricted basally; third antennomere longest, slender, weakly expanding toward apex; antennomeres 4–5 subequal, slightly clavate, about as long as pedicel; sixth antennomere shortest, less than half as long as third antennomere; seventh antennomere about as long as pedicel, longer than wide at apex; antennomeres 8–11 progressively longer, with eighth antennomere 0.9x as wide at apex as long, and apical antennomere about as long as third antennomere, acute in apical third.

Pronotum transverse, 1.8x wider at base than long at middle, feebly convex in sagittal plane, and moderately convex transversally with stronger slopes toward anterior angles; sides straight in basal 2/3, weakly convergent anteriorly, and smoothly curved apically toward strongly produced anterior angles, with slightly explanate margin, entirely visible from above; anterior angles slightly acute, blunt apically, with large trichobothrium at apex externally, and strongly margined; anterior border slightly biconcave, margined in slightly concave sides, with margin obsolete at middle convex area; posterior angles obtuse, with large trichobothrium at angle; posterior border straight at sides and broadly convex at middle, unmargined; surface finely microreticulate with sparse heterogeneous punctures on disc, and much larger and deeper round punctures at sides of disc, not reaching anterior angles or sloping margin of prontoum; moderate, deep and slightly elongate punctures near or confluent with basal border laterally. Hypomera triangular, glossy, unpunctured, with disc convex and transversally concave at base; hypomeral suture broad and deep, regular, continuous from posterior angle of pronotum, parallel to pronotal border in basal half and gradually diverging toward base of anterior angle of pronotum; surface of raised margin slightly rugose. Prosternum relatively long, with rather flat anterior part, finely shagreened and with large elongate oblique punctures on posterior half near procoxae, bearing fine, disheveled pale yellowish setae; anterior border broadly and regularly concave, with relatively thick margin; prosternal process slender, as long as anterior transverse part of prosternum and narrower than scape between procoxae, regularly longitudinally convex from anterior prosternal border, finely margined at sides, glossy and longitudinally carinated at middle, with large punctures at sides and sparse fine pale yellow setae; apex deflexed and convex. Scutellum convex, 1.1x longer than wide at base, lancet-shaped with blunt apex, finely microreticulate, unpunctured. Mesoventrite shorter than prosternal process, anteriorly concave to receive apex of prosternal process, convex on disc, glossy, with strong punctures at base and few scattered erect setae; lateral anterior arms narrow, with strong rugose punctation. Mesepimera and mesanepisterna microreticulate, with scattered irregular punctures. Metanepisterna narrow, with relatively narrow outer and anterior raised margins, microreticulate on disc with deep longitudinally elongate punctures. Metaventrite slightly longer than prosternum, transverse, with subtrapezoidal anterior process, wider than long and margined at sides; disc glossy, with sparse small punctures and very finely impressed discrimen, and sides finely leathery, thickly margined, also with sparse small punctures, stronger near and along anterior border and short posteriorly recumbent translucent setae; posterior border between metacoxae slightly depressed and broadly concave.

Elytra elongate, about 0.8x as long as body, moderately convex, wider than pronotum at base, with round humeral angles, weakly marked humeri, feebly convex sides, widest around middle, and regularly curved at apex; surface smooth, sparsely covered by fine small punctures, larger around and within dark markings; with scutellar row of 8–9 punctures and rather regular premarginal row of tight punctures, only slightly confused and wavy between subhumeral and midlateral spot, disappearing below humeri; margin of elytra slightly explanate, with bead of dense elongate punctures, only visible at base in dorsal view owing to lateral convexity of elytra. Markings on elytra ( Fig. 5a ) consisting of: (i) sutural stripe narrow, entire from base to apex of elytra, narrowly surrounding scutellum at base, nearly disappearing in sutural angle; (ii) subsutural stripe narrow, continuous, subparallel except for slight enlarged area in apical declivity of elytra, with basal end at level with apex of scutellum, slightly divergent from sutural stripe for about five punctures before completely converging with sutural stripe for whole lenght, gradually disappearing slightly before sutural angle; outline delimited by tight series of punctures; (iii) arcuate band split into two free elongate spots, basal one ovoid or slightly tear-shaped, wider anteriorly, and apical one oblong, larger, oblique, apically divergent from suture; (iv) humeral spot medium sized, smaller than apical spot of arcuate band, tear-shaped with narrow basal end, placed on humeral callus; (v) humeral lunule split into two free spots, basal one roundish, small on inner basal concavity of humeral spot, and apical one larger, oblong, oblique from short distance of apex of humeral spot toward suture, with apex at level of midlength of basal spot of arcuate band; (vi) spot enclosed by humeral lunule free, relatively big, pear-shaped, with basal narrower end at level with base of subhumeral stripe; (vii) subhumeral and midlateral spots of similar size, small, oval and free, crossed by midlateral line of punctures and with diffuse edges, not indicated by line of punctures; (viii) spot of apical declivity free, smaller than humeral spot, pear-shaped, oblique with narrow apical end oriented toward sutural angle; (ix) apical spot free, as big as spot of apical delivity, oblong, parallel to apical margin of elytron and equidistant from margin and spot of apical declivity; (x) five additional medium sized, mostly roundish spots on disc and lateral declivity of elytron, three on lateral declivity, parallel to elytral margin, basalmost between apical spot of humeral lunule and midlateral spot, middle one slightly behind midlateral spot, and apical one at level with slight widening of subsutural stripe; larger roundish spot medially on disc, with basal end at level with midlateral spot; additional medium sized spot posterior to previous one, closer to border of elytron in imaginary line joining middle of apical spot of arcuate band and midlateral spot. Epipleura broad in basal third and gradually narrowing to apex behind middle, finely margined internally, finely alutaceous, unpunctured, with slightly reticulated pattern of scratches in apical half.

Femora slender, slightly enlarged medially, flattened and shallowly channeled ventrally; surface finely microreticulate, almost glossy, with sparse fine punctures and appressed short pale yellowish setae. Tibiae slender, nearly straight, with somewhat sharp angles, weakly carinated internally, and externally furrowed in apical half, with furrow widening toward tarsal insertion; surface finely alutaceous with scattered punctures and short semierect pale yellow setae, longer, thicker and denser toward apex ventrally. Tarsi slender, shorter than corresponding tibiae; first tarsomere longest, longer than wide at apex; second tarsomere slender, narrower than first; third tarsomere feebly bilobed, shorter than wide and wider than first tarsomere; onychium with small ventral tooth apically and weakly divergent simple, sharp claws. Abdominal ventrites glossy, with scattered fine punctures and appressed short fine whitish setae; first ventrite about as long as metaventrite, with wide subtrapezoidal anterior process, margined at sides, with round angles; second ventrite as long as intercoxal process of first ventrite, and ventrites 3–4 progressively shorter; last visible ventrite as long as second, with straight, margined apex; all abdominal ventrites with roundish, slightly rugose depressions at sides. Penis ( Fig. 2d ) regularly curved in dorsal profile and relatively flattened ventrally in apical half in lateral view; distal end tapering dorsally in lateral view; slender and weakly compressed medially in ventral view, feebly enlarged preapically at level with maximum width of gonopore; apical end of penis projecting curved lateral teeth pointing backward, wider than average width of penis, and with anterior border sinuous at sides, projecting short convex lobe at middle; ostium wide, relatively ovoid, covered posteriorly by elongate subtrapezoidal dorsal flap, with round angles and slightly emarginate at apex; distal end of flagellum expanded as flattened disc at apex, with large central orifice and membranous at periphery.

Material examined (167 specimens).

ARGENTINA

MCZ: (1) three specimens, R.A., Tucumán, Trancas, xi.1946, Coll. Golbach, Calligrapha multiguttata Ach. F. Monrós det. 1955; (2) three specimens, R.A., Tucumán, Trancas, Tacanas, i.1949, Coll. P.Arnau; (3) three specimens, Argentina, Jujuy, Río Lozano, 28.xi-2.xii.1967, C. Porter & E. Willink [one with: Calligrapha multiplagata Ach. J. Gómez-Zurita det. 2010]; (4) two specimens, Argent., Jujuy, Posta Lozano, 15-17.xii.1967, C.C. Porter. MfN: (1) one specimen, Argentina, Prov. Salta, mtr., 1905, Steinbach, Zool. Mus. Berlin, Calligrapha multiplagata Ach. det. M. Daccordi 1991; (2) one specimen: Argentina, Prov. Salta, Zool. Mus. Berlin; (3) one specimen, N. Argentinien, Prov. Salta 1200 m., J. Steinbach S.V., Zool. Mus. Berlin; (4) one specimen, N.- Argentinien, Prov. Tucuman, J. Steinbach S.V., Zool. Mus. Berlin. MNCZ: (1) two specimens, Argentina, Catamarco, Capayán, Los Angeles, Schaeffer Feb. 946; (2) two specimens, Argentina, Jujuy, Cerro Perales, Feb. 944, Coll. Monrós; (3) five specimens, Argentina, Salta, Coronel Moldes, 2.1945, F. Monrós [one with: Calligrapha multiplagata Ach., 1947 Det. J. Bechyně ]; (4) two specimens, Argentina, Salta, C. Moldes, Feb. 945, Coll. Monrós; (5) three specimens, Argentina, Salta, Quebrado, Molavirio [?], Ene. 945, Coll. Monrós. NHM: (1) one specimen, Tucumán, Argentina, H.E. Box, B.M.1930-238, Argentina, Tucumán, Jan. 1930, H.E. Box Collector, Calligrapha polyspila Germ. NHMB : (1) two specimens, Reimoser, Argentinien, La Merced [one with: Calligrapha multiplagata Ach. J. Bechyné det. 1951]; (2) two specimens, Reimoser, Carvajal, Salta, Argent. [one with: Calligrapha multiplagata Ach. J. Bechyné det. 1951]; (3) one specimen, Reimoser, Argentinien, S. Antonio; (4) two specimens, Reimoser, Argentinien, Zuviria; (5) two specimens, S. Juan, Prov. Jujuy, Reimoser, Argentinien, S. Antonio. NMNH: (1) one specimen, No. 590, Argentina, M. Kisliuk, Icon de Jujuy, under bark Eucalyptus , v.10.24, Kislik #590; (2) two specimens, R.A., Jujuy, Ciudad, xi.1947, Prosen leg., F. Monrós Collection 1959; (3) three specimens, R.A., Jujuy, Cerro Perales, ii.1942, Coll. F. Monrós, F. Monrós Collection 1959; (4) three specimens, Salta, Metan, iii.957, P. Do, Argentina 1968 Coll. J. Daguerre, Calligrapha multiplagata Achard J. Gómez-Zurita det. 2011; (5) one specimen, Salta, Metan, iv.45, Daguerre, 149, Argentina 1968 Colln. J. Daguerre; (6) five specimens, Salta, San Lorenzo, ii.950, Daguerre, Argetina 1968, Colln. J. Daguerre; (7) one specimen, Salta, Arg., xii.18.40, H.L. Parker; (8) six specimens, Argentina, Salta, C. [Coronel] Moldes, ii.1945, Coll. Monrós, F. Monrós Collection 1959; (9) three specimens, Argentina, Salta, Dto. Capital, Cerro San Bernardo, xii.1942, F. Monrós Collection 1959; (10) three specimens, R.A., Salta, San Lorenzo, 31.i.1948, Willink-Monrós, F. Monrós Collection 1959; (11) three specimens, Tucumán, Arg., i.4.1930, H.A. Jaynes, Foot Hills San Javier, Polyspila polyspila Germ. ; (12) three specimens, R.A., Tucumán, Trancas, San Pedro de Colalao, ii.1955, Coll. A. Terán, F. Monrós Collection 1959, Calligrapha multiplagata Ach. F. Monrós det. 1954; (13) two specimens, R.A., Tucumán, Trancas, San Pedro de Colalao, i.1957, Col. A. Terán, F. Monrós Collection 1959; (14) four specimens, R.A., Tucumán, San Javier, 17.xi.1957, Coll. F. Monrós, F. Monrós Collection 1959; (15) three specimens, R.A., Tucumán, Dpt. Burruyacú, Macomita, i.1952, Coll. M.A.T. de Colombres, F. Monrós Collection 1959; (16) three specimens, R.A., Tucumán, Villa Nougués, 1.xii.1957, Coll. F. Monrós, F. Monrós Collection 1959; (17) three specimens, R.A., Tucumán, Trancas, xi.1946, Coll. Golbach, F. Monrós Collection 1959; (18) three specimens, R.A., Tucumán, Siambón, i.1945, Coll. D. Olea, F. Monrós Collection 1959, Calligrapha multiplagata Ach. F. Monrós det. 1954; (19) one specimen, Tucumán, Ciudad universitaria, ii.1957, Coll. F. Monrós, F. Monrós Collection 1959; (20) three specimens, R.A., Tucumán, Horco Molle, 9.xii.1957, Coll. F. Monrós, F. Monrós Collection 1959, Calligrapha multiplagata Ach. J. GómezZurita det. 2011. ZSM: (1) one specimen, Argentina, Prov. Salta, 1905, Steinbach, Staatssammlung München 1975 Erwerb Coll. Machatschke.

BOLIVIA

NMCZ: (1) six specimens, Bolivia, Chaparé, 400 m, Zitschka [three with: 98]; (2) one specimen, Bolivia, Yungas de Palmar, Zitschka; (3) nine specimens, Bolivia, Cachamba, Zitschka. NHM: (1) one specimen, Cochabamba, Bol., 2500 m, W. Wittmer, 3.40, Brit. Mus. 1945-33. NHMB: (1) one specimen [HOLOTYPE of Calligrapha multiplagata cochabambana Bechyné, 1954 ]*, Boliv., Cochabamba, 2600 m, Zischka, Ew. Reitter, TYPE C. multiplagata ssp. cochabambana m. J. Bechyné, det., 1953; (2) one specimen*, Boliv., 6.ii.1950, Cochabamba, 2600 m., Zischka; (3) one specimen [HOLOTYPE of Calligrapha melasomina Bechyné, 1954 ]**, Yungas de Palmar, Boliv., 10.ii.1948, 2000 m, Zischka, TYPE Calligrapha melasomina m. J. Bechyné det., 1953; (4) one specimen**, Bolivia, Cochab., Incachaca, viii.1956, Calligrapha melasomina Bech. J. Gómez-Zurita det. 2010.

NMNH: (1) one specimen, Ynancareinza [Ñancaroinza], Chuquisaca, Boliv., Apr. 24, G.L. Harrington; (2) one specimen, Tarija ó Chuquisaca, Winter 1923, J.I. Nicolini; (3) two specimens, Bolivia, Cochabamba, Zitschka, F. Monrós Collection 1959; (4) one specimen, Bolivia, Cochabamba, 3200 m, 22.xii.1948, Col. Kuschel, F. Monrós Collection 1959; (5) one specimen**, Incachaca, Bolivia, alt. 2500 m, J. Steinbach, F. Monrós Collection 1959, Calligrapha melasomina Bech. J. Gómez-Zurita det. 2011; (6) three specimens**, Bolivia, Chapare, 400 m, Zitschka, F. Monrós Collection 1959, Calligrapha melasomina Bech. J. Gómez-Zurita det. 2011. ZSM: (1) fifty-nine specimens, Bolivia, Cochabamba, 2600 m, [no date] [3x], 1.i.1949 [1x, Calligrapha multiplagata Ach. J. GómezZurita det. 2011], 8.i.1950 [5x, one with: Calligrapha multiplagata Ach. J. Gómez-Zurita det. 2011], 5.v.1950 [2x], i.1952 [2x], 15.ii.1952 [2x], 2.ii.1950 [6x], ii.1952 [1x, Calligrapha multiplagata Ach. J. Gómez-Zurita det. 2011], iii.1952 [4x, one with: Calligrapha multiplagata Ach. J. Gómez-Zurita det. 2011], 10.iv.1953 [15x], 12.iv.1953 [1x], 1.i.1954 [5x], 15.iv.1957 [5x], 28.iv.1957 [5x] 14.ii.1960 [2x], leg. R. Zischka, Staatsslg. München; (2) one specimen, Bolivia, Cochabamba, 2600 m, 10.iii.1954, Zischka; (3) eight specimens, Bolivia andina, Cochabamba, 2600 m, 12.ii.1960 [3x], 14.ii.1960 [2x], 15.ii.1960 [3x], 2.iii.1960 [1x], Zischka.

UNKNOWN

NHM: (1) one specimen, Plata.

Variation. Among the specimens examined fitting the type of C. multiplagata , there are some traits that can show variation. One of them is color, whereby dark body parts can have a slightly bluish tinge. But there are other examples, e.g., head punctation can be weaker than seen in the type. Also, the sides of pronotum can be less straight, showing a slight convexity, the anterior border can be weakly margined at middle, and the posterior border slightly bisinuose. In some cases, the pronotum can also show two slightly anterior roundish large fossettes at sides of disc. Elytral markings are, as usual, the features showing larger variation, including: the narrow base of humeral lunule can be basally confluent in turn with the base of the humeral spot; the apex of the arcuate band and the spot of apical declivity of elytra can be separated, when they are often connected; the spots of arcuate band and additional spots on disc can have margins broken, resulting in additional small round spots; the base of the subsutural stripe is usually slightly divergent from sutural stripe, but in some cases it is almost completely fused with it; and the midlateral spot can be reduced to a small rounded spot with slightly diffused margins. But the most notable variation in what I consider a single species possibly resulted in the proposition of additional taxa. Specifically, Jan Bechyné (1954) described a form of C. multiplagata found in Cochabamba ( Bolivia), which did not receive explicit taxonomic rank, but that could be interpreted as a geographic subspecies. This form, which he named C. multiplagata cochabambana Bechyné, 1954 ( Fig. 5b ; indicated with one asterisk in the list of records above), differed from the typical form from northern Argentina in its smaller size, more extensive dark markings and also more abundant punctation on pronotum ( Bechyné 1954). However, I have studied specimens of C. multiplagata from the same region that do not differ from the typical form or exceptionally show the reverse characteristics, i.e., they are slightly bigger and with apparently smaller markings. Considering that Cochabamba has an average elevation of more than 2500 m, one could interpret that the presence of smaller and generally darker specimens of C. multiplagata in this locality could be related to a local adaptation of the species to elevation and levels of radiation ( Blanckenhorn & Demont 2004; Clusella et al. 2007). The other case to consider here is another taxon described by Bechyné in the same work and from a nearby locality, some 70 km away from Cochabamba: C. melasomina Bechyné, 1954 ( Fig. 5c ; indicated with two askterisks in the list of records above). The author explicitly recognized this taxon as allied to C. multiplagata , distinguishing it based on its larger size, more slender antennae and pronotum, the latter cordiform, as well as with larger, confluent punctures at sides of pronotum. However, this taxon was based on an exceptionally large female individual and some of the differentiating traits could be related to allometry of the specimen. Even though few other specimens could be connected with this taxon, the type was clearly much bigger than the other examples examined here. When it comes to the special profile of pronotum in the type of C. melasomina , the slightly cordiform shape can be appreciated mostly on the left border of pronotum, but in other specimens (or the right half of the holotype pronotum, for that matter) the cordiform profile is not so apparent or apparent at all. I could not recognize differences in the characteristics of pronotal punctures, another differentiating trait mentioned in the species description, between the types of C. melasomina and C. multiplagata , the latter having particularly heavy pronotal punctation. I have nevertheless recognized one possible phenotypic difference between the type of C. melasomina and typical C. multiplagata , namely the midlateral spot fused (at least partially) with elytral margin in the former and free in the latter. This trait helps recognizing allied species in some cases (e.g., the close relatives C. felina Stål, 1860 and C. pantherina Stål, 1859 , also treated in this work, differ in this trait, among others). But in this case, and in the absence of additional characters that support the separation of species based on this character alone, I am compelled to consider the type of midlateral spot as a polymorphic trait. In summary, considering the close morphological similarity between these three forms, which includes male genitalia (compare Figs. 2d with 2c and 2e), and the fact that they have all been found in sympatry in the same narrow and isolated region of Cochabamba, I am inclined to propose the following synonymies: Polyspila multiplagata Achard, 1923 (= Calligrapha multiplagata cochabambana Bechyné, 1954 syn. nov. = Calligrapha melasomina Bechyné, 1954 syn. nov.).

Distribution. This species has a narrow range in the eastern slopes of the Cordillera Oriental of the Andes in Boliva and Argentina ( Fig. 3 , white circles), and it appears mostly restricted to the so-called Southern Andean Yungas, particularly in the southern part of this biome, where it appears to gradually replace C. matronalis Erichson to the south. In fact the two species can be considered as narrowly parapatric, with very few cases of documented potential cooccurrence (compare Figs 3 and 4 ). The nominotypical form of C. multiplagata (Achard) is almost restricted to the Argentinian part of the range, from the province of Jujuy to Catamarca, with an isolated record in the Bolivian province of Chuquisaca and few observations consistent with this form in the Department of Cochabamba in Bolivia. This isolated region in the distribution of the species, east from the so-called “valles” and “quebradas” (valleys and gorges) region of the Cordillera Oriental, is particularly interesting. In this area coexists the nominotypical form of C. multiplagata with the isolated populations described by Bechyné (1954) as C. multiplagata cochabambana and C. melasomina . While the close proximity of these forms is undoubted, as to be considered conspecific in this work, a deeper, possibly genetic analysis would help understanding the nature of their differences and perhaps resolve the identity of these taxa.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Dorsal (apex), ventral and lateral views of the penises of Calligrapha polyspila (Germar) (a), C. matronalis Erichson (b), C. melasomina Bechyné (c), C. multiplagata (Achard) (d), C. multiplagata cochabambana Bechyné (e), and C. billbergi Stål (f). Scale = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 3. Distribution of Calligrapha polyspila (Germar) (black circles) and of C. multiplagata (Achard) (white circles). Gray circles denote localities where specimens consistent with the types of C. melasomina Bechyné and C. multiplagata cochabambana Bechyné have been recorded.

FIGURE 4. Distribution of Calligrapha matronalis Erichson on the eastern slopes of the Andes from the southern half of Perú, through Bolivia, and into northern Argentina, bounded to the east by the Dry Chaco (shaded area).

FIGURE 5. Dorsal and lateral views of the lectotype of Calligrapha multiplagata (Achard) (a), the holotype of C. multiplagata cochabambana Bechyné (b), the holotype of C. melasomina Bechyné (c), and the holotype of C. billbergi Stål (d). Scale = 5.0 mm.