Argopistes coronatus Blake

Blanco, Javier & Konstantinov, Alexander, 2013, Review of the New World species of the genus Argopistes Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini), Zootaxa 3626 (2), pp. 249-267 : 253-256

Argopistes coronatus Blake

( Figs 9–19 )

coronatus Blake, 1951:145 (type locality: Guanica, Puerto Rico, type depository: USNM).

Habitus. Body oblong oval in dorsal view, strongly convex in lateral view, 2.80–3.70 mm long, 2.40–2.70 mm wide.

Color. Pronotum usually yellow, rarely dark brown. Elytron usually yellow ( Fig. 13 ), sometimes with dark ring ( Figs 9, 10 ), rarely dark brown ( Fig. 12 ). Ventral part of body and appendages yellow ( Figs 10, 11 ).

Head. Partially concealed by apical margin of pronotum. Vertex moderately convex, shiny, impunctate. Antennal calli small, nearly trapezoidal, non-protuberant, slightly depressed at midfrontal sulcus. Antennal socket about same size as antennal calli. Interantennal space narrower than transverse diameter of antennal socket. Eyes large, oblong, inner margins adjoined to both antennal calli and antennal sockets creating slight emargination along inner margin. Frons elongated, generally flattened, separated from each gena by slightly protuberant narrow ridge. Frontal ridge thick, raised between antennal sockets, creating anterior-dorsal keel-like projection; medially slightly raised reaching clypeus. Genae slightly concave under eyes. Antennae with eleven antennomeres, filiform, extending slightly beyond elytral humeri, basal antennomere longest ( Fig. 11 ).

Thorax. Pronotum strongly convex, transverse, twice as broad as long at basal margin. Basal margin arcuate, slightly sinuate. Lateral margins explanate, converging towards and extending slightly beyond apical margin. Dorsal surface finely and densely punctate. Scutellum small, triangular. Intercoxal prosternal process slightly depressed longitudinally, posterior margin slightly indented, concealing short mesosternum. Metasternum with median longitudinal line.

Elytra. Humeral calli present, but not well developed. Elytral surface with confused, minute punctation. Rows of fine punctures extending from basal margin to apical margin. Epipleura not reaching apex of elytra.

Legs. Metafemur generally triangular with rounded corners; length about 2/3 the length of abdomen; with groove along inner margin. Metatibia longitudinally slightly bowed in dorsal view; about same length as metatarsi combined; with shallow, flat groove on dorsal surface; apex with emarginate sheath-like prolongation, creating two acutely pointed projections; large pointed spur arises from base of first metatarsomere, and extends between and beyond two acutely pointed projections. First metatarsomere attached to metatibia preapically; at least as long as following three metatarsomeres combined. Bare, basal part of first metatarsomere 1.92 times longer than apical part covered with setae.

Genitalia. Female—Receptacle of spermatheca oval, larger than pump; ventral side convex; dorsal side nearly straight. Pump gradually narrowing apically, sinusoidal ( Fig. 17 ). Posterior margin of vaginal palpus strongly sinusoidal ( Fig. 18 ). Tignum long and narrow, reaching 3rd visible sternite. Male—Aedeagus robust, with apical part significantly wider than middle in ventral view ( Figs 14–16 ).

Comments: Among the New World species A. coronatus is the most similar to A. coccinelloides from Cuba. It can be distinguished from A. coccinelloides by the following character states: two apical antennomeres as light as rest of antenna; legs yellowish; posterior margin of vaginal palpus strongly sinusoidal ( Fig. 18 ); spermathecal pump gradually narrowing apically, sinusoidal ( Fig. 17 ); aedeagus robust, with apical part significantly wider than middle in ventral view ( Figs 14–16 ).

Distribution: Puerto Rico

Host plants: Mayepea domingensis (Lam.) Krug & Urb. (Oleaceae) (Blake 1951).

Material examined. Holotype: 1) On Mayepea domingensis Guanica PR, Oct. 17, 1934, R G Oakley; 2) Type No 60947, U.S. N.M.; 3) Argopistes coronatus Blake (USNM).

Paratypes: 1) On Mayepea domingensis Guanica PR, Oct. 17, 1934, SI 5862 R G Oakley; 2) Paratype No 60947, U.S. N.M.; 3) Mayepea domingensis, Borinquen Forest Res. Guanica, P.R., Coll. 17 Oct.34, R.G. Oakley; 4) Argopistes coronatus Blake, See Type Collection. (USNM). Eight paratypes (USNM) with same labels as first paratype except labels 3 and 4 absent.

Figures

FIGURES 9 – 13. Argopistes coronatus Blake. 9, 12, 13 dorsal habitus, color variations; 10 habitus, lateral view; 11 head, frontal view.

FIGURES 14 – 16. Argopistes coronatus Blake. 14, aedeagus of the holotype, ventral, lateral and dorsal views; 15 aedeagus of the first paratype, ventral view; 16 aedeagus of the second paratype, ventral view.

FIGURES 17 – 19. Argopistes coronatus Blake. 17 spermatheca; 18 vaginal palpi; 19 tignum.