Argopistes coccinelloides (Suffrian)

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 : 250-253

Argopistes coccinelloides (Suffrian)

( Figs 2–8 )

coccinelloides Suffrian, 1868:223 (type locality: Cuba, type depository: unknown) as Argopus Fisher ; Harold, 1877:138 as Sophraena Baly ; Blake, 1934:51 as Argopistes .

Habitus. Body oblong oval in dorsal view, strongly convex in lateral view, 2.50–3.21 mm long, 2.01–2.57 mm wide.

Color. Head and pronotum usually dark brown, rarely reddish yellow. Elytron usually entirely reddish brown, rarely with apex dark brown. Venter reddish brown. Legs from dark brown to reddish brown. Antennae yellow, except two apical antennomeres dark ( Figs 2–4 ).

Head. Entirely concealed by apical margin of pronotum in dorsal view. Vertex moderately convex, shiny, impunctate. Orbital sulcus absent. Antennal calli nearly trapezoidal, non-protuberant; supracallinal and midfrontal sulci not impressed, but visible as dark lines. Antennal socket as large 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 slightly raised, thin, extending from interantennal space and reaching clypeus. Genae slightly concave under eyes. Antennae filiform, extending slightly beyond elytral humeri, basal antennomere longest ( Fig. 4 ).

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, densely punctate. Scutellum small and triangular. Intercoxal prosternal process with posterior margin slightly indented, concealing short mesosternum. Metasternum with median longitudinal line.

Elytra. Humeral calli present, but not well developed. Elytral surface with confused and 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 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, 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 1.88 times longer than apical part covered with setae.

Genitalia. Female—Receptacle of spermatheca oval, larger than pump; inner side convex; outer side slightly inwardly curved. Spermathecal pump abruptly narrowing apically, evenly curved towards receptacle ( Fig. 7 ). Posterior margin of vaginal palpus slightly sinusoidal ( Fig. 8 ). Male—Aedeagus slightly convex in lateral view, nearly straight; slender, with apical part only slightly wider than middle in ventral view ( Fig. 5 ); with long laminae covering dorsal opening, projecting beyond apical part of aedeagus; widest at basal opening in ventral view, sides not parallel but slightly curved inwardly; tip bent ventrally in lateral view.

Comments: In the absence of the type material, we based our concept of this species on the specimens from Cuba that were identified by D. Blake (USNM). Among the New World species A. coccinelloides is the most similar to A. coronatus from Puerto Rico. It can be distinguished from A. coronatus by the following character states: two apical antennomeres darker than rest of antenna; legs dark brown to reddish brown; posterior margin of vaginal palpus slightly sinusoidal ( Fig. 8 ); spermathecal pump abruptly narrowing apically, evenly curved towards receptacle ( Fig. 7 ); aedeagus slender, with apical part only slightly wider than middle in ventral view ( Fig. 5 ).

Distribution: Cuba.

Host plants: Leaf miner of Forestiera rhamnifolia Griseb. (Oleaceae) (Blake 1934).

Material examined. 1) ap. 28/32, Stgo. de las Vegas Cuba, A. Otero, col.; 2) E.E.A. Ent. No 9841; 3) Argopistes coccinelloides Suffrian, Blake 1932 (2 USNM). 1) 9871 E.E.A. de Cuba No.; 2) Santiago de las Vegas Otero Cuba; 3) reared from leaves of Forestiera rhamnifolia (2 USNM). 1) 9871 E.E.A. de Cuba No. (4 USNM). 1) Cuba, F. de Zayas; 2) F. Monros collection 1959; 3) F. de Zayas det. (USNM).

Figures

FIGURES 2 – 4. Argopistes coccinelloides (Suffrian). 2, 3 dorsal habitus, color variations. 4 head, frontal view.

FIGURES 5 – 8. Argopistes coccinelloides (Suffrian), genitalia. 5 aedeagus, ventral, lateral and dorsal views; 6 tignum; 7 spermatheca; 8 vaginal palpi.