Cassida irregularis Boheman, 1854

Borowiec, Lech & Świętojańska, Jolanta, 2022, A monograph of the Afrotropical Cassidinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Part 6. Revision of the tribe Cassidini 3, the genus Cassida L., Zootaxa 5171 (1), pp. 1-250 : 92-93

Cassida irregularis Boheman, 1854

( figs. 24 , 138–141 )

Cassida irregularis Boheman, 1854: 398, 1856: 129 , 1862: 312; Gemminger & Harold, 1876: 3655; Shaw, 1956: 269; Węgrzynowicz & Wąsowska, 1996: 41; Heron & Borowiec, 1997: 630; Borowiec, 1999 a: 259, 2005 a: 127; Heron, 2003: 33.

Cassida (Cassida) irregularis: Spaeth, 1914 b: 119 .

Description. L: 4.25–5.10 mm, W: 3.45–4.50 mm, Lp: 1.55–1.85 mm, Wp: 2.70–3.50 mm, L/W: 1.16–1.31, Wp/ Lp: 1.71–1.94. Body from almost circular to short–oval ( figs. 138, 140, 141 ).

In the darkest specimens pronotal and elytral disc completely black, on elytral disc with indistinct yellowish spots on slope, scutellum partly yellow. In dark specimens pronotal disc mostly black with yellow V–shaped spot in front of scutellum, yellow thin median line and yellow spot on lateral lobes ( fig. 141 ), in intermediate form black pattern reduced to M–shaped figure, in pale form black forms only two S–shaped figure on each side of disc ( fig. 138 ), in the palest specimens pronotal disc yellow with indistinct infuscation on sides ( fig. 140 ), explanate margin yellow. Scutellum always yellow, elytral disc in dark specimens mostly black with yellow marginal interval, yellow H–shaped postscutellar elevation and yellow elevations behind half of disc ( figs. 138, 141 ); in pale specimens disc mostly yellow with black marble pattern at base and along size and few dark spots on top of disc ( fig. 140 ), between the palest and the darkest specimens all intermediate occur. Explanate margin always yellow. Head, ventrites and legs yellow. Antennae uniformly yellow or one to three apical segments slightly infuscate.

Pronotum regularly elliptical, with maximum width in the middle, anterior margin regularly convex, sides very broadly rounded, no basal corners. Disc moderately bordered from explanate margin with distinct lateral impressions, lateral lobes indistinctly bordered but yellow spot on the lobes suggests distinct bordering. Surface of disc slightly alutaceous, with fine and sparse punctation, basal sides of disc sometimes with slightly irregular sculpture. Explanate margin broad, impunctate, shiny, transparent with well visible honeycomb structure.

Base of elytra moderately to much wider than base of pronotum, humeral angles moderately protruding anterad, subangulate. Disc moderately convex in profile ( fig. 139 ), with well marked postscutellar and principal impressions, distinct H–shaped postscutellar elevation, and few yellow elevations on top of disc and posterior 2/3 of length of disc, sometimes the posterior elevations more or less joined and form arch –shaped transverse, elevated band. Punctation moderately coarse but dense, tends to form regular rows but the regularity disturbed by elytral relief, distance between punctures from twice narrower to as wide as puncture diameter. Marginal row distinct, its punctures not or only slightly coarser than punctures in central rows. Intervals well marked but interrupted by elytral relief, in sutural part of disc 1.5 times as wide as rows, second interval slightly elevated, on sides intervals as wide as rows, surface of intervals from slightly alutaceous to shiny, marginal interval broad, in humeral part as wides as submarginal interval and two submarginal rows combined, without humeral but with distinct lateral folds. Explanate margin broad, moderately declivous, in the widest part 3.5 times narrower than disc, surface shiny with shallow, moderately coarse and moderately dense punctation, appears from almost regular to slightly irregular, transparent with well visible honeycomb structure.

Eyes very large, gena obsolete. Clypeus broad, approximately 1.2 times as wide as long. Clypeal grooves well marked, converging in regular triangle, surface of clypeus shiny, with shallow median impression, several very small, hairy punctures. Labrum broadly emarginate to 1/4 length.Antennae stout, segments 9–10 slightly transverse. Length ratio of antennal segments: 100:53:70:63:60:43:60:40:47:40:107. Segment 3 approximately 1.3 times as long as segment 2 and approximately 1.1 times as long as segment 4.

Prosternum moderately broad in the middle, strongly expanded apically, area between coxa flat, shiny, with few small, setose punctures, expanded apex only slightly convex, shiny, with several small, setose punctures.

Claws with very small basal tooth.

Host plants. Acanthaceae : Isoglossa ciliata (Nees.) Lindau , Isoglossa woodii C.B. Clarke ( Heron & Borowiec 1997, Heron 2003, Borowiec 1999); Isoglossa cooperi C.B. Clarke ( Heron & Borowiec 1997, Borowiec 1999); Isoglossa delicatula C.B. Clarke (H. Heron pers. comm.).

Distribution. Central Mozambique and South Africa ( fig. 24 ).

Remarks. A member of the Cassida lacrymosa species–group. It belong to the complex of species with the ground colour of the elytra black with a yellow pattern of partly convex spots ( figs. 138, 140, 141 ). It differs from all such coloured species in the shape of the black pronotal pattern forming broad, oblique spots on sides of disc and usually surrounding yellow lateral lobes ( figs. 138, 141 ) and in ventrites uniformly yellow while in other species the pronotal pattern usually form an M– or V–shaped basal spot (figs. 126, 128, 129, 133, 134, 185) and ventrites are often partly brown to black.

Types examined. Lectotype and paralectotype, designated by Borowiec, 1999: 259: [ SOUTH AFRICA]: Natal, Pt. Natal, Vahlberg ( NRS) .

Other specimens examined. MOZAMBIQUE: Chupanga, 1, Tavares (ZMHU).

SOUTH AFRICA: Cape of Good Hope , 1, Graham ( BMNH) ; Cape, Alexandria– Woody Cape, 10–13 XII 1997, 1, I. Jenis ( MS) ; Cape Prov., 15 km NW Seymor, Katbergpass , 1200 m, 21 X 1994, 1, R. Danielsson ( LU) ; Cape, Tsitsikamma, Nature’s valley , 7 II 1995, 1, S. Zoia ( DS) ; Ciskei, Amatole, Pirie For. , 20 XI 1987, 4, S. EndrödyYounga ( TM, MNHW) ; Eastern Cape Prov., 8 km south of Alexandria , 1 ( ARC) ; Eastern Cape Prov., Hogsback , 38 km W of Stutterheim, 32°35’S, 27°05’E, 1 ( ARC) ; Eastern Cape Prov., Katberg Pass, Amatola Mountains , 32°29’S, 26°41’E, 1 ( ARC) ; E Cape, N of Ndwalane , 160- 120 m, -31.5964 / 29.4626, 29 XI 2019, bush & forest, 1, leg. M. Wanat ( MNHW) ; E Cape, Silaka Reserve , 36 m, -31.6511 / 29.5086, 27 XI 2019, night collecting, 1, leg. M. Wanat ( MNHW) ; E Cape, Silaka Reserve, 10-90 m, -31.6486 / 29.506, 28 XI 2019, lliwa trail, Gxwaleni river valley, 3, leg. M. Wanat ( MNHW) ; E Cape, Silaka Reserve , 10 m, -31.6528 / 29.5061, 29 XI 2019, 2, P. Jałoszyński ( MNHW) ; E Cape, Silaka Reserve, 10-90 m, -31.6486 / 29.506, 29 XI 2019, lliwa trail, Gxwaleni river valley, 2, leg. P. Jałoszyński ( MNHW) ; Eastern Cape, Transkei, Mbotyi Coast and Forest , 29 XI–3 XII 2003, 2, W. Schawaller ( SMNS) ; KwaZulu-Natal, Eshowe, Natal , I 1957, 1, N. L. H. Krauss ( BMNH) ; Katberg , 4.000 ft., E Cape province, X 1932, 7, R. E. Turner ( BMNH, LS) ; KwaZulu-Natal, Wakefield Farm C forest, 200 m N of uMngeni Riv. , 1420 m, -21.4844/29/8992, 23 11, 2019, 5, leg. P. Jałoszyński, 6, leg. M. Wanat ( MNHW) ; Limpopo Prov., Groot Rivier Pass, Lekgalameetse Nat. Res. , 80 km SW of Gravelotte, 24°10’S, 30°14’E, 1 ( ARC) ; Mpumalanga Prov., Barberton , 25°48’S, 31°03’E, 1 ( ARC) ; Mpumalanga, Meriepskop , 1550 m, -24.5701 / 30.8599, Bush Pig Trail, km. 0-1.5, from bushes, 17- 18.11.2012, 6, leg. P. Jałoszyński, 13, leg. M. Wanat ( MNHW) ; Natal , 1 ( MRAC) ; Natal , 2, Dr. Martin ( MKB, MNHW) ; Natal, Brighton Beach, Bluff , Durban , 29°55’29’’S, 31°00’14’’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Burman Bush Nat. Res. , Mornigside, Durban, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Buru , 1 ( TM) ; Natal , Cape Vidal, St Lucia Complex, Zululand , 28°07’S, 32°33’E, 1 ( ARC) ; Natal, Crowned Eagle Conservancy , Gillitts, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Durban , 10 ( ZMHU) , 5, P. Reineck ( ZMHU) , 22 XI 1904, 1, G.F. Leigh ( TM) ; Natal, Empangeni , 28°43’S, 31°53’E, 1 ( ARC) ; Natal, Entumeni Nat. Res., 16 Km of Eshowe on Nkandla Road, Zululand , 28°53’05’’S, 31°22’48’’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Eshowe, Zululand ( Dlinza ), 28°54’S, 31°30’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Fernclife Forest Reserve , Pietermaritzburg, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Everton Gorge Molweni River Trail, Pinetown District , 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Glenholme Reserve, Kloof , 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Hawaan Forest Reserve, Umhlanga Rocks , 29°42’S, 31°05’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Illanda Wild Reserve, Amanzimtoti , 30°03’S, 30°53’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Indaleni , 1, W. Hunt ( MNHW) ; Natal, Keneth Stainbank Nat. Res., Yellowwood Park , Durban , 29°54’S, 30°56’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Kranskop to Middeldrift road, 28°50’S, 30°51’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Kwa Zulu, Eshowe , 22–27 XII 1997, 1, I. Jenis ( MS) ; Natal, Msinsi Nat. Res., University of Natal , Durban, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Mt Moreland, near Verulam , North Coast , 29°38’S, 31°05’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Mt Nhlosane, near Dargle , 29°33’S, 29°50’E, 1 ( ARC) ; Natal, New Germany Nat. Res., Pinetown , 29°48’S, 30°53’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Ngeli Forest , 23 km NW of Harding, 30°31’31’’S, 29°40’23’’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Ngoye Forest, Zululand , 28°50’S, 31°40’E, 1 ( ARC) ; Natal, Nkandla Forest, Zululand , 1 ( HH) ; Natal, North Park Nat. Res., Northdene , Queensburgh , 29°52’S, 30°52’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Orbi Gorge Reserve, 8 km inland Port Shepstone , 30°32’S, 30°14’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Palmiet Nat. Res., Westville , 29°49’S, 30°56’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Paradise Valley Nat. Res., Pinetown , 29°49’54’’S, 30°53’30’’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Pigeon Valley Park, Berea , Durban , 29°51’53’’S, 29°59’19’’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Queensburgh, Northdene , XI 1986, 1, H. Heron ( MNHW) ; Natal, Richards Bay, Zululand , 28°48’S, 32°06’E, 1 ( ARC) ; Natal, Roosfontein Nat. Res., Umbilo valley , Westville / Queensburgh, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, S. Lucia , 29 X 1981, 3, J. Klapperich ( MZSNV, MNHW) ; Natal, Shongweni Resources Resreve, Umlaas valley , 29°51’S, 30°43’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Sordwana Bay , 8–10 XI 1984, 1, C.L. Bellamy et al., 9–11 XI 1986, 3, D. d’Hotmann ( ER) ; Natal, Southport, South Coast , 30°41’S, 30°30’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Springside Nat. Res., Hillcrest , 29°46’S, 30°46’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Tongaat , 1909, 2, H.C. Burnup ( TM) ; Natal, Tongaat, North Coast , 29°33’S, 31°09’E, 1 ( ARC) ; Natal, Treasure Beach Reserve, Bluff , Durban, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Umbilo, Durban , 29°36’S, 30°23’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Umgeni Valley Reserve, Howick , 29°28’S, 30°14’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Umhlanga Lagoon Resreve, Umhlanga Rocks , 29°42’S, 31°05’E, 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Umkomaas , 12 III 1951, 1, A.L. Capener ( MM) ; Natal, Umzinyati gorge, Inanda district , 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Vernon Crookes Nat. Res., 8 km N of Umzinto, South Coast , 1 ( HH) ; Natal, Vryheid Mountain Nat. Res., Vryheid , 27°45’S, 30°47’E, 1 ( ARC) ; Natal, Weenen , XII 1900, 1, C. Fuller ( TM) ; Natal, Weza, Loma Doone Forest , 1100 m, 6 XII 1995, 1, M. Biondi ( DS) ; Natal, Winklespruit, Kingsburgh , 30°05’52’’S, 30°51’40’’E, 1 ( HH) ; Tongaat, Natal , 1909, 1, H. C. Burnup ( BMNH) ; Transkei, S coast Owesa forest , 26 II 1985, 3, S. Endrödy – Younga ( TM, MNHW) ; Transvaal, Uitsoek, Grootklof ind. for., 28 IX 1986, 2, 6 II 1987, 1, S. Endrödy – Younga ( TM, MNHW) ; Zululand, Eshowe , 15–18 III 1957, 5, A.L. Capener ( MNHW) ; Zululand, Sordwana Bay , 27.33 S / 32.40 E, 0–50 m, 8–10 XI 1984, 1, Bellamy & Howden ( MNHW) .

Figures

FIGURE 24. Distribution of Cassida irregularis (black circles), Cassida irrorata (black diamonds) and Cassida luxuriosa (black squares).

FIGURES 138–141. Cassida irregularis. 138, 140–141. Dorsal; 139. Lateral.