Agrosteomela Gistl, 1857

Ge, Si-Qin, Yang, Xing-Ke, Wang, Shu-Yong & Li, Wen-Zhu, 2004, Revision of the Genus Agrosteomela Gistl (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Chrysomelinae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 58 (2), pp. 273-284 : 274

Genus Agrosteomela Gistl, 1857

Agrosteomela Gistl, 1857:605 . Type species Chrysomela caschmirensis Redtenbacher. Paralina Baly, 1859 :l55. Type species Chrysomela indica Hope.

Description. Form: Elongate in outline; elytra distinctly broadened posteriorly; strongly convex dorsally. Color: Head, thorax, and underside of body metallic darkish-green or darkishblue, apical segments of abdomen often paler, elytra reddish-brown or deep-brown, often metallic. Head: Clypeus short; apical segment of maxillae broadened and truncate and almost equal to proceeding segment. Antennae slender, extending well beyond base of pronotum; first segment robust, almost elongate, slightly longer than broad; second segment very short, subspherical, third slender, 2–3 times as long as second; segments 7–11 broadened apically. Pronotum: Much narrower at base than elytra; anterior margin widely emarginate with protruding anterior angles, central surface area slightly convex; lateral margin depressed with deep punctures. Scutellum: Triangular with apex rounded, impunctate. Elytra: Comparatively narrow at base, slightly broadened after middle area; humeral tubercle convex; disc with pairs of rows of punctures; epipleuron broadened basally, strongly narrowed posteriorly, inner margin with line of setae distributed in apical third area. Underside: Apex of metasternum bluntly pointed and reaching the anterior margin of the mid coxae, without anterior emargination ( Fig. 3 ). Apex of last ventrite of male concave, of female pointed. Legs: Femur elongate, tibiae slender, subequal to femur, with dense pubescence and coarse punctures at apex, third segment of tarsi bilobed (Figs. 8, 9), Procoxal cavities open behind, claws simple.

Diagnosis. Agrosteomela is similar to Agrosteella , but can be distinguished by the form of the anterior portion of the metasternum, the plane of the prosternum and metasternum, and the epipleural inner margin with a row of setae. The prosternum and metasternum of Agrosteomela are not in the same plane ( Fig. 1 ), almost connected, and the mesosternum is almost covered by the metasternum ( Fig. 2 ). The apex of the metasternum is bluntly pointed, reaches the anterior margin of the mid coxae, and lacks an anterior emargination. The prosternum and metasternum of Agrosteella are in the same plane ( Fig. 2 ), but are separated by the mesosternum. The apex of the metasternum between the mid coxae is truncate, broadened, not covered by the mesosternum (Fig. 4), and most species possess a longitudinal depression in the middle of the prosternum. Agrosteomela is allied to Humba but can be distinguished by the punctures of the elytra. Agrosteomela has distinct elytral striae, and Humba has confused punctures on the elytra without striae. Finally Agrosteomela can be distingished from Ambrostoma and Eumela . Ambrostoma lacks a marginal bead along the base of the pronotum, and Eumela has stout antennae, just reaching or not reaching the base of the pronotum. Agrosteomela has a marginal bead along the base of the pronotum, and the antennae are slender, distinctly surpassing the base of the pronotum.

Distribution. Central-South China, India, Nepal, Sikkim.

Figures

Figs. 1, 3. Agrosteomela indica (Hope). 1) Lateral view; 3) ventral view. Figs. 2, 4. Agrosteella violaceicollis Ge and Wang. 2) Lateral view; 4) ventral view.