Arescus Perty 1832: 100

Synonomys

None.

Type Species

Arescus labiatus Perty.

Diagnosis

Arescus can be distinguished by the following combination of characters:

• the lateral margins of the pronotumpronotum:
  occupies all of dorsal part of the prothorax; in anterior angles or posterior angles there may be a small tubercle or pore with a seta
  and the elytra without long, stiff spines
• the head with a short frontal horn which is broadly truncate
• antennomere 1 with a spoon-shaped process near apex which is as long as 2 and 3 combined
• prosternum prosternum:
  contains two anterior coxal cavities
  flat between mesocoxae
• pronotum pronotum:
  occupies all of dorsal part of the prothorax; in anterior angles or posterior angles there may be a small tubercle or pore with a seta
  with a seta in all angles

Description

Body elongate, parallel; color usually yellow or red with variable black or bluish‑black markings, markings may be absent on some specimens.

Head: frontal horn variable in length, truncate in front, female process a short triangle in some species; vertexvertex:
occupies the area behind and between the eyes
depressed between eyes.

Antenna: with 11-antennomeres; antennomere 1 lengthened into a spoon-shaped process as long as antennomeres 2 and 3 combined.

Pronotum: quadrate; basal margin bisinuate, deeply lobed; seta present in all four angles.

Scutellum: elongate, triangular.

Elytron: similar in both sexes; apex rounded without tooth, expansion or process; three species with longitudinal carina behind middle.

Venter: mesocoxae almost touching; prosternal process not projecting between mesocoxae.

Distribution

Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guyana, and Peru.

World Fauna

Described species: 7 species (Staines 2012). Key to species: none.

Hosts

Heliconia (Heliconiaceae).

References

Perty, J. A. M. 1832. Insecta Brasiliensia pp. 1-224 In: Spix, J. B. & C. F. P. Martius (eds.) Delectus animalium articulatorumuae in itinere per Brasiliam. Monacii.

Staines, C. L. 2012. Tribe Arescini. Catalog of the hispines of the world (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae). http://entomology.si.edu/Collections_Coleoptera.html