Cnestispa Maulik 1930: 49

Synonomys

None.

Type Species

Cnestispa darwini Maulik.

Diagnosis

Cnestispa 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 without a frontal horn
• 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
  with a seta in each anterior angle
• the apex of the elytra without a tooth-like projection
• the elytra with 8 rows of punctures plus short scutellar row and 3 regular costae, exterior apical angle expanded, lateral margin serrate
• the antennae thickened at apex, short, not clavate, with 9-antennomeres, apical antennomere not pointed at apex
• the prosternumprosternum:
  contains two anterior coxal cavities
  does not expand anteriorly to partly cover the mouth

Description

Small.

Antenna: with 9‑antennomeres; short, barely reaching to base of 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
, not produced into acute point at apex; antennomeres 1 and 2 distinct; 3 to 9 forming elongate, slightly flattened club, 3 longest; 9 broadest at apex.

Pronotum: subcylindrical, narrowed apically; light prescutellar impression present.

Scutellum: rectangular.

Elytron: lateral margin serrate; external apical angle expanding but not spine‑like; with 8 rows of punctures plus short scutellar row.

Distribution

Argentina, Brazil, Panamá, Paraguay.

World Fauna

Described species: 4 (Staines 2012). Key: Monrós & Viana 1947.

Hosts

Desmodium (Asteraceae); Centrosema, Cymbosema (Fabaceae).

References

Maulik, S. 1930. New injurious Hispinae. Bulletin of Entomological Research 21:45-56.

Monrós, F. & M. J. Viana. 1947. Revisión sistemática de los Hispidae Argentinos (Insecta, Coleop. Chrysomeloid.). Anales del Museo Argentino Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia" 42:125-324.

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