Fossispa Staines 1989b: 342

Synonomys

None.

Type Species

Fossispa lutena Staines.

Diagnosis

Fossispa 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, distinctly margined laterally
• the apex of the elytra without a tooth-like projection
• the elytra with 8 rows of punctures at base and 10 apically, with 4 regular costae
• the antennae thickened at apex, short, clavate, with 8-antennomeres
• the prosternumprosternum:
  contains two anterior coxal cavities
  does not expand anteriorly to partly cover the mouth

Description

Head: surface micropunctate; medial sulcus present; 3 short lateral sulci present near eyeeye:
elongate, slightly prominent, multifaceted; usually slightly kidney-shaped
; antennaantenna:
3 to 11 segments, inserted in antennal pit in front of eyes
inserted into quadrate pit; pit divided by keel; carina present around eyeeye:
elongate, slightly prominent, multifaceted; usually slightly kidney-shaped
.

Antenna: with 8‑antennomeres, short, clavate.

Pronotum: wider than long; distinctly margined laterally; raised areas between punctures micropunctate.

Scutellum: quadrate; micropunctate.

Elytron: with 4 discal costae, costa 3 short and weak, costae 1, 2, and 4 united apically; punctures in double rows, with 8 rows of punctures basally, 10 apically, basal rows 5 and 6 in longitudinal medial depression, latter rows briefly expand to 4 rows behind middle; a short, weak costa between apical rows 6 and 7; costae and raised areas between punctures micropunctate.

Venter: rugose at sides.

Distribution

Guatemala, Jamaica, México.

World Fauna

Described species: 1- Fossispa lutena Staines (Staines 2012).

Hosts

Sida (Malvaceae).

References

Staines, C. L. 1989a. A new genus and species of Hispinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) from Central America. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 91:342‑345.

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