Heptachispa Uhmann 1953e: 876

Synonomys

Heptatoma Weise 1921b: 187.

Type Species

Uroplata crassicornis Chapuis.

Diagnosis

Heptachispa 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 9 rows of punctures at base and apex, with 3 regular costae
• the antennae thickened at apex, not clavate, with 7-antennomeres, last antennomere rounded at apex
• the prosternumprosternum:
  contains two anterior coxal cavities
  does not expand anteriorly to partly cover the mouth

Description

Head: vertexvertex:
occupies the area behind and between the eyes
alutaceous; medial sulcus deep, wide; antennal base on a projection from head.

Antenna: with 7‑antennomeres, thick; antennomeres 1 to 6 transverse, 1 to 4 strongly so; 7 longest, a rounded, flattened club.

Pronotum: margined laterally; basal margin bisinuate; surface with deep punctures.

Scutellum: quadrate.

Elytron: exterior apical angle expanding into tooth‑like lamina; with 9 rows of punctures at base, rows 5 to 8 expand to an additional row after middle; tricostate.

Leg: tarsal claws with a tooth near base.

Distribution

Bolivia, Brazil, French Guiana, Paraguay.

World Fauna

Described species: 8 (Staines 2012). Key: none.

Hosts

Byrsonima (Malpighiaceae).

References

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

Uhmann, E. 1953e. Hispinae aus dem Britischen Museum.- VII. Teil. 136. Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Hispinae (Coleopt. Chrysom.). The Annals and Magazine of Natural History (12)6:871-876.

Weise, J. 1921b. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Schwedischen entomologischen Reise des Herrn Dr. A. Roman in Amazonas 1914-1915. 6. Chrysomelidae. Arkiv für Zoologi 14:171-191.