Heptispa Weise 1906a: 241

Synonomys

Octhispa (Hepthispa) Weise.

Type Species

Octhispa (Heptispa) solarii Weise.

Diagnosis

Heptispa 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 7 rows of punctures for entire length plus a short row at humerus, scutellar row absent, with 2 complete costae and a third which begins at humerus
• the antennae thickened at apex, filiform, with 7-antennomeres, antennomere 7 slightly pointed at apex shorter than 6
• the prosternumprosternum:
  contains two anterior coxal cavities
  does not expand anteriorly to partly cover the mouth

Description

Body strongly flattened.

Head: medial sulcus present; sulcus present on inner margin of eyeeye:
elongate, slightly prominent, multifaceted; usually slightly kidney-shaped
; vertexvertex:
occupies the area behind and between the eyes
with few scattered punctures.

Antenna: filiform, with 7‑antennomeres; antennomeres 1 and 2 transverse, subequal in length; 3 longer, cylindrical; 4 to 6 transverse, decreasing in length; 7 shorter than 6, hirsute, slightly pointed at apex.

Pronotum: transverse, completely margined; with large punctures; tooth present in anterior angle; prebasal impression present.

Scutellum: transverse, rounded at apex.

Elytron: parallel‑sided; lateral and apical margins dentate; with 7 entire rows of punctures plus a short row at the humerus, scutellar row absent; tricostate, costae 1 and 2 entire, 3 begins at humerus, all united at apex.

Venter: metasternum punctate at sides; last abdominal sternite punctate in middle.

Distribution

Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, French Guiana, México, Nicaragua.

World Fauna

Described species: 6 (Staines 2012). Key: Staines 1996(1997).

Hosts

Bauhinia,Cassia (Caesalpiniaceae); Inga, Serjania (Sapindaceae); Machaerium (Fabaceae) Olyra (Poaceae).

References

Staines, C. L. 1996(1997). The Hispinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) of Nicaragua. Revista Nicaragüense de Entomología 37/38:1-65.

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

Weise, J. 1906a. Aufzahlung von Hispinen aus Nicaragua. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova (3)2:237-242.