Pentispa Chapuis 1875: 322

Synonomys

Uroplata (Pentispa) Chapuis.

Penthispa Chapuis (unjustified spelling change).

Type Species

Pentispa melanura Chapuis.

Diagnosis

Pentispa 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, vertexvertex:
  occupies the area behind and between the eyes
  with 3 to 5 sulci
• 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, with a basal impression
• the apex of the elytra without a tooth-like projection
• the elytra with 8 rows of punctures for entire length and 3 regular costae, without tubercles
• the antennae thickened at apex, but not clavate, long, with 8-antennomeres, antennomere 3 cylindrical, 4 to 5 transverse
• the prosternumprosternum:
  contains two anterior coxal cavities
  does not expand anteriorly to partly cover the mouth

Description

Head: small, globose; with 3 to 5 longitudinal sulci on vertexvertex:
occupies the area behind and between the eyes
; eyeeye:
elongate, slightly prominent, multifaceted; usually slightly kidney-shaped
slightly convex, large.

Antenna: short, robust, with 8‑antennomeres, apical 2 antennomeres thickened; antennomere 1 transverse, large; 2 transverse, smaller than 1; 3 cylindrical, pitted; 4 transverse, pitted; 5 to 7 transverse, with setae; 8 elongate, setose, pointed at apex.

Pronotum: wider than long, widest at base, slightly constricted in middle; basal impression present; densely punctate.

Scutellum: subquadrate, transverse or square.

Elytron: oblong, slightly expanding apically; exterior apical angle rounded; lateral margin dentate; apical margin strongly dentate; with 8 rows of punctures, scutellar row present or absent; tricostate.

Venter: metasternum rounded anteriorly, slightly convex.

Leg: short, robust.

Distribution

Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, Peru, Trinidad, United States, Venezuela.

World Fauna

Described species: 27 (Staines 2012). Key: Staines 1996(1997), 2006b.

Hosts

Ageratina, Calea, Clibadium, Elephantopus, Eupatorium, Lepidaptoa,Melanthera,Verbesina, Vernonia (Asteraceae); Pithecoctenium (Bignoniaceae);Desmodium, Benthamantha (Fabaceae) Brunchosia, Malpighia (Malpighiaceae); Chusquea (Poaceae); Serjania (Sapindaceae).

References

Chapuis, F. 1875. in J. T. Lacordaire, Histoire naturelle des insectes. Genera des Coléoptères, Vol. 11, Famille des Phytophages, 420 pp. Encylopédique de Roret; Paris.

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

Staines, C. L. 2006b. The hispine beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) of America north of Mexico. VirginiaMuseum of Natural History Special Publication Number 13. 178 pp.

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