Stenopodius Horn 1883: 301

Synonomys

None.

Type Species

Stenopodius flavidus Horn.

Diagnosis

Stenopodius 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 or 10 rows of punctures, some species with 3 regular costae,
• the antennae short, clavate, with 8-antennomeres, antennomere 7 narrower than 8
• the prosternumprosternum:
  contains two anterior coxal cavities
  does not expand anteriorly to partly cover the mouth
• tarsomere 3 not bilobed

Description

Head: small; vertexvertex:
occupies the area behind and between the eyes
not prominent; fronsfrons:
upper anterior portion of head capsule above the clypeus
vertical; eyeeye:
elongate, slightly prominent, multifaceted; usually slightly kidney-shaped
large, oval, facets numerous.

Antenna: clavate, short, extends a short way beyond apical margin 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
, 8-antennomeres; antennomere 8 oval, pointed at apex.

Pronotum: wider than long; in most species apex more or less prolonged (lobed) at middle and sinuate at each side; base wider than apex, broadly lobed, sinuate laterally, overlapping base of elytronelytron:
strongly sclerotized mesothoracic wings, remaining open during flight. When closed, they cover to the last abdominal segment.  Most genera are sculptured with large punctures usually in regular rows; with various combinations of costae, carinae, spines, or tubercles; however some genera are smooth.  Lateral and apical margins are dentate, serrate or smooth.  Humerus is usually rounded but may be produced and bear spines or expansions.
, except in middle.

Scutellum: subquadrate; apex truncate, feebly arcuate or slightly emarginate.

Elytron: oblong‑oval; about ½ longer than wide; parallel-sided and broadly rounded in apical ¼; lateral and apical margins more or less serrulate; 8 or 10 rows of large, circular punctures.

Leg: glabrous; metafemur slightly longer than tibiatibia:
variable in length; joins femur and tarsus
; tarsomeres not dilated, with pale setae beneath, first 3 tarsomeres subequal, 3 emarginate above, 4 as long as 1 to 3 combined; claws feebly arcuate.

Distribution

Canada, México, United States.

World Fauna

Described species: 7 (Staines 2012). Key: Blaisdell 1939, Staines 2006b.

Hosts

Sphaeralcea (Malvaceae).

References

Blaisdell, F. E. 1939. A study of the species of Hispinae belonging to the genus Stenopodius with descriptions of new species. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 64:421‑447.

Horn, G. H. 1883. Miscellaneous notes and short studies of North American Coleoptera. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 10:269‑312.

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