Sternostena Weise 1910b: 123

Synonomys

None.

Type Species

Charistena basalis Baly.

Diagnosis

Sternostena 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
• antennae thickened at apex; with 11-antennomeres
• lateral 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
  without teeth
• elytra with 8 rows of punctures plus short scutellar row, with 3 costae
• prosternum prosternum:
  contains two anterior coxal cavities
  with anterior margin projecting forward partly covering mouth
• femora without large, ventral tooth

Description

Body elongate, almost cylindrical.

Head: small, elongate; interocular area with some markings; antennaantenna:
3 to 11 segments, inserted in antennal pit in front of eyes
inserted into anterior of head.

Antenna: with 11‑antennomeres; antennomere 1 robust, longer than wide; 2 longer, more slender than 1; 3 longest, more slender than 2; 4 to 6 similar, shorter than 2; 7 to 11 somewhat thickened, more closely united than others.

Pronotum: slightly longer than wide; lateral margin curved.

Scutellum: quadrate, angle rounded.

Elytron: elongate, subparallel; apical denticulation irregular; with 8 rows of punctures plus scutellar row; tricostate.

Leg: short, relatively robust; mesotibia curved.

Venter: prosternumprosternum:
contains two anterior coxal cavities
projecting forward, covering part of mouth.

Distribution

Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad.

World Fauna

Described species: 7 (Staines 2012). Key: Monrós & Viana 1947.

Hosts

Paspalum (Poaceae).

References

Monrós, F. & M. J. Viana. 1947. Revisión sistemática de los Hispidae Argentinos (Insecta, Coleop. Chrysomeloid.). Anales del Museo Argentino Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia" 42:125-324.

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. 1910b. Zweiter Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Hispinen. Verhandlunger des Naturforschenden Vereines in Brünn 48:115‑162.