Stethispa Baly 1864a: 265

Synonomys

None.

Type Species

Stethispa bonvouloirii Baly.

Diagnosis

Stethispa 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, finely margined, without lateral teeth
• the apex of the elytra without a tooth-like projection
• the elytra with 10 rows of punctures for entire length and 4 regular costae, humerus with outward pointing spine, exterior apical angle with strong, sharp tooth
• the antennae thickened at apex, with 11-antennomeres
• leg with apical tarsomere bearing 2 claws
• anterior margin of prosternumprosternum:
  contains two anterior coxal cavities
  not expanding toward mouth

Description

Body elongate.

Head: clypeusclypeus:
usually quadrangular, elongate; joined to the labrum
transverse, rarely triangular, frequently expanding to base of antennaantenna:
3 to 11 segments, inserted in antennal pit in front of eyes
.

Antenna: short, with 11‑antennomeres, filiform; apical 5 antennomeres thickened, longer than preceding.

Pronotum: conical or rounded laterally; narrowing anteriorly.

Scutellum: transverse, narrowing behind, rounded at apex.

Elytron: elongate, rectangular; humerus with outward directed spine; strongly pointed tooth present on exterior apical angle; with 10 rows of punctures, scutellar row present or absent; 4 costae.

Venter: suture between first 2 abdominal sterna obscure in middle.

Leg: tarsal claws divergent.

Distribution

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, French Guinea, Peru, Suriname.

World Fauna

Described species: 19 (Staines 2012). Key: Monrós & Viana 1947.

Hosts

Aristolochia (Aristolochiaceae); Ruprechtia, Coccoloba (Polygonaceae).

References

Baly, J. S. 1864a. Descriptions of genera and species of Hispidae. The Annals and Magazine of Natural History (3)14:261-271, 334-345.

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