Temnochalepus Uhmann 1935d: 56

Synonomys

None.

Type Species

Odontota lugubris Chapuis.

Diagnosis

Temnochalepus can be distinguished by the following combination of characters:

• body elongate, parallel-sided
• 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, sharp constriction present behind eyes
• 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, costa 3 interrupted in middle or is totally absent, humerus rounded without spine or tooth, apices regularly rounded, sutural angle not emarginate
• 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
• abdominal sterna 1 and 2 without medial sulcus

Description

Body elongate, parallel-sided.

Head: clypeusclypeus:
usually quadrangular, elongate; joined to the labrum
hardly granulose, with medial carina which is prolonged into a deep interocular sulcus; sharp constriction present behind eyes; projection present at base of antennaantenna:
3 to 11 segments, inserted in antennal pit in front of eyes
.

Antenna: with 11‑antennomeres; antennomeres 1 to 2 cylindrical, 2 shorter and narrower than 1; 3 longer than 1 or 2; 4 to 6 transverse, decreasing in length; 7 to 10 transverse, slightly compressed laterally; 11 rounded at apex.

Pronotum: wider than long, widest at base; small tooth present in anterior angle; transverse basal impression present; densely punctate.

Elytron: lateral margin smooth; apical margin scarcely denticulate; with 10 rows of punctures plus scutellar row; 4 costae, 1, 2, and 4 well developed; costa 3 visible at humerus and apex or totally absent.

Distribution

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Paraguay.

World Fauna

Described species: 4 (Staines 2012). Key: Monrós & Viana 1947.

Hosts

Commelina (Commeliniaceae); Pharus (Fabaceae); Panicum (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

Uhmann, E. 1935d. Hispinen aus Brasilien (Col. Chrysomelidae). Revista de Entomología Rio de Janeiro 5:47-59.