Rhynchasphaera latipleura Bechyne 1956
Creators: name: Roie, Martijn Van
name: D'Hont, Anouk
name: Konstantinov, Alexander
name: Furth, David
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Chrysomelidae
Rhynchasphaera
Rhynchasphaera latipleura

description: Rhynchasphaera latipleura Bechyné, 1956
(Figure 8)
Rhynchasphaera latipleura Bechyné 1956:1056 (Peru, Cuzco: Machupicchú, holotype sex unknown).
Measurements. LB = 7.5–9.32 mm; WB = 4.55–5.2 mm (N=4)
Distribution. Peru.
Type examined. Paratype: Machupicchu 2000m Peru XII.1947, Coll. Weyrauch, 5656, P-Type Rhynchasphaera latipleura ns. J. Bechyne det., 1956 (NMB).
Additional specimens examined. Macchu Picchu Pueblo, Cuzco, Peru March 22 1947 Alt. 6491 ft., J. C. Pallister Coll. Donor Frank Johnson, Rhynchasphaera latipleura Bechyne det. D.G. Furth (1 AMNH, on loan to D. Furth). Peru, Cusco: 80 km North of Calca 7-Mar-1978, Univ. Maryland-SEL: SMF Expedition, Cum typo Comparatum, Rhynchasphaera latipleura Bechyné det. M. Van Roie 2022 (1 female BYU). Peru: Cusco, Machupicchu 2040 meters 16-Feb-1978, Univ. Maryland SEL: SMF Expedition (2 females USMN). Peru dept. of Cuzco Machu Picchu Aguas Calientes 1800m, April 1999 coll. MVL Barclay BMNH {E}2003-49, Rhynchasphaera latipleura Bechyné, 1956 det. M. Geiser 2021, 3 more with same data at BMNH (1 female BMNH). Peru dept. of Cuzco Machu Picchu Aguas Calientes 1800m, April 1999 coll. MVL Barclay BMNH {E}2003-49, Rhynchasphaera latipleura Bechyné, 1956 det. M. Geiser 2021 (1 female BMNH). Peru dept. of Cuzco Machu Picchu Aguas Calientes 2000m, April 1999 coll. MVL Barclay BMNH {E}2003-49, Rhynchasphaera latipleura Bechyné, 1956 det. M. Geiser 2021 (1 female BMNH).
Literature records. PERU: Cuzco: Machupicchú, 2000m, XII.1947 (Dr. W. Weyrauch) (Bechyné 1956).
Description of genitalia. Spermathecal pump (Figure 8E) clearly separated from receptacle, about half as long as receptacle, slightly arched, with top rounded. Apex of spermathecal pump flattened; length about one-fifth of spermathecal pump. Receptacle elongate, constricted just before and at spermathecal pump, forming clear neck; maximum width situated at about middle of receptacle. Male genitalia not available for study.
Diagnosis. Rhynchasphaera latipleura can quite easily be separated from the two other species of this genus by the elytral coloration alone (see key above, Figure 8). Additionally, R. latipleura distinguishes from R. basisticta by the more matte, deeply punctate and evenly rounded elytra (Figure 8A&B). Furthermore, R. latipleura can be separated from R. orophila by the clearly punctate frons (Figure 8C).
description: Published as part of Roie, Martijn Van, D'Hont, Anouk, Konstantinov, Alexander & Furth, David, 2023, Types of Cuyabasa Bechyné, Palmaraltica Bechyné and Rhynchasphaera Bechyné (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini: Oedionychina) of the Naturhistorisches Museum, Basel, with keys to species and descriptions of genitalia, and new combinations for species transferred to the oedionychine, pp. 67-82 in Zootaxa 5318 (1) on pages 77-78, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5318.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/8158253