Colaspis caligula Agrain, Cabrera, Holgado & Vicchi, 2016, n. sp.
Creators: name: Agrain, Federico A.
name: Cabrera, Nora
name: Holgado, Miriam G.
name: Vicchi, Franco R.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Chrysomelidae
Colaspis
Colaspis caligula

description: Colaspis caligula n. sp.
Figs 1–5
Etymology. The specific epithet is treated as a noun in apposition (ICZN 1999, Art. 34.2.1). It refers to the diminutive form of the Latin term “caliga” and it literally means "little boots" due to the appearance of the tarsi of the adults. It also reminds of the nickname given to the infamous Roman emperor Gaius Caesar Germanicus.
Adult (Figs 1–2)
Specimens studied. Holotype: pinned. Original labels: white label (printed): ARGENTINA: Mendoza, Maipú (Barrancas)/ (-33.094652, -68.674391)/ 18/XII/2014. Col F. Vicchi. Red label (printed): HOLOTYPE/ Colaspis caligula n. sp/ Des. Federico A. Agrain 2016. IADIZA. Allotype: female, pinned. Original labels: white label (printed): ARGENTINA: Mendoza, Maipú (Barrancas)/ (-33.094652, -68.674391)/ 18/XII/2014. Col F. Vicchi. Red label (printed): ALLOTYPE/ Colaspis caligula n. sp/ Des. Federico A. Agrain 2016. IADIZA. Paratypes: 6 specimens, pinned. Original labels: white label (printed): ARGENTINA: Mendoza, Maipú (Barrancas)/ (- 33.094652, -68.674391)/ 18/XII/2014. Col F. Vicchi. Red label (printed): Colaspis caligula sp. n. / PARATYPE / Des. Agrain et al. 2016. IADIZA. Paratype: 1 specimen, female. pinned, with genitalia in a separate microvial and hindwing glued to a card point. Original labels: white label (printed): ARGENTINA: Mendoza, Maipú (Barrancas)/ (-33.094652, -68.674391)/ 18/XII/2014. Col F. Vicchi. Red label (printed): Colaspis caligula sp. n. / PARATYPE / Des. Agrain et al. 2016. IADIZA. Paratype: 1 specimen, male. pinned, with genitalia in a separate microvial. Original labels: white label (printed): ARGENTINA: Mendoza, Maipú (Barrancas)/ (-33.094652, - 68.674391)/ 18/XII/2014. Col F. Vicchi. Red label (printed): Colaspis caligula sp. n. / PARATYPE / Des. Agrain et al. 2016. IADIZA. Paratypes: 4 specimens, pinned. Original labels: white label (printed): ARGENTINA: San Juan, 9 de Julio / (-31.650381, -68.401328)/ 15/XII/2013.Col F. Vicchi, M. Holgado. Red label (printed): Colaspis caligula sp. n. / PARATYPE / Des. Agrain et al. 2016. IADIZA. Paratypes: 7 specimens, pinned. Original labels: white label (printed): ARGENTINA: Mendoza / Tunuyan Vista Flores / 25/XII/2009 Coll. S. Lanati. Red label (printed): Colaspis caligula sp. n. / PARATYPE / Des. Agrain et al. 2016. Paratypes: 20 males, 24 females, pinned. Original labels: white label (printed): ARGENTINA: Mendoza, Maipú (Barrancas)/ (-33.094652, -68.674391)/ 18/ XII/2014. Col F. Vicchi. Red label (printed): Colaspis caligula sp. n. / PARATYPE / Des. Agrain et al. 2016. MLPA. Paratypes 12 Larvae, 6 Pupae (alcohol preserved voucher): ARGENTINA: Mendoza, Maipú (Barrancas)/ (-33.094652, -68.674391)/ 26/II/2015. Col F. Vicchi. Red label (printed): Colaspis caligula sp. n. / PARATYPE / Des. Agrain et al. 2016. MLPA.
Type locality. Argentina, Mendoza, Maipú, Barrancas (-33.094652, -68.674391).
General aspect (Fig. 1 a–c) Length (average, females slightly larger): 7 mm; width 4 mm, intermediate size; body elongate-oval; green/blue metallic dorsal coloration, color varies with illumination and darkens in dry or alcohol preserved specimens. Dorsum, glabrous; elytral puncturation deeper than pronotal puncturation; scutellum small, subtriangular, black; coxae and labrum brown; mandibles black; antennomeres 1–3 light brown with black apex, other antennomeres black with apical region of antennomeres 9–11 darker. Pygidium black. Coxae, trochanter metallic as venter; femora dark or light brown; tibiae anterior third dark or light brown, rest black; tarsi black. Head. (Fig. 1 c), surface densely punctured, size smaller than pronotal puncturation; inter-ocular space wider than half width of head; eyes ovoid, with internal side faintly emarginate; clypeus slightly concave with anterior carina; labrum smooth, anterior margin strongly emarginate; mandibles compact, right tooth larger, both teeth with median denticulate area, bearing much longer and sharp tooth on each extreme. Antennae filiform, slender, gradually expanded from base to apex; pedicel curved; antennomeres 1–5 tubular; antennomere 6 conspicuously wider (1.8x than 5th, at apex); antennomere 6–11 slightly larger, wider at apex; last antennomere with thin apical lobe. Thorax. (Fig. 1 a–b), prothorax trapezoidal, 2x wider than long, each corner with small tooth, widest below middle; all margins regular, curved, with interrupted puncturation; surface densely punctate, smaller at sides. Prosternum sub-rectangular, longer than wide, laterally excavated near coxae. Elytra. (Fig. 1 a), scutellum small, subtriangular, with apex not pronounced; elytral base wider than prothorax, nearly 3x the length of prothorax; elytral puncturation sub-regular, smaller at apex and external margin, all margins with puncturation interrupted; humeral callus conspicuous, smooth with interrupted puncturation: epipleura smooth. Hind wing. (Fig. 2 a), venation as typically in Eumolpinae, with two cubital cells, 1Cuc and 2Cuc. Pygidium. (Fig. 2 b) concealed by elytra, external margin rounded, with conspicuous median longitudinal groove, tegument brighter and markedly punctured, external margins opaque with puncturation less marked; with small setae on its external margin. Legs. (Fig. 1 a–b), all pro-tarsomeres same length as two following tarsomeres combined; claws appendiculate. Abdomen. (Fig. 1 b), metallic, without secondary sexual structures on ventrites. Female genitalia. Ovipositor (Fig. 2 b), long (telescopic), almost 5x longer than wide, with well-developed styli. Coxites with narrow elongate sclerotization at base. Spermathecal capsule (Fig. 2 c) U-shaped, with arms very closely joined, distal part wider than proximal part. Male genitalia. Aedeagus (Fig. 2 d) long and broad; sclerotized portion of median lobe (aedeagus proper) strongly curved (90º) in lateral view, conspicuously wider near base before curvature; apex of median lobe with round tip. Non-sclerotized portion of median lobe (basal hood) longer than aedeagus proper.
Taxonomic remarks. Colaspis caligula n. sp. is similar to those species included by Bechyné (1949) within the “Bridarolli” species group. The latter group is characterized by the metallic coloration of dorsum, and testaceous legs; the prothorax is wide and sharply angled with dense puncturation; additionally, the elytra are not carinate, and without postbasal impressions. Within this group, it resembles C. achardi (Bechyné), from which it can be separated because in the species described herein male and female do not differ markedly in size and do not have denticles on the prothorax. Finally, the new species also differs from C. willinki Bechyné and C. scientillifera Bechyné, which have brighter elytra with more coarse puncturation.
Mature larva (Figs 3–4). Length 3.7–5.6 mm, width 1.0– 1.7 mm.
General aspect (Fig. 3 a–b). Body weakly convex, bright yellow (turning whitish in alcohol preservation). Head capsule light brown; mandibles dark brown. Microsculpture of body granulate. Head (Fig. 4 a–b). Hypognathous, rounded, slightly sclerotized; epicranial suture distinct, Y-shaped, well developed, extending less than half length of head, frontal arms pale, distinct throughout, divergent and curved; endocarina slightly marked; epicranial plates bearing three large setae along epicranial suture on each side, and other two pairs next to antennae; frons bearing three pairs of setae on disc, two pairs long and other four short setae arranged in a longitudinal row near clypeus. Antennae short, 3-segmented, segment 1 transverse bearing three setae, segment 3 with conical sensory appendage at base. Clypeus transverse, wide, bearing long seta on each lateral margin. Labrum transverse, apical margin bearing six large setae on each side. Mandibles short, sclerotized at apex, with blunt tooth at apex, two long mandibular setae inserted dorso-laterally. Maxillae with cardo subtriangular, bearing two setae at outer side, stipes quadrate, with two short outer setae, mola elongated with six thick setae on distal margin and other three at apex; maxillary palpi with palpiger bearing two long setae, segment II with long and short setae, segment III conical and thin, with short seta at base: labium slightly sclerotized, widened at base, with two pairs of long filiform sub-mental setae; pre-mentum broad, with two pairs of short setae; labial palpi 3-segmented, short. Thorax. Pronotum transverse, with long setae on minute tubercles, located on disc: two pairs on anterior margin, two near each angle, three pairs of setae next to the posterior margin, the two central pairs longer than the lateral ones; epipleural area bearing two setae, small pre-hypopleural area bearing one seta. Meso-and metathorax wider than prothorax, each bearing two pairs of setae arranged along mid-line and two setae on each exterior scutoscutellar area. Meso-and metapleura each with alar tubercle bearing three setae and anterior epipleural tubercle bearing two setae. Pro-meso-and metasterna with two medial setae. Spiracle annuliform displaced into mesothoracic region. Legs 5-segmented, third pair slightly larger; coxa trapezoidal bearing three long setae; trochanter triangular, with two setae; femur sub-rectangular bearing six long setae; tibia bearing 5–6 setae. Tarsungulus thin, moderately curved, with single basal seta. Abdomen. Abdominal segments I–VIII with two pairs of dorsal setae; posterior parascutal area bearing one seta; epipleural and hypopleural area each bearing two setae; eusternal area of segments I–VII with numerous setae on apical margin; segment VIII with four pairs of long, filiform setae; segment IX forming fleshy pygopod. Spiracles I–VIII annuliform.
Pupa (Fig. 5). Length 3.4–4.1 mm, width 1.8–2.5 mm. General aspect. Color of body creamy white, claws, apex of mandibles and antennae dark brown. Head deflexed, not visible from above, rounded, with two pairs of setae on vertex, one seta above inner margin of eye, two setae between antennae, one subantennal, and one pair of frontal setae. Mouthparts well developed. Pronotum with two pairs of setae on anterior margin, two pairs on anterior part of disc, three pairs on posterior part of disc and five setae situated on each lateral margin; one pair of rounded spiracles. Mesothorax with setae arranged in two rows: one pair of anterior setae and two pairs of posterior setae; metathorax with three pairs of setae on disc. Podothecae with two femoral setae on apex and one long, thick seta next to distal margin of tibiae; claws simple. Abdominal segments I–VII transverse, each with two pairs of median setae and one pair of pleural setae. Abdominal segment VIII reduced with two pairs of short lateral setae; abdominal segment IX with urogomphi almost straight, two pairs of setae at base, two pairs of lateral setae ventrally, and two shorter setae medially.
Remarks on biology. Similar to other species of Colaspis, this species seems to complete an univoltine life cycle (Lindsay 1943). The larva feeds primarily on the lateral roots, and overwinters underground, becomes active early in the spring (September/October), and starts feeding on the roots of the host plant. Later (November/ December), the larvae pupate (3–6 cm below the soil surface). Adults emerge 5–10 days later. The adults of the new species herein described were collected from November until March. Adults can live for over a month feeding on young leaves perforating irregular holes into the leaf surface; less often they also consume young shoots and petioles, and although the damage caused by the adults does not seem to be significant, it could become problematic in young vine plantations. The oviposition process last for about 40 minutes, the female introduces the ovipositor into a crack in the sand, the ovipositor movements facilitates its insertion. The eggs are smooth, ovate, yellowish, and about 0.6 x 0.25 mm in length, they are covered with a translucent secretion that clusters them together in masses (about 62 on each mass). The larvae hatch between 3–5 days later; recently hatched larvae are yellowish like the eggs, but rapidly the bodies become whitish while the head and the thoracic sclerites gradually darken during their development. The larvae are the ones causing the greatest damage to the plants, feeding on the roots, therefore, causing the reduction of water and nutrient absorption. Especially the third instar larvae, which are able to produce cavities and longitudinal grooves on the roots making them likely more vulnerable to pathogens.
description: Published as part of Agrain, Federico A., Cabrera, Nora, Holgado, Miriam G. & Vicchi, Franco R., 2016, Colaspis caligula, a new species found in association with Vitis vinifera (L.) crops in Argentina (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), pp. 228-236 in Zootaxa 4161 (2) on pages 229-234, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4161.2.5, http://zenodo.org/record/255631