Revision of the genus Platycolaspis Jacoby (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae)

14 Pages·1994·0.91 MB·English

by  C. A. M. Reid

Memoirs ofthe MuseumofVictoria54: 207-220 (1994) 30 June 1994
https://doi.org/10.24199/j.mmv.1994.54.10
REVISION OF THE GENUS PLATYCOLASPISJACOBY
(COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE: CRYPTOCEPHALINAE)
By C. A. M. Reid
DivisionofBotany andZoology, Australian National University, GPO Box 4,
Canberra, ACT2601, Australia
Abstract
Reid,C. A. M., 1994. RevisionofthegenusPlatycolaspisJacoby(Co—leoptera: Chrysomel-
idae: Cryptocephalinae). MemoirsoftheMuseum ofVictoria 54: 207 220.
ThegenusPlatycolaspisJacoby,hithertoplacedinEumolpinae,isredescribedintheCryp-
tocephalinae. Thissouth-eastAustraliangenusincludesfivespecies,fourofwhicharenew:
P. alpinasp. nov.,P. australisJacoby,P. lamingtonensissp. nov.,P. mcquillanisp. nov. and
P. pubescens sp. nov. The genus has affinities with Semelvillea Reid. Adults ofPlatyco-
laspis species feed on flowers ofAcacia oronNothofagus foliage.
Introduction (Erber, 1968), which may show specific differ-
The genus PlatycolaspisJacoby was original- ences. The female rectum shows slight differ-
ly tentatively placed in the Colaspini, encesbetween species but isrelatively invariable
Eumolpinae, where it has remained (Seeno and at generic level. It is differentiated into dorsal
Wilcox, 1982). Itwas described from specimens andventral halves withareasofsclerotisation on
sent for identification by Lea. However other the external surface (sclerites) and sensilla and
material ofPlatycolaspis seen by Lea (Museum rowsofteeth(formingchitinpolsters)ontheinner
of Victoria and South Australian Museum) surface. The nomenclature used here for these
includes specimens labelled by him 'allied to structures was devised by Erber (1968). The
Cryptocephaluspauperculus' and 'note abdom- generic redescription given here includes details
inal fovea' and it seems thatLeawas awareofits of head and thoracic anatomy based on dissec-
affinities totheCryptocephalinae. Forplacement tions of P. australis Jacoby, P. mcquillani sp.
in Cryptocephalinae, thestructuresofthefemale, nov. and P. pubescens sp. nov.
Plants were identified by reference to Coster-
the malegenitaliaand thecase-bearing larva(not
mans (1981).
described here) are decisive.
The genus Platycolaspis is redescribed below The material used in this study is deposited at
and compared with other genera in the Crypto- the following institutions: Australian National
cephalinae, especiallySemelvilleaReid. Thefive InsectCollection, Canberra(ANIC); Natural His-
species aredescribed. Therelativeabundanceof tory Museum, London (BMNH); Bernice P.
BishopMuseum, Hawaii (BPBM); GriffithUni-
mecaotleorgiiaclalofsfuoruvreysspeicniTesasimsapnairtalyanddueLatmoinregcteonnt versity Insect Collection (GUIC); Museum of
Victoria, Melbourne (NMV); South Australian
National Park.
Museum, Adelaide (SAM); Insect Collection,
Methods. Dissections were made from dried Agriculture Department of Tasmania, Hobart
material after separating the abdomen in water, (TAIC); University of Queensland Insect Col-
soaking this in cold dilute KOH for 2-3 hr and lection, Brisbane (UQIC).
then washing in water. Thegeneral morphology
ofCryptocephalinaeistypical ofChrysomelidae, Platycolaspis Jacoby
but there are afew internal abdominal structures Platycolaspis Jacoby, 1908: 27. (in Eumolpinae; ty—pe
peculiarto Cryptocephalinae, which appear use- species: Platycolaspi—s australis Jacoby, by monotypy).
ful for generic or species discriminations. The Clavareau 1914: 34. SeenoandWilcox, 1982: 58.
male has an ejaculatory guide(Karren, 1966) for
theflagellum in the median lobeoftheaedeagus, Diagnosis. Cryptocephalinae (sensu stricto) of
which is greatly reduced in Platycolaspisbutvis- 1.4-3.0mm; antennal segments with basiconic
ible through the thin walls of the median lobe. sensilla scattered, not concentrated in apical
The ovipositor is abruptly foreshortened and discs; eye evenly and strongly convex, canthus
valvifer, coxite and stylus are fused into asingle not developed (Fig. 4); pronotal disc with
blade-like and partially transparent vaginal palp median transverse impression, at least at sides,
208 C. A. M.REID
and hind margin without teeth (Figs 1-3); pro- apex; procoxal cavity narrowly open (gap
coxal cavities open or closed by prosternal between hypomeron and prosternal process less
process touching or slightly overlapping than length of hypomeral lobe), or closed by
hypomeron (Figs 11-13); scutellum abruptly overlap or touching of prosternal process on
declined anteriorly (Figs 1-3); elytral interlock- hypomeron; scutellum abruptly elevated from
ing grooves evanescent and recurved before mesoscutum, elongate with slightly broaderbase
apex; abdomen covered by elytra, at least in than truncateapex,orequilateral-triangularwith
males; claws appendiculate (Fig. 19); tergites rounded apex; mesoscutum with neither lateral
weakly sclerotised, soft and flexible; male with patches of microchaetae, a longitudinal median
sternites V and VI fused; median lobe ofaedea- ridge nor a broad stridulatory file; elytra (Figs
gus with simple apex (Figs 20, 22-27); ejacula- 1-3,9-10, 14-15)2.5-3.0times lengthofprono-
tory guidesimple, elongate-conical; spermathe- tum, subparallel-sidedforbasal half; apex ofely-
ca with elongate collum (Figs 33-39); kotpresse tral sutural lockingmechanism evanescentbefore
with ventral sclerite laterally extended (Figs apex, the dorsal ridge recurved on the elytra;
40-44). punctation of elytra confused or subseriate on
disc; epipleurongradually attenuate, notreaching
Description. Habitus (Figs 1-3). Size apex, with a row of punctures; mesosternal
1.4-3.0mm; body moderately cylindrical but process narrow and truncate; wing venation
head, prothorax and hindbody distinguishable; reduced (Fig. 16), basal marginal vein ofR-cell
colour of dorsum various shades of yellowish- absent or incomplete and anal area with faint
orreddish-brown, ventersimilarbut may bepart- indication ofelongate basal cell, oval apical cell
ly black; without metallic reflection; dorsum and 2 radiating veins, outermost free; metaster-
glabrous or pubescent. num not convexly swollen ventrally, sides
Head (Fig. 4): relatively broad becauseofcon- stronglypunctured, dull, disc sparsely and weak-
vex eyes, projecting from prothorax; vertical ly punctured, shining; metendosternite (Fig. 17)
punctation dense, tending to rugose-strigose, with basal stalk narrow, as long as lateral arms,
interspaces c.l puncture diameter or less; eyes without strong median projection and without lat-
evenlyconvex, relatively small, distance between eral lobes or lamellae; all femoraofsimilar size,
always greater than 1.5 times eye length; inner thin, without ventral keel; tibiae unkeeled and
margin ofeye withoutcanthus, straightor feebly apical spurs absent; all tarsal segments (Fig. 18)
concave; sides of clypeus divergent to apex; relatively short and dorsally convex, segment 3
antennae (Fig. 7) with all segments elongate, of anterior tarsus slightly transverse; claws
5-1 1 approximately equally long, 7-1 1 expand- appendiculate (Fig. 19).
ed; antennal length 0.4-0.6 body length; anten- Abdomen (external) (Fig. 6): tergites thin,
nal segments with basiconic sensilla scattered, weakly sclerotised and not reaching sternites;
not in apical pits; labrum (Fig. 8) quadrate, with pleurites absent, spiracles free in basal tergites;
3 or more pairs of dorsal setae and less than 10 sternites weakly and sparsely punctured, rela-
pairs of basiconic sensilla on epipharynx; last tively shining, buttransversely microsculptured;
segment of maxillary palpi simply conical to sides ofsternite III ridged at base oflateral lobe,
expanded at apex, with 3-4 digitiform sensilla; ridge 0.5-0.75 length ofsternite, other sternites
mandible with 2 short apical teeth, ablunt medi- unridged; male sternites V and VI connate, but
an toothon internal edgeand several shortexter- sternite VII not indented; females with sternites
nal setae; apical segmentoflabial palpshaped as V and VI freeand sternite VII with large shallow
maxillary palp. egg-hollow lacking apical indentation.
Thorax: Prothorax (Figs 1-3,5,9-13): prono- Male genitalia(Figs 20-27): median lobeshal-
tum broadestat middleofsides, which areround- lowly curved in profile, with generally short and
ed to strongly angulate and only slightly con- sparsedorsal and ventral setae; ejaculatory guide
tracted at apex; lateral margins of pronotum reduced to a narrow cone with central channel
strongly bordered toexplanate; disc strongly and and basal diaphanous vesicle (difficult todistin-
closely punctured, with median transverse guish); tegmen (Fig. 21) U- or V-shaped with
depression at least at sides; anteriorcornersetae expanded sides and truncate base.
set on anterior margin not on explanate border, Female genitalia and oviposition complex
posterior setae at corners; prosternal process (Figs28—45): vaginal palp (Figs28-32) with api-
quadrate to elongate, narrowed in middle (width cal border wholly sclerotised and rounded to
less than 0.5 coxal cavity width) and expanded at slightly concave; spermatheca(Figs 33-39) with
REVISION OFTHEGENUS PLATYCOLASPISJACOBY 209
moderately long collum and U- or slightly V- are dropped to the ground in scatoshells.
shaped receptaculum; kotpresse (Figs 40-45)
withlaterally expanded ventral sclerite, conspic- Remarks. Platycolaspisshows typical adultmor-
uous andusually triangulardorsal scleritesreach- phological attributesofCryptocephalinae (sensu
ing lateral margins, and no subsidiary median Lawrence and Britton, 1991) and the life histo-
sclerites; dorsal anterior and posterior surfaces ry, with egg and larva in a scatoshell, supports
of rectum with weakly spined sensilla, venter this. Within the Cryptocephalinae, it shows
without sensilla except the narrow apical band. affinity with a small group oflittle-known Aus-
Microsculpture consisting of short sharp trian- tralasian genera, includingArnomus Sharp,Ate-
gular spines on dorsal chitinpolster, and ofmul- nesus Weise, Leasia Jacoby, and Semelvillea
tispined scales on ventral chitinpolster. Reid (Reid, 1991).
Distribution andbiology. The species are found Platycolaspis is similar to Semelvillea, with
in south-east Australia (Fig. 46) from Tasmania which it shares the following features: sutural
lockingmechanismevanescentbeforeapex; male
pnloaritnhsatloonLgamtihnegtDiovnidNiantgionRaalngPearka,ndsocuotahsetranl sternites V and VI connate; sides of sternite III
Queensland, and west to MountGambier, South partially ridged. It differs by: canthus absent;
Australia. They may be locally abundant but mid-antennal segments not obviously longer or
seem to have restricted adult activity periods. widerthan apical segments; frontedgeofprono-
Host plants arerecorded fortwo species: P. aus- tum not ridged; R-cell of wing open; third pro-
tralis feeds on the flowers of a wide range of tarsal segment transverse and tarsi generally
Acacia species, and P. mcquillani feeds on the shorter and more convex; ejaculatory guide
immature leaves of Nothofagus species. As is reducedto asimpleconical structure; ventralrec-
typical forCryptocephalinae (Erber, 1988), eggs tal sclerite laterally expanded.
Key to species ofPlatycolaspis
Lateral margin of pronotum sharply angulate in middle and broadly
explanate (Fig. 1); dorsum glabrous 2
Lateral margin of pronotum weakly angulate or rounded, and narrowly
margined (Figs 2-3); dorsum glabrous orpubescent 3
Size, 6 1.4-1.5mm, $ 1.6-1.7mm; elytra, c. 2.5 times length ofprono-
tum (Fig. 10); frontanglesofpronotum anteriorlyproduced;procoxalcav-
ities closed, by overlap of prosternal process on hypomeron
P. lamingtonensis
Size, 6 1.7-2.3mm, 9 2.3-2.7mm; elytra, c. 3 times length ofpronotum
(Fig. 9); front angles ofpronotum notanteriorly produced; procoxal cavi-
tiesopen p- australis
3. Dorsum apparently glabrous (minute setae present) (Fig. 2)
P. mcquillani
Atleastpronotumconspicuouslypubescent(Fig. 3) 4
4. Pronotum with continuous transverse impressionjust posterior to middle
and elytral apex abruptly angled in profile (Figs 3, 15); head and prono-
tum rugosely punctured, with ridged interspaces; elytral setae long, erect
orrecurved;frontoclypeusdull,microreticulate P. pubescens
Pronotum slightly depressed either side of middle and elytral apex more
evenly curved (Fig. 14); punctures of head and pronotum distinct, inter-
spaces flat; elytral setae short, recurved; frontoclypeus shining, not
microreticulate "> alpina
1
210 C. A. M. REID
Platycolaspis alpina sp. nov. type locality in the Victorian Alps, where it was
collected in January.
Figures 14,28,33,40
Platycolaspis australis Jacoby
Type. Holotypc 9: /BogongPlainsVIC5000-6000ftJan-
uary 1928 F. E. Wilson / Id. by A. M. Lea Crypti/cephalus Figures 1,4-6,9,11,19-21, 29, 34, 4
rufescenx Boll (paupercitlus Germ.) 6 is black/F. E. Wil- —
son Collection/ |NMV T-12501]. Platycola—spis australis Jacoby, 1908: 27. Clavareau,
1914: 177. Lea, 1915: 102, 110.
Diagnosis. Head and pronotum with small but
Types. Lectotype o\ here designated: /Type H. T.I Hobart
conspicuous punctures, interspaces Hat; pubes-
Tas: Lea/Lea 10336/JacobyColl. l909-28a/ Platycolaspis
cence on head and pronotum dense and conspic- australis.lac. type/ [BMNH].
uous, on elytra short, recurved and much less Paralcctotypcs (3 specimens), here designated: 26 1 9
conspicuous; pronotum convex, with shallow lat- /Hobart,Tasmania/JacobyColl. 1909-28a/ [BMNH].
eral median depressions; pronotum and apex of
Othermaterial(70specimens). Tasmania. Hobart (BMNH,
elytra evenly curved in profile.
SAM), Launceston(SAM), National Park (SAM).
Description (female only). Colour: yellowish- Victoria. Belgrave (NMV), Cheltenham (NMV), 5km S
brown, with head and tarsi slightly darker and Colquhoun (ANIC), Emerald (SAM), Lakes Entrance
antennomeres 6-1 dark brown. Pubescence: (ANIC), Point Ricardo (ANIC), Sandringham (ANIC),
head with short in1conspicuous setae on disc, Somerville (MVM), 3km S Weeragua(ANIC).
pronotum withconspicuous butadpressedcurved NewSouthWales. 15kmNEBatemansBay(ANIC),Bun-
danoon (ANIC), kmEMarulan (ANIC).
setae arising from punctures; elytra with setae 1 1
Australian Capital Territory: Black Mountain (ANIC),
similar to pronotum but punctures much larger Bulls Head (ANIC), 3km E Piccadilly Circus (ANIC),Tid-
and sparser, therefore setae less visible; venter binbilla NR (ANIC).
cleHaerlaydpaubnedscpernot.notSiuzme:r2e.la1tmimve.ly finely punc- Diagnosis. Size, S 1.7-2.3mm, $ 2.3-2.7mm;
tured, puncturesclose but separated by fiat inter- uppersurfaceglabrous; lateral margins ofprono-
spaces which are strongly microreticulate; eyes tum strongly expanded and angulate; procoxal
small butconvex, interocularspace about 3 times cavities open; length ofelytra c. 3 times prono-
eye length; frontoclypeus shining, not tal length; humeral elytral keel present but not
microsculptured; antenna halfbody length, seg- sharply carinate.
ments 7-1 I slightly expanded towards apex; last Description. Colour: male with head, most of
segment of maxillary palp elongate-conical;
ventral surface, tarsi, femora and antennomeres
explanate lateral margins of pronotum narrow, 6 or 7-1 brown, rest pale brownish-yellow;
evenly rounded and tapering posteriorly; prono- female us1ually entirely pale brownish-yellow
tum with transverse median depression shallow with darker antennae, but may be slightly dark-
and separated by convex pronotal disc (Fig. 14); er in same areas as male, although not as dark.
fore coxal cavities narrowly open, gap much less Pubescence: dorsum glabrous, venter with only
than half length of hypomeral lobe; prosternal abdomen conspicuously pubescent. Size: male
process almost quadrate, medial width almost 1.7-2.3mm, female 2.3-2.7mm.
equal to coxal cavity length; apex of process Head and pronotum densely punctured and
curved.
microsculptured, punctures deep and separated
Elytra: strongly and closely punctured, diam-
eterofpunctures more than twice pronotal punc- by narrow ridges; eyes convex (Fig. 1), interoc-
ular space about 2.2-2.5 times eye length; fron-
tures,confused, without longitudinal ridged inter-
toclypeus dull, strongly microsculptured; anten-
vals; epipleura at about 45° to vertical; apex of
nahalfbody length,segments7-1 expanded but
elytra evenly curved in profile (Fig. 14); scutel- 1
lum equilateral-triangular with rounded apex; parallel-sided towards apex and elongate; last
segment of 6 maxillary palp broadly expanded
Female: vaginal palpelongate-ovate (Fig. 28);
spermatheca U-shaped (Fig. 33), with evenly to apex, 9 parallel-sided; explanate lateral mar-
rounded tip and relatively short straight collum; gins of pronotum (Figs I, 9) broad and sharply
angled in middle, front angles notanteriorly pro-
kotpresse (Fig. 40) with dorsal transverse scle-
rites only weakly projecting, subtriangular, ven- duced; pronotum with continuous transverse
tral transverse sclerite broad, parallel-sided and median depression; fore coxal cavities (Fig. 5,
projecting, but not expanded orcrenulate. 1 1) clearly open, but gap less than halflength of
hypomeral lobe; prosternal processelongate and
Distribution anilbiology. Known only from the narrow, medial width much less than halfcoxal
Y
REVISION OFTHE GENUS PLATYCOLASP1SJACOB 211
cavity length; apex ofprocess curved and slight- Paratypes(7 specimens): 36*, 39, samedataas holotype
ly produced. exceptcodenosDR51,DR3.6,SG[Synoumglandiilosum]3,
Elytra (Figs 1, 9): elongate, length c. 3 times SG6(ANIC, GUIC); 1o\asaboveexcept4.Dec.l99l, DR4
pronotum; strongly andclosely punctured,dense- (ANIC).
loynlayndwefaiknellyy caornovuenxd,sscuubtseelrliuamtewiotnhdiinstce;rsrpaaicseesd Diagnosis. Size, 6 1.4-1.5mm, ? 1.6-1.7mm;
uppersurfaceglabrous; lateral margins ofprono-
interstice from shoulder to apex prominent, but
tum strongly expanded and angulate; procoxal
evenly convex, not sharply ridged; epipleura
cavities closed; length of elytra c. 2.5 times
almosthorizontal; apex ofelytraabruptly sloped
pronotal length; humeral elytral keel sharply car-
in profile; scutellumelongate, length> 1.3 times inate.
width.
Male: median lobe (Fig. 20) narrow and ven- Description. Colour: male with abdomen, tibiae,
tral and dorsal surfaces evenly curved in profile; tarsi, and antennomeres 7-11 dark brown to
apex broadly but weakly mucronate, with four black, rest yellowish- or reddish-brown, head
long dorsal setae, approximately 0.25 width of generally somewhat darker; female entirely yel-
median lobe, and scattered shorter setae. lowish-brown, head may be slightly darker.
Female: vaginal palp (Fig. 29) rhomboid with Pubescence: dorsum glabrous, venter with only
rather pointed tip; spermatheca (Fig. 34) U- abdomen conspicuously pubescent. Size: male
shaped with a pointed tip and elongate collum; 1.4-1.5mm, female 1.6-1.7mm.
kotpresse (Fig. 41) with dorsal transverse scle- Head and pronotum densely punctured and
rites subtriangular but extended and crenulately microsculptured, punctures deep and separated
expanded, laterally, ventral transverse sclerite by narrow ridges; eyesconvex, interocularspace
lengthened medially and strongly extended and about 2.3-2.5 times eye length; frontoclypeus
crenulately expanded, laterally. weakly shining but microsculptured; antenna
Distributionandbiology. Platycolaspisaustralis about 0.4 body length, segments 7-1 1 expanded
is widespread from the tablelands and adjacent towards apex and slightly elongate; last segment
coast near Goulburn, to Melbourne and eastern of maxillary palp broadly expanded to apex in
Tasmania. Adults arc present from August to 6, parallel-sided in 9 ; explanatelateral margins
October and feed on Acacia flowers. The fol- ofpronotum (Fig. 10) broad and sharply angled
lowing hosts have been recorded: A. baileyana in middle, very narrow behind this, front angles
Muell., A. dealbata Link, A. longifolia (Andr.) strongly anteriorly produced; pronotum more
Willd., A. mucronata Willd. ex Wendl., A. convex than in P. australis, with continuous
obtusata Sieb. ex DC, A. pycnantha Benth., A. transverse median depression; fore coxal cavi-
terminalis(Salisb.) Macbr. This listincludes bip- ties closed; prosternal process elongate and nar-
innate and phyllodinous species, and it seems row, medial width less than half coxal cavity
likely that any Acacia flowering from August to length; apex ofprocess curved.
October will be a suitable host. The adult bee- Elytra (Fig. 10): short, length c. 2.5 times
tles burrow into individual flowerheads and their pronotum; strongly and closely punctured, dense-
yellowish colouration appears to be suitably ly and finely around scutellum with interspaces
cryptic for this purpose. strongly convex, subseriateon disc; raised inter-
stice from shoulder to apex prominent and
Remarks. Jacoby (1908)did notspedfy the num- sharply ridged;epipleuraalmosthorizontal; apex
berofspecimens heexamined, butmorethan one of elytra abruptly sloped in profile; scutellum
specimen is indicated from the species dBesMcrNipH- slightly elongate to quadrate, length < 1.3 times
tion. Themalespecimen from Hobart in width.
with Jacoby's 'type' label is hereby designated Male: median lobe (Fig. 24) narrow and ven-
lectotype. The three remaining specimens from tral and dorsal surfaces almost evenly curved in
Hobart in Jacoby's collection are designated profile; apex right-angled with blunt tip, with
paralectotypes. four longdorsal setae, approximately 0.25 width
Platycolaspis lamingtonensis sp. nov. ofmedian lobe, and scattered shorter setae.
Female: vaginal palp (Fig. 30)ovate-rhomboid
Figures 10, 24, 30, 35, 42 with rounded tip; spermatheca (Fig. 35) asym-
Types. Holotype: 3 I Lamington NP QLD, O'Reilly's, metrically U-shaped with apointed tip and elon-
28°.I4'S I53°.00'E,pyrethrumfoggingrainforest,Dec 1991, gatecollum; kotpresse(Fig.42) with dorsal trans-
DR [Dysoxylumrufum] 55, R. L. Kitching/(ANIC). verse sclerites transverse, feebly extended and
1 1
212 C. A. M. REID
notcrenulatelyexpanded, ventral transversescle- 9 specimens from Walker Tarn are generally
rite parallel-sided, laterally extended but not darker brown, and more extensively black ven-
crenulately expanded. trally. Pubescence: dorsum glabrous, but with
minute stubs of setae in punctures, venter with
Distributionandbiology. Platycolaspis laming- short but conspicuous pubescence. Size: male
tonensis is confined to the type locality, Lam- 1.7-2.4mm, female 2.3-2.8mm. The Walker
ington National Park, 800km north ofany other Tarn specimens are generally larger: male
species of Platycolaspis. The collection site is 2.25-2.4mm, female 2.8-3.0mm.
subtropical rainforest atc. 950m altitude, and all Head and pronotum densely punctured and
availablematerial wastaken by foggingtherain- microsculptured, punctures deep, with narrow
foresttreesDysoxylum rufum (Rich.) Benth. and convex interspaces; interocularspaceabout2-2.5
Synoum glandulosum (Smith) Juss. (both Meli- timeseyelength; frontoclypeus shiningbutshal-
acene). lowly microsculptured; antenna (Fig. 7) slightly
more than half body length, segments 6-1
Platycolaspis mcquillani sp. nov.
expanded towards apex, slightly moreelongatein
Figures 2, 7, 8, 12, 16-18,25-27,31,36,43 theWalkertarn specimens; lastsegmentofmax-
illary palp slightly contracted to truncate apex;
Types. Holotype: 6 I41°50'S 146°03'E Pelion Hut, 3kmS explanate lateral margins of pronotum (Fig. 2)
Mt Oakleigh TAS, 860m 30.Nov.t990-8.Jan.1991 E. distinct, evenly curved to broad front-angles;
Nielsen, E. Edwards malaiseno. 5, closed forest/(ANIC). pronotum with transverse median depression
Paratypes(89specimens,allTasmania): 15, samedataas
holotype(ANIC);21,samedataasholotype,except8..1an-12 continuous or rarely divided by narrow median
Feb.1992, A. Calder and W. Dressier (ANIC, SAM); 1, as convexity; forecoxal cavities (Fig. 12)closedby
aboveexcept, FITno 1 (ANIC); I,asaboveexcept, malaise overlap or touching of prosternal process on
no2 (ANIC); 4, as aboveexcept, 30.Nov.1990-8.Jan.1991, hypomeral lobe; prosternal process slightly elon-
E. NielsenandE.Edwards, malaiseno4;2,asaboveexcept, gate, medial width 0.5-0.75 coxal cavity length;
malaiseno 2; 1, as aboveexcept 28-30.Nov.l990, T. Weir, apex ofprocess curved.
beatingNothofagus(ANIC); 1,asaboveexcept,ongrassand Elytra(Fig. 2): strongly andcloselypunctured,
lA.owCavlegdeetraatinodnW(.ANDIrCes)s;ieIr,,asswaebeopvienegxcgerpats,st1u2f-t1sS(.AFNeIb.C)1;9941,/ subseriate, with about 5 irregular shallow longi-
41°52'S 146°03'E 2km NNE Mt Ossa, 1000m, tudinal ridges, including raised, evenly convex,
30.Nov-8.Jan.199l, E. Nielsen and E. Edwards, FIT no 3/ interstice from shoulder; epipleura at c. 45° to
(ANIC); 10,/41°5rS 146°03'E4kmS MtOakleigh.880m, vertical; apexofelytraabruptly sloped in profile;
—
30.Nov 8.Jan.1991,E.NielsenandE. Edwards,malaiseno scutellum equilateral-triangular with rounded
3/(ANIC);2,/HartzMtnsNP800monNoth. cunninghamii apex;
71.4D6e°c..341'9E806.P5.kmB.NMWcQuLialkleaWneb/s(tAeNr,ICM)t;F2i6el,d6N9P4o2n°.N3o9t'h.S Male: aedeagal median lobe (Figs 25-27) rel-
atively thick with evenly curved dorsal surface
cunninghumii920m7.Feb.1992C. ReioV(ANIC); 106",85
/42°40'S 146°41'E2.5kmWNationalPark,MtFieldNP,on and produced apex in profile; apex broadly but
Noth. cunninghumii, rainf., 600m, 6.Feb.1992 C. Reid/ strongly mucronate, with about 15-20 scattered
(ANIC). short dorsal setae, 0.2 or less width of median
W lobe (size and distribution ofsetae variable).
Othermaterialexamined.46,59 142"39'S 146°33'E side Female: vaginalpalp(Fig. 31)ovatewith angu-
Walker Tarn, Mt Field NP TAS on Noth. gunni 1140m
lar basal margin and broadly rounded tip; sper-
7,Feb.l992C. Reid/(ANIC).
matheca(Fig. 36)broadU-shaped, withelongate,
Diagnosis. Entire upper surface glabrous or strongly reflexed collum; kotpresse (Fig. 43)
minute setae visible at apex of elytra; sides of elongate-triangular dorsal transverse sclerites
pronotum not angulate; procoxal cavities closed narrowly laterally prominent, ventral sclerite
orapparently so;prosternal process broad,medi- slightly lengthened medially and expanded but
al width at least halfprocoxal cavity length. only weakly prominent at sides.
Description. Colour: maleentirely yellowish-to Distribution and biology. This species is only
reddish-brown except abdomen, tarsi and palpi known from three areas in Tasmania where it
dark brown to black and antennal segments6-1 feeds on new foliage of Nothofagus cunning-
and apex of 5 black; venter of thorax, base of hamii. The Walker Tarn specimens were feed-
femoraand sides ofheadmay alsobedark brown ing on young foliageofN. gunni. All specimens
to black; female entirely yellowish- or reddish- were taken at moderate to high altitude
brown, except palpi and antennae as male. The (600-1 140m).
REVISION OFTHE GENUS PLATYCOLASPISJACOBY 213
Remarks. The specimens from WalkerTarndif- middle; explanate margins ofpronotum narrow,
fer in size and, to alesserextent, colourfrom all slightly angled; procoxal cavities closed in ven-
other material, as described above. These spec- tral view; apexofelytraabruptly declined in side
imens were also taken on a different foodplant view.
(N. gunni) and at a higher elevation (1140m;
other specimens 600-920m). I have not been Description. Colour: ground colour yellowish-
abletodetectany obviousconstantdifferences in brown, mostspecimens withelytravaguely dark-
ened around scutellum and obliquely across
external or genital morphology between the
Walker Tarn specimens and the other material apical half; palpi yellowish-brown to brown;
male antennal segments 6-11, tarsi, middle of
available, and therefore prefer to regard all this femora, abdomen and metathorax blackish-
material as belonging to P. mcquillani, but
brown, head reddish-brown; female paler, with
excludetheWalkerTarn specimensfrom thetype yellowish-brown tarsi, but may have blackish-
series. brown metathorax. Pubescence: head andprono-
Platycolaspispubescens sp. nov. tum densely pubescent with long recumbent
setae, elytra with setae arranged in 5-6 rows on
Figures 3, 13, 15, 22, 23, 32, 37-39, 44, 45 eachelytron with scattered setaeon intervals,ely-
TTyApSes.25-Ho2l7oJtaynpe19680:,/4L2a°w0r6'eSnc1e46a°nId0W'EeiLra/kePySrt.ctChlraiurm7s5pr0amy tcreanlt.setSaizeee:itmhaelreer1e.c6t-2o.r0rmemcu;mbfeenmta;leve2n.t0e-r2.p5umbems.-
tree ferns/ [ANIC], Head and pronotum (Fig. 3) densely but fine-
Paratypes (54): Tasmania: I6 /42°10'S I46°07'E 4km ly punctured andstrongly microsculptured,punc-
SSE of Mt Rufus 800m, 26-28 Jan 1980, Lawrence and tures separated by narrow ridges; eyes large and
W
Weir/bybeating/ [ANIC]; I2 /2.5km National Park, convex, interocularspace abouttwiceeye length;
Mt. Field, 42°40'S I46°4I'E, Noth. cunninghamii, rainf. frontoclypeus dull, strongly microsculptured (1
600m6.Feb.l992,C. Reid(ANI—C); 18IHartzMtsNPHarts specimen from King Island with shining fronto-
Rd740m8-10Feb. 1980Euc. Nothofagush.NewtonM. clypeus); antenna half body length, segments
Thayer/ pyrethrin fogging Nothofagus cunninghami bark / 7-1 expanded towards apex; last segment of
l[eAiNgIhC8]6;0m2/304.IN°o5v0.'1S99104-68°.0J3a'nE.P1c9l9i1onE.HuNti,el3seknm,ES.EMdtwOaarkd-s male1 maxillarypalp broadly expandedtoapex, in
female parallel-sided with truncate apex;
malaise no. 5, closed forest / (ANIC); 1, as above except,
8Jan-12.Feb.1991,A.CaldcrandW.Dressier,malaiseno 1 explanate lateral margins of pronotum distinct,
(ANIC);2,asaboveexcept,malaiseno5(ANIC); I/41"5I'S evenly curved to slightly angulate at midpoint
146°03'E4km S Mt Oakleigh, 880m, 30.Nov—8Jan.l991, and broad atfrontangles; pronotum withcontin-
E. Nielsen and E. Edwards, malaise no 3, closed forest/ uous transverse median depression (Fig. 15); fore
(ANIC); 2 /Hartz Mlns NP 800m on Noth. cunninghamii coxal cavities (Fig. 13) closed by overlap or
7.Dec.1986 P. B. McQuillan / (ANIC); 16* I 42°10'S touching of prosternal process on hypomeral
I46Q08'E 9km WSW Derwent Bridge 21 Jan 1983 I. Nau- lobe; prosternalprocessquadrateto slightlyelon-
mann.J.Cardale/ [ANIC]; I6 /TasmaniaSimson/ [SAM]; gate, medial width almost coxal cavity length;
6/TasmaniaSimson/3802/ [SAM]; 2/Tasmania Black- process angulate to triangularly pointed at apex.
burn/3802/ [SAM]; 10 /MtWellingtonTas:Lea/ [SAM]; Elytra (Figs 3, 15): strongly and closely punc-
2/MtWellingtonTas: Lea/moss/el.distinctlypubesc. dis-
t6i/ngKsi.nfgroI.mTa1s0:3L3e6a//[1S0A9M4]1;/pIr/obWaabrlaytan.hgT.aosf:cLuemao/lp[iSdsAM[]t?;] ttuhraendt,wiscubesperroinaottea,ldpiuanmcteutreers;ofwiptuhnacbtouurtes5 imrorerge-
Jacoby/noteabd. foveaofspecimenin frontofpin/ [SAM]; ularshallow longitudinal ridges, includingraised
2/Launceston3.Nov.94/ [SAM];2/KingI„?partlyabrad- interstice from shoulder, or these ridges absent;
ed 10941 / [SAM];3/LauncestonTas: Lea/(TAIC). epipleuraat45° to vertical; apexofelytraabrupt-
Victoria: 13 I 37°34'S 145°53'E Cumberland Ck 13km ly sloped in profile; scutellum equilateral-trian-
ESEMarysville 18Jan 1978V.LawrenceandWeir/bybeat- gular, with rounded apex.
ing/ [ANIC]; 1o" I ? /Barwon Heads4.Nov.44 E. Smith/ Male: aedeagal median lobe (Figs 22-23) in
[NMV]; 2/Nelson, V. Blackburn/ [SAM]. profile with aprominentconvexity on dorsal sur-
South Australia: 1 / Mt Gambier S. Australia Lea / face, a third from apex; ventral surface almost
[SAM]; I /MtGambierS.AustraliaLea/Platycolaspisaus- straight; apex almost right-angled with blunttip,
tralisiac. I [SAM]. and with 10-12 scattered setae, 4 longer, c. 0.2
Diagnosis. Head andpronotumcovered inclose width ofmedian lobe.
recumbent pubescence, erect orrecurved and in Female: vaginal palp (Fig. 32) ovate to elon-
rows on elytra; head and pronotum densely, gate-ovate, with broadly rounded tip; spermath-
rugosely punctured, interspaces ridged; prono- eca(Figs 37-39) variable, butslightly V-shaped,
tum with single transverse depression across usually with recurved tip and collum oblique
214 C. A. M. REID
from base; kotpresse (Figs 44^5) dorsal trans- the series of specimens from Lamington NP.
verse sclerites variably triangular, only slightly Kathy Pickerd, Helen Geier (CSIRO) and Keith
laterally prominent, ventral sclerite almost par- Herbert (ANU) helped with the SEM photogra-
allel-sided, laterally prominences variably crenu- phy, andPeterCranston (CSIRO), Penny Gullan
(ANU) andJohnLawrencegavehelpful criticism
late.
ofthe manuscript. This work was supported by
Distributionandbiology. This speciesisrecord- agrantfrom theAustralianBiological Resources
ed in south-eastern Australia from Mount Study and the use of facilities at the Australian
Gambier to Marysville, Tasmania (where it is National Insect Collection, CSIRO, Canberra.
predominantly western)andKingI., andhasbeen
collected in November, January (most records) References
and February.
Clavareau, H., 1914. Chrysomelidae: Eumolpinae.
No hosts are recorded. It may feed onAcacia Coleopterorum Catalogus59(11): 1-215.
flowers, likeP. australis, but it is frequently col- Costermans, L., 1981. Nativetreesandshrubsofsouth-east
lected in association with Nothofagus cunning- Australia. Rigby: Adelaide. 422 pp.
hamiiand is a muchdullerbrown species than P. Erber, D., 1968. Bau, Funktion und Bildung der Kotpresse
australis. However the range of P. pubescens mitteleuropaischer Clytrinen und Cryptocephalinen.
extends well beyond the range of N. cunning- ZeitschriftfurMorphologieundOkologiederTiere62:
hamii, which is absent from west Victoria. 245-306. —
Erber, D., 1988. Biolog—y of Camptosom—ata. Clytrinae
Remarks. This is variable and it has been diffi- Cryptocephalinae Chlamisinae Lamprosomati-
cultto determine whetherone ortwo species are nae. Pp. 513-552 in Jolivet, P., Petitipierre, E. and
represented in the material to hand. I have dis- Hsiao,T.H.(eds),BiologyoftheChrysomelidae.Kluw-
sected specimens from Barwon Heads, Derwent er: Amsterdam.
Bridge, King I., Launceston, Mt Rufus and Mt Jacoby,M, 1908.Descriptionsoftwonewgeneraandspecies
Wellington. These specimens vary slightly in ofAustralianEumolpini(Coleoptera,Phytophaga). The
Entomologist 41:26-28.
cproolnooutra,lemlayrtgrialns,pudbeevsecleonpcmee,ntshoafpeelytorfallraitdegreasl Karren,J. B., 1966.ArevisionofthegenusExetnaofAmer-
ica,northofMexico(Chrysomelidae,Coleoptera). Uni-
and shape ofspermatheca. Males from all local- versityofKansasScienceBulletin46: 647-695.
ities have the prominent swelling on the dorsal Lawrence, J. F. and Britton, E. B., 1991. Coleoptera. Pp.
surface ofthe median lobe, which is considered 543-683 in The Insects ofAustralia (2nd edition).
to be diagnostic for the species. CSIRO: Melbourne.
Lea, A. M., 1915. Notes on Australian eumolpides
Acknowledgements
(Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae),withdescriptionsofnew
species. TransactionsoftheRoyalSocietyofSouthAus-
I thank the following curators for the loan of
tralia39: 102-339, pis 5-8.
material in their care: John Lawrence (ANIC), Reid,C.A.M., 1991.AnewgenusofCryptocephalinaefrom
EricMatthews (SAM), PeterMcQuillan (TAIC),
Australia(Coleoptera:Chrysomelidae). Entomologica
Margaret Schneider (UQIC), Sharon Shute
Scandinavica22: 139-157.
(BMNH), and Ken Walker (NMV). Roger Seeno, T. N. and Wilcox, J. A., 1982. Leafbeetle genera
Kitching (Griffith University)allowedmetouse (Coleoptera:Chrysomelidae). Entomography 1: 1-221.
.
REVISION OFTHEGENUS PLATYCOLASPISJACOBY 215
^w%
B -i
j
iSi
j$m
.
1
^3P
^"
f ^KgHJMEllJ
Figures 1-6. Platycolaspisspp.malehabitusof/3, australis(1),P. mcquillani(2) andP.pubescens(3); P. aus-
/ra/w, male head (4), female venterofthorax (5), female apex ofabdominal venter(6).
216 C. A. M. REID
10