Subfamily Cassidinae

     Small to moderate in size. Round or oval. Head opisthognathous, usually covered by pronotum. Lateral and apical margins of pronotum usually explanate; legs hidden from above.
     The explanate elytral epipleura and pronotal margins impart a chelonian aspect, hence the appropriate common name "tortoise beetles" for the members of this subfamily. Of the 19 tribes, 4 occur in Alabama. A key to the tribes has been composed by Hincks (62). The group is largely tropical, where many of its members attain remarkable size. Over 3,000 species are known in the world.

Key to the Alabama Tribes of Hispinae

1. Anterior margin of pronotum explanate or truncate, head usually invisible from above or only     antennae showing; prosternum not sub quadrate with carinate margins.....2
    Anterior margin of pronotum deeply emarginate, frons of head grossly visible from above;     prosternal plate longitudinally subquadrate, deeply concave, lateral and anterior margins     carinate.....Tribe Hemisphaerotini
2. Head sloping, eyes higher than mouth parts; anterior margin of pronoturn truncate or       explanate ....3
    Head horizontal, eyes on plane with mouth parts; anterior margin of pronotum always      explanate.....Tribe Cassidini
3. Claws appendiculate..... Tribe Stolaini
    Claws simple..... Tribe Physonotini

    Anterior angles of pronotum with setigerous pore; prosternum longitudinally subquadrate, concave; mesosternum deeply emarginate; antennae short, clavate.
    Two genera make up the tribe but only the following is Nearctic.

GENUS HEMISPHAEROTA CHEVROLAT

Hemisphaerota Chevrolat, 1837, in Dejean, Cat. Coleopt., 2nd ed., p. 367.
Porphyraspis Hope, 1840, Coleopt. Man. 3: 154.
     Mouth parts visible, not hidden by prosternum; dypeus broader than long.
Antennae short and thick, distal segments transverse. Anterior angles of pronotum with setigerous punctule. Prosternum broad between procoxae, with thickened margins, fitting into deeply emarginate mesosternum.
     Only one species of this primarily neotropical genus lives in Alabama. Although the characters given above permit recognition of the genus in North America, they also apply to the genus Spaethiella Barber and Bridwell. Spaethiella, of neotropical distribution, is the other taxon in the tribe Hemisphaerotini. Valid generic characters for Hemisphaerota were not determined because no specimens of the neotropical species were available for study.

Hemisphaerota cyanea (Say)

lmatidium cyanea Say, 1823, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 3: 435.
Cassida erythrocera Germar, 1824, Ins. Spec. Nov., p. 731.
     Oval. Metallic deep blue, shining, head and pronotum nearly black. Antennae yellow, basal segment black. Pronotum emarginate anteriorly permitting head to be seen from above, lateral portions coarsely punctate, disc more finely, sparsely punctate. Elytral striae with large, deep punctures. Tarsal pads ventrally yellow, broad. Length 4.6-5.6 mm. Width 4.0-4.6 mm.
     Alabama records: 55 specimens from Baldwin^1,3 and Mobile^2,3 counties.
     Seasonal distribution: June 5-July 3.
     Remarks: This attractive tortoise beetle occurs on palmetto (Sabal sp.).

     Elytra confusedly punctate and lacking dorsal sulcus between epipleura and disc. Ventrally epipleura attain suture well before apex. Tarsal claws appendiculate.
     Only 1 of 16 genera of the tribe is found in Alabama.

    Head horizontal, completely covered by pronotum and invisible from above. Anterior pronotal margin positive-arcuate (neither truncate nor emarginate). Tarsal claws appendiculate or simple.
    Of the subfamily, this is the largest tribe.

Key to the Alabama Genera of Cassidini

1. Tarsal claws simple ..... 2
    Tarsal claws appendiculate ..... 4
2. Elytra evenly convex, dorsum lacking gibbosities or tubercles ..... 3
    Elytra multituberculate ..... parorectis
3. Elytra without spots; explanate elytral margins rather strongly declivitous.....Coptocycla
    Elytra with discal spots; explanate elytral margins more gently sloping ..... Jonthonota
4. Elytral punctures moderate to fine; convex species ..... 5
    Elytral punctures coarse; pale green, feebly convex species ..... Nuzonia
5. Proepistemum not carinate, no antennal grooves present ..... 6
    Proepistemum carinate along antennal grooves laterad of eyes ..... Deloyala
6. Elytra smooth, evenly convex ..... 7
7. Elytra vitiate ..... Agroiconota
    Elytra not vitiate ..... Metriona

GENUS JONTHONOTA SPAETH

Jonthonota Spaeth, 1913, Arch. Naturg. 79: Abt. A., Heft 6: 141.
    Clypeus horizontal. Pronotal and elytral margins explanate. Elytra maculate. Tarsal claws simple.
    There are 2 species in the genus Jonthonota. It is the type-species, J. nigripes (Olivier), which occurs in Alabama.

Jonthonota nigripes (Olivier)

Cassida nigripes Olivier 1790, Ene. Meth. V, p. 384.
Cassida novemmacultata Mannerheim, 1843, Bull. Mosc. 16: 308.
Cassida atripes LeConte, 1859, Col. of Kans., p. 28.
Casida nigripes ellipsis LeConte, 1859, Col. of Kans., p. 28 (var.).
    Broadly oval. Red-yellow. Clypeus horizontal. Antennal segments 1-7 yellow, segments 6-11 wider than preceding articles, 8-11 black. Pronotal margins explanate covering head from above. Scutellum margined with black. Elytral margins explanate. Elytra striate-punctate, interstrial spaces broad, each elytron with 3 black spots. Venter black, lateral margins of abdomen yellow. Anterior tibiae yellow, their femora, and entire middle and hind legs brown. Length 8.4-9.1 mm. Width 6.5-6.7 mm.
    Alabama records: 11 specimens from Colbert,², Mobile², and Morgan¹ counties.
    Seasonal distribution: March 12-July 30.
    Remarks: "It feeds on morning glory and sweet potato" (94).

GENUS AGROICONOTA SPAETH

    Agroiconota Spaeth, 1913, Arch. Naturg. 79: Abt. A., Heft 6: 142.
     Form rather strongly convex. Clypeus horizontal, head covered by explanate margins of pronotum. Elytra vitiate. Tarsal claws appendiculate.
     This is the only species of Agroiconota in North America. As with the genus Hemisphaerota, more definitive characters for the genus are not presented because of the inavailability of neotropical material.

Agroiconota bivittata (Say) Fig. l

Cassida bivittata Say, 1827, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 5: 295.
Cassida striolata Boheman, 1854, Mon. Cassid. II., p. 444.
Cassida vittula Boheman, 1854, Mon. Cassid. III., p. 445.
    Oval, convex, yellow. Head horizontal. Basal antennal segment enlarged; segments 1-5 yellow; segments 6-11 black and broader than 3, 4, and 5. Pronotal and elytral margins explanate, those of elytra not especially deflexed. Elytra punctate-striate, with black vittae, 2 on each elytron and common sutural. Venter and legs brown. Length 4.6-5.6 mm. Width 3.3-3.5 mm.
    Alabama records: 42 specimens from Butler¹, Cleburne¹, Coosa¹, Cullman¹, DeKalb¹, Henry¹, Houston¹, Lee¹, Macon¹, Mobile², and Talladega¹ counties.
    Seasonal distribution: May 14-0ctober 16.
    Remarks: This species feeds on members of the Convolvulaceae.

GENUS NUZONIA SPAETH

Nuzonia Spaeth, 1912, Stett. Entomol. Zeit. 73: 5.
Gratiana Spaeth, 1913, Arch. Naturg. 79: 142. Type-species: Cassida spadicea Klug.
Litocassis Weise, 1921, Ark. Zool. 14: 197.
     Clypeus horizontal. Flattened, coarsely punctate species. Elytral margins explanate. Tarsal claws appendiculate.
     Only the following species is known from North America.

Nuzonia pallidula (Boheman)

Cassida pallidula Boheman, 1854, Mon. II., p. 457.
Cassida texana Crotch, 1873, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 25: 78.
    Oval, subconvex, disc flat. Pale green-yellow. Clypeus horizontal. Antennal 1st segment as broad as 8th; segments 2-11 gradually enlarging distally; segments 1-7 yellow, 8-11 black. Pronotal and elytral discs explanate, deflexed. Pronotum smooth, shining. Elytra punctate-striate, punctures coarse, striae close together; lateral-most row of punctures larger than discal. Venter and legs entirely yellow. Length 5.4-6.1 mm. Width 3.9-4.5 mm.
    Alabama records: 13 specimens from Lee¹, Mobile², and Randolph¹ counties.
    Seasonal distribution: May 14-August 27.
    Remarks: These have been taken from Solanum carolinense (75) and other solanaceous plants.

GENUS PARORECTIS SPAETH

Parorectis Spaeth, 1901, Verh. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 51: 346.
Orectis Spaeth, 1901, 1. c., p. 346 (not Lederer, 1857).
    Clypeus horizontal. Elytra multituberculate. Tarsal claws simple. One of 2 United States species is known from Alabama.

Parorectis callosa (Boheman)

Cassida callosa Boheman, 1854, Mon. Cassid. II., p. 471.
    Broadly oval. Clypeus horizontal. Antennal segments 1-7 yellow-brown, 8-11 dark brown, 6-11 broader than 3-5. Pronotum brown with explanate margins covering head, margins translucent. Elytra dark brown with yellow lateral and latero-apical margins; coarsely tuberculate, 3 pairs of tubercles on posterior declivity prominent. Length 6.0-6.7 mm. Width 4.9-5.6 mm.
    Alabama records: 2 specimens from Mobile^2,3 County.
    Seasonal distribution: February 5, May 28.
    Remarks: No host plant associations are known to the authors.

GENUS DELOYALA CHEVROLAT

Deloyala Chevrolat, 1837, in Dejean, Cat. Coleopt. livr. 5, 2nd ed., p. 371.
Chirida Chapuis, 187.'5, Hist. Nat. Ins., Coleopt. 11: 405.
    Clypeus horizontal. Antennae 11-segmented, clavate; 2nd segment short and comparatively broad, 3rd segment twice as long as 2nd. Pronotal and elytral margins explanate, former concealing head from above. Prostemum sulcate laterad of eyes, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th antennal segments fitting in these grooves when at rest. Proepistemum carinate along lateral edge of prosternal sulci. Elytra maculate but not vittate. Claws appendiculate.
    Only one species of Deloyala is known from Alabama.

Deloyala guttata (Olivier)

Cassida guttata Olivier, 1790, Encyc. Meth. Ins. 5: 383.
Chirida signifera bohemani Spaeth, 1914, Col. Cat. pars. 62: 124 (subsp.).
Cassida cruciata Fabricius, 1775, Mant. Ins. I., p. 90.
Cassida signifera Herbst, 1799, Natursyst. Kaf. VIII., p. 313.
Cassida signifera fuliginosa Olivier, 1808, Entomol. VI., p. 971 (abber.).
Chirida signifera pennsilvanica Spaeth, 1914, Col. Cat. pars. 62., p. 124.
Coptocycla trabeata Boheman, 1855, Mon. Cassid. III., p. 319 (var.).
Coptocycla immunda Boheman, 1855, Mon. Cassid. III., p. 320.
Coptocycla signifera lucidula Boheman, 1855, Mon. Cassid. III., p. 321 (abber.).
Cyptocycla signifera lecontei Crotch, 1873, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 25: 79 (subsp.).
    Oval. Pronotal and elytral margins explanate, translucent, except always opaque at humeri. Discs of pronotum and elytra usually black with irregular brown-yellow spots, disc varying from entirely brown to entirely black. Length 5.3-6.8 mm. Width 4.4-4.9 mm.
    Alabama records: 41 specimens from Autauga¹, Baldwin¹, Clay¹, Cleburne¹, Coosa¹, DeKalb¹, Henry¹, Houston¹, Jefferson¹, Lawrence¹, Lee¹, Macon¹, Mobile², and Monroe¹ counties.
    Seasonal distribution: May 18-August 15.
    Remarks: This species, commonly called the mottled tortoise beetle, lives on members of the Convolvulaceae.

GENUS PLAGIOMETRIONA SPAETH

Plagiometriona Spaeth, 1899, Verh. ZooL-Bot. Ges. Wien 49: 219.
Parametriona Spaeth, 1937, Timminckia 2: 144.
     Broadly oval, explanate species. Antennal segment 3 shorter than 2 times length of 2. Prosternum not grooved for reception of antennae. Elytra gibbose, tuberculate and coarsely reticulate.
    Only the following species occurs in the State.

Plagiometriona clavata (Fabricius)

Cassida clavata Fabricius, 1798, Syst. Entomol. Supp., p. 83.
Deloyala diversicollis Schaeffer, 1925, Jour. N. Y. Entomol. Soc. 33: 235 (subsp.).
    Broadly oval. Head, venter, and legs yellow. Antennae yellow, apical segment brown. Pronotal and elytral margins explanate, former hiding head from above, margins translucent except at humeri and posterior elytral corners. Disc of pronotum light brown. Elytra brown except apex and lateral margin at middle, disc tuberculate with single prominent medial gibbosity. Length 7.0-7.7 mm. Width 6.1-6.7 mm.
    Alabama records: 7 specimens from Lee¹, Madison¹, and Mobile^2,3 counties.
    Seasonal distribution: April 22-July 27.
    Remarks: These beetles feed on "sycamore, oak, linden, and Japanese lantern" (94). Loding and the present writers have taken specimens from Solanum sp.
    This is recorded as "Deloyala clavata (Fab.)" by Loding (75).

GENUS METRIONA WEISE

Metriona Weise, 1896, Deutsche Entomol. Zeitschr. 1896: 13.
Charidotella Weise, 1896, 1. c., p. 13. Subgenus.
Erepsocassis Spaeth, 1936, Entomol. Runds. 53: 260. Type-species: Coptocycla rubella      Boheman.
Strongylaspis Spaeth, 1936, Entomol. Runds. 53: 216. Type-species: Coptocycla bisignata      Boheman.
     Oval, convex species. Clypeus horizontal. Antennae with 3rd segment only slightly longer than 2nd. Pronotal and elytral margins explanate, former obscuring head from above. Prosternum lacking groove beside eyes. Elytra smooth, evenly convex. Anterior and middle tarsal claws appendiculate.
    Four species are known from Alabama. More study is needed on the ecology and systematics of the southeastern species.

Key to the Alabama Species of Metriona

1. Elytral margins entirely opaque, or partially translucent, being opaque at humeri ..... 2
    Elytral margins entirely translucent ..... 3
2. Elytra with margins entirely opaque, surface dull, finely alutaceous..... M. marginepunctata
    Elytra translucent midlaterally, humeri and apical margins opaque; elytral surface faintly shining     ..... M. purpurata
3. Surface of pronotum and elytra dull, finely alutaceous ..... 4
    Surface of pronotum and elytra smooth, shining ..... M. bicolor
4. Elytra with pair of brown-black small discal spots; all tarsal claws of both sexes appendiculate     ..... M. bisignata
    Elytra immaculate; middle tarsal claws of males nonappendiculate..... M. marginepunctata

Metriona purpurata (Boheman)

Coptocycla purpurata Boheman, 1855, Mon. Cassid. III., p. 300.
    Broadly oval. Clypeus horizontal. Second antennal segment broad, only slightly shorter than 3rd. Pronotal and elytral margins explanate, former entirely translucent, latter only mid-laterally translucent; humeri and apical margins opaque brown, concolorous with both pronotal and elytral discs. Elytra punctate-striate, punctures small; evenly convex. Venter black, except legs, proepisterna, and apex of 5th abdominal segment yellow. Middle claws of male simple; front and hind claws appendiculate. All claws of female appendiculate. Length 5.4-6.5 mm. Width 4.9-5.3 mm.
    Alabama records: 9 specimens from Baldwin², Clay¹, Madison¹; Marion¹; and Mobile² counties.
    Seasonal distribution: April 20-September 20.
    Remarks: This species feeds on Convolvulaceae.

Metriona bicolor (Fabricius)

Cassida bicolor Fabricius, 1798, Entomol. Syst. Supp., p. 83.
Cassida aurichalcea Fabricius, 1801, Syst. Eleuth. I., p. 397.
Cassida bistripunctata Herbst, 1799, Natursyst. Kaf. VIII., p. 275.
?Cassida marylandica Herbst, 1799, Natursyst. Kaf. VIII., p. 274.
Cassida pallida Herbst, 1799, Natursyst. Kaf. VIII., p. 262.
Cassida aurisplendens Mannerheim, 1843, Bull. Mox. 16: II: 307 (var.).
Metriona floridana Schaeffer, 1925, Jour. N. Y. Entomol. Soc. 33: 235 (var.) .
    Oval. Brown-yellow; shining, in living specimens brilliant golden changing to a dull red-yellow when disturbed. Pronotal and elytral margins explanate, translucent. Elytra punctate-striate, punctures small; each elytron with 3 small black spots, 1 discal and 2 at furrow before lateral explanation. Venter, bases of femora, and apical 4 antennal segments black. Antennae proximally, legs distally, and apex of 5th abdominal segment yellow. All tarsal claws appendiculate. Length 5.4-6.7 mm. Width 4.2-5.8 mm.
    Alabama records: 56 specimens from Autauga¹, Bibb², Clay¹, Cleburne¹, Coffee¹, Coosa¹, Cullman¹, DeKalb¹, Jefferson¹, Lee¹, Macon¹, Marion¹, Mobile², Monroe¹, Morgan¹, Russell¹, Talladega¹, and Tallapoosa¹ counties.
    Seasonal distribution: April 29-December.
    Remarks: This is commonly called the golden tortoise beetle. It feeds on plants of the Convolvulaceae.

Metriona bisignata (Boheman)

Coptocycla bisignata Boheman, 1855, Mon. Cassid. III., p. 119.
?Metriona lodingi Schaeffer, 1925, Jour. N. Y. Entomol. Soc. 33: 236.
    Oval. Dull brown-yellow. Pronotal and elytral margins explanate, former covering head; these margins entirely, but only vaguely translucent. Surface finely alutaceous. Elytra punctate-striate punctures small but occasionally appearing large due to translucent "water marked" spots behind them within integument. Occasionally elytra with pair of small dark brown discal spots. Venter dark brown to black. Apex and lateral margins of abdomen yellow. Legs brown. All tarsal claws appendiculate except outer middle claws of males. Length 5.6-6.8 mm. Width 4.2-5.3 mm.
    Alabama records: 8 specimens from Mobile^2,3 County.
    Seasonal distribution: April 7-November 18.
    Remarks: Loding recorded this species as M. lodingi Schaeffer, a paratype of which was found in his collection.

Metriona marginepunctata Schaeffer

Metriona marginepunctata Schaeffer, 1925, Jour. N. Y. Entomol. Soc. 33: 236.
    Oval. Yellow or red-brown. Clypeus horizontal, of color of dorsum. Apical 4 antennal segments black. Pronotum and elytra with explanate margins, anterior pronotal margin covering head. Margins translucent or opaque. Elytra finely alutaceous, immaculate; disc punctate-striate with moderate sized punctures, margins of elytra laterad of 10th striae irregularly punctate with moderately large punctures, especially near humeri. Venter black, lateral margins of abdomen yellow. Legs black or dark brown on proximal portions of femora; distally more red-brown. Middle tarsal claws of males simple; all claws of female appendiculate. Length 7.5-7.7 mm. Width 5.8-6.0 mm.
    Alabama records: 2 specimens from Mobile^2,3 County.
    Seasonal distribution: April 16-June 20.
    Remarks: The above 2 specimens were 2 of the 3 before Schaeffer when he described the species (85).

GENUS COPTOCYCLA CHEVROLAT

Coptocycla Chevrolat, 1837, in Dejean, Cat. Coleopt. 3rd ed., p. 396.
Psalidonota Boheman, 1854, Monogs. Cassid. 2: 153.
Dyscineta Spaeth, 1936, Festschr. E. Strand 1: 252.
Podostraba Spaeth, 1936, 1. c., 1: 253.
Floridocassis Spaeth, 1952, Trans. Roy. Entomol. Soc. London 103: 348.
    Type-species: Coptocycla repudiata Suffrian.
    Oval. Margins of pronotum and elytra explanate, more or less deflexed. Tarsal claws simple, non-appendiculate.
    The genus is primarily neotropical. One of our species, C. repudiata, ranges from Cuba and Florida.

Key to the Alabama Species of Coptocycla

1. Lateral margins of elytra nearly perpendicular, irregularly punctate ..... C. repudiata
    Lateral margins of elytra less deflexed, impunctate..... C. pinicola

Coptocycla repudiata Suffrian

Coptocycla repudiata Suffrian, 1868, Arch. f. Naturg. 34: 294.
    Oval. Clypeus yellow, horizontal. Antennae with apical 4 segments black, basal 7 yellow. Pronotal and elytral margins translucent, more perpendicular. Elytra finely alutaceous, immaculate, punctate-striate, lateral margins beyond 10th striae irregularly punctate. Venter and femoral bases black. Lateral margins and apex of abdomen yellow; legs from apex of femora distad, yellow-brown. Tarsal claws non-appendiculate. Length 5.8-7.4 mm. Width 4.2-5.6 mm.
    Alabama records: 24 specimens from Baldwin¹, Chilton¹, Houston¹, and Mobile^2,3 counties.
    Seasonal distribution: March 21-July 29.
    Remarks: This species occurs on Convolvulaceae. Comparison of an aedeagus with that of C. pinicola Schaeffer indicated the distinctness of these forms.
    Spaeth (90) used this species as the type species for his monotypic genus Floridocassis. We have followed Arnett (1) in classifying C. repudiata in Coptocycla.

Coptocycla Pinicola Schaeffer

Coptocycla pinicola Schaeffer, 1925, Jour. N. Y. Entomol. Soc. 33: 235.
    Oval. Antennae clavate, 5-11 broader, dark brown, sericeous. Pronotal and elytral margins translucent, explanate, not greatly deflexed but more so than C. repudiata. Elytra dull, alutaceous, punctate-striate, punctures medium to moderately large; lateral margins laterad of 10th striae impunctate. Venter red-brown, margins of abdomen lighter. Tarsal claws non-appendiculate. Length 5.4-6.7 mm. Width 4.4-5.1 mm.
    Alabama records: 6 specimens from Henry¹, Macon¹, and Mobile^2,3 counties.
    Seasonal distribution: March 15-July 19.
    Remarks: Although Loding reported to Schaeffer (85) that these beetles are taken only on pine, our 2 examples came from Convolvulus (?) or Ipomoea (?).
    One of Loding's specimens is a paratype.