beetles

Key to the Alabama Tribes of Hispinae

1. Each elytron at preapical wideness with 3 costae and 8 rows of punctures ..... 2
    Each elytron at preapical wideness with at least 4 costae (3rd may be only faintly indicated or      branching forward from 4th) and with 10 rows of punctures..... 3
2. Elongate slender, length greater than 3 times width; middle tibiae strongly curved ..... Anisostena
    Wedge-shaped, broad; length less than 3 times width; middle tibiae straight.............. Sumitrosis
3. Clypeus entirely black or black faintly margined with deep red, its sculpture coarse, either     finely tuberculate or coarsely punctate.....4
    Clypeus entirely yellow, its surface smooth or finely punctate.....Baliosus
4. Form oval or cuneiform; each elytron with 11 striae at base.....Odontota
    Form elongate, subparallel; each elytron with 10 striae at base...... Chalepus

GENUS CHALEPUS THUNBERG

Chalepus Thunberg, 1805, Catting. gel. Anzeig. p. 282. Type-species: Chalepus sanguinicollis      (Linnaeus).
Anoplitis Kirby, 1837, Insects. Col. in Richardson, Fauna Boreali-Americana, p. 227. Type      -species: Anoplitis bicolor Olivier.
     Elongate, subparallel species. Antennae 11-segmented. Usually coarsely punctate. Elytra costate, each with 3, usually quite distinct, and partial 4th costae; with 10 rows (5 double rows) of punctures at widest breadth before apex.
     Only one species is known from Alabama.

Chalepus bicolor (Olivier) Fig. 40

Hispa bicolor Olivier, 1792, Encyc. Metod. Hist. Nat. Ins. 7: 96.
Chalepus rufogaster Thunberg, 1805, in Gottingen gelehrte Anz., p. 282. Odontota rufiventris      Suffrian, 1868, Arch. Naturg. 34: 229.
     Elongate, subparallel. Head black, vertex sulcate, clypeus faintly tuberculate. Antennae black. Prothorax and venter orange, former with large punctures. Elytra black, each elytron with 3 distinct costae and short preapical costa between complete 2nd and 3rd costae; punctures between costae in double rows except between 2nd and 3rd costae, there 2 rows at middle widening to 4 at preapex; lateral and apical margins serrulate. Legs entirely black, or with femoral bases orange. Length 6.0-7.7 mm. Width 1.9-2.5 mm.
     Alabama records: 9 specimens from Baldwin², Escambia¹, Houston¹, Lee¹, Mobile², and Winston² counties.
     Seasonal distribution: April 25-September 4.
     Remarks: No Alabama specimens with pronotal discal markings were seen. This feature seems to occur in specimens from the North.

GENUS ODONTOTA CHEVROLAT

Odontota Chevrolat, 1837, in Dejean, Cat. Coleopt. livr. 5, 3rd ed., p. 388.
Type-species: Hispa scapularis Olivier.
Wedge-shaped or subparallel. Clypeus rugose, coarsely punctate, usually black. Antennae distinctly 11-segmented. Pronotal punctures large and coarse. Elytra punctate-striate, punctures large; suture usually costate, each elytron with 3 and part of 4th costa.
Five species are known from Alabama.

Key to the Alabama Species of Odontota

1. Elytra entirely black or black with humeri yellow-orange..... 2
    Elytra yellow or orange with suture narrowly, or disc more broadly black; lateral margins     always pale.....4
2. Elytra black with humeri yellow-orange, lateral and apical margins serru late..... 3
    Elytra entirely black, lateral and apical margins not, or only slightly serrulate.....O. notata
3. Legs entirely black.....O. mundulus
    Bases of femora orange.....O. scapularis
4. Sutural black vitta wider than first row of punctures, narrowest at base and widening apically..      5
    Sutural black vitta narrow, not extending laterad beyond first row of punctures.....O. horni
5. Pronotum with discal black spot; lateral and apical elytral margins not, or only slightly serrulate     O. notata
    Pronotum immaculate; lateral and apical elytral margins serrulate.....O. dorsalis

Odontota scapularis (Olivier)

Hispa scapularis Olivier, 1808, Entomol., ou hist. nat. des ins. . . p. 766.
Hispa luteralis Say, 1823, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 3: 431.
    Wedge-shaped, robust. Head black with 2 orange pronotal depressions, one on either side of the median frontal carina. Antennae 11-segmented, 3rd segment long, nearly as long as 1 and 2 combined. Pronotum orange with discal spot and lateral margins in part black; punctures large, medial basal area depressed. Elytra black, humeri orange; each elytron with 10 rows of punctures and 4 distinct carinae, first being sutural; 4 rows of punctures between 3rd and 4th carinae, 2 rows between the other carinae; lateral and apical margins serrulate. Venter black, except for partly orange prothorax. Legs black, femoral bases orange. Length 6.5-7.7 mm. Width 2.8-3.5 mm.
    Alabama records: 11 specimens from Lee¹, Mobile², and Tallapoosa¹ counties.
    Seasonal distribution: March 29-July 27.

Odontota mundulus (Sanderson) *

Xenochalepus mundulus Sanderson, 1951, Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 53: 162.
    Wedge-shaped. Coloration and form similar to O. scapularis, but legs entirely black and orange or humeri not extending as far posteriorly. Aedeagus with sclerotized ejaculatory guides about 1/2 length of terminal portion. Length 5.6-6.5 mm. Width 2.4-2.5 mm.
    Alabama records: 6 specimens from Clay¹ County.
    Seasonal distribution: May 3.
    Remarks: The elytral costae are more strongly developed in Alabama specimens of O. scapularis than those of O. mundula. This is the reverse of the situation as recorded by Wilcox (94). A single specimen of O. mundula was found in Loding's collection. This had previously been identified as O. scapularis and bears the label "S. I." (possibly Sand Island?). It is noteworthy in having only the trochanters red, and not the femoral bases.

Odontota notata (Olivier)

Hispa notata Olivier, 1808, Entomol., ou hist. nat. des ins. . . p. 744.
    Wedge-shaped, robust. Head black. Prothorax orange with discal spot back, punctate, punctures large. Elytra entirely black or red-orange with disc black as far laterally as half way between 3rd and 4th costae, costae not especially prominent; lateral and apical margins not serrulate. Venter black, 5th abdominal segment red, laterally yellow. Length 6.3-7.4 mm. Width 2.5-3.2 mm.
    Alabama records: 8 specimens from Mobile² County.
    Seasonal distribution: March 15-July.
    Remarks: Of the 8 specimens studied, 3 had the elytral margins broadly red-orange.

Odontota horni Smith

Odontota horni Smith, 1885, Entomol. Americana 1: 94.
Chalepus smithi Donckier, 1899, Ann. Soc. Entomol. France 68: 592.
    Subparallel, robust. Head and appendages black. Pronotum entirely red orange or with black discal" spot, punctate with large punctures, lateral margins with medial prominence. Elytra red-orange, suture narrowly black, black wider near scutellum; each elytron with 10 rows of punctures and 4 broad intervals, intervals not at all or scarcely costate; lateral and apical margins not serrulate. Length 6.0-6.8 mm. Width 2.5-2.8 mm.
    Alabama records: 10 specimens from Cleburne¹, Coosa³, Jefferson², Lee¹, Madison³, Mobile^2,3, Talladega³, Tallapoosa³, and Winston¹ counties.
    Seasonal distribution: May 17-0ctober 17.
    Remarks: Only 2 Mobile County specimens had a black pronotal discal spot. The remainder were immaculate.

Odontota dorsalis (Thunberg)

Chalepus dorsalis Thunberg, 1805, in Gottinger gelehrte Anz., p. 282.
Hispa scutellaris Olivier, 1808, Entomol., ou hist. nat. des ins. . . p. 771.
Hispa suturalis Harris, 1835, Boston Jour. Nat. Hist. 1: 147.
Odontota harrisi Crotch, 1873, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 25: 80.
    Wedge-shaped, robust. Head, antennae, legs, and venter except prosternum black, prosternum orange. Pronotum entirely yellow-orange, closely punctate with large punctures. Elytra yellow-orange, suture broadly black, black more narrow at scutellum and widening apically; each elytron with 4 entire costae and partial costa between 3rd and 4th costae near apex; 10 rows of punctures; lateral and apical margins serrulate. Length 6.5-7.3 mm. Width 2.5-3.2 mm.
    Alabama records: 26 specimens from Lee¹ and Walker¹ counties.
    Seasonal distribution: April20-June 7.
    Remarks: This species is commonly known as the locust leaf miner. An interesting case of possible mimicry was noted between this species and the mirid bug, Lopidea robiniae (Uhler), which also occurs on black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) and has similar markings.

GENUS ANISOSTENA WEISE

Anisostena Weise, 1910, Verh. Nat. Ver. Brunn 49: 120, 123.
Elongate, coarsely punctate species. Antennae 11-segmented, basal segment subglobose, 2nd segment cylindrical, about as wide as first, segments 3-6 gradually widening, 7-11 forming club. Frons medially impressed and eyes with a medial marginal sulcus. Each elytron with 4 double rows of punctures, separated by 3 carinae. Mesotibiae strongly curved.
Two species are known from the State.

Key to the Alabama Species of Anisostena

1. Prothorax orange, anteriorly margined with black.....A. ariadne
Prothorax entirely dark (black or blue-black).....A. nigrita

Anisostena ariadne Newman

Anisostena ariadne Newman, 1840, The Entomol. 1: 77.
    Elongate. Head blue-black, strongly alutaceous, frons with deep, median, vertical depression, and thin carina between antennae. Eyes with deep vertical sulcus on mesal border. Antennae black, apical 5 segments with brown pubescense. Pronotum orange, anterior border rather broadly black; alutaceous and punctate with very large punctures. Elytra black with purple hues, each elytron with large punctures in 4 double rows, separated by 3 distinct costae. Legs and venter black except prosternum orange. Length 4.6-5.3 mm. Width 1.6-1.8 mm.
    Alabama records: 21 specimens from Baldwin³, Crenshaw¹, Lee¹, Mobile², and Tallapoosa¹ counties.
    Seasonal distribution: April 1-September 13.

Anisostena nigrita (Olivier)

Hispa nigrita Olivier, 1808, Entomol.....Coleopt. VI., 778.
    Elongate. Head blue-black, coarsely alutaceous, frons with median, vertical impression and thin carina between antennal bases. Eyes with deep vertical sulcus as mesal border. Antennae black, 11-segmented. Pronotum black or blue-black, alutaceous, with large, deep punctures. Elytra black with or without purple hues, each elytron with large punctures (but smaller than pronotal punctures) in 4 double rows, double rows separated by 3 distinct costae. Venter black, or blue-black, 5th abdominal segment with lateral impression occasionally yellow. Legs black or brown-black, base of anterior femora often brown-black. Length 4.2-4.9 mm. Width 1.4-1.8 mm.
    Alabama records: 8 specimens from Baldwin^3,1 Cleburne¹, Coosa³, Jackson³, Marion³, and Mobile^2,3 counties.
    Seasonal distribution: April 14-August 5.
    Remarks: In addition to the above 8 specimens, 3 others worthy of note were studied. These were from Barbour and Mobile counties. They are shorter (3.9-4.2 mm. long), and although somewhat similarly formed and colored as the above, differ by several features. The most noticeable characteristic of 2 of these smaller beetles is their red-brown legs. A feature common to all 3 is the less pronounced first elytral interval. The color of the dorsum has much brown showing through, especially on the elytra. The Lee County specimen has greenish reflections. In this respect it greatly resembles a specimen of A. funesta Baly in the Schaeffer collection of the USNM (Aslixo, Mexico, collected by Clavreau). It differs from this specimen of A. funesta by having the legs entirely red-brown, rather than brown with a faint reddishness at the knees.

GENUS SUMITROSIS BUTTE

Sumitrosis Butte, 1968, Coleopt. Bull. 22: 46. Type-species: Hispa rosea Weber.
Elongate, depressed species. Frons with median longitudinal sulcus. Antennae 11-segmented, basal 2 segments stout, segments 3-6 cylindrical, gradually enlarged distally, segments 7-11 clavate, Elytra each with 3 costae separating 4 double rows of punctures. Mesotibiae nearly straight.
Three species are known from the State.

Key to the Alabama Speices of Sumitrosis

1. Apical angels of elytra evenly rounded, 3rd costa not elevated near apex.....2
Apical angel of elytra angulate, 3rd costae elevated near apex (Fig 41)..... S. rosea
2. Elytra yellow with black markings on cosae forming chevrons, or entirely black; in yellow specimens suture always interrupted by black ..... S. inaequalis

Sumitrosis rosea (Weber) Fig. 41

Hispa rosea Weber, 1801, Obser. Entomol ..... p. 66.
Hispa philemon Newman, 1838, Entomol. Mag. 5:390.
    Elongate, depressed. Head light brown, alutaceous, with median sulcus of brown, with lateral margin and pair of parenthesis-like marks on disc dark brown, deeply punctuate, punctures broad. Elytra subquadrate, posterior lateral angles distinctly widended; 3rd costa arcuately raised at apex; color yellow-brown with balck sposts which sometimes appear as 2 discal chevrons. Length 3.5-3.9 mm. Width 1.4-1.6 mm.
    Alabama records: 8 specimens from Choctaw¹, Houston¹, and Mobile² counties.
    Seasonal distribution: April 21-August 1.
    Remarks: Choctaw county specimens were taken by the authors by beating Cyrilla racemmiflora. Hicks (61) reported "Anoplittis philemon (Newman)" [=S. rosea], to be infesting leaves of wood nettle, Laportea canadensis in the Niagara Peninsula of southern Ontario.

Sumitrosis inaequalis (Weber)

Hispa inaequalis Weber, 1801, Obser. Entomol.....p. 65.
Hispa suturalis Fabricius, 1801, Syst. Eleuth. I., p. 63.
Hispa obsoleta Say, 1823, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 3: 432.
Hispa pallida Say, 1823, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 3: 432.
Hispa flavipes Germar, 1824, Ins. Sp. Nov. . . . p. 529.
Hispa baucis Newman, 1838, Entomol. Mag. 5: 390.
Odontota nervosa Horn, 1883, Trans. Amer. Entomol. Soc. 10: 295 (not Panzer) .
    Elongate, depressed. Head light brown with median sulcus and vertex black varying to nearly completely black, alutaceous. Antennae 11-segmented, always black. Pronotum yellow-brown, or marked as in S. rosea, or nearly entirely black with only narrow yellow median line; punctures large, deep and close, median line impunctate in some specimens. Elytral lateral margins subparallel, somewhat narrower at middle, posterior corners not distinctly widened; each elytron with 3 costae, 3rd not apically elevated; color yellow-brown with black spots, as in S. rosea, or varying to entirely black. Length 3.5-4.4 mm. Width 1.4-1.9 mm.
    Alabama records: 17 specimens from Baldwin¹, Houston¹, Lee¹, Madison^1,2, and Mobile² counties.
    Seasonal distribution: April 25-August 29.
    Remarks: The larvae of this species mine leaves of Leguminosae (94).

Sumitrosis ancoroides (Schaeffer) *

Anoplitis ancoroides Schaeffer, 1933, Pan-Pacific Entomol. 9: 105.
    Elongate, subparallel, yellow-brown. Head with a median frontal sulcus. Antennae 11-segmented, black. Pronotum deeply punctate with large punctures, spaces between punctures alutaceous; entirely yellow-brown or with lateral margins and pair of discal parentheses black. Elytra nearly entirely yellow with postmedian and preapical paired spots brown, varying to suture blue-black with like-colored dilations from it at postscutellar, postmedial and preapical distances. A few more lateral spots also occasionally present. Length 3.2-4.0 mm. Width 1.4 -1.8 mm.
    Alabama records: 2 specimens from Barbour¹ and Mobile¹ counties.
    Seasonal distribution: May 10-July 9.
    Remarks: We are indebted to John A. Wilcox, New York State Museum, for identification of the pale, nearly immaculate specimen.

GENUS BALIOSUS WEISE

Baliosus Weise, 1905, Arch. f. Naturg., p. 64.
Parabaliosus Momos and Viana, 1947, An. Mus. Argent. Ci. Nat. "Bernardino Rivadavia" 42:     254.
    Wedge-shaped, somewhat flattened. Clypeus usually yellow, surface not roughly sculptured, although maybe punctate. Antennae 11-segmented, basal 6 segments freely articulated, segments 7-11 more tightly fitted. Elytra each with 10 rows of punctures and 3 and partial 4th costae. Tibiae not curved.
    Only the following species is known from Alabama.

Baliosus ruber (Weber)

Hispa ruber Weber, 1801, Obs. Entomol., p. 66.
Hispa marginatus Say, 1823, Long's Exped. II., p. 292.
Chalpus marmoratus Baly, 1885, Biol. Centr.-Amer. 6: 60.
Hispa pallipes Germar, 1824, Ins. Spec. Nov., p. 529.
Hispa quadratus Fabricius, 1801, Syst. Eleuth. II., p. 60.
Baliosus rubellus SchOnherr, 1817, Synonymia Insect I, p. 3.
    Elytral shape subquadrate. Yellow-red with darker red-spots. Head finely alutaceous with median frontal carrina. Antennae 11-segmented, dark red-brown. Pronotum coarsely punctate, margins darker red. Elytra with humeri very prominent, apical angles explanate; each elytron with 3 distinct carinae, 1st and 2nd furcate basally, 3rd with apical mesally recurved portion; punctures in 2 rows; lateral and apical margins serrulate. Legs yellow. Length 5.3-6.3 mm. Width 2.5-3.0 mm.
    Alabama records: 12 specimens from DeKalb¹, Jefferson¹, Lee¹, Mobile², and Winston², counties.
    Seasonal distribution: March 31-September 8.
    Remarks: "Oak (Quercus sp.), soft maple (Acer rubrum), linden (Tilia sp.), and locust (Robina pseudoacacia)" have been reported as host plants in Ohio (94).