Systematic revision of the genus Calligrapha Chevrolat (Chrysomelidae) in Central America: The group of Calligrapha argus Stål.
By Gómez-Zurita, J.
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Gómez-Zurita, J. (2015) Systematic revision of the genus
Calligrapha Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Chrysomelinae) in Central America: The group of
Calligrapha argus Stål. Zootaxa 3922, 1-71.
Abstract (in part)
Calligrapha Chevrolat is a large American leaf beetle genus of imprecise taxonomic boundaries. Most species occur in Central and South America where they have not been subject to modern systematic revisions. This work is the first attempt to clarify the systematics of the group by focusing on a relatively diverse species group well characterized from a morphological standpoint: the group of
C. argus Stål. I provide a pragmatic identification key for major lineages in
Calligrapha, highlighting a potentially useful character for supra-specific rank systematics within this genus, namely the shape of the distal end of the flagellum in the penis. This key helps recognizing the
C. argus species group as one with species having a single spot enclosed by humeral lunule and a complete arcuate band, laterally confluent with subsutural stripe (except in
C. elegantula Jacoby), deep hypomeral furrow and with characteristic ventral carving at apex of flagellum, as major distinguishing features. The species group is subdivided into fourteen species. [...] An identification key for all the species in the group is provided, as well as collection data for the approximately 2,100 specimens determined for this work and distribution maps based on these collection data. The group is centred in the Caribbean Mesoamerican biogeographic domain, with two species reaching the California-Rocky Mountain domain to the north (
C. ancoralis Stål and
C. diversa Stål)...