New records of Asian and Australopapuan Cassidinae, with a ...

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ETYMOLOGY
Named after its type locality.
LECH BOROWIEC
Cassida praensis n. sp.
DIAGNOSIS
It is close to C. thailandica described below, and belongs to the group of
small Oriental species with yellow ventrites, immaculate explanate margin of
elytra, and elytra with mixed black and yellow, but without distinct relief. The
group comprises also Cassida amaranthica MEDVEDEV et EROSHKINA and C. antoni
BOROWIEC and ŒWIÊTOJAÑSKA. C. amaranthica distinctly differs in partly black
pronotal disc (in C. praensis uniformly yellow) and appendiculate claws (in
C. praensis simple). C. antoni is very similar, especially in its simple claws, but
differs in postscutellar area yellow , and elytral black pattern regular, forming
bands along sides of disc and incomplete transverse band on slope, while in
C. praensis postscutellar elevation is marked with black, and elytral pattern is
irregular (see fig. 20). C. thailandica n. sp. is the most similar but differs in
smaller size (length below 5 mm, in C. praensis above 5.2 mm), and much
rounded pronotal sides. C. circumdata HERBST, C. gentilis SPAETH, C. mindanaoensis
(SPAETH), C. perplexa (CHEN et ZIA), C. physodes (BOHEMAN), and C. viridiguttata
(CHEN et ZIA) are also close but all differ in claws appendiculate or apparently
appendiculate (in C. praensis claws are simple, and last segment of tarsi not
modified), and pronotum usually with dark spots (immaculate in C. praensis), and
more distinct elytral relief.
DESCRIPTION
Length: 5.25-5.7 mm (mean 5.48, n = 2), width: 4.7-4.95 mm (mean 4.83, n =
2), length of pronotum: 1.9-2.0 mm, width of pronotum: 3.6-3.9 mm, length/width
ratio: 1.12-1.19, width of pronotum/length of pronotum ratio: 1.89-1.95. Body
almost circular (fig. 20).
Pronotum uniformly yellow. Scutellum yellow. Elytral disc black, with yellow,
slightly elevated pattern as in fig. 20. Explanate margin yellow. Clypeus,
ventrites, and legs uniformly yellow. Antennae mostly yellow, three apical segments
slightly infuscate.
Pronotum elliptical, 1.89-1.95 times wider than long, with maximum width in
the middle, sides narrowly rounded, more narrowly than in related C. thailandica.
Disc moderately convex, distinctly bordered from explanate margin, whole surface
of disc with fine and sparse punctuation, distance between punctures many
times wider than puncture diameter. On sides of disc, border between disc and
explanate margin shallowly impressed. Space between punctures smooth and
glabrous. Explanate margin subhorizontal, its surface smooth and glabrous.
Scutellum triangular without transverse sulcus. Base of elytra moderately
wider than pronotum, anterior margin gently arcuate, humeri distinctly protruding