(Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticinae)
Ochrosis Foudras
Ochrosis ventralis |
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Ochrosis ventralis |
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Distribution: Europe, Caucasus, northern Africa, Asia
Minor.
Statistics: Single species.
Host Plants: Solanum
dulcamara, Anagallis aevensis, Pistacia sp. (Medvedev &
Roginskaya 1988).
Comments: Ochrosis is similar to the Nearctic
Hornaltica Barber (1941) established for the single
species Diphaulaca bicolorata Horn. This similarity has
led to some confusion about the placement of Crepidodera
atriventris (another Nearctic species) which was transfered
to Ochrosis by Heikertinger (1911a), and independently
transfered to Hornaltica by Wilcox (1954). Heikertinger
(1950) subsequently indicated uncertainty in his earlier
placement of C.atriventris by including it in
Ochrosis with a questionmark. We follow the decision of
Wilcox (1954) in the placement of this species, and further
regard the Palearctic Ochrosis and Nearctic
Hornaltica as closely related but distinct genera. A
comparative analysis of Ochrosis ventralis and the two
Hornaltica species shows significant differences in the
female genitalia, particularly in the shape of the spermatheca,
vaginal palpi and tignum. Furth (1985) mentioned the spermathecal
differences, but suggested Hornaltica as a possible
synonym of Ochrosis based on general external
morphological similarities. However, although we believe these
similarities indicate a close relationship, we recognize
important generic level differences in the morphology of the head
capsule of Ochrosis ventralis, such as the deep
transfrontal groove, strongly elevated anterior angles of the
head capsule, and the flat frontal ridge and area above the
antennal calli.
Diagnosis: Body small,
oval, more or less convex from lateral view. Color yellow;
head and last antennal segments sometimes darker; metasternum and
abdomen dark brown or black.
Head hypo-prognathous, oval, short. Frontal ridge
wide, flat, forming low, angular T
shaped ridge with anterior margin of head capsule. Antennal calli
slightly raised, contiguous, not delineated from vertex and
frontal ridge by furrows. Orbital line situated very close to eye
margin. Interantennal space wider than diameter of antennal
socket, narrower than transverse diameter of eye. Eye small.
Clypeus long, labrum short. Antenna 11-segmented, filiform.
Pronotum more or less wide, convex from lateral view,
with transverse impression basally. Procoxal cavity closed
behind. Intercoxal prosternal process narrow, convex. Mesosternum
wide.
Elytra oval, convex, with well developed humeral
calli. Elytral punctures arranged in striae; interspaces more or
less narrow, flat. Epipleuron subvertical, not reaching
posterolateral elytral margin.
Metatibia long, cylindrical, slightly thickened and
flat apically. Metatarsus inserted apically. First metatarsal
segment not longer than following two segments combined.
