Graduate Field Course in Rainforest Research
(BIO384K )

A Practical Key to the Passiflora Associated Alticinae of Sirena and Some Co-mimics

Prepared by Catherine N. Duckett

Universidad de Puerto Rico
Recinto de Rio Piedras
Apdo 23360, Estacion U.P.R.
San Juan, P.R. 00931-3360
c_duckett@upr1.upr.clu.edu

A. Greatly enlarged hind femora for jumping B
A'. Hind femora not so enlarged Q

B. Elytra basically yellow, orange or cream colored C
B'. Elytra not so colored J

C. Elytra solid orange, cream, or yellow colored D
C'. Elytra basically gold, or cream with black vertical stripes G

D. Elongate body with pronounded prebasal impression on the prothorax Eyes slightly emarginate, prothorax slightly wider than long, Colored orange, yellow orange or cream E
D'. Round highly convex body with prothorax twice as wide as long, Eyes strongly emarginate "halfmoon" shaped, Orange beetle Monophagous on Passiflora pittieri Pedelia sirena*

E. Tibia yellow orange,
Small (2-3mm) yellow orange beetle Parchicola uniformis (Jac)*
E'. Tibia black F

F. Small (3-4mm) orange beetle with black tibia Monomacra sp*
F'. Larger (5-6mm) cream beetle with black tibia and tarsi Monomacra sp*

G. Elytra gold with narrow black stripes, ventrum red, pronotum red H
G'. Elytra very shiny with wide black stripes, ventrum red or cream I

H. Five black vertical stripes Large (7.5-10mm) red legs Disonycha quinquelineata*
H'. Three black vertical stripes, elytra a ruddier fold, Smaller (6-8mm) red legs with black tibia Disonycha militaris*

I. Red ventrum and red legs Disonycha glabrata
I'. White ventrum, dark stripe down outside of legs, dark femoral apexes, Disonycha didyma*

J. Elytra shiny blue, purple or blue green K
J'. Elytra not so colored P

K. Elytra shiny purplish blue with stutural and marginal golden stripe Large beetle 9-12mm Cacocelis compta or near
K'. Elytra shiny blue or bluish green L

L. Entire beetle very shiny purplish blue, pronounded prebasal impression
on prothorax, very small 2-3mm Parchicola sp*
L'. Entire beetle very shiny purplish blue, pronounded prebasal impression on prothorax, very small 2-3mm, greenish prothorax, blue elytron Parchicola violacea (Jac)*
L''. Shiny blue elytra, red prothorax M
L'''. Shiny blue green elytra, red prothorax O

M. Pronounced prebasal impression on prothorax, prothorax narrow (only slightly wider than head, red scutellum, elongate body Acanthonycha sp
M'. No pronounced prebasal impression of prothorax, prothorax almost twice as wide as head, body oval, red or dark scutellum N

N. Red scutellum, red legs and ventrum, 3mm long Parchicola panamensis (Jac)
N'. Dark scutellum, dark tibia and tarsi, dark femoral apexes of hind femora, pale ventrum, 3-4mm long Disonycha varicornis or near

O. Blue green elytra, red ventrum, dark tibia and tarsi, 5mm long Disonycha exima or near
O'. Blue green elytra, black thorax and red abdomen, dark tibia, tarsi, 3-4mm long Disonycha colata*

P. Elytra basically black with white, red or yellow markings Q
P'. Elytra red or red with black or white markings Y

Q. Elytra basically black with white or cream colored spots, red prothorax, femora variable R
Q'. Elytra black with yellow or red markings, hind femora not enlarged for jumping (subfamily Galerucinae) W

R. Mid-sized (5-12mm) black beetle, with 6 or more white spots S
R'. Very small (2.5-3.5mm) black beetle, with cream colored marginal band, hind femora not enlarged for jumping V

S. Last tarsal segment of hind leg not globosely swollen, 6 white spots, 3 on each elytron, first pair dots rounded, second dot pairs rectangular, black legs and thorax, red abdomen, Phenrica sp near austriaca*
S'. Last tarsal segment of hind leg globosely swollen T

T. Last tarsal segment of hind limb only slightly swollen, 8 white spots on elytra, anterior 6 tear drop shaped, arranged in a circle resembling a stylized flower Homophoeta equinoctalis
T'. Last tarsal segment of hind limb with pronounced swelling U

U. With 10 white dots arranged in 4 rows, 4 small dots in second row mid-sized beetle (6-8mm) Alogoasa sp prob decemguttatus
U'. With 8 white dots, 4 in the first row, second row appearing as a horizontal band, large beetle (8-12mm) Alogoasa sp

V. With 2 round white spots on each elytron, thin white slashes on elytral apexes, very small (2.5-3.5mm) Synbrotica maculata*
V'. Elytra solid black with cream colored margin, 2.5-3.5mm Synbrotica sp*

W. Black elytra with 6 red dots resembling horizontal stripes, Dark prothorax, 6mm Diabrotica sp*
W'. Black elytra with yellow stripes and dots, red prothorax X

X. Thin yellow diagonal slashes, pointing outwards on elytral apexes, yellow horizontal stripe, 2 anterior yellow dots, 1 per elytron, 4-5mm Ceratoma salvini
X'. No diagonal slashes, narrow horizontal stripe in mid-elytra 2 anterior yellow dots, 1 per elytron, 4-5mm Gyandrobrotica ventricosa

Y. Body elongate, scarlet, mid-elytral horizontal black stripe, Pronounced prebasal impression of prothorax Monomacra ornata or near
Y'. Body round, highly convex, prothorax wide, no prebasal impression Z

Z. Cream colored prothorax, entirely red elytra, light colored ventrum and hind legs, dark first and second tibia Ptocadica near straminea von Harold
Z'. Cream colored horizontal band on elytra with 8 small black dots, 2 dots on anterior and posterior edges of band on each elytron, frequently the posterior black dots fuse Ptocadica bifaciata or near Jacoby*

* observed eating Passiflora pittieri
Sirena Station | BIO384K Home Page
1 May 02
Lecture Hall at UT Austin
For further information, contact: lgilbert@mail.utexas.edu