Polskie Forum Entomologiczne

Please help verify my determinations:

1) First 2 = Chiridopsis aubei (Boheman, 1855), typical form, the rest = Aspidimorpha submutata Weise, 1899



2) From left: Chiridopsis aubei (Boheman, 1855), typical form, Aspidimorpha (Afroaspidimorpha) nigromaculata (Herbst, 1799), Aspidimorpha isparetta Boheman, 1854, Laccoptera corrugata (Sahlberg, 1823).



3) Aspidimorpha isparetta Boheman - close-up view



4) Laccoptera corrugata (Sahlberg, 1823) - close-up view



5) Aspidimorpha quinquefasciata (Fabricius, 1801) - close-up view



6) Chiridopsis aubei (Boheman, 1855) atypical form - ab. signaticollis or baumanni - close-up view

Chiridopsis aubei, Laccoptera corrugata and Aspidimorpha nigromaculata are properly identified. Other specimens are members of the genus Aspidimorpha but they are impossible to identification based only on dorsal photos. Aspidimorpha submutata and A. quinquefasciata completely out of the question because they belong to other species groups than those in the photos. At first glance they look members of A. isparetta or A. dissentanea groups. Only A. isparetta was recorded from Principe Islands but A. dissentanea is also common in this region of Africa and its occurrence on Principe Is. is highly possible. Both species belong to the most variable morphologically within the genus Aspidimorpha and both form the same spectrum of chromatic pattern. Females are easy to identification by structure of apex of elytral epipleura: pubescent in isparetta and smooth in disentanea. Males are extremely similar, generally A. isparetta is less convex with more regular elytral convexity while A. dissentanea usually has more or less distinct hump in postscutellar area but to see this difference requires a lot of attention and experience.

Thank you very much Lech! I will try to identify Aspidimorphas with your key and with your advices. Also I will consult it with Lukas Sekerka (he has much more material and experiences).