Comparative morphology of two species of Caraguata Bechyné (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Galerucini)

ABSTRACT

Caraguata Bechyné, 1954 (Galerucini, Galerucina) includes 38 species exclusively Neotropical, among them two sympatric species, C. atricornis (Clark, 1865) and C. guaporensis Bechyné, 1958. Given the lack of morphological studies in this group, we aimed to characterize the adult morphology of two species, providing descriptions, illustrations and comparisons of structures of the head, thorax, abdomen and genitalia. The external morphology includes the description of head, thorax, abdomen and its appendices; the internal morphology comprises endosternites, and male and female genitalia. Some similarities were observed, such as pubescence, mouth parts, apparent sexual dimorphism on ventrite V, spermatheca and vaginal palpi. The main differences are in (1) the body and antenna shape, (2) the antenna color pattern, (3) the depression of the pronotum, (4) the presence/absence of the tibial spur, (5) the form of the median lobe, (6) the tegmen and (7) the sternite VIII of the females. The morphological study of these species contributes to the knowledge of Galerucina, presenting important specific characteristics not employed until now. Thus, it can be a contribution for studies of comparative morphology, systematics and evolution of the group.

KEYWORDS
Galerucina; Neotropical; Coelomerites; genitalia