Review of the genus Oncocephala Agassiz 1846 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Oncocephalini) in Africa, excluding Madagascar

Abstract

The genus Oncocephala Agassiz, 1846 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Oncocephalini) is reviewed for Africa, except Madagascar. Twenty-four species are treated. Two new synonyms were proposed, Oncocephala kolbei Gestro, 1899a is synonymized with O. promontorii Péringuey, 1898 and O. scabrosa Gestro, 1905 is synonymized with O. severinii Gestro, 1899(1901). Six new species are proposed:  Oncocephala susanstainesae Calcetas, Staines & Adorada sp. nov. from Namibia, Oncocephala deleoni Calcetas, Staines and Adorada sp. nov. from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Oncocephala camachoi Calcetas, Staines & Adorada sp. nov. from Cameroon, Oncocephala eborai Calcetas, Staines & Adorada sp. nov. from Equatorial Guinea, Oncocephala dimaculanganae Calcetas, Staines & Adorada sp. nov. from Cameroon and Oncocephala demesai Calcetas, Staines and Adorada sp. nov. from Togo. Oncocephala methneri Uhmann, 1928 and O. madoni Pic, 1941 are treated as incerte sedis. The genus Oncocephala in Africa is divided into seven species groups (Gestroi, Perrieri, Insignis, Senegalensis, Promentorii, Cuneata and Angusticollis) based on the similarity of their elytral characters. A key to the species groups and species of Oncocephala is provided.