Rhodobaenus patriciae Anderson

Anderson, Robert S., 2002, The Dryophthoridae of Costa Rica and Panama: Checklist with keys, new synonymy and descriptions of new species of Cactophagus, Mesocordylus, Metamasius and Rhodobaenus (Coleoptera; Curculionoidea), Zootaxa 80, pp. 1-94 : 89-93

Rhodobaenus patriciae Anderson , new species

( Figs. 133­134 , 147­150 )

Identification.—This species is known only from three female specimens from the Osa Penninsula. Rhodobaenus patriciae is similar to the southern South American R. tornowii (Bréthes) in elytral color pattern ( Fig. 133 ) and in that the antennal scape is widened throughout most of its length ( Fig. 148 ); however, in R. patriciae , the pronotal color pattern is different, the punctures of the femora are large, deep and dense, and the vestiture of the third tarsal articles has less extensive pilosity. The species may also be confused with R. bicinctus but that species has a different elytral pattern, the rostrum is usually red, and the antennal scape is not expanded throughout its length, but only clavate at the apex.

Description.— Male, not known. Female, length, 6.7­6.8 mm; width 2.3­2.4 mm. Color black and red. Head and rostrum black. Pronotum red with median broad black line as well as lateral broad black line along midheight of flanks, apical margin also infuscate. Elytra red with apical one­third black, this black marking extended forward along sutural region to base of elytra in an inverted “V” shape; humeral region at interval 7 also black. Ventrally with prosternum red, otherwise black or deep piceous.

Rostrum slightly shorter than pronotum, strongly humped at base; elongate, narrow, cylindrical, almost straight, virtually impunctate except for moderately dense punctures dorsally on basal; base of rostrum abruptly expanded, basal expanded area very short, about one­sixth total rostral length; base of rostrum immediately in front of eyes subdentate ventrally. Peduncle flat basally, markedly and sharply keeled towards apex. Scrobe with posterior margin about width of base of scape from anterior margin of eyes. Antenna with scape long, about two­thirds length rostrum; scape expanded throughout length, subequal in width from basal one­third to apex, flattened, inner face with shallow irregular sulcus; club slightly laterally compressed, oval; apical pilose part subequal in length to basal glabrous part. Pronotum with lateral margins subparallel to slightly convergent in basal one­half, gradually convergent to apex; very sparsely and shallowly, indistinctly punctate except across base; moderately deeply transversely creased subbasally. Elytra with length one and four­fifths times length pronotum; with striae and intervals impunctate, flat. Scutellum elongate­narrow, lateral margins subparallel in basal one­half; length twice width at base, flat. Pygidium with subapex at middle slightly tumescent, punctate throughout; apical margin with row of elongate, fine setae; apex broadly acuminate. Ventrally with front coxae separated by width of base of scape; prosternum flat between and anterior to coxae. Meso­ and metasterna and ventrites sparsely, shallowly punctate laterally, punctures finer and sparsely medially; last ventrite flat, slightly deflexed at apex. Legs elongate, matte, coarsely, deeply punctate throughout; femora clavate, widest at extreme apex; long, hind femur almost reaching apex of ventrite 5; inner margins of all tibiae with only very short, sparse setae; all tibiae slightly inwardly arcuate. Tarsi each with third article moderately widely dilated, pilose ventrally except in narrow band along basolateral margins; tarsi with third articles symmetrical; apical margin of third articles truncate; claw­bearing segment bilamellate ventrally at apex.

Material Examined.—Female HOLOTYPE labelled “Sirena, Corcovado N.P. / Puntarenas Province / Costa Rica, 0­100m / G. Fonseca. Nov 1989 / 270500, 508300”, INBio barcode 113978 (INBC). PARATYPES (2). COSTA RICA. PUNTARENAS PROV­ INCE. Osa Penninsula. Rincon (2.5 mi. SW.). 08°42’N, 83°29’W ”, 6.iii.1968, H. Hespenheide (1). Cerro Nora, 10 Feb 1972, S. Medica (1). Paratypes in CMNC, CWOB.

Distribution.— Costa Rica (Puntarenas).

Natural history.—Specimens were collected near sea level in the Osa Penninsula.

Derivation of specific name.—This species is named after Patricia Vaurie.

Comments.—This species was first recognized as new by Patricia Vaurie. She placed a determination label on one of the paratypes stating that it was near but not R. tornowii .

Rhodobaenus tenorio Anderson , new species ( Figs. 135­136 , 151­154 )

Identification.—The paired setose patches on the dorsal surface of the female rostrum divided medially by a distinct fine carina ( Fig. 151 ), and the unique sculpturing of the pronotum and elytra ( Figs. 135­136 ) immediately characterize this odd, perhaps flightless species. Whereas R. howelli also has the dorsal surface of the female rostrum setose, in R. tenorio , the setosity is shorter, with each hair broader and scale­like, and the extent of the pilosity is limited to a smaller patch extended from immediately above the point of antennal insertion to the midlength of the rostrum ( Fig. 151 ). The patch is also divided medially by a distinct, fine, sharp carina. The pronotum and elytra are scupltured unlike any other Rhodobaenus . The pronotum has a subbasal transverse impression (as do many Rhodobaenus ) but this impression is extended anteriorly for a short distance on either side of the broadly elevated midline. The elytra has the scutellar region broadly impressed and also has a distinct oblique impression extended from the humerus to interval 2 at about the apical one­third. The pygidium is markedly, acutely tumescent apically ( Fig. 154 ) and the tarsi have the venter of the claw bearing articles flat (as in R. howelli ). The short elytra with somewhat rounded humeri ( Fig. 135 ) indicates species is likely flightless.

Description.—Female, length, 9.5 mm; width 3.2 mm. Male not known. Color black with dark red­brown head, rostrum, mesosternum and coxae.

Rostrum shorter than pronotum, slightly humped at base; elongate, tapered apically, laterally compressed basally in front of point of antennal insertion, slightly evenly arcuate; with deep, large punctures laterally in front of point of antennal insertion, dorsally with short, dense, broad, dark golden scale­like hairs arranged in paramedian patches extedned from above point of antennal insertion to about midlength of rostrum; base of rostrum slightly expanded, basal expanded area short, about one­fourth total rostral length. Rostrum glabrous ventrally; peduncle flat, not produced or toothed. Scrobe with posterior margin about twice width of base of scape from anterior margin of eyes. Antenna with scape slightly longer than one­half length rostrum; scape slightly expanded apically, not flattened; club cylindrical, elongate­oval; apical pilose part slightly less than one­half length of basal glabrous part. Pronotum with lateral margins evenly slightly arcuate from base to subapical constriction, apex distinctly constricted, tubulate; sparsely and shallowly, indistinctly punctate throughout; with subbasal transverse impression and longitudical paramedian impressions extended anteriorly of subbasal impression for short distance on either side of broadly elevated midline. Elytra with length subequal to length pronotum; with striae with indistinct, shallow, elongate punctures, intervals impunctate, flat; elytra with scutellar region broadly impressed, also each elytron with distinct oblique impression extended from the humerus to interval 2 at about the apical one­third. Scutellum elongate, lateral margins subparallel in basal one­half; length twice width at base, flat. Pygidium with subapex at middle markedly, acutely tumescent, regularly punctate with dense long, scale­like setae on tumosity; apex narrowly rounded. Ventrally with front coxae separated by less than width of base of scape; prosternum flat between and anterior to coxae. Meso­ and metasterna and ventrite 1­5 sparsely, shallowly punctate throughout; last ventrite flat at middle at apex. Legs (especially hind) elongate, matte, coarsely, shallowly punctate throughout; femora clavate, long, hind femur reaching apex of pygidium; inner margins of all tibiae with only very short, peg­like setae; all tibiae straight. Tarsi each with third article slightly dilated, pilose ventrally except in narrow median line; tarsi with third articles assymmetrical; apical margin of third articles very slightly emarginate; claw­bearing segment flat ventrally at apex; tarsi moderately long, first article less than twice as long as wide.

Material examined.—Female HOLOTYPE labelled " COSTA RICA, Prov. Limón. PILA / Bratsi, Refugio Valle del Silencio / 2400m. 17 ABR 2001. R. González. / Manual. L_S_341400_577250 #62561" INBio barcode 3307215 (INBC).

Distribution.— Costa Rica (Limón)

Natural history.—No information is available on natural history.

Derivation of specific name.—This species is named after INBio parataxonomist Roger Gonzalez Tenorio for his diligence (and success) in finding new species of weevils.

Comments.—This is the only known species of Rhodobaenus with such pronotal and elytral scuplturing.

Figures

FIGURES 129 - 136. Rhodobaenus species. 129 - 130. Rhodobaenus howelli Anderson. 129. Dorsal habitus. 130. Lateral habitus. 131 - 132. Rhodobaenus labrecheae Anderson. 131. Dorsal habitus. 132. Lateral habitus. 133 - 134. Rhodobaenus patriciae Anderson. 133. Dorsal habitus. 134. Lateral habitus. 135 - 136. Rhodobaenus tenorio Anderson. 135. Dorsal habitus. 136. Lateral habitus.

FIGURES 147 ­ 150. Rhodobaenus patriciae Anderson. 147. Lateral view of head, female. 148. Antenna. 149. Hind leg, female. 150. Pygidium, female.

FIGURES 151 ­ 154. Rhodobaenus tenorio Anderson. 151. Lateral view of head, female. 152. Antenna. 153. Hind leg, female. 154. Pygidium, female.