Sicoderus thomasi Anderson, 2018

Anderson, Robert S., 2018, The genus Sicoderus Vanin 1986 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Curculioninae: Erodiscini) in the West Indies, Zootaxa 4497 (3), pp. 301-345 : 333-334

Sicoderus thomasi Anderson , n. sp.

( Figures 75–76 , 82 . Map 2)

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:5 F47596 B-74D4-4B08-9452-D95AE899B69B

Description: Length male, 4.9 mm. Integument black, shining. Eyes rather widely separated by a distance about two-thirds width rostrum at midlength. Rostrum 1.00x length elytra in male. Antennal insertion at about apical 2/ 5 in male. Prothorax constricted anteriorly, globose, widest at about middle; punctures widely spaced, small, shallow on disc, slightly larger and deeper, forming vague striolae laterally on flanks; erect setae absent. Elytra in dorsal view widest at about midlength, lateral margins convergent both anteriorly and posteriorly; humeri fully reduced, not at all angulate; erect setae absent. Strial punctures evident, small, shallow; striae not impressed. Membranous wings absent. Abdominal ventrite 1 of male flat medially, setose patches lacking. Ventrite 5 flattened at middle, not setose. Legs with all femora simple, ventral margin lacking tooth, anterior face of swollen area of hind femur longitudinally striate; tarsal claws with small basal tooth. Aedeagus (fig. 82) widest at base, internal sac with structure not visible (due to excessive KOH clearing; also likely responsible for short temones and overall lack of sclerotization). Female not known.

Material examined: 1 male. Holotype male ( CWOB), labelled HAITI: Department Sud-Oueste , Parc National La Visite, Morne la Visite, 2100m, 12.V.1984, M.C. Thomas.

Derivation of species name: This species is named after Michael C. Thomas (retired), a coleopterist at the Florida State Collection of Arthropods in Gainesville, Florida and who collected this and other Haitian weevils.

Natural History: The single known specimen was collected at 2100m elevation.

Comments: This distinctive species has an elytra that is more elongate-narrow than in other Sicoderus species and has the swollen area of the hind femora longitudinally striate. The holotype specimen had been previously dissected and the aedeagus cleared beyond a point allowing for recognition of internal structure.

Figures

FIGURES 73–76. Species of Sicoderus. 73. Sicoderus striatolateralis, dorsal habitus. 74. Sicoderus striatolateralis, lateral habitus. 75. Sicoderus thomasi, dorsal habitus. 76. Sicoderus thomasi, lateral habitus.

FIGURES 81–84. Species of Sicoderus. 81. Sicoderus striatolateralis, aedeagus, dorsal view. 82. Sicoderus thomasi, aedeagus, dorsal view. 83. Sicoderus tinamus, aedeagus, dorsal view. 84. Sicoderus truncatipennis, aedeagus, dorsal view.