Colobothea androwi, Vlasak & Santos-Silva, 2023

Vlasak, Josef & Santos-Silva, Antonio, 2023, New descriptions, synonymies and records in South American Lamiinae (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae), Zootaxa 5284 (1), pp. 153-166 : 154-156

Colobothea androwi sp. nov.

( Figs 1–7 )

Description. Holotype female. Integument mostly dark brown; gulamentum brown; ventral mouthparts mostly dark orangish brown; anteclypeus partially dark orangish brown; labrum mostly dark reddish brown; dorsal apex of antennal tubercles pale yellowish; scape brown, darker on inner apical quarter; antennomere III brown on anterior half, blackish on posterior half; antennomere IV dark reddish brown on anterior quarter, gradually darkened toward blackish posterior half; antennomere V dark reddish brown on anterior fifth, gradually darkened toward blackish posterior 2/3; antennomere VI dark brown basally, dark reddish brown on remaining anterior half, blackish on posterior half; antennomeres VII and IX blackish; antennomere VIII dark brown basally, dark reddish brown on remaining anterior third, blackish on posterior 2/3; antennomere X dark brown basally and on posterior 2/3, orangish brown on remaining surface; antennomere XI brown, with slightly distinct orangish-brown ring on anterior third and apex. Tibiae brown basally, protibiae gradually orangish brown toward apex, meso- and metatibiae dark reddish brown toward apex. Tarsi mostly reddish brown. Apex of ventrites 1–4 testaceous.

Head. Frons subparallel-sided; abundantly, finely punctate; with dense, longitudinal yellowish-white pubescent band close to eyes, this pubescent band following toward area between eyes and antennal base; with longitudinal white pubescent band centrally, pubescence sparser toward clypeus, denser toward vertex, except glabrous median groove; remaining surface with abundant brown pubescence partially obscuring integument. Area between antennal tubercles with dense yellowish-white pubescence; central area between upper eye lobes and prothoracic margin with dense, subparallel-sided, longitudinal yellowish-white pubescent band on each side of glabrous central area; dorsal area close to eyes and area behind upper eye lobes with dense brown pubescence; with a few long, erect dark-brown setae close to eyes. Area behind lower eye lobes with dense whitish-yellow pubescence, pubescence sparser toward ventral surface area away from the eye, except glabrous transverse band on superior region. Genae minutely, abundantly punctate posteriorly, sparsely, finely punctate frontally, except smooth apex; with dense whitish-yellow pubescence close to eye on minutely punctate region, pubescence gradually sparser toward middle on this area, and a few short, decumbent yellowish-brown setae frontally, except glabrous entire smooth area; with one long, erect dark-brown seta posteriorly. Antennal tubercles with dense brown pubescence, except glabrous testaceous area, and yellowish-white pubescence on part of frontal region and apex of posterior region. Wide central area of postclypeus close to frons with dense, bristly yellowish-white pubescence laterally, pubescence gradually sparser and shorter toward glabrous central area; area close to anteclypeus almost glabrous, except fringe of short yellowish-white setae laterally, setae gradually shorter and sparser toward central area; with one erect, very long seta on each side of central region close to frons, setae dark brown basally, gradually pale yellow toward apex, and long, erect both brownish and yellowish-brown setae laterally. Sides of postclypeus glabrous. Labrum with abundant, minute brownish pubescence not obscuring integument on posterior half, glabrous on anterior half, except anterior margin with fringe of short golden setae; with long, erect dark-brown setae interspersed on posterior half. Gulamentum smooth, glabrous, except narrow, transverse depressed area close to intermaxillary process with abundant brownish pubescence not obscuring integument. Posterior half of outer surface of mandibles triangularly depressed; with abundant yellowish pubescence and one moderately long black seta within depressed area; remaining surface of outer surface glabrous. Distance between upper eye lobes 0.12 times distance between outer margins of eyes; in frontal view, distance between lower eye lobes 0.47 times distance between outer margins of eyes. Antennae 1.8 times elytral length, reaching elytral apex at middle of antennomere VII. Scape ( Fig. 5 ) gradually widened on anterior half, subparallel-sided on posterior half; dorsal surface with abundant yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument; ventral surface and sides with abundant whitish pubescence partially obscuring integument, except somewhat sparse yellowish-brown pubescence on posterior quarter of inner surface, apex of outer surface with yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument, and apex of ventral surface almost glabrous. Pedicel with white pubescent ring on anterior half of inner surface, pubescence mostly yellowish brown on center of dorsal surface and sparser ventrally; remaining surface with yellowish-brown pubescence, denser dorsally; with a few moderately short, erect, thick dark yellowish-brown setae ventrally. Antennomere III with abundant white pubescence on anterior half of ventral surface, this pubescence reaching inner surface of basal sixth, and yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument on remaining surface, yellowish-brown pubescence appearing to be darker on blackish area due to the integument color; with sparse, somewhat short, erect, thick dark-brown setae ventrally, setae more abundant on apex. Anterior quarter of antennomere IV, anterior half of VI, and a ring on anterior half of VIII, X, and XI with dense white pubescence; remaining surface mostly with dark pubescence not obscuring integument; antennomere IV with sparse, moderately long, erect, thick blackish setae ventrally, a few short, erect, thick blackish setae dorsally, and short, thick blackish setae on entire apex; antennomere V with a few short, erect, thick blackish setae ventrally, sparse, short, thick blackish setae dorsally, and short, thick blackish setae on entire apex; antennomeres VI–IX with sparse, short, thick, erect blackish setae dorsally. Antennal formula based on length of antennomere III: scape = 1.13; pedicel = 0.09; IV = 0.85; V = 0.64; VI = 0.56; VII = 0.48; VIII = 0.46; IX = 0.40; X = 0.37; XI = 0.32.

Thorax. Prothorax wider than long; sides divergent from anterolateral angles to posterolateral angles; with narrow, transverse sulcus close to anterior margin. Pronotum transversely, moderately widely sulcate posteriorly; with one coarse puncture on each side of center of posterior quarter and transverse row of coarse punctures close to posterior sulcus; center of anterior half with dense, longitudinal whitish-yellow pubescent band, not surpassing anterior sulcus, slightly whiter on its apical region; with dense, wide, longitudinal pubescent band on each side of central region, from anterior to posterior margin, pubescence whitish yellow anteriorly, gradually whiter toward posterior margin, partially fused anteriorly; center of posterior third with less distinct longitudinal white pubescent band; sides with two dense, longitudinal pubescent bands, from anterior to posterior margin, fused posteriorly, whitish yellow anteriorly, gradually whiter toward posterior margin, outermost band reaching superior area of sides of prothorax anteriorly; with small white pubescent spot on each side of posterior quarter; remaining surface with abundant brown pubescence obscuring integument, except sparser pubescence centrally close to posterior margin, and on sides of posterior quarter. Sides of prothorax mostly glabrous superiorly, with dense pale-yellow pubescence close to prosternum. Prosternum with dense pale-yellow pubescence laterally, except glabrous anterior sulcus; remaining surface with pale-yellow pubescence gradually sparser toward central region, except glabrous anterior sulcus, and pubescence almost absent close to base of prosternal process. Prosternal process with abundant light yellowish-brown pubescence, slightly less abundant centrally; narrowest area located centrally, slightly narrower than half of procoxal width. Mesoventrite with sparse brownish pubescence centrally, except small area with whitish pubescence anterocentrally; sides with dense pale-yellow pubescence. Mesanepisternum with brownish pubescence not obscuring integument close to mesoventrite, and dense pale-yellow pubescence superiorly. Mesepimeron with dense whitish pubescence. Mesoventral process with sides convergent toward posterior third, then divergent toward apex; posterior margin widely V-shaped emarginate; apex 1.4 times mesocoxal width; with abundant light yellowish-brown pubescence partially obscuring integument. Metanepisternum with dense pale-yellow pubescence basally, abundant yellowish-white pubescence close to elytra except on basal quarter, and brownish pubescence not obscuring integument on remaining surface. Metaventrite with dense light yellowish-brown pubescence, more pale yellow laterally on apex, except glabrous posterocentral region, dense pubescence on sides of anterior third, pubescence yellowish white close to metanepisternum, yellowish brown internally, and large, almost V-shaped area with abundant brownish pubescence on remaining sides. Scutellum with dense, subtriangular white pubescent macula anterocentrally, somewhat sparse white pubescence on posterocentral area, dense, narrow pale-yellow pubescent band on margins, and brownish pubescence on remaining surface, brownish pubescence distinctly sparser posteriorly. Elytra. Humerus rounded, slightly projected; humeral carina well marked on anterior 3/4; anterior third sparsely, coarsely punctate, punctures finer on remaining surface toward apex; with dense, minute brownish pubescence partially obscuring integument, with abundant, irregular, both large and small, dense white pubescent maculae interspersed, including short, longitudinal white pubescent band close to base of suture, and transverse white pubescent band on apex; with moderately abundant, coarse, thick, erect blackish setae throughout. Legs. Femora with abundant white pubescence not obscuring integument, except wide brownish pubescent band dorsally and laterally near apex of femoral club. Protibiae with moderately abundant white pubescence basally; with dense white pubescence on sides of anterior 2/3 and on middle of dorsal surface; with yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument on remaining dorsal surface of anterior half; with sparse yellowish-brown pubescence on remaining dorsal and lateral surfaces; with yellowish-brown pubescence ventrally, denser, longer, bristly from middle to apex; with sparse, long, erect dark-brown setae interspersed laterally. Meso- and metatibiae with somewhat abundant white pubescence basally, white pubescent ring on middle, pubescence denser dorsally and on superior region of lateral surfaces; with brownish pubescence not obscuring integument on remaining basal half; with abundant, bristly yellowish-brown pubescence on ventral surface of posterior third; with sparse yellowish-brown pubescence on sides of posterior third; with fringe of thick, erect yellowish-brown setae on dorsal surface of posterior third, denser on metatibiae; and sparse, long, erect dark setae interspersed ventrally. Dorsal surface of tarsomeres I with abundant white pubescence obscuring integument; dorsal surface of tarsomeres II with white pubescence partially obscuring integument on pro- and mesotarsi, not obscuring on metatarsi; dorsal surface of tarsomeres III–V with minute yellowish-brown pubescence distinctly not obscuring integument; posterior dorsal area of tarsomeres I–III and V with a few long, dark setae interspersed. Metatarsomere I slightly longer than II–III together.

Abdomen. Ventrite 1 with dense pale-yellow pubescence laterally, except large, subtriangular brownish pubescent area superiorly; central area with sparse yellowish-white pubescence, pubescence yellower on abdominal process. Ventrite 2 with dense, longitudinal pale-yellow pubescent macula laterally, distinctly narrowed centrally; with narrow, longitudinal dark-brown pubescent band on sides of basal half; with irregular pale-yellow pubescent macula on each side of central area of posterior half; and abundant brownish pubescence not obscuring integument on remaining surface, except glabrous apex and sparse white pubescence centrally close to glabrous area. Ventrite 3 with dense, subtriangular pale-yellow pubescent macula on sides of basal third; with two dense, irregular yellowish-white pubescent maculae on each side of posterior half; remaining surface with abundant, minute brownish pubescence not obscuring integument, except glabrous apex and sparse white pubescence on center of posterior half. Ventrite 4 with pubescence as on ventrite 3, but all maculae with lighter pubescence. Ventrite 5 ( Fig. 7 ) longer than 3–4 together; sides strongly convergent from base to posterior quarter, then subparallel-sided toward apex; apex strongly concave, making outer angles triangularly projected; with dense yellowish-white pubescent macula on each side of base, and remaining surface with brownish pubescence not obscuring integument; with long, erect, sparse dark setae interspersed on posterior half, and a fringe of thick yellowish-brown setae on apex; apex of last tergite notched centrally, slightly surpassing apex of ventrite 5.

Dimensions (mm). Total length, 13.20; prothoracic length, 1.95; anterior prothoracic width, 2.60; posterior prothoracic width, 3.30; humeral width, 4.30; elytral length, 9.35.

Type material. Holotype female from ECUADOR, Napo: 1400 m, 10 km N Wawa Sumaco , 30.IX.2021, J. Vlasak leg. ( MZSP).

Etymology. We are pleased to name this species in honor of our colleague and friend Robert A. Androw (Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA) in recognition of his contributions in the field of entomology.

Remarks. Although at a first sight Colobothea androwi sp. nov. and C. vaamondei Devesa & Santos-Silva, 2022 look very different, the shape and the arrangement of the elytral maculae is very similar, as is the pattern of the ventral pubescence of the body. Female of Colobothea androwi sp. nov. differs from that of C. vaamondei as follows: body ( Fig. 1 ) stouter, elytra subparallel-sided in the middle; distance between upper eye lobes ( Fig. 6 ) smaller and narrower than basal diameter of the scape; scape ( Fig. 5 ) not noticeably slender on basal third; ventrite 5 ( Fig. 7 ) slender; apex of last tergite emarginate. In C. vaamondei , the body is slender (see photographs on Bezark 2023 and Devesa & Santos-Silva 2022), elytra tapering in the middle, distance between upper eye lobes ( Fig. 9 ) wider and equal to basal diameter of the scape, scape ( Fig. 8 ) is distinctly slender on basal third, ventrite 5 ( Fig. 10 ) is wider, and the apex of last tergite is not emarginate. The new species is also similar to C. destituta Bates, 1865 but differs by the longitudinal pubescent bands on vertex subparallel-sided (distinctly divergent toward prothorax in C. destituta ), elytra with longitudinal pubescent macula close to inferior margin of the scutellum (absent in C. destituta ), and pronotum with longitudinal pubescent band centrally (absent in C. destituta ). Colobothea androwi sp. nov. separates from C. hondurena Giesbert, 1979 , C. juncea Bates, 1865 , C. meleagrina Erichson, 1847 , C. mosaica Bates, 1865 , C. paulina Bates, 1865 , C. seminalis Bates, 1865 , and C. varica Bates, 1865 by the longitudinal pubescent bands on vertex subparallel-sided (distinctly divergent toward prothorax in these species).

Figures

FIGURES 1–10. Colobothea spp. 1–7) C. androwi sp. nov., holotype female: 1) Dorsal habitus; 2) Ventral habitus; 3) Lateral habitus; 4) Head, frontal view; 5) Scape; 6) Distance between antennal tubercles; 7) Ventrite 5. 8–10) C. vaamondei Devesa & Santos-Silva, 2022, holotype female: 8) Scape; 9) Distance between antennal tubercles; 10) Ventrite 5.