Paramelitta wappesi, Clarke, 2014

Clarke, Robin O. S., 2014, Bolivian Rhinotragini VIII: new genera and species related to Pseudophygopoda Tavakilian & Peñaherrera-Leiva, 2007 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae), Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia (São Paulo) 54 (24), pp. 341-362 : 356-359

Paramelitta wappesi sp. nov.

Figs. 7 A-7C

Holotype male: 11.5 mm. Deposited at MNKM. Female: not known.

Diagnosis (for males): separation of this species from P. aglaia is as follows: in P. wappesi forebody slightly longer than abdomen (in P. aglaia distinctly shorter than abdomen); in P. wappesi frons rather impunctate (in P. aglaia moderately densely punctate); in P. wappesi rostrum long, length/width 2.36 (in P. aglaia short, length/width 2.8); in P. wappesi antennae reaching middle of urosternite I (in P. aglaia pass base of II); in P. wappesi antennomere III 1.6 longer than scape (in P. aglaia 1.3 longer than scape); in P. wappesi elytra short, 1.7 longer than width of humeri (in P. aglaia 2.1 longer than width of humeri); in P. wappesi urosternites II-IV distinctly transverse, and V very distinctive (in P. aglaia urosternites II-IV rather quadrate, and V weakly differentiated); in P. wappesi metafemora comparatively slender (in P. aglaia much more robust); in P. wappesi pubescence on dorsad and metafemora ashy or white (in P. aglaia rufous).

Description of holotype: moderately robust species; total length 11.5 mm. Prothorax subcylindrical, 1.19 wider than head with eyes.

Colour: opaque and somewhat shining (basal margins of elytra vitrified); almost entirely black and chestnut; mouthparts testaceous-yellow; translucent panel on elytra somewhat sepia in colour.

Structure: rostrum moderately wide and long (width/ length 2.36). Galea moderately robust. Labrum rath- er large, nearly rectangular. Frons: bilobed calli lies between front margins of inferior lobes and pair of shallow fossae adjacent to clypeus (fossae round and densely micropunctate). Inferior lobes of eyes distinctly longer than wide; width of one lobe/interocular distance 2.60. Superior lobes of eyes with small ommatidia, mesally arranged in about 10 rows. Antennae short (reaching middle of urosternite I), and less filiform than in most species (only antennomere III filiform, the rest with apex about twice as wide as base); scape very short (0.6 mm); III 1.58 longer than scape; IV half as long as III; V (0.6 mm) not much longer than IV, slightly longer than VI and VII (the latter equal in length, 0.55 mm); VI trapezoidal; VII-X forming subcompact club, incrementally shorter and crassate, but only moderately serrate (serrations weakly clipped at apex); X slightly shorter than XI (0.4 mm); XI characteristically obovate, equal in length (0.45 mm) to IX.

Prothorax with sides subparallel for middle half, converging for apical third (and slightly sinuate, as apical constriction stronger than in other species), and rather strongly emarginate towards base (as lateral calli just project beyond profile of sides). Front margin 0.89 width of hind margin. Prothoracic quotient 2.22. Surface of pronotum moderately irregular; with relatively short, flattish, spear-shaped callus at midline. Base of prosternal process about 14 times narrower than width of procoxal cavity; at apex hardly widened (but surface details hidden by dense pubescence).

Elytra strongly subulate, and weakly fissate for more than apical half; markedly short (length/width 1.74); strongly narrowed to base of apical lobes; the latter short, each lobe with almost parallel sides (slightly widening towards apex), and roundly truncate at apex.

Width of mesocoxal cavity 2.80 wider than base of mesosternal process. Mesosternum moderately long, length of mesosternum/length of metasternum 0.82. Metasternum somewhat abruptly, and broadly tumid to either side of midline; longitudinal suture long (nearly reaching base of metasternal process, and rather deep for much of its length). Metepisternum very broad, the surface irregular (flat in some areas, convex in others); the sides rather weakly narrowed to blunt apex.

Abdomen relatively short, narrow basally, slightly widening to middle, parallel-sided towards apex; urosternite I elongate and subconical; II-IV about 1.5 wider than long, with parallel sides (but weakly constricted between segments). Urosternite V very characteristic; slightly down-turned; shorter than other segments, but as wide as IV at base; strongly contract- ed to very broadly emarginate apex, this V-shaped emargination and its slightly raised sides occupying most of median surface (nearly reaching basal margin of segment); apices of V appear as broad, sharply pointed spines (when viewed from above), but well rounded (when viewed from the side).

Abdominal process rather small, short, equilateral triangle (with small blunt apical extension). Apical tergite rather short, broad and subcylindrical; apical margin probably regularly rounded.

Legs: ratio length front/middle/hind leg 1.0:1.3:2.6. Front and middle legs: moderately short (body length/ length of legs 2.5 and 2.0, respectively). Middle leg: rather robust; length of femur/lateral width of clave 2.65; tibia moderately slender, gradually widening to apex. Hind leg: slender, long (equal to body length); femora moderately long, reaching apex of abdomen; femoral peduncle moderately robust, flattish, and short (length clave/peduncle 2.33); metatibia bisinuate (when viewed from the side); metatarsus rather short, 2.5 shorter than length of metatibia; metatarsomere I slender and subcylindrical, not widened towards apex; II wider than I, almost triangular and short; III with narrow lobes (together the lobes hardly wider than II).

Male genitalia: aedeagus was not extracted from the abdomen, but apex of tegmen clearly visible, the apical lobes quadrate (in appearance midway between P. albitarsis and P. viridimicans ).

Measurements (mm): 1 male: total length 11.5; length of pronotum 4.0; width of pronotum 3.8; length of elytra 8.0; width at humeri 4.6.

Holotype: male, BOLIVIA, Santa Cruz: 5 km SSE Buena Vista, 17°29’96”S/ 63°39’13”W, 440 m, Hotel Flora & Fauna, Chiquitano Forest , on/flying to flowers of “Sapaimosi”, 03.IX.2008, Clarke & Zamalloa col. ( MNKM).

Comment: the host flower “Sapaimosi” is Trichillia elegans Adr. Juss. (Family MELIACEAE ).

Etymology: this species is named after Jim Wappes for his work on the Photographic Manual of Bolivian Cerambycidae .

Figures

FIGURES 6‑7: 6, Paramelitta aglaia (Newman, 1840): A, male; B, female; C, female ventral aspect. 7, Paramelitta wappesi sp. nov.: A, male holotype; B, male ventral aspect; C, male urosternites 3-5.