Notaepytus cubanacan, Skelley, 2009

Skelley, Paul E., 2009, Pleasing fungus beetles of the West Indies (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Erotylinae), Insecta Mundi 2009 (82), pp. 1-94 : 60

Notaepytus cubanacan Skelley, new species

Figure 1b , 86 , 91 , 123

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other fulvitarsis species group taxa by the following characters: basal, subapical, and apical orangish marks on elytra (although reduced), short metasternum, greatly reduced wings, entirely dark pronotum, distinctly punctate elytral striae, and basal elytral band reduced to zigzag mark.

Description. Length: 9.0 mm; width: 4.2 mm. Body elongate, robust; surface microreticulate, weakly dulled to glossy. Color dark-brown to black except as noted: antennae, palpi, legs beyond middle of femur, apical third of elytral epipleural fold, lateral and apical abdomen red-brown; antennal club becoming paler toward apex; elytra with band at basal third reduced, zigzagged ( Fig. 91 , 123 ); elytral subapical mark large and prominent, apical mark reduced.

Head interocular width = 4 x ocular width; vertex and epistome finely punctate, obscured in microreticulation; epistome anterior margin shallowly concave. Eye facets moderate in size. Antennomere III length = 4 x width, length = length of antennomeres IV+V combined; antennomeres IV-VIII equal in length, each with length = 2-3 x width, becoming progressively shorter apically; antennomere IX triangular, length = 1.5 x width; antennomere XI subcircular, slightly elongate. Terminal maxillary palpomere triangular ( Fig. 86 ), slightly asymmetrical, length = width. Terminal labial palpomere triangular, asymmetrical, width = 2 x length, expanded medially, width = 1.2 x terminal maxillary palpomere.

Pronotum transverse; punctures on disc fine; small group of large punctures at each side of base, puncture size = an ocular facet diameter; hind angle produced posteriorly, partially covering elytral humerus. Scutellum pentagonal, length = 0.4 x width. Elytral striae punctures distinct, separated by 2- 3 x their diameter; intervals with punctures fine, indistinct; base lacking marginal bead. Wings reduced to strips.

Prosternum weakly convex, length = 2.5 x intercoxal width; sternal punctures indistinct; sternal lines continuous around coxal cavity; base slightly concave. Mesosternal lines divergent anteriorly, continuous around coxal cavity. Metasternum short, distance between meso- and metacoxae = intermesocoxal width; anterior lines not meeting medially, continuous around mesocoxal cavity; with large punctures laterally, puncture size = an ocular facet diameter, punctures fine to lacking medially. Abdomen with coxal lines not meeting medially; not continuous around metacoxal cavity; punctures fine, obscured. Male genitalia unknown.

Distribution. Found in eastern Cuba.

Type Material. The female holotype of Notaepytus cubanacan ( Fig. 123 ) is labeled: “/ Pico Turquino, S. side, June 1936, 3000-5000 ft., / Cuba 1936, Darlington, Collector/ [pale yellow paper] Specimen imaged 2008-West Indies Erotylinae , P. Skelley / [red paper] HOLOTYPE Notaepytus cubanacan P.E. Skelley /” ( AMNH).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the word “Cubanacán”, which was the indigenous name for the island of Cuba when Columbus arrived in 1492, here used as a noun in apposition.

Figures

Figure 1. West Indian maps. 1a) Map of West Indian countries mentioned in the text. 1b) Map indicating species occurring on specific islands with distribution of Notaepytus flavitarsis (Lacordaire) indicated by the white triangles.

Figure 85-88. Notaeptyus spp., key characters. 85) N. flavitarsis, normal long metasternum. 86) N. cubanacan, shortened metasternum of wingless form. 87) N. fulvitarsis (DR: La Vega) male genitalia with flagellum everted. 88) N. lavegaensis male genitalia, with flagellum inverted. Genitalic scale line = 1 mm.

Figure 89-104. Notaepytus spp., habitus drawings. 89) N. flavitarsis. 90) N. tarsatus. 91) N. cubanacan. 92) N. modestus. 93) N. cyclosignatus. 94) N. elongatus. 95) N. fulvitarsis. 96) N. decoregens. 97) N. ignotensis. 98) N. haitensis. 99) N. inversus. 100) N. baorucoensis. 101) N. neibaensis. 102) N. lavegaensis. 103) N. cyanoros. 104) N. elateroides.

Figure 121-123. Notaepytus spp. occurring on Cuba. 121) N. flavitarsis. 122) N. tarsatus. 123) N. cubanacan, holotype.