Theognete araneiformis Anderson, 2010

Anderson, Robert S., 2010, A taxonomic monograph of the Middle American leaf-litter inhabiting weevil genus Theognete Champion (Coleoptera: Curculionidae; Molytinae; Lymantini) 2458, Zootaxa 2458 (1), pp. 1-127 : 16

1. Theognete araneiformis Anderson , new species ( Figures 33 , 39 , 45 )

Diagnosis. Size. Length, male, 3.74–3.88mm; female, 3.99mm. Width, male, 2.19–2.25mm; female, 2.42mm. Cuticle black, infused with dark orange on elytra across base and broadly along lateral margins. Eyes moderately separated in dorsal view. Pronotum with short, recurved, simple scales condensed in anterior median area as well as on paired lateral swellings; swellings not well developed, area between them not distinctly impressed, no sulcus evident; flanks with only shallow depression indistinctly continuous with weak dorsal impression. Elytra not tuberculate, small recurved, simple scales scattered over surface. Elytra with disk in middle somewhat flattened and with first elytral stria present as short longitudinal impression in this flat area. Aedeagus as in Fig. 39 .

Geographical distribution. México (Puebla).

Natural history. Collected from berlese extractions of cloud forest leaf litter at elevations of 1400– 1525m.

Derivation of specific name. Named from the Latin aranea, meaning spider, and the Latin forma, meaning form. The name refers to adults of this species having the general body form of a spider.

Material examined. 3♂, 1♀ ( CMNC, MCZC). Holotype ♂ ( CMNC): MÉXICO: Puebla. 2.7km. S. Apulco (nr. Zacapoaxtla), 1401m R. Anderson 87–36, 22.vii.87 cloud forest / HOLOTYPE ♂ Theognete araneiformis sp. nov. R.S. Anderson. Aedeagus extracted. Paratypes: MÉXICO. Puebla. Apulco (2.7 km S., near Zacapoaxtla), 1401m, 22.VII.1987, R. Anderson, cloud forest, 87–36 (1♂ CMNC). Teziutlan (5 mi. N.E.), 5000', 16–20.VII.1973, A. Newton, cloud forest berlese leaf litter (1♂, 1♀ MCZC) .

Chorological relationships. Sympatric with T. denticulata and T. newtoni .

Figures

FIGURES 29–34. Habitus, dorsal view, Theognete araneiformis species group. 29. T. kovariki. 30. T. azteca. 31. T. striatifemur. 32. T. tuberosa. 33. T. araneiformis. 34. T. gracilis.

FIGURES 38–40. Aedeagus, dorsal and lateral view, Theognete araneiformis species group. 38. T. tuberosa. 39. T. araneiformis. 40. T. gracilis.

FIGURES 41–46. Abdominal ventrite 5, male, ventral view, Theognete araneiformis species group. 41. T. kovariki. 42. T. azteca. 43. T. striatifemur. 44. T. tuberosa. 45. T. araneiformis. 46. T. gracilis.