Leptostylopsis Dillon, 1956

Lingafelter, Steven & Micheli, Charyn, 2009, The genus Leptostylopsis of Hispaniola (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Acanthocinini), ZooKeys 17 (17), pp. 1-55 : 4-7

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.3897/zookeys.17.217
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:DA2D8B2A-9835-4309-A0D2-251645391FC0
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3791585
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/2D005D7A-8753-FFD7-FF33-FD9F855EBAAC
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Leptostylopsis Dillon, 1956
status

Treatment

Leptostylopsis Dillon, 1956 View in CoL

Type species: Leptostylus terraecolor Horn, 1880 View in CoL , by original designation ( Dillon 1956). Maps 1-12 View Maps 1-2 View Maps 3-4 View Maps 5-6 View Maps 7-8 View Maps 9-10 View Maps 11-12 , Figs 1-117 View Figures 1-5 View Figures 6-10 View Figures 11-15 View Figures 16-22 View Figures 23-28 View Figures 29-43 View Figures 44-58 View Figures 59-73 View Figures 74-87 View Figures 88-102 View Figures 103-117

Diagnosis. Leptostylopsis can be confused only with Leptostylus , Fisherostylus Gilmour 1963 , and Styloleptus Dillon 1956 . Leptostylopsis differs from Leptostylus (using primarily the type species L. transversus Gyllenhal ) by its longer scape (not extending beyond middle of pronotum in Leptostylus ); longer antennae (often as long as body or longer) with antennomeres 6-11 longer than 3-5 [except females of L. poeyi ] (in Leptostylus , the antennae are about the length of the body or shorter and 6-11 are subequal to or shorter than 3-5); a well-defined, vertical epipleuron (less defined in Leptostylus ); the mesosternum between mesocoxae at least as wide as a mesocoxa, often 1.1-1.3 × width of mesocoxa (narrower than mesocoxa in most Leptostylus species); and its relatively long terminal ventrite, usually around 2 × as broad as long, with a glabrous midline in females of most species (2.5 × as broad as long and without glabrous midline in most Leptostylus ). Fisherostylus , a monotypic genus which is known only from Cuba and the Bahamas, probably should be synonymized with Leptostylopsis since it shares the features of most species based on our redefinition. However, it is distinctive as a species with its boldly patterned elytra and white pubescent pronotum and cannot be confused with any species from Hispaniola . Styloleptus , which has seven described species in Hispaniola , differs from Leptostylopsis (and Leptostylus ) by the broad, rounded lateral pronotal tubercle positioned at the basal 1/3 of the pronotum and the pronotal disk lacking distinct dorsal calli or tubercles ( Micheli, 2006).

Redescription. Length: 5 mm [small specimens of L. terraecolor (Horn) & L. argentatus (Jacquelin du Val) ] – 15 mm [ L. puntacanaensis , sp. n.]; width (at elytral base): 2 mm [small specimens of L. terraecolor (Horn) ] – 6 mm [ L. puntacanaensis , sp. n.].

Head: Short, broad, flattened anteriorly with vertical frons; covered in dense, appressed, tawny or brown pubescence throughout with exception of narrow, median line on frons (median-frontal line), variably evident in different species, and glabrous line extending from anterior tentorial pits along anterior margin of genae to base of mandible (fronto-genal line). Median-frontal line extending from fronto-clypeal margin to between lower eye lobes [complete to vertex and occiput in L. cristatus (Fisher) or mostly covered by pubescence in L. annulipes (Fisher) , L. milleri (Fisher) , L. viridicomus (Fisher) , L. chlorescens , sp. n., and L. basifulvus , sp. n.]. Fronto-genal line sometimes extending to lower eye-lobe margin as in L. puntacanaensis . Antenna: 11-segmented, without spines or modification to antennomeres; covered with dense, appressed pubescence (white or tawny, but not completely obscuring integument); somewhat less dense along middle parts of antennomeres, mottled in appearance; integument darker at apex and base of most antennomeres, annulate in appearance (except L. humerofulvus , sp. n., that lacks annula on scape). Last antennomere in most species uniformly dark, without annulae, of similar coloration to apex of penultimate antennomere (except some specimens of L. perfasciatus , sp. n., L. puntacanaensis , L. humerofulvus , and L. albosignatus Fisher ). Antennae longer than body in males, extending beyond apices typically by 3-4 antennomeres (4-6 in L. perfasciatus and L. puntacanaensis ). In females, antennae shorter, but still extending beyond elytral apices by at least 3 antennomeres in most species (but less than 1 antennomere in most L. poeyi (Fisher) specimens, at least 4 in L. perfasciatus and L. puntacanaensis ). Dimorphism in antennal length; antennomeres 6-11 relatively longer in males than females. In males, last antennomere usually shorter than penultimate; in females, usually subequal, but still shorter overall than in males. Antennal scape gradually enlarged apically, without cicatrix; extending to posterior 1/3 or 1/4 of pronotum in most species (however, more thickened and shorter in L. poeyi , not extending to middle of pronotum; extending to near posterior margin in L. thomasi , sp. n.). Eye: small, coarsely faceted, deeply notched, embracing moderately prominent antennal tubercle; lower eye lobe usually about as tall as gena below it and over 2 × height of upper eye lobe (however, much smaller in L. terraecolor (Horn) , L. argentatus (Jacquelin du Val) , L. milleri (Fisher) , and L. puntacanaensis ); lobes connected by 4-8 rows of ommatidia in most specimens. Upper eye lobes separated by about greatest width of scape or more in most species (usually about 1.1 × width of scape, but much closer together in L. poeyi and L. humerofulvus ). Mouthparts: frontoclypeal margin with fringe of short pubescence extending to about base of labrum (but longer at sides); clypeus without pubescence except at extreme base. Labrum coated with dense, mostly appressed, white or tawny pubescence with 8-10 long, suberect, translucent setae. Labial and maxillary palpi typical of Lamiinae with apical palpomeres conical, longer and narrower than penultimate.

Thorax: Pronotum with rounded lateral tubercles with greatest projection slightly behind middle in most specimens (more acute in some species: e.g., L. thomasi , L. puntacanaensis , and L. chlorescens , sp. n.); with raised dorsal tubercles of following arrangement: large ovoid prominence at middle (usually the largest, but L. milleri and L. basifulvus , sp. n., are exceptions), surrounded by four other prominences (two anterolateral and two posterolateral). Middle prominence typically highest, partially devoid of pubescence; in some species, anterolateral elevations smaller but more elevated. Pronotum usually with anteromedial and posteromedial elevations at margins. Pronotum mostly covered in appressed, ochraceous, white, off-white, iridiscent green, and/or black pubescence in some combination. Pronotum with black maculae around margins and sometimes at center, in varying patterns; sometimes with ochraceous patches of pubescence (e.g., L. annulipes and L. basifulvus , sp. n.). Pronotum slightly constricted before anterior and posterior margins; constrictions (particularly posteriorly) lined with row of separate, large punctures. Additional punctures scattered over pronotal disk, often mostly obscured by pubescence. Prosternum smooth, impunctate, covered with uniform, appressed pubescence of similar color to rest of venter. Prosternal process often very broad between procoxae, usually about 0.7-1.1 times width of procoxa in most specimens (but much narrower in L. poeyi , L. viridicomus , and L. puntacanaensis ); apex greatly expanded to middle of posterior margin of coxa on each side, closing procoxal cavities posteriorly. Scutellum moderately to densely pubescent; broadly rounded posteriorly in most species, occasionally subtriangular (e.g., L. thomasi ). Mesosternum smooth, impunctate, covered with uniform, appressed pubescence of similar color to rest of venter, less dense on anterior 1/3 which is deeply constricted. Mesosternal process between mesocoxae very broad, widely separating mesocoxae, at least 1.0-1.5 × width of mesocoxa (widest in L. argentatus , narrowest in L. poeyi and L. thomasi ). Mesosternum without ventral protuberance and without lateral projections into mesocoxae. Metasternum about length of first two ventrites combined, or longer; deeply indented posteriorly at middle to accommodate triangular extension of first sternite between metacoxae; covered with appressed pubescence of similar color to remainder of venter, often more mottled at sides and lateral thoracic sclerites. Elytra: covered with mostly appressed, white, tawny, dark brown, or iridescent green pubescence (or some combination), with rows of small tubercles generally along costae and sometimes along suture. Tubercles at base of elytra most prominent, sometimes forming pronounced crests with tufts of pubescence erupting from apices (as in L. cristatus and L. thomasi ). Humeri projecting slightly, in some species denuded at apex and marked at anterior margin (base) with black macula. Epipleuron pronounced, vertical or subvertical. Elytral apex subtruncate or truncate, without spines or acute projection. Legs: mostly uniformly pubescent with appressed hairs (white, off-white, tawny, iridescent green, or some combination) throughout; apex of tibiae annulate with darker or translucent pubescence or less dense pubescence revealing darker integument. Femora moderately to strongly clavate, abruptly narrowed into basal peduncle (clavate portion and peduncle portion each about equal in length on hind and middle legs; clavate portion about 4 times longer than peduncle on forelegs); tibiae approximately equal in length to femora; hind legs much longer than forelegs; metafemora extending to about abdominal apex. Tarsomeres 1 and 2 (at least) generally coated with short, appressed, white or off-white pubescence (tarsi all black and similar in coloration to tibial apex in L. poeyi , L. milleri , L. perfasciatus , and L. thomasi ).

Abdomen: Five visible ventrites covered with appressed, white, off-white, tawny, or green pubescence (or some combination), often more mottled at sides. First ventrite with prominent triangular projection mesally between metacoxae; fifth ventrite in females often narrowed and extended at middle, longer than in males, usually over 2 × as broad as long, 1.3-1.4 × as broad as long in L. cristatus and L. caliginosus , sp. n., usually with glabrous midline at base, extending toward apex for 1/3 or more of overall length.

Remarks. It is necessary to broaden the definition of Leptostylopsis to accommodate the many species described in the genus since originally proposed by Dillon (1956) (and to appropriately place the taxa originally described in Leptostylus ). Dillon’s separation of the genera based on the level of tuberculation of the pronotal disk, antennal length, and mesosternal process no longer functioned. Th ese genera are still in need of revision, as are many in Acanthocinini . Leptostylus itself contains 79 described and many more undescribed species and undoubtedly includes many that should be transferred to Leptostylopsis or perhaps other new genera, since they lack characters of the type species. For example, some Central American Leptostylopsis (e.g., L. palliatus Bates ) have a distinct lateral tubercle on each side of the mesosternal process between the mesocoxae that fits into a corresponding indentation on the mesocoxae. This character alone defines a subset of Leptostylus that could be used as a character for a new genus. Th ere are many other characters that certainly will be found upon careful revisionary work in the tribe, but this is beyond the scope of this regional treatment.