Wappesellus, Martins, Ubirajara R., Santos-Silva, Antonio & Galileo, Maria Helena M., 2015

Martins, Ubirajara R., Santos-Silva, Antonio & Galileo, Maria Helena M., 2015, Fourteen new species, one new genus, and eleven new country or state records for New World Lamiinae (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae), Zootaxa 3980 (1), pp. 81-105 : 88

Wappesellus gen. nov.

Type species: Wappesellus cavus sp. nov.

Etymology. The genus is named for James E. Wappes (ACMT), with the Latin suffix “ellus” = small, relating to the small size of the type species. Masculine gender.

Description. General form slightly elongate. Size small. Frons subquadrate. Inferior ocular lobes distinctly longer than gena; superior ocular lobes distinctly separated from each other by more than width of one lobe. Antennae with 11 segments; about as long as body; scape without apical scar; antennomere III longer than scape and antennomere IV; antennomere IV longer than scape; antennomeres without long setae. Prothorax slightly transverse; laterally rounded about middle, without tubercles. Pronotum without tufts of pubescence; disc without tubercles. Elytra coarsely, densely punctate, without carinae; without gibbosities on basal one-third; elytral apex together rounded; surface without tufts of pubescence or setae. Femora clavate; peduncle and club length increasing from forelegs to hindlegs; dorsal surface of club of metafemora with large, deep, elliptical depression (hole-like), occupying most of surface.

Diagnosis. Wappesellus gen. nov. differs from all other genera of Desmiphorini Thomson, 1860 by the deep depression on dorsal surface of the metafemoral club.

Remarks. Wappesellus can be included in the alternative of couplet “9”, from Martins & Galileo (1998) (translated; modified):

9(8). Antennomere III twice longer than IV; general shape elongate......................... Muripi Martins & Galileo, 1998 - Antennomere III distinctly shorter than twice length of IV; general shape more compact............................. 9’ 9’(9). Dorsal surface of metafemoral club with deep depression.................................... Wappesellus gen. nov. - Dorsal surface of metafemoral club without depression...................................................... 10