Fissapoda, Clarke, 2014

Clarke, Robin O. S., 2014, Bolivian Rhinotragini IX: new genera (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae), Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia (São Paulo) 54 (26), pp. 375-390 : 376-380

Fissapoda gen. nov.

Figs. 1, 2 , 6, 7

Type species: Necydalis barbicrus Kirby, 1918 , here designated.

Diagnosis: Fissapoda differs from all species correctly included in Epimelitta by its closed procoxal cavities, fissate elytra, and compact metatibial brushes. In Epimelitta (s. auct.) procoxal cavities are open, elytra never fissate, and metatibial brushes (when present) rather fragmented between one side or the other of the tibial surface, as in species of Epimelitta (sens. str.).

Distinctly fissate elytra are only found in ten oth- er genera ( Catorthontus Waterhouse, 1880 ), Acyphoderes Audinet-Serville, 1833 , Pseudagaone Tippmann, 1960 , Pseudacorethra Tavalilian & Peñaherrera-Leiva, 2007 , Pseudisthmiade Tavalilian & Peñaherrera-Leiva, 2005 , Tomopteropsis Peñaherrera-Leiva & Tavakilian, 2003 , some species of Xenocrasis Bates, 1873 , and Pseudophygopoda Tavalilian & Peñaherrera-Leiva, 2007 (and its related genera Paraphygopoda Clarke, 2014 and Paramelitta Clarke, 2014 ; but most of these have subulate elytra, leaving only three of them, Catorthontus , Pseudacorethra and Tomopteropsis which share cuneate elytra with Fissapoda ; but none of these have metatibial brushes. Elytra are also cuneate and fissate in Ischasia nevermanni Fisher, 1947 , but in this species the antennae are somewhat filiform, and the hind legs much more slender, with long peduncles, and tibiae lack metatibial brushes.

One last character, the male genitalia, may prove to be unique to Fissapoda , for among all the Rhinotragini male genitalia examined so far, the general shape of the tegmen ( Figs. 6, 7 ) is only approached by species of Pseudophygopoda and its related genera, as illustrated in Clarke (2014).

In summary, Fissapoda differs from all other Rhinotragini genera by its short, very strongly fissate, cuneate elytra, well developed metatibial brushes, and, possibly, unique type of male genitalia.

Description of genus: small to moderately large (9-13 mm), but robust, compact species; forebody distinctly shorter to slightly longer than abdomen irrespective of sex.

Head with eyes distinctly narrower than width of prothorax in male, much narrower in female. Rostrum short and broad in male (3.3-3.8 wider than long); in female longer and narrower (2.4-3.0 wider than long), with sides rounded and contracted to apex. Apical palpomeres cylindrical, slightly constrict- ed at apex (less so in F. manni ) and truncate; galea long and narrow. Labrum moderately large and rect- angular (in male F. barbicrus ), smaller and rather strongly rounded from base to middle of apical declivity (in female, and in male F. manni ). Inferior lobes of eyes convex (more prominent than interocular), or rather flat (in female F. manni ); longer than wide (in F. barbicrus ), or only slightly longer than wide (in F. manni ); subcontiguous in male (width of one lobe 3.5-4.7 times interocular distance), widely spaced in female (interocular distance slightly more than width of one lobe); their distal margins lying on genae, or some way on to frons (in male F. barbicrus ), proximal margins transverse. Superior lobes of eyes strongly lobate, or weakly so (in female F. barbicrus ), moderately large, in male the distance between them twice their own width, in female 2.4-2.8 their own width; with 13-16 rows of ommatidia mesally, narrowed to 2 or 3 rows laterally, or 6 to7 rows (in female F. barbicrus ). Antennal tubercles moderately prominent, the surface between them slightly declivous. Antennae short, robust, just passing metacoxae in male, only reaching middle of coxae in female; subfiliform basally (antennomere III cylindrical, IV widened at apex), V-X deeply serrate (narrow at base, strongly widened at apex); scape subpyriform (when view from above subcylindrical); antennomere III shorter than scape, and not, or only just, longer than other antennomeres; antennomeres IV-VI as long as III (in F. barbicrus ), or slightly shorter than III (in F. manni ); VII and VIII equal in length, shorter than VI, longer than IX; IX longer than X; XI usually longer than IX, rather rounded with small apical cone. Prothorax more or less cylindrical; moderately convex, but broadly flattened on disc; quadrate with parallel sides, but the lateral profile interrupted by prominent calli (in male F. barbicrus ), or similar, but weakly transverse with sides bisinuate and slightly contracted towards base (in female F. barbicrus ), or weakly transverse with sides of prothorax subparallel, slightly rounded from middle to apex, and rather strongly rounded from middle to base (in both sexes of F. manni ); sides widest well before middle, or just before middle (in male F. manni ); pronotal surface not differentiated at midline; slightly irregular, with weakly raised calli (in F. manni ), or irregular with prominent calli (in F. barbicrus ); the calli distributed as follows: a pair of lateral calli, small but prominent, adjacent to apical constriction (only in male F. barbicrus ), a pair of round calli occupying latero-basal sides of pronotum, and slightly overhanging sides posteriorly; the latter strongly prominent (in F. barbicrus ), weakly so (in F. manni ); apical constriction absent (in F. manni ), limited to sides (in female F. barbicrus ), or strong throughout (in male F. barbicrus ); basal constriction narrow and almost planar with disc for middle third; apical and basal margins about equally wide, their borders raised and narrow. Prosternum almost flat (in male F. barbicrus ), or slightly tumid (in female, and male F. manni ); prosternal process weakly arced (in F. barbicrus ), or flat (in F. manni ); in male planar with prosternum, in female lying slightly below level of prosternum; base of process rather short, in male almost laminate (nearly nine times narrower than width of procoxal cavity), in female slightly wider (about six times narrower than width of coxal cavity); apex of process a wide isosceles triangle, or a narrow equilateral triangle (in male F. barbicrus ). Procoxal cavities plugged at sides, closed behind. Mesosternum deeply and moderately declivous, slightly inclined in female, well inclined, with about 45° of slope, in male; mesosternal process short with broad, flat base, about as wide as width of mesocoxal cavity, or distinctly narrower (in male F. barbicrus ), towards apex sides rather strongly divergent, to form a broad sub-lanceolate apex (as the apical margin is straight, not acuminate). Mesocoxal cavity moderately open to narrow mesepimeron. Elytra cuneate; short, about 1.3 longer than width of humeri; just passing metacoxae in male, slightly longer in female; moderately widely and deeply fissate for apical two-thirds; rather flat behind humeri; the latter not hiding sides of mesosterna (when viewed from directly above), moderately projecting and strongly prominent; with broad, ill-defined, humero-apical costa (lying between apex of humeral prominence and apical sixth of elytron); with rather narrow translucent panel occupying central two-thirds of each elytron, the panels rather ill-defined (in F. barbicrus ), or clearly defined (in F. manni ). Each elytron with basal margin inwardly curved and moderately declivous between humerus and sutural margin; increasingly narrower from just behind humerus to apex; lateral margin almost straight to apex; sutural margin strongly round- ed for basal half, recurved at base of apical half, then straight to apex; the latter unarmed, blunt, and rather broad (in F. barbicrus ), narrower (in F. manni ). Scutellum rather large and triangular (with blunt apex). Mesosternum shorter than metasternum (in male 0.8 length of metasternum, in female slightly shorter). Metathorax broad, uniformly tumid in male, slightly flattened on disc in female (more or less planar with mesocoxae); sides rounded from base to middle of apex in male, parallel-sided and obliquely contracted to middle of apex in female; longitudinal suture moderately deep and long. Metepisternum sub-rectangular, moderately broad at base, slightly tapering towards apex, more strongly for apical third, apex blunt. Abdomen in male annulated, moderately wide and cylindrical (in F. barbicrus ), somewhat fusiform (in F. manni ); slightly widening to middle of urosternite II (in F. manni ), or to middle of II and III (in F. barbicrus ), tapering to apex of IV/base of V; urosternite I slightly elongate, II-IV distinctly transverse (more so in F. manni ). Male urosternite V trapezoidal, with rounded sides (in F. barbicrus ), straight sides (in F. manni ); strongly differentiated (in F. barbicrus ), less so (in F. manni ), but with wide, bell-shaped soleate depression demarcated by moderately narrow, raised sides; in F. manni the depression not occupying more than half the segment’s surface, less deep, and the sides less prominent; in F. barbicrus the depression occupying more than half the segment’s surface, exceptionally deep, and the sides more prominent; sides of urosternite rounded, but somewhat alate (when viewed from the side). Abdomen in female fusiform, more strongly so in F. manni ; with rather broad base widening to apex of urosternite I, contracted from middle of II to apex of V; urosternite I subconical (more so in F. manni ); I-IV incrementally shorter and more transverse (IV unusually small). Urosternite V undifferentiated, slightly down-turned, short and subconical, contracted near apex (weakly in F. barbicrus ), leaving apical third parallel-sided; apical margin rounded (in F. barbicrus ), or excavate, with acute lateral angles (in F. manni ). Abdominal process similar in both sexes, a flat, wide, isosceles triangle, with blunt apex intimately inserted between metacoxae. Ratio front/middle/hind leg 1.0:1.1-1.2:2.4-2.9. Front and middle legs moderately short; strongly pedunculate-clavate (but claves only moderately tumid). Protibiae shorter than profemora, straight, narrow at base, widening to apex; apical margin oblique, the apico-lateral angle with small tooth. Pro- and mesofemoral claves broad and abrupt (when viewed from the side), the base of the latter strongly flattened mesally (when viewed from above); profemoral peduncle short and wide; mesofemoral peduncle flat and moderately narrow, about half length of clave; mesofemora much longer than mesotibia. Hind legs relatively long, about as long as body length (in F. manni ), shorter than body length (in F. barbicrus ); metacoxae characteristic (when viewed from above), tumid, and projecting well beyond sides of elytra. Metafemoral peduncle slightly flattened, moderately narrow; short (in F. barbicrus about half length of clave), very short (in male F. manni about one fifth length of clave); clave subcylindrical and bisinuate (when viewed from above), long and robust, but not abrupt, apex reaching from middle of urosternite IV (in F. barbicrus ), to just past apex of abdomen (in F. manni ). Metatibiae with dense, long-haired brush; strongly arced outwards (when viewed from above); shorter than metafemora, or slightly longer (in male F. manni ); moderately slender, gradually widening from base to apex; extreme apex not strongly widened, but distinctly wider than metatarsus. Metatarsus rather short, less than half length of metatibia (in F. barbicrus ), or more than half as long (in F. manni ); moderately narrow; metatarsomere I subclylindrical, gradually widening from base to apex; slightly longer than length of II + III (in F. barbicrus ), or slightly shorter than II + III (in F. manni ); II moderately elongate, and subcylindrical (base not visibly pediculate); III with long lobes (especially the lateral one in F. manni ), weakly divergent, narrow and hardly rounded at sides (in F. manni ), or wider and more rounded (in F. barbicrus ).

Male genitalia ( Figs. 6, 7 ): aedeagus with characteristic tegmen, strongly arced (from apex of basal piece to apex of lateral lobes), and tongs-shaped in appearance; median lobe typical of many Rhinotragini. Tegmen: lateral lobes (parameres) paddle-shaped; short (in F. manni ), or long (in F. barbicrus ); each lobe with basal half triangular, apical half strongly widening to apical lobe, the latter large and densely setose (in F. barbicrus ), or moderately large and weakly setose (in F. manni ), the setae long and moderately thick (in F. barbicrus ), or short and fine (in F. manni ); basal piece Y-shaped (in F. barbicrus ), or V-shaped (in F. manni ). Median lobe: moderately long (about 1.5 mm); rather robust and strongly arced (in F. manni ), or less so (in F. barbicrus ); with sharply acuminate apex (when viewed laterally and dorsally); and dark bodies not evident.

Surface ornamentation: dorsad subglabrous (in F. barbicrus ), more pubescent (in F. manni ), as follows: some fine, recumbent pubescence on frons; long semi-recumbent sparse, and untidy pubescence on apical half and sides of pronotum, the hairs sparser and slightly ochraceous in colour (in F. barbicrus ), or white, and denser on apical half of pronotum (in F. manni ); elytra with short suberect hairs across base, otherwise almost glabrous. Underside generally pubescent (more so in F. manni ); prosternum with dense to moderately dense, erect, long hairs, especially towards midline; mesosterna generally clothed with short, moderately dense, recumbent pubescence, in male becoming very dense on mesepimerum, the hairs ochraceous in colour (in F. barbicrus ), or white (in F. manni ); metasternum clothed with moderately long and fine, recumbent pubescence, much denser in male, silvery-white (in F. barbicrus ), snow white (in F. manni ), and towards sides and apex augmented by longer, more erect hairs, these spreading to metepisterna. Abdominal pubescence with markedly different aspect in the two species, the hairs not dissimilar (more or less uniformly distributed, recumbent, relatively dense in male, and white in colour), but the hairs very fine and short, and not at all remarkable (in F. barbicrus ), much longer and thicker, and, thereby, much more remarkable (in F. manni ); and latero-basal angles of urosternites I-IV with arc of dense white pubescence (in F. manni ), much reduced, or apparently absent (in F. barbicrus ). In female pubescence on apical tergite also markedly different in the two species: apical tergite without dense recumbent pubescence (in F. manni ), or clothed with dense, creamy-yellow, recumbent pubescence (in F. barbicrus ).

Puncturation on vertex of head and pronotum generally contiguous, uniformly small and alveolate; elytra similarly, and almost as densely punctured, towards base of elytra the punctures subalveolate and beveled; only on translucent panels sparse and shallow. Mentum-submentum in both sexes almost glabrous (and lacking long hairs); with transverse patch of contiguous, small alveolate punctures (with small, smooth area near centre), the patch, itself, almost non-carinate, the posterior margin followed by a few transverse carinas. Puncturation on ventral surface generally small and dense, but of three types, as follows: on prosternum rugose, contiguous and confluent, and alveolate, with a mixture of small and slightly larger punctures embedded in matrix of micropunctures; similar on meso- and metasterna, but not at all rugose (and predominantly composed of micropunctures on mesosterna), slightly more rugose, with mixture of deeper and larger alveolate punctures, and simple ones, evenly distributed across the surface of metasterna (but disc of latter uniformly micropunctate in male F. manni ); abdomen very densely micropunctate, the punctures shallower, less alveolate, and often beveled.

The species included in this new genus are Fissapoda barbicrus ( Kirby, 1818) and Fissapoda manni ( Fisher, 1930) .

Etymology: the name of the genus is a combination of the Latin words “Fissa” (to indicate its fissate elytra), and “poda” (to indicate its probable relationship with the phygopodine Rhinotragini). The genus is neuter.

Figures

FIGURES 1‑2: 1, Fissapoda barbicrus (Kirby, 1818) comb. nov.: A, male, B, male ventral aspect, C, female. 2, Fissapoda manni (Fisher, 1930) comb. nov.: A, male (rufous form), B, female, C, female ventral aspect.

FIGURES 6‑7: Genitalia (length of median lobes about 1.5 mm): 6, Fissapoda barbicrus, A, tegmen dorsal aspect, B, tegmen ventral aspect, C, median lobe lateral aspect. 7, Fissapoda manni, A, tegmen dorsal aspect, B, tegmen ventral aspect, C, median lobe lateral aspect.