Penthoscapha similis, Riedel, Alexander, 2009

Riedel, Alexander, 2009, Revision of the genus Penthoscapha Heller (Coleoptera, Curculionoidea, Entiminae, Eupholini) with notes on the genera of Eupholini from New Guinea, Zootaxa 2224, pp. 1-29 : 22-24

Penthoscapha similis sp. n.

( Figs. 12–15 , 25 , 27 , 36 –39, 55, 57, 59, 61, 64, 66, 72)

Diagnosis. Rostrum relatively long ( Fig. 36 ). Elytral striae regularly punctate, intervals even, without costae; sutural interval subapically with rounded protrusion ( Fig. 25 ). Sides of abdominal ventrites and sides of thorax usually with patches of white scales ( Figs. 13, 15 ). Sides of aedeagus converging from base to pointed apex ( Figs. 37–38 ).

In the range of P. s i m i l i s sp.n. there occurs a superficially very similar, undescribed species of Gymnopholus . It can be distinguished by its less prominent humeri, by a sparse but distinct vestiture of suberect setae on the elytra, by a deep sublateral groove on the rostrum that terminates in front of the eye, and by the structure of the aedeagus with a simple apical orifice.

Description. Lectotype, male ( Figs. 12–13 ). Length. Total length 17.5 mm; pronotum + elytron 13.3 mm.

Coloration black; without exocuticular pigments; head and pronotum dorsally subglabrous; elytra except at base sparsely squamose with small green recumbent scales somewhat clustered in elytral punctures, in apical half with sparse rows of suberect setae; sides of thorax and abdomen with patches of white overlapping scales; centre of pterothorax and abdomen black, sparsely setose.

Head with faint lustre, dorsally sparsely setose, especially bordering eyes; between eyes 1.12 X as wide as vertical diameter of eye, punctate-rugose, without median fovea but with median furrow. Vertex with very shallow median furrow. Eyes weakly prominent from outline of head. Gena subequal (1.02 X) to vertical diameter of eye.

Rostrum ( Fig. 36 ) 2.23 X as long as wide at base; maximum width in front of antennal insertion 1.39 X width at base. Dorsum with distinct median furrow, continuing posteriorly on forehead; sublateral impressions very indistinct, in front of eyes almost effaced.

Antenna. Funicle + club 1.97 X length of scape; club 3.17 X as long as wide.

Thorax. Pronotum ca. as long as wide [1.02 X longer than wide]; sides gently sinuate, widest in apical half; disc densely punctate, coriaceous, dull, with very shallow impression in front of middle. Thoracic venter sparsely setose with thin setae, intercoxal process of mesosternum densely setose, pronotum surrounding procoxa squamose with white scales except prosternum behind coxae densely setose.

Elytron medially free, 4.18 X longer than wide between humeri; at greatest width 1.09 X wider than between humeri; side evenly rounded; dull, coriaceous; striae regular, distinct, moderately impressed; intervals basally weakly transversely confluent, but not forming longitudinal ridges; sutural interval of elytron at apical declivity ( Fig. 25 ) forming rounded, sparsely setose protrusion visible in lateral aspect. Ala ( Fig. 27 ) short, length 10.0 mm, 1.41 X length of elytron.

Legs. Femora moderately long, rather stout; metafemur in repose reaching elytral apex. protibia ventrally distinctly denticulate, meso- and metatibia indistinctly denticulate; metatibia apically with sparsely squamose bevel; posterior distal comb of metatibia consisting of simple row of stout setae, without “secondary mucro”. Tarsi moderately long, slightly widened, tarsomere 1 of metatarsus 1.7 X as long as wide, tarsomere 2 0.75 X as long as wide.

Abdomen. Ventrite 1–2 laterally densely squamose with white overlapping lanceolate scales, remainder weakly punctate, sparsely setose; ventrite 5 flat, sparsely squamose-setose, subapically vestiture denser. Genitalia. Aedeagus ( Figs. 37–38 ) with sides weakly sinuate, converging from base to pointed apex, subapically without constriction. Transfer apparatus (Fig. 39) elongate, ca. 4 X as long as wide at base.

Allotype, female ( Fig. 14–15 ). Same as holotype except: Length. Total length 22.0 mm; pronotum + elytron 17.0 mm. Rostrum 2.18 X longer than wide at base; maximum width in front of antennal insertion 1.46 X width at base. Antenna. Funicle + club 1.77 X length of scape; club 3.11 X as long as wide. Elytron 4.16 X longer than wide between humeri; at greatest width 1.20 X wider than between humeri. Meso- and metaventrite densely squamose with lanceolate scales. Legs. Femora shorter; metafemur in repose not quite reaching elytral apex. Tarsi not widened, tarsomere 1 of metatarsus 2.0 X as long as wide, tarsomere 2 0.81 X as long as wide. Abdomen. Wing-folding patch of tergite VII ( Fig. 57 ) distinct. Terminalia. ( Fig. 61 ). Tergite VIII ( Fig. 66 ) narrow, sides converging to pointed apex. Sternite VIII ( Fig. 59 ). Hemisternite ( Fig. 55 ) 2.3 X as long as high. Stylus 2.8 X as long as wide, subapically with dense cluster of short stiff setae pointing laterad. Spermatheca ( Fig. 64 ) with gland ca. as long as body.

Intraspecific variation. Length. Total length of males 16.3–19.0 mm (n=7, x =17.1 ± 1.0), females 19.3– 23.0 mm (n=3, x =21.4 ± 1.9); pronotum + elytron of males 12.3–15.0 mm (n=7, x =13.4 ± 0.9), females 15.3–18.0 mm (n=3, x =16.8 ± 1.4). Coloration. Specimens from Eipomek usually with elytral patch of ferruginous scales mesad of humerus; sides of abdomen sparsely setose, without white squamose patches; one specimen from Pronggoli dorsally completely abraded and cuticle of greyish coloration, presumably due to age-related degeneration of exocuticle. Rostrum in males 2.07–2.30 X longer than wide at base (n=7, x =2.16 ± 0.09), in females 1.97–2.18 X longer than wide at base (n=3, x =2.11 ± 0.12); maximum width in front of antennal insertion 1.37–1.57 X width at base (n=10, x =1.43 ± 0.06). Antenna. Funicle + club in males 1.81– 2.02 X length of scape (n=6, x =1.91 ± 0.08), in females 1.72–1.87 X length of scape (n=3, x =1.78 ± 0.08). Elytron in males 3.92–4.22 X longer than wide between humeri (n=7, x =4.10 ± 0.10), at greatest width 1.08– 1.13 X wider than between humeri (n=7, x =1.10 ± 0.02); in females 3.98–4.16 X longer than wide between humeri (n=3, x =4.09 ± 0.10), at greatest width 1.17–1.23 X wider than between humeri (n=3, x =1.20 ± 0.03).

Material examined. Holotype: WEST NEW GUINEA, Jayawijaya Reg., Pronggoli, 2000–2400 m, 17– 19.IX.1991, leg. A.Riedel ( MZB). Paratypes: WEST NEW GUINEA, Jayawijaya Reg.: 2 males, 2 females (1 marked as “allotype”), same data as holotype ( ARC, MZB, SMNK); 2 males, 1 female, Eipomek, 1800– 2300 m, 19.VIII.1992, leg. A.Riedel ( ARC).

Distribution ( Fig. 72 ). Jayawijaya Reg. (Pronggoli, Eipomek). Elevation: 2000 m.

Biology. Beaten from vegetation along forest edges.

Etymology. This epithet is based on the Latin adjective (feminine nominative) similis (resembling) and refers to the superficial similarity of this species with a sympatric, undescribed species of Gymnopholus .

Figures

FIGURES 12 – 15. Penthoscapha similis (12) holotype, dorsal aspect; (13) holotype, lateral aspect (14) allotype, dorsal aspect; (15) allotype, lateral aspect.

FIGURES 20 – 25. Elytral apex of Penthoscapha species, lateral aspect: (20) P. gerhardschereri, holotype; (21) P. gerhardschereri, allotype, arrow marking apical tooth; (22) P. l o re n t z i, lectotype; (23) P. doormanensis, holotype; (24) P. pulverea, holotype; (25) P. similis, holotype.

FIGURES 26 – 31. Left wing of Penthoscapha species: (26) P. t o x o p e i, paratype; (27) P. similis, holotype; (28) P. doormanensis, holotype; (29) P. p u l v ere a, holotype; (30) P. gerhardschereri, holotype; (31) P. l o re n t z i, lectotype.

FIGURES 36 – 38. Penthoscapha similis, holotype: (36) Head and rostrum; (37) aedeagus, dorsal aspect; (38) aedeagus, lateral aspect; (39) endophallus with transfer apparatus. FIGURE 40. Head and rostrum of Penthoscapha toxopei.

FIGURES 53 – 59. Female terminalia of Penthoscapha species: (53) hemisternite of P. toxopei, paratype; (54) hemisternite of P. gerhardschereri, allotype; (55) hemisternite of P. similis, allotype; (56) tergite VII of P. gerhardschereri, allotype; arrow marking wing-folding patch; (57) tergite VII of P. similis, allotype; arrow marking wing-folding patch; (58) sternite VIII of P. gerhardschereri, paratype; (59) sternite VIII of P. similis, allotype.

FIGURES 60 – 66. Female terminalia of Penthoscapha species: (60) P. t o x o p e i, paratype; (61) P. similis, allotype; (62) P. toxopei, paratype, spermatheca; (63) P. gerhardschereri, allotype, spermatheca; (64) P. similis, allotype, spermatheca; (65) P. gerhardschereri, allotype; tergite VIII and ductus spermathecae; (66) P. similis, allotype, tergite VIII.

FIGURES 71 – 72. Distribution of Penthoscapha species.