Helonoton pustulosum Lord and Ivie, 2016

Lord, Nathan P. & Ivie, Michael A., 2016, Several New Genera and Species of New World Synchitini (Coleoptera: Zopheridae: Colydiinae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 70 (4), pp. 715-753 : 715-753

Helonoton pustulosum Lord and Ivie , new species

( Figs. 14 , 23 )

Diagnosis. Helonoton pustulosum most closely resembles H. tripartum , but differs in the more lyriform pronotum, scutellary striole indistinct, central ridge on the pronotal disc with strongly raised anterior carinae that extend to anterior margin and U-shaped posterior carinae that extend towards basal margin, anterior lobes of lateral pronotal margin less strongly produced, basal two-thirds of lateral pronotal margin strongly narrowed basally, with a small denticle on a higher plane than the rest of the lateral margin, and elytral tubercles ovoid and more or less evenly spaced.

Description. Size small (TL = 2.3 mm), body convex-oval (TL/EW = 1.8), subparallel; unicolorous, light brown; habitus as in Fig. 14 . Head: Transverse (HW = 0.6 mm), with distinct temples, abruptly constricted behind temples. Antennae: 11-segmented, ending in an abrupt, 3-segmented club; antennomeres 9–11 forming distinct club, antennomeres 9 and 10 transverse, trapezoidal to slightly asymmetrical, narrowest at base; antennomere 11 truncate at base, transverse, rounded apically. Prothorax. Pronotum subquadrate (PW = 1.1 mm, PL = 0.8 mm, PL/PW = 0.7), widest at apical ⅓, narrowest at base. Lateral margins of pronotum lyriform, widening apically, posterior ⅔ of lateral pronotal margin strongly narrowed basally, with small denticle on higher plane than rest of lateral margin; anterior angles distinct, slightly projecting forward to about level of anterior margin; posterior angles present, small. Pronotal disc with complex patterns of ridges and depressed areas; central portion with strongly depressed area, bordered laterally by paired, sinuate ridges that become confluent with anterior margin and bordered basally by U-shaped posterior carinae that merge with baso-laterally directed ridges, end before posterior margin, creating subtriangular baso-medial depression; single pair of ovoid, mid-lateral tubercles present between lateral pronotal margin and basal 1/2 of central sinuate tuberculate ridge, slightly posterior to pronotal midline. Mesothorax: Scutellum well-developed, visible, oval. Procoxal cavities narrowly closed externally. Elytra: Ovoid, widest at middle (EL = 1.5 mm, EW = 1.3 mm, EL/EW = 1.2). Surface with series of well-defined, more or less evenly spaced, round to ovoid tubercles bearing dense setae, appearing hirsute. Elytral interstrial intervals difficult to discern. Sutural stria raised, beaded, diverging anterolaterally to form subtle scutellary striole. Scutellary striole present, but interrupted by small tubercle mid-way between end of interrupted sutural stria and elytral base. Each elytral base with a swollen tubercle at base of elytral interstrial interval 3 and an irregular swollen tubercle at humeral angle. Interval 9 without well-defined carina or tubercles. Remaining tubercles on middle portion of elytra large, elongate-oval, subequal in size. Carinae present on elytral declivity, short, not extending nearly to apex. Epipleuron present, narrowing apically, incomplete to apex, ending at junction of abdominal ventrites IV and V. Metaventrite: Slightly shorter than or about as long as length of abdominal ventrite I; with paired sinuate grooves directly posteriad and bordering mesocoxae, also with paired, slightly curved grooves directly anteriad and bordering metacoxae. Discrimen short, extending only to basal ⅓ of metaventrite, strongly impressed between and anteriad metacoxae. Metacoxae transverse, moderately separated. Metendosternite of apterous form (see genus-group description). Abdomen: Intercoxal process of abdominal ventrite I triangular, apex broadly rounded, not acute. In males, ventrites III and IV with large, smooth, transverseoval patches in lateral areas; patches occupy most of ventrite IV. Metathoracic wing: Absent.

Distribution. Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador ( Fig. 23 ).

Biology. This species seems to be limited to cloud forests, and specimens were collected by pyrethrum fogging of fungusy logs, in flight intercept traps, berlese litter extraction, and beating.

Etymology. Named after the evenly spaced, round to ovoid tubercles on the elytra, reminiscent of pustules.

Type Material. 18 specimens. Holotype, male (pointed, FSCA): GUATEMALA: El Progresso; Sierra de las Minas ; nr. Cerro ; Pinalon , “las Cabañas”,; nr. 15.08467, -89.94299,; 12-15-V- 2010; 2579m; cloud forest; P. Skelley . Paratypes (4 pointed, FSCA): GUATEMALA: El Progresso; Sierra de las Minas ; nr. Cerro ; Pinalon , “las Cabañas”,; nr. 15.08467, -89.94299,; 12-15-V- 2010; 2579m; cloud forest; P. Skelley . Paratypes (2 pointed, CMNC): GUAT.: EL PROGRESSO; 20km. N. Estancia de la; Virgen , 1800-1900m.,8.VI.; 1991, R. Anderson, cloud; forest, 91-55 . Paratype (pointed, CMNC): MEXICO: CHIAPAS; Mpio: Angel Albino Corzo ; Reserva El Triunfo, Polygono 1, 2050m, 15°39.428 N 92°48.537 W; 16-21.XI.2001, R. Anderson; mixed oak forest, 2001-203X . Paratypes (pointed, 1 disarticulated, in glycerine, KSEM): HONDURAS: Ocotepe-; que, 24 km E. Ocotepeque; El Guisayote , 14 VI 1994; 2170m, 14°25′N, 89°04′W; J.Ashe, R.Brooks #098; ex: Pyrethrum fogging; on fungusy log . Paratype (1 pointed, KSEM): HONDURAS: Ocotepe-; que, 24 km E. Ocotepeque; El Guisayote , 14 VI 1994; 2170m, 14°25′N, 89°04′W; J.Ashe, R.Brooks #09 8; ex: under bark . Paratype (pointed, KSEM): HONDURAS: Ocotepe-; que, 24 km E. Ocotepeque; El Guisayote , 14 VI 1994; 2170m, 14°25′N, 89°04′ W; J. Ashe, R.Brooks #117; ex: flight intercept traps . Paratype (pointed, CMNC): EL SALVADOR: SANTA ANA; Cerro Montecristo , 21.7km; N. E. Metapan, 2100m. 29.VIII.; 1994-229 A. R. Anderson; cloud forest litter berlese . Paratype (pointed, CMNC): EL SALVADOR: CHALATEN.; El Pital, 13.1km N. San; Ignacio , 2650m, 28.VIII.; 1994-226 F, R. Anderson; cloud forest litter berlese . Paratypes (4 pointed, CMNC): EL SALVADOR: CHALATEN.; El Pital , 13.1km N. San; Ignacio, 2600m, 28.VIII.; 1994-227, R. Anderson; cloud forest beating .

Figures

Figs. 13–16. Helonoton species, dorsal habitus. 13) H. pascoei (MAIC); 14) H. pustulosum, holotype (FSCA);

Figs. 23–24. Distribution maps of Helonoton species. 23) Species in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras;