Melathra huyenae Franz

Franz, Nico M., 2011, Melathra Huyenae Franz, A New Genus And New Species Of Entimine Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae) From Southwestern Hispaniola, The Coleopterists Bulletin 65 (4), pp. 352-362 : 359-360

Melathra huyenae Franz , new species ( Figs. 1–14 )

Diagnosis. Melathra huyenae is diagnosed by the following combination of traits: integument black, legs dark reddish brown; scales predominantly pale white, grey-silver to tan or brown, yet turquoise metallic on the rostrum, and with two conspicuous sub-elliptical patches of rusty brown metallic scales on anteromesal edges of elytra. The post-epistomal region is not distinctly depressed, and the median rostral sulcus is short and not narrowly linear. The head has a postocular constriction. The profemur is toothed, whereas the female metatibia has neither a row of teeth nor a mucro. The humeri are not well-developed. The female declivity bears a mesal tuft of suberect scales. The female sternum is VIII elliptical ( Fig. 10 ) and the corpus of the spermatheca is swollen ( Fig. 12 ). The male median lobe has a strongly sclerotized flagellum and paired anterior, narrowly plicate sclerites ( Fig. 14 ). Further differential traits are provided in the genus-level diagnosis.

Description. General morphological characteristics and measurements as specified in genus-level account above. Post-epistomal area of rostrum with more widely spaced, bluish or pale turquoise metallic scales, thereafter with contiguous pale silver/grey to brown scales typically forming alternating linear stripes along dorsal surface of rostrum ( Figs. 1 , 5 ). Body surface primarily covered with homogeneously intermixed pale white to grey-silver and variously brown scales, resulting in uniform dark brown appearance without magnification; patches of rusty (to orange) brown metallic scales present on lateral sides of pronotum, thoracic and abdominal sterna, and elytra as well as 2 distinct sub-elliptical patches of such scales in mesal anterior corners of elytra ( Figs. 1 , 4 ). Lateral and ventral sides of rostrum, head, and femora (particularly on lateral sides near region of ventral tooth) more frequently with pale white scales ( Figs. 2, 3 ). Setae short, lobulate, recurved, rusty brown and inconspicuous except on nasal plate, femora, ventral sides of tibiae (particular male metatibiae), and ventral sternites.

Variation. Other than substantive differences in body size, there is little apparent variation among specimens in terms of shape, surface structure, and coloration. Macroscopic differences in color patterns are largely due to varying levels of scale abrasion; worn specimens show more parts of the underlying black integument.

Type Material. H o l o t y p e f e m a l e “D. R. [ Dominican Republic] Pedernales [Province], Las Cuevas, Bahía de las Aguilas Station , afternoon & night collecting (incl. Hg & UV lights), 40 m, N 17°51′43.8″ W 71°38′18.3″ / June 08/2008 ( RD 8-3 ), Leg. N.Franz, J.Girón, A. Mazo, S.Navarro ” ( UPRM) ; paratypes, same label as female holotype (18 males, 9 females); “ DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, Pedernales Prov. [ince], Cabo Rojo , 18- V/1992 , M. C. Thomas ” (8 males, 6 females) ; “ DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, Pedernales Prov. [ince], Cabo Rojo , 21-V-1992, M. C. Thomas (4 males, 4 females) .

Etymology. Named to acknowledge the author’ s love and appreciation for his best friend and greatest supporter, Huyen Dotran.

Natural History. Numerous specimens of M. huyenae were collected while beating shrubby plants at night along trails in the coastal dry forest (“main platform”) of the Jaragua National Park, near the Bahía de las Águlas Station, at only 40 m above sea level ( Fig. 15 ; see also León et al. 2011). The host plant associations remain unknown. No additional specimens were taken while collecting repeatedly on similar vegetation at higher elevations, i.e. moving uphill from Carretera 44 along the Carretera Cabo Rojo to Aceitillar, thus suggesting that M. huyenae is narrowly restricted to the coastal zone of the Jaragua National Park. Similarly, narrowly endemic species are reported for the phylogenetically and ecologically related Greater Antillean genera Apotomoderes , Artipus , and Scelianoma Franz and Girón (Woodruff 1985; Franz and Girón 2009; Franz 2010a).

Figures

Figs. 1–3. Habitus of Melathra huyenae, female. 1) Dorsal; 2) Lateral; 3) Ventral.

Figs. 4–6. Habitus of Melathra huyenae, male. 4) Lateral; (5) Head, dorsal view; (6) Head, lateral view.

Figs. 7–9. Mouthparts and wings of Melathra huyenae. 7) Right maxilla, ventral view; 8) Labial prementum, lateral view; 9) Right hind wing. Not illustrated to scale.

Figs. 10–12. Female terminalia of Melathra huyenae. 10) Sternum VIII; 11) Coxites and styli; 12) Spermatheca. Not illustrated to scale.

Figs. 13–14. Male terminalia of Melathra huyenae. 13) Spiculum gastrale; (14) Tegmen and aedeagus, ventral and lateral views. Not illustrated to scale.

Fig. 15. Habitat of Melathra huyenae: dry forest vegetation at the Bahía de las Águilas, Jaragua National Park, Pedernales Province, southwestern Dominican Republic.