Elaphidion michelii Ivie

Ivie, Michael A. & Schwengel-Regala, Michelle L., 2007, The Elaphidion Audinet-Serville of the Puerto Rican Bank: new species, distributions, taxonomic corrections, and a key to species (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Elaphidiini), Zootaxa 1503, pp. 55-68 : 56-57

Elaphidion michelii Ivie , new species

( Figs 12–13 )

Elaphidion irroratum [not Linnaeus], Wolcott, 1946: 336 [misidentification, part?].

This striking species has been known for many years, but never named. The exceptionally large and oddly patterned specimen that Wolcott (1946) referred to as E. irroratum may have belonged to this species. Elaphidion michelii is the largest member of the genus found in the United States, and is tied with Elaphidion excelsum Gahan from Guadeloupe as the largest member of the genus. That it has remained undescribed for so long seems related to its rarity in collections. Only eight scattered specimens have been located, the most recent collected in 1972, in spite of several workers specifically searching for the species in the last two decades. It is widespread on the island, having been taken from Mayagüez and Lajas in the southwest to Toa Baja on the north coast near San Juan. It has never shown up in the extensive collections made near Ponce by J. Micheli, nor in the El Yunque region where so many visitors to the island collect.

DIAGNOSIS: By far the largest species of the genus on the Puerto Rican Bank, the size alone (= 30 mm) will distinguish this species from all but the very largest E. irroratum (up to 30 mm). The bispinose antenna and pronotum with the median callus divided and not or only very narrowly connected to the base of the pronotum will distinguish this species from all other Elaphidion in the region.

DESCRIPTION: With the characteristics of Elaphidion ( Lingafelter 1998) .

MALE ( Fig. 12 ): Elongate subparallel; reddish brown, with golden recumbent pubescence of two types – those arising from distinct punctures and those placed between these punctures, the latter dense around eyes, between callosities of pronotum, on scutellum, and in scattered patches on elytra. Eye emarginate, encompassing base of antenna. Antenna ( Fig. 12 ); tenth antennomere reaching elytral apices; third antennomere reaching base of elytra; fourth antennomere subequal to length of third, 3–4 bispinose apically, 5 weakly spined mesally, dentate laterally; 6–8 externally dentate; eleventh longer than third; 3–11 carinate externally, weak on 3 and 4, strong thereafter; 4–11 longitudinally canaliculate dorsal to this carina, groove on 5–11 margined dorsally by carina. Pronotum wider at base than apex, lateral margin expanded immediately behind apex, weakly arcuate basal submarginal groove; apical margin with narrow submarginal groove; basal margin with complete submarginal groove; median gibbosity at anterior median 1/4, crossed longitudinally by narrow anterior extension of bare, shining median longitudinal callus, this longitudinal callus widened medially, not reaching posterior margin; disc with pair of calli bracketing median callus, these calli in the form of the numeral “7”; additional callus laterad and parallel to the stem of the “7”; rest of disc and lateral area weakly rugose. Elytra smooth between irregularly placed punctures, each puncture with indistinct seta; irregular small patches of appressed setae mesad humeral umbo, along lateral margin and on disc; apices bispinose, spine subequal. Prosternal sculpture and vestiture similar to that of lateral portions of pronotum, except intercoxal processes and apical collar smooth, nearly glabrous. Femora not clavate; apices of metafemora acutely dentate, others rounded. Length: 30 mm.

FEMALE ( Fig. 13 ). Differs from the male in having a slightly broader body, the pronotal calli gibbose, the pronotum far more rugose, much shorter antennae that reach the third ventrite, and the last antennomere short and broad ( Fig. 13 a). Length: 30–38 mm.

DISTRIBUTION: Puerto Rico.

TYPES: HOLOTYPE MALE: Toa Baja, P. R.; Jan 1940; Coll. P. Sostre (from ERPL, deposited in NMNH with permission of the curator).

PARATYPES: 1 FEMALE—Same data as Holotype (MIZA); 1 FEMALE—Mayagüez, PR; Oct–Dec 1965; Coll. M. S. Torres (JAMC); 1 FEMALE—PUERTO RICO; Lajas; 6-IV-72; S. García (WIBF); 1 FEMALE—PUERTO RICO; 1968; V. C. Blackburn (FSCA); 1 FEMALE—PUERTO RICO; 2 May 1961; R. W. Husband (WIBF); 1 FEMALE—Cataño; Puerto Rico; 6.III.1948 —Rosado col./ Coleção Campos Seabra (MNRJ on loan to NMNH).

An additional female specimen (not a paratype) has been reported to me by Julio Micheli of Ponce, but was not available for study in time for inclusion as part of the type series. Although I have not seen this specimen, I have no doubt that it belongs to this species. The data he provided to me are: Cabo Rojo, P.R.; 4 April 1937; Coll: R.A. Irizarry [JAMC].

ETYMOLOGY: A noun in the genitive case, in honor of the dean of Puerto Rican coleopterists, Julio A. Micheli of Ponce, in recognition of his many contributions to the study of his native island and his kindnesses to colleagues.

Figures

FIGURES 12 – 15. Elaphidion. 12. E. michelii, male; 13. E. michelii, female, a = antenna; 14. E. conspersum, female; 15. E. irroratum, female. Scale bars = 1 mm.