Odontocera skelleyi Wappes and Santos-Silva, 2017

Wappes, James E. & Santos-Silva, Antonio, 2017, New Neotropical Rhinotragini and a new country record for Nicaragua (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae), Insecta Mundi 2017 (530), pp. 1-24 : 8-10

Odontocera skelleyi Wappes and Santos-Silva , n. sp.

( Fig. 16–18 )

Diagnosis. Odontocera skelleyi is similar to O. albicans (Klug, 1825) and O. leucothea Bates, 1873 , but differs from both by the elytra notably narrower towards apex. It also differs from O. leucothea by the yellowish white area of antennae covering 1/2 of antennomere VI and all of antennomeres VII–VIII (in O. leucothea , about 1/2 of antennomere V and all of antennomeres VI–VII), by the whitish pronotal pubescence not prolonged towards center (prolonged in O. leucothea ), and by the dorsal surface of pro-

and mesotibiae darker (mostly yellowish in O. leucothea ). Lastly, O. skelleyi is from Costa Rica while the other two species are from southeastern Brazil.

Description. Integument black; about 1/2 of antennomere VI and all of antennomeres VII–VIII yellowish white; anteclypeus reddish; basal 1/3 of labrum brownish, remaining surface reddish; elytra with yellowish white spot laterally, near humerus; pro- and mesofemora reddish (peduncle of mesofemora somewhat yellowish); metafemoral peduncle yellowish, with a narrow black ring close to club; metafemoral club reddish; protibiae dorsally dark, with reddish lateral and ventral sides; mesotibiae with dorsal side, most of lateral sides and all of ventral side reddish; metatibiae yellowish, with ventral side of distal 1/4 brownish; metatarsomeres I–II yellowish; metatarsomeres III–V reddish (more brownish towards apex of V and claws); ventrites reddish. Pubescence and setae golden (may appear silvery depending on angle of light source).

Head. Not elongated behind eyes (posterior edge of eyes close to anterior edge of prothorax); rostrum (between apex of lower eye lobe and genal apex), in frontal view, as long as length of lower eye lobe. Frons sparsely, coarsely punctate towards clypeus, denser close to lower eye lobes; pubescence forming wide band around lower eye lobes from base of antennal tubercles to near gena; with sparse, short setae around coronal suture and close to clypeus centrally. Vertex moderately abundantly, finely punctate, except for smooth area close to coronal suture; with sparse, short setae. Antennal tubercles abundantly, moderately finely punctate on frontal side, punctures sparse on remaining surface; with sparse, short setae, principally towards vertex. Clypeus sparsely, moderately finely punctate; with sparse, short setae; close to frons, one very long seta on each side. Labrum sparsely, finely punctate, apex smooth; with sparse, long setae; distal edge fringed with short setae. Outer surface of mandibles finely, sparsely punctate; with sparse, short setae, sparsely interspersed with long, fine setae. Area behind lower eye lobes, close to eye, with wide fringe of dense pubescence, sparsely interspersed with long setae. Genae, towards eyes, abundantly, moderately coarsely punctate, almost smooth close to apex; with sparse, short setae. Gula smooth, shining and glabrous. Submentum distinctly transversely striate; with sparse, long setae laterally, gradually shorter towards center. Distance between upper eye lobes 0.5 times length of scape; in frontal view, distance between lower eye lobes 0.8 times length of scape. Antennae 1.2 times elytral length; nearly reaching base of third abdominal segment; antennomere III filiform; antennomeres IV–V slightly enlarged towards apex; antennomeres VI–X distinctly enlarged towards apex, serrate; scape sparsely, moderately coarsely punctate, with sparse, short setae, sparsely interspersed with long setae; pedicel and antennomeres III–VI with long, thick setae on inner side ventrally; antennal formula (ratio) based on antennomere III: scape = 0.52; pedicel = 0.17; IV = 0.44; V = 0.68; VI = 0.64; VII = 0.59; VIII = 0.59; IX = 0.46; X = 0.43; XI = 0.46.

Thorax. Prothorax subcylindrical, longer than wide, widest near middle, without distinct lateral tubercles. Pronotum with three tubercles on disk: a sub-rounded one on each side and an elongate less conspicuous one centrally; distinct, somewhat rectangular depression, with posterior margin emarginate, at base; basal and apical 1/4 distinctly less elevated than central area; depression densely, very finely punctate; remaining surface sparsely, coarsely punctate; dense pubescence, sparsely interspersed with long setae, obscuring surface of depression and apical and basal 1/4; remaining surface with sparse, short setae, sparsely interspersed with long setae. Prothorax with oblique, distinct callosity laterally; dense pubescence obscuring integument, except for sub-glabrous area of callosity interconnected to the subglabrous area of pronotum, and areas close to anterior and posterior margin (enlarged towards ventral surface); sub-glabrous moderately coarsely punctate below callosity. Prosternum with densely pubescent basal transverse depression on each side of middle, transversely sulcate and finely punctate at anterior 1/4, finely transversely striate between the latter and basal 1/2; remaining surface with sparse, long setae. Prosternal process basal 1/2 notably narrower, distinctly enlarged in distal 1/2; with moderately abundant, short setae (not obscuring integument) and long setae sparsely interspersed. Metepisterna with large glabrous area from base to slightly after middle with remaining surface densely pubescent. Metasternum sparsely, moderately coarsely punctate, except for dense, finely punctate triangular area close to metacoxae, and smooth, narrow area around metasternal suture; densely pubescent, except for large trapezoid region on each side of distal 1/2; trapezoid region with sparse, short setae, sparsely interspersed with long setae. Scutellum densely pubescent. Elytra. Notably narrowed, dehiscent along suture; sparsely, finely punctate; basal 1/5 with sparse moderately long setae; apex narrowly rounded.

Legs. Femora clavate; metafemur distinctly longer than mesofemur; apex of metafemora surpassing abdominal apex. Metatarsomere I 1.4 times longer than II–III together.

Abdomen. Ventrites sparsely, finely punctate, with sparse, short setae (somewhat longer laterally).

Dimensions in mm (female). Total length (from mandibular apex to abdominal apex), 15.7; prothorax: length, 3.0; anterior width, 2.1; posterior width, 2.3; humeral width, 3.0; elytral length, 9.7.

Type material. Holotype female from COSTA RICA, Puntarenas: 6 km S Santa Elena , 6-7.VI.1983, J. E. Wappes col. ( FSCA).

Etymology. Named for our good friend, FSCA Chief of Entomology, Managing Editor of Insecta Mundi, and collector extraordinaire in recognition of his many published contributions to our knowledge of the Erotylidae and Aphodiinae. Dr. Paul is an individual who always finds time to help when you need it. For this reason alone we are pleased to honor him with a “Skelley Bycid.”

Figures

Figures 13–18. Odontocera spp. 13–15. Odontocera mthomasi sp. nov., holotype female, habitus: 13) Dorsal; 14) Ventral; 15) Lateral. 16–18. Odontocera skelleyi sp. nov., holotype female, habitus: 16) Dorsal; 17) Ventral; 18) Lateral.