Ameriphoderes amoena ( Chemsak and Linsley, 1979 )

Lingafelter, Steven W., Morris Ii, Roy F., Skillman Jr, Frederick W. & Santos-Silva, Antonio, 2021, A new genus Cicatrisphaerion, new species, new records, and redescriptions of Neotropical Cerambycidae (Coleoptera), Insecta Mundi 2021 (865), pp. 1-20 : 8-12

Ameriphoderes amoena ( Chemsak and Linsley, 1979)

( Fig. 30–34 )

Acyphoderes amoena Chemsak and Linsley 1979: 74 ; Chemsak et al. 1988: 294 (distr.); Chemsak et al. 1992: 57 (checklist); Chemsak and Noguera 1995: 61 (biol., distr.); Monné 1993b: 40 (cat.); Monné and Giesbert 1994: 90 (checklist); Noguera and Chemsak 1996: 400 (checklist); Toledo et al. 2002: 527 (distr.); Monné 2005a: 454 (cat.); Monné and Hovore 2006: 115 (checklist).

Ameriphoderes amoena ; Clarke 2015: 46; Monné 2021a: 677 (cat.).

Redescription. Male. Head capsule black; anterior area of postclypeus, most of anteclypeus, and anterior area of labrum dark reddish brown; posterior area of labrum brown; ventral mouthparts mostly reddish brown, with apex of some palpomeres pale yellow, and mentum dark brown. Scape, pedicel, and antennomeres III–IV shiny, black; antennomeres V–VIII opaque, dark brown; base of antennomeres IX–XI yellow, and remaining surface opaque, dark brown. Prothorax black; ventral surface of meso- and metathorax black (metathorax slightly darker brown depending on light intensity), except for orangish brown metatrochantin. Scutellum dark brown. Elytra with oblique black band in basal sixth, starting close to the humerus, suture, apex, and sides black; remaining basal sixth light yellowish brown; translucent area slightly yellowish brown (appearing to be darker due to the color of membranous wings). Coxae black basally, orangish on remaining surface; trochanters orangish; femora black dorsally, orangish on remaining surface, except for black elongated macula on ventral surface of peduncle; protibiae blackish dorsally, brownish in narrow apical area of sides and ventral surface, orangish on remaining surface; mesotibiae black dorsally (this area projected centrally on outer side), orangish on remaining surface; metatibiae black except for orangish ventral surface and part of sides of basal third. Abdominal ventrite I orangish, except for black macula on sides (this macula not reaching apex, widened toward its apex); abdominal ventrites II–IV black, except for reddish brown apex; abdominal ventrite V black, except orangish depressed area. No chromatic variation was observed in specimens from Guatemala. Golden pubescence appearing to be more pale yellow depending on light intensity.

Head. Frons coarsely, densely punctate; with golden pubescence obscuring integument, except yellowish white pubescence close to eyes. Vertex coarsely, abundantly punctate; central area with golden pubescence obscuring integument, except for glabrous area of median groove between superior area of lower eye lobes and antennal tubercles; remaining surface with brownish pubescence not obscuring integument. Area behind eyes coarsely, abundantly punctate; area behind upper eye lobes with brownish pubescence not obscuring integument; area close to lower eye lobes with dense golden pubescence (this area widened toward ventral surface), and long, erect setae of same color interspersed, glabrous in wide area close to prothorax. Genae glabrous close to eye frontally, almost glabrous in large area under eye laterally, glabrous on apex, and with dense golden pubescence on remaining surface. Wide central area of postclypeus with dense golden pubescence close to frons, pubescence sparser close to anteclypeus, and long, erect setae of same color interspersed; sides glabrous. Labrum finely, sparsely punctate posteriorly, smooth anteriorly; with a few short, brownish setae posteriorly, one long golden seta on each side of middle, and fringe of yellowish brown setae on anterior margin. Mandibles coarsely rugosepunctate and with a few long, erect golden setae on outer side. Antennal tubercles finely, moderately abundantly punctate in basal half, smooth apically; with dense golden pubescence at base of frontal half, very sparse pubescence of same color at base of remaining surface, glabrous apically. Gulamentum smooth, glabrous in posterior half; coarsely rugose-punctate, with long, erect, sparse golden setae in anterior half. Distance between upper eye lobes (only one male measured) 0.28 times distance between outer margins of eyes; in frontal view, distance between lower eye lobes 0.17 times distance between outer margins of eyes. Antennae (only one male measured) 1.1 times elytral length, almost reaching posterior quarter of elytra. Scape finely punctate dorsally and laterally, except for smooth apex, somewhat rugose-punctate ventrally; with sparse golden pubescence dorsally and laterally, and erect setae of same color interspersed dorsally, and long, erect yellowish brown setae ventrally. Pedicel finely punctate, with sparse golden pubescence and long, erect yellowish brown setae ventrally. Antennomere III cylindrical, finely, abundantly punctate, except smooth apex; with golden pubescence not obscuring integument, sparser ventrally, and long, erect yellowish brown setae on inner surface of ventral side. Antennomere IV widened toward apex, with sculpturing, pubescence and erect setae as on III. Antennomeres V–X serrate, with abundant grayish yellow pubescence; antennomeres V–VI with a few long, erect yellowish brown setae ventrally; antennomere XI fusiform, with pubescence as on X. Antennal formula based on antennomere III (only one male measured): scape = 0.67; pedicel = 0.21; IV = 0.46; V = 0.65; VI = 0.59; VII = 0.59; VIII = 0.57; IX = 0.54; X = 0.48; XI = 0.65.

Thorax. Prothorax longer than wide; sides rounded from anterior to posterior constriction. Pronotum with elongated tubercle centrally, from slightly before middle to posterior constriction; gibbous laterally from anterior to posterior constriction; longitudinally sulcate between gibbous area and central area; sulcate area coarsely, abundantly punctate, except for smooth central area between anterior margin and central tubercle; gibbous area coarsely, very sparsely punctate; sides coarsely, abundantly punctate; anterior margin glabrous; each side and anterior and posterior margins with alternating but connected patches of light and dark brown pubescence; sides of central tubercle with golden pubescent macula, widened and denser toward apex of central tubercle, surrounded by brownish pubescence internally; with long, erect, sparse golden setae. Sides of prothorax coarsely, densely punctate, except for smooth gibbous central area close to pronotum; with dense golden pubescence, except glabrous smooth area; golden pubescence projected anteriorly toward pronotum as oblique band (not reaching middle of pronotum), slightly rounded projected centrally toward sides of pronotum, and slightly projected toward pronotum close to apex; with long, erect golden setae interspersed on pubescent area. Prosternum smooth, glabrous laterally; remaining surface somewhat coarsely rugose-punctate; anterior quarter almost glabrous, with long, erect, sparse golden setae (more abundant laterally); remaining surface with dense golden pubescence obscuring integument, and with long, erect golden setae interspersed. Postcoxal process almost glabrous; prosternal process gradually narrowed toward center, then strongly widened toward apex; basal half and center of posterior half with dense golden pubescence; sides of posterior half with brownish pubescence not obscuring integument. Mesoventrite with dense golden pubescence close to mesocoxal cavities and mesoventral process, almost reaching base centrally; anterior half with brownish pubescence not obscuring integument on sides of golden pubescence, and almost glabrous close to mesanepisternum. Mesanepisternum distinctly tumid in posterior 2/3; with brownish pubescence in basal third and golden dense pubescence in posterior 2/3; mesepimeron with dense golden pubescence. Mesoventral process abruptly elevated anteriorly, with yellowish brown pubescence basally, denser, golden on remaining surface. Metanepisternum finely, sparsely punctate in anterior 2/3, except smooth wide area about middle; with dense golden pubescence basally, with golden pubescent macula close to elytra in anterior half, glabrous in smooth area, with erect golden setae in remaining anterior 2/3, and with dense golden pubescence in posterior third. Metaventrite with dense golden pubescence, except glabrous area close to metathoracic discrimen, and wide area on each side of posterior half lacking pubescence, and metatrochantin with sparser golden pubescence; with long, erect golden setae except area close to metathoracic discrimen. Scutellum with golden pubescence not obscuring integument. Elytra. Coarsely, shallowly punctate on dorsal surface of basal quarter, finer, denser, confluently punctate laterally, moderately fine, sparsely punctate at apex, smooth in translucent area; with long, erect, sparse yellowish white setae in anterior quarter, shorter, slightly more abundant on remaining surface; apex rounded, reaching basal third of abdominal segment IV. Legs. Femora with long, erect golden setae, more abundant ventrally on profemora and ventral surface of mesofemora. Tibiae with yellowish brown pubescence, denser in posterior third, and long, erect setae of same color interspersed. Metatarsomere I slightly longer than II–III together.

Abdomen. Ventrites coarsely, abundantly punctate, especially on II–IV. Ventrite I with transverse golden pubescent band close to glabrous reddish brown apex, distinctly sparser centrally; sides of anterior area with long, erect, abundant yellowish brown setae; remaining central area glabrous. Ventrites II–III with golden pubescent band as on I, and arched golden pubescent band on sides of anterior region, fused with the transverse band; lateral area between golden pubescent bands with erect, abundant yellowish brown setae; reddish brown area glabrous; remaining central surface with sparse yellowish brown setae. Ventrite IV with two dense pubescent bands laterally, one in anterior third, another close to reddish brown apex; basal area almost glabrous (setae more conspicuous laterally); sides of central area with long, erect yellowish brown setae; remaining central area with abundant golden pubescence (sparser than on golden bands). Ventrite V strongly depressed centrally in posterior 2/3 (depression gradually deeper toward apex), making sides tab-shaped; basal area almost glabrous (this area widened toward center); with dense golden pubescent band on each side of anterior third; sides of posterior half with dense golden pubescence; lateral area between regions with golden pubescence with erect yellowish brown setae; depressed area with dense, bristly yellowish brown pubescence; apical margin strongly concave.

Dimensions (mm) (four males). Total length 15.50–17.70; prothoracic length 2.90–3.10; anterior prothoracic width 1.95–2.15; posterior prothoracic width 2.10–2.40; maximum prothoracic width 2.40–2.75; humeral width 2.80–3.15; elytral length 8.80–9.55.

Material examined. GUATEMALA (new country record), ZACAPA: Quarry Road to San Lorenzo, Sierra Las Minas , 500-600 m, blossoms of Bush Croton , 2 males, 29-31.V.2019, Wappes, Monzón and Skillman ( FSCA, MZSP, formerly ACMT) ; 2 males, 29-31.V.2019, Skillman, Wappes and Monzón ( FWSC) .

Remarks. Ameriphoderes amoena is variable in the color of some antennal antennomeres, however, the distribution and shape of the pubescent bands and maculae appear to be constant. According to Chemsak and Linsley (1979): “antennae reddish brown; elytra shining, yellow-brown, margins black, base often with two short dark vittae extending back from inside of humeri; legs orange-brown, posterior femora often dark over clavate portion; abdomen usually pale and dark;” and “We are also assigning to this species five specimens from various localities in Mexico which differ in having the antennae black, with segments 8–11 all or partially yellow. In most of these, the two basal black vittae of the elytra are very distinct and the pubescence is more silvery than golden.” In fact, the specimens from Guatemala agree with the specimens mentioned by them regarding the mostly dark antennae, with part of the antennomeres IX–XI yellow. However, we have seen photographs of specimens as described by them (antennomeres VIII–XI entirely yellow), as well as with the antennomeres VIII–IX entirely yellow and X–XI partially brown. The basal oblique band of the elytra may or may not be present as reported in the original description. The profemora may be entirely reddish or, like the specimens from Guatemala, the mesofemoral club may be entirely dark reddish brown, with or without blackish maculae internally and the metafemoral club may be almost entirely black, entirely dark reddish brown or brownish, with dorsal reddish brown band. The metatibiae may be reddish brown dorsally, with or without a dark macula about middle, or entirely black as in the specimens from Guatemala. The tarsi may be dark or reddish (sometimes dark on pro- and mesotarsi and reddish on metatarsi, or the basal tarsomeres reddish brown and the distal ones dark brown). Due to this great chromatic variation, we redescribe the species in more detail and provide photographs of the specimens from Guatemala that noticeably differ from the holotype and paratypes in Bezark (2021). Apparently, the chromatic variation is not related to geography and occurs throughout populations.

Previously, A. amoena was reported only from Mexico (Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco, Oaxaca, Colima, Guerrero) ( Monné 2021a; Tavakilian and Chevillotte 2020) and Guatemala represents a new country record.

Apparently, the only reliable difference between A. amoena and A. cribricollis (Bates, 1892) is the smooth gibbous area of the pronotum (this area is entirely punctate in A. cribricollis ).

LAMIINAE Blanchard, 1845 DESMIPHORINI Thomson, 1860

Figures

Figures 30–34. Ameriphoderes amoena (Chemsak and Linsley, 1979), male. 30) Dorsal habitus. 31) Ventral habitus. 32) Lateral habitus. 33) Head, frontal view. 34) Abdominal ventrite V.