Coelocephalapion hyptidis Kissinger

Kissinger, David G., 2003, A New Species of Coelocephalapion Wagner (Apionidae) from Venezuela with Host Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit. (Lamiaceae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 57 (1), pp. 99-104 : 99-104

Coelocephalapion hyptidis Kissinger , new species

( Figs. 1–9 )

Description. Length 1.52–1.94 mm; width 0.75–0.97 mm. Dark reddish brown, femora and tibiae yellow, apex of tibiae and tarsi slightly darker. Vestiture fine, hair-like, yellowish white, sparse, uniform. Rostrum of male 0.47–0.62 mm long; 1.19–1.36 as long as prothorax; in basal 2/3 surface alutaceous, polished in apical 0.3; shallow punctures 0.018 –0.028 mm in diameter arranged in indistinct rows, sparser and finer apically; scales fine, 0.009 –0.028 mm long, apically scales shorter, erect, ‘‘stubby’’; in profile moderately curved, slightly widened on ventral margin at insertion of antenna, sides gradually, evenly convergent from insertion of antenna to nondepressed tip ( Fig. 2 ); in dorsal view sides slightly expanded from base to insertion of antenna, then gradually convergent to apex ( Fig. 1 ); male antenna inserted at basal 0.28–0.34 of rostrum at distance in front of eye 1.42–1.82 width of frons; anterior part of dorsal margin of scrobe slightly, broadly angulate before descending evenly to ventral margin of head. Female rostrum 0.55–0.66 mm long; 1.25–1.40 as long as prothorax; similar to male, with little sexual dimorphism; female antenna inserted at basal 0.27–0.30 of rostrum at distance in front of eye 1.54–1.91 width of frons. Head with frons 0.09–0.12 mm wide; 0.91–1.30 as wide as dorsal tip of rostrum; flat, with two indistinct rows of punctures, with scales as on base of rostrum and with 1 row fringe surrounding eye; in profile dorsal margin of head distinctly declivitous above basal margin of eye ( Fig. 2 ); subcephalic ridge very low, barely reaching middle of eye. Prothorax 0.37–0.47 mm long, at base 1.15–1.28 as wide as long; pronotum with distinct basal flange, sides parallel to near middle, narrowed to constricted apex; punctures shallow, bowl-like, 0.014 –0.023 mm in diameter, interspaces flat, alutaceous, scales 0.025 –0.046 mm long, scale usually project beyond rim of puncture, row of scales on base and apex slightly shorter, similar to scales surrounding eye; prothorax in profile with dorsal margin moderately, evenly convex, highest point near middle, sculpture and scales similar to pronotum; basal fovea moderately deep, moderately broad. Elytra at humeri 1.33–1.48 as wide as pronotum base; 2.32–2.77 as long as prothorax; 1.20–1.42 as long as wide; intervals moderately convex, at middle of elytra interval 2 1.5 3 width of stria, dull,

99

0.37 mm.

alutaceous, interval with 1 row of minute punctures bearing scales similar to disk of pronotum, interval 9 with 1 long erect seta near apex; striae deep, coarse, strial punctures deep, coarse, strial scales smaller than scales on adjacent interval, on apex join 1 1 2 1 9 (interval 2 prolonged laterally at point of union), 3 1 4, 5 1 6, 7 1 8. Metasternum not tuberculate on posterior median area. Legs of male lack special characters. Median lobe of aedeagus narrow, slightly depressed, about 1.3 as wide as high; in profile ( Fig. 5 ) apex 0.02 mm in diameter, slightly bulbous ( Fig. 6 ); in dorsal view ( Fig. 3 ) sides largely parallel from base to area of orifice, apex blunt, 0.03 mm wide, slightly expanded laterally ( Fig. 4 ); posterior apophyses slender, 0.26–0.33 as long as body of median lobe, combined for short distance before joining median lobe; endophallus with two pairs of adjacent rows of four-seven teeth 0.006 –0.009 mm long near orifice ( Fig. 3a ). Spiculum gastrale ( Fig. 7 ) with basal strut longer than broad, parallel-sided, deeply emarginate apical region. Tegmen in profile with free ring of basal piece broadly attached to tegmen, lateral region of tegminal plate largely membranous, consists of united areas of prostegium, dorsal portion of ring and parameroid lobe produced laterally and ventrally with respect to tegminal plate ( Fig. 9 ); in dorsal view prostegium arcuate laterally where free ring attaches, there about 1.5–1.6 3 as wide as basal area of parameroid lobes, parameroid lobes largely sclerotized, apically with 2 macrochaetae 0.002 –0.006 mm long, lobes fused except for small apical membranous region, fenestrae and linea arquata not evident, prostegium basal area flat, with median and lateral pigmented bands ( Fig. 8 ).

Type Series. Holotype male (in USNM) labeled [ Venezuela] ‘‘El Tigre, estado Anzoátegui, Ven, 29/III/[19]90; R Segura’’; ‘‘On inflorescence ex Hyptis suaveolens’’; ‘‘LPL 4200’’; ‘‘measured 01257 DGKissinger.’’ Paratypes 117. 1, same data as holotype except ‘‘LPL 4212’’ and ‘‘measured 01259 DGKissinger’’ ( DGKC). 2, ‘‘ Venezuela, Camino a San Vicente [to] Bruzual, Apure [state], 13/julio/1997; R. Segura & M. Martinez’’; ‘‘On inflorescence Hyptis suaveolens’’; ‘‘LPL 8016’’ ( DGKC). 1, ‘‘Hwy [between] CD. [Ciudad] Bolívar [and] CD. Guayana, edo [state] Bolívar, Ven, 28/III/[19]90; R. Segura’’; ‘‘On inflorescence ex Hyptis suaveolens’’; ‘‘LPL 4100’’; ‘‘measured 01272 DGKissinger’’ ( DGKC). 2, ‘‘ Venezuela, 18 km carretera [between] El Tigre [and] Barcelona, Anzoátegui, 18/Julio/1997; R. Segura & M. Martinez’’; ‘‘On inflorescence ex Hyptis suaveolens’’; ‘‘LPL 8020’’ ( DGKC). 3, ‘‘Hato San Pablo, Edo Apure, Ven, 25-III-[19]90; R. Segura’’; ‘‘On inflorescence ex Hyptis suaveolens’’; ‘‘LPL 4177 or 4166’’ ( DGKC). 9, ‘‘ Venezuela, Anzoátegui, [between] Periaguán & El Tigre’’; ‘‘ Nov 4–5, 2000, Ricardo Segura, Moises Martinez’’; ‘‘collected on Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit.’’; ‘‘collection numbers 3348 & 3349’’ [This was the foundation population for this culture] ( DGKC, QDPC, CSIRO Mexico [Field Station, Boca del Rio, Veracruz, Mexico]). 98, ‘‘ Venezuela, Anzoátegui [between] Periaguán & El Tigre’’; ‘‘ Nov 4–5, 2000; Ricardo Segura, Moises Martinez’’; ‘‘Lab Culture reared from Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit.’’; ‘‘LPL Quarantine in Australia Jan-March 2001’’ ( DGKC, QDPC, CSIRO Mexico). 1, ‘‘QDA. Corral de

0.05 mm.

Piedra m. 700, El Limon; Edo. AR [Apure]’’; ‘‘Venez. Bordón leg. 12.II.[19]71’’; ‘‘Coleccion C. Bordón’’ [Carlos Bordón, Apartado 1165, Maracay 2103-A, Venezuela].

Etymology. The species is named after the genus of one of its larval host plants; the species name is a substantive in apposition to the generic name.

Relationships. The classification of South American Coelocephalapion Wagner is in a preliminary state. I propose to relate C. hyptidis to the existing framework of species groups based on North and Central American species. Kissinger (2000) listed 7 species groups in Coelocephalapion of which C. hyptidis belongs to the C. decoloratum species group with its low subcephalic ridge and differs from the C. sordidum species group (also with a low subcephalic ridge) with its unique tubercle on the posterior median area of the metasternum of both sexes.

Within the C. decoloratum group C. hyptidis shares characters with C. emaciipes (Fall) that are not necessarily unique to these two species: 1) vestiture throughout body and legs not coarser than stoutest seta on antenna (the vestiture is very fine); 2) scales on the base of the elytra not coarser than scales on disk of elytra (the vestiture is uniform in coarseness throughout); 3) interval 2 on apex of elytron prolonged laterally before stria 2 combines with 1 1 9 (forms a kind of ‘‘crochet hook’’); 4) tegmen in dorsal view definitely widened at point of attachment of free ring (sides of tegmen not evenly, gradually narrowing from base to apex but are ‘‘bowed out’’ near base). Character 1 is unique among the 20 1 species of the C. decoloratum group. Character 2 also occurs in C. carinatum (Smith) where the vestiture is uniformly coarser than C. emaciipes . Character 3 also occurs in C. absonum (Kissinger) and C. carinatum . Species with # legs lacking special characters that also show character 4 are C. ablulum (Kissinger) , C. ferrugineum (Sharp) , and C. lividum (Smith) .

Coelocephalapion hyptis keys out to couplet 73 in ‘‘Key to males of species of Coelocephalapion occurring in North and Central America’’ ( Kissinger 1968) and can be added to the key as follows.

73. Head behind eye and dorsal apical region of femur with scales distinctly coarser than stoutest seta on antenna........................................................... 74

73 9. Head behind eye and femur with vestiture not coarser than stoutest seta on antenna. ...................................................................................................... 73A

73A. Derm piceous or black; trochanter not darker than adjacent part of femur; pronotal scales barely project beyond rim of puncture, in dorsal view apical margin of pronotum flared out laterally beyond apical constriction; basal strut of spiculum gastrale shorter than apical blade; endophallus with four rows of 8–9 teeth up to 0.018 mm long; USA and Mexico. ....................................... .................................................................. Coelocephalapion emaciipes (Fall)

73A 9. Derm reddish brown; trochanter darker than adjacent part of femur; pronotal scales project well beyond margin of puncture, apical margin of pronotum not flared out beyond apical constriction; basal strut of spiculum gastrale longer than apical blade; endophallus with four rows of 4–7 teeth, 0.010 mm long; Venezuela............................................... Coelocephalapion hyptidis Kissinger

Chrysapion chrysocomum (Gerstaecker) was collected on Hyptis suaveolens in Veracruz, Mexico (specimens from R. Segura) but was not reared from the plant. It superficially resembles Coelocephalapion hyptidis but has open middle coxal cavities while C. hyptidis has these cavities closed.

Biology. The following biological data for C. hyptidis on Hyptis suaveolens and other plants was provided by Mr. M. H. Julien (in litt.):

‘‘From tracks of necrotic tissue caused by grazing/tunneling, it appears that preferred oviposition sites are on or near the very smallest developing leaves at the apical tip of usually very young lateral shoots that are less than one cm long. We only found three eggs. They were laid singly in pits chewed in the soft young stem near shoot tips and covered with black material assumed to be frass. Similarly, when searching for eggs we found a newly hatched larva in a pit covered with frass. The early instar larvae travel down the mid-vein of the V-shaped, unfurled leaf, grazing on the outer vein surface as they go. They then tunnel into the tip of the shoot at the axis of that leaf and commence to feed within. Sometimes the larvae may enter the petiole, usually near the base, and tunnel through the centre right the way down into the tip. The feeding action of the larva stunts further elongation of the shoot but doesn’t immediately kill the tip. The result is that the tip swells and expands, bulb-like, as the larva excavates a cavity (pupal chamber) inside. The larva may feed inside the swelling. Adults emerge by chewing a circular hole through the chamber wall. Not uncommon but significantly fewer, developing larvae and pupal chambers have also been seen in petioles of mature leaves, most usually the larger ones. On a few rare occasions, pupal chambers were formed on the underside of the mid-vein and twice on a secondary vein of some large fully expanded leaves. This range of larval damage was observed on Hyptis . On other plants (see below) because their leaves are significantly smaller most larval damage was restricted to tips and young stems.

‘‘On our rearing Hyptis plants, when adult density was high or adults were left on the plants for more than 4 weeks, the exploitation of every available oviposition site sometimes resulted in more than one larva developing per tip. However, in every case, although larvae have been literally side by side, they still occupied separate chambers, with a common wall separating them.

‘‘On average (4 replicates of 20 adults left on plant to oviposit for 7 days) 10.3 adults took an average 36.5 days to emerge from the Australian native Orthiosiphon aristatus (Blume) Miq. (Cat’s Whiskers), compared with an average of 15.5 adults (8 replicates) and an average of 35.4 days for H. suaveolens . Adults that emerged from the test plants were grouped and placed onto a fresh Hyptis plant. This resulted in a new generation of adults. This was the only plant other than Hyptis where we confirmed that adults were fecund.

‘‘In addition under a similar study plan 0.25 adults emerged (out of 4 replicates 1 adult emerged) from Lavaendula pinnata L. taking 37.0 days; 2 adults emerged from Rosmarinus officinalis L. taking 58.8 days; 0.5 adults emerged from Salvia chamaedryoides taking 58.8 days. Further, 0.5 (average of replicates) larvae, that failed to complete their development and were found dead within plant tissue were recovered from Lavender, Rosemary, and Melissa officinalis L. (lemon balm). There was 0.25 (average of 4 replicates) larvae and adults that failed to complete development through to emergence in O. aristatus.

‘‘Heavy feeding mainly on primary venation on the underside of leaves, then petioles and lastly the more tender, younger stems (nearer tips) was recorded on all the above test plants as well as Hyptis capitata Jacq. and Mentha australis R. Br. Less damage was seen on Nepeta cataria L. and only one chew mark on two of the four Westringia fruticosa (Willd.) Druce. (Australian native rosemary) tested.’’

The apparent method of oviposition, a minimal pit prepared on surface of young plant shoots, correlates well with the reduced rostral sexual dimorphism seen in C. hyptidis .

Figures

Figs. 1–2. Coelocephalapion hyptidis, male. 1) Dorsal view; 2) lateral view. Scale 5

Figs. 3–7. Coelocephalapion hyptidis. 3) Median lobe of aedeagus, dorsal view, scale 5 0.05 mm; 3a) endophallus, detail of armature, scale 5 0.02 mm; 4) median lobe of aedeagus, dorsal view, detail of apex, scale 5 0.02 mm; 5) median lobe of aedeagus, lateral view, scale 5 0.05 mm; 6) Median lobe of aedeagus, lateral view, detail of apex, scale 5 0.02 mm; 7) Spiculum gastrale, scale 5 0.05 mm.

Figs. 8–9. Coelocephalapion hyptidis, tegmen. 8) Dorsal view; 9) lateral view. Scale 5