Embates sagittifolicus Prena, 2005

Prena, Jens, 2005, The Middle American species of Embates Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Baridinae), Zootaxa 1100 (1), pp. 1-151 : 1-151

37. Embates sagittifolicus Prena sp. n.

(Fig. 139–142, 259)

Holotype male (dissected), Costa Rica , labeled: “ Fila Madre, 3 Km SO de Cerro Rincon,/ Prov. Punta, COSTA RICA. 710m. 25/ MAY 1995. A. Azofeifa,/ L S 273000 520000 #5292”, CRI002147000 ( INBC).

Paratypes 23 (14 males, 9 females), Costa Rica, labeled: “ COSTA RICA, Puntar./ Golfo Dulce, 24km W./ Piedras Blancas, 200m / II­1992 Hanson ( MUCR)”; “ Rancho Quemado , 200 m,/ Peninsula de Osa , Prov. Punt.,/ COSTA RICA. 12 a 24 may 1993./ A. Gutiérrez. L­S­292500, 511000”, CRI001 188553 ( INBC); “ COSTA RICA, San / Vito , 25– 5–1983 / D. Letourneau ” ( CWOB); “ COSTA RICA. Prov. Puntarenas. Coto / Brus. San Vito. Las Cruces. 1200 m. 6/ JUN 1996. I. A. Chacon. Manual. / L_S_305500_578200 #63316”, INB0003335231–35 ( INBC 5 ); “ COSTA RICA, Cañas / Gordas , Coto Brus / on Piper foliage/ D. Letourneau ” ( CWOB); “ COSTA RICA, Cañas / Gordas , 3–IX­1988 / feeding on ant­ Piper ,/ D. Letourneau ” ( CWOB); “ COSTA RICA, Prov. Puntarenas, Fila / Cruces , Fca. Ilama, 1200m, 13 MAY/ 1996. I.A. Chacón. / L_S_303100_568250 #8239”, CRI002 448149; same label, except CRI002 448152 ( INBC); “ COSTA RICA, Prov. Puntarenas, Fila / Cruces , Fca. Ilama, 1200m, 6 MAY/ 1996. I.A. Chacón. / L_S_303100_568250 #8237”, CRI002 448050 ( INBC); “Costa Rica, PUNTA.: P.N./ Corcovado , Cerro Rincon , 8°/ 31'N 83° 26'W 700 m, 17–/ 19.3.2000, leg. Prena ” ( JPPC 6 , TAMU); “ Costa Rica, SAN JOSÉ: 12/ km NE San Isidro, Cerro/ Chucuyo, 9° 26' 15'' N 83°/ 36' 55'' W, 1350 m./ 28/ 29.3.2000, leg. Prena ” ( JPPC 3 ) .

Description. Habitus: total length 4.2–6.6 mm (m=5.7, n=19). Color: integument piceous, legs and antenna rufous; basic vestiture moderately dense, cupreous, dorsolateral and dorsomedian pronotal vittae of light­colored scales thin, elytral vestiture complex, similar to that of E. chelys (Fig. 139), black macula bordered anteriorly and posteriorly by fascia of minute scales; venter with white scales on prosternum and along flank, rostrum with erect scales when viewed in profile. Head: frontal fovea absent, rostrum moderate, subcylindrical (Fig. 140), finely costate dorsomedially, basolateral margin edged, length of rostrum ♂♂ 0.94–1.05 x (m=0.99, n=12), ♀♀ 0.98–1.11 x (m=1.05, n=7) pronotal length, length of ante­antennal portion ♂♂ 0.34–0.38 x (m=0.36, n=12), ♀♀ 0.35–0.39 x (m=0.37, n=7) total rostral length, dorsal margin of antennal scrobe reaching rostral base before eye; length of funicular segments 1 and 2 subequal, club oblong ovate. Pronotum: length 0.96– 1.07 x (m=1.02, n=19) maximum width, gibbous, depressed dorsomedially, sides round, greatest width before middle, anterior portion tubulate; disk densely punctate, intervals granulose. Elytra: length 1.59–1.82 x (m=1.67, n=19) width at humeri, width 1.27–1.42 x (m=1.35, n=19) maximum pronotal width, sides slightly converging in basal half, apices rounded conjointly, preapical callus developed, striae fine, punctures indistinct, interstriae flat, 7 and 9 costate, 5 costate at subapical callus. Legs: slender, tibia slightly curved and parallel­sided, ventral margin with distal cluster of cupreous hairs, tarsal claws curved and separate at base. Male: apex of aedeagus blunt, sides converging, anterolateral portion membranous (Fig. 141), body of aedeagus relatively short, basal third angular in lateral view, apodemes 3.4 x longer than body of aedeagus, flagellum longer than aedeagus and apodemes combined, transition to curved base gradual, basal appendage elongate, fused distally with base of flagellum, projecting beyond base (Fig. 142).

Plant association. Piper sagittifolium (Prena 10).

Distribution. Costa Rica (and probably Panama), Pacific side of Cordillera de Talamanca (Fig. 259).

Specific epithet. The name is a Latin adjective derived from that of the host plant.

Discussion. Embates sagittifolicus is a sibling species of E. chelys . The species can be recognized by the gibbous, medially depressed pronotum, converging elytral sides, erect scales on the venter of the rostrum and the ante­macular fascia.