Fidia dicelloposthe Strother, 2008

Strother, M. S. & Staines, C. L., 2008, A revision of the New World genus Fidia Baly 1863 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Eumolpinae: Adoxini), Zootaxa 1798 (1), pp. 1-100 : 38-39

Fidia dicelloposthe Strother , New Species

( Figs. 10 , 81 ; Map 5)

Holotype ♂ ( BMNH): "Tejupilco, Mex. Temescaltepec / ca. 4000ft. 1932 B.M. 1959-100 / H.E. Hinton, R.L. Usinger Collectors / HOLOTYPE Fidia dicelloposthe M.S.Strother 1993 " [red]. The specimen is glued on a point and is in fair condition, with the following structures missing: right antennomeres 6–11, left antennomeres 3–11, right metathoracic leg, right mesofemur, right protarsomeres 2–5, left protarsomeres 4–5, right mesotarsomeres 2–5, and left metatarsomeres 4–5. The abdomen and right mesotibia with basitarsus are glued on the point with the specimen. The aedeagus and associated sclerites are preserved in glycerin in a microvial pinned beneath the specimen.

Description (of holotype). TL = 3.92 mm, HW = 1.84 mm. Color: Head black with feeble greenish-blue luster on vertex, frons, and basal portion of clypeus, apical margin of clypeus dark red-brown; pronotum black with faint greenish-blue luster; base color of elytron dark red-brown with light purple luster, humeral area redorange, extending posteriorly from base of elytron to almost ½ its length and medially from epipleuron to approximately 1/3 width of elytron from sutural margin; femora, tibiae, and tarsi dark red-brown with feeble blue luster, femora lighter basally; meso- and metasterna shiny brownish-black; abdominal sterna black with faint blue luster, apical margin of last sternum medially fulvous; pygidium dark red-brown; pubescence silvery-white, some setae with golden tinge. Pronotum: Length subequal to width, widest at middle, sides arcuate in dorsal view, dorsum feebly convex in lateral view; densely, coarsely punctate-reticulate; pubescence fine, recumbent, not obscuring surface sculpture. Mesepisternum: Entirely glabrous. Elytra: Intrahumeral callus developed, not prominent; asetose punctate-striae obsolete on disc, more or less evident basally and laterally; densely, coarsely punctate, punctures occasionally arranged in short, sinuate, feebly impressed, transverse rows giving surface feebly punctate-undose appearance; pubescence moderately sparse, fine, recumbent, not obscuring surface sculpture. Abdomen: Medial area of all sterna evenly convex; first sternum with impunctate, glabrous area; pygidium dorsally feebly convex in apical ½ with broadly rounded apex. Legs: Femora gradually tapered towards base; tibial spurs of all legs small, lacking visible surface sculpture; all basitarsi elongate triangular, length twice apical width; disco-setae on all basitarsi. Penis: In posterior view, sides subparallel; apex with rounded corners, tapered to bifurcate, spatulate apical process. The penis of this specimen was inadvertently left in the potassium hydroxide solution too long during the dissection procedure and became distorted and wrinkled. As a result the shape in lateral view is not informative. Sperm guide composed of upper and lower sclerites. Spermatheca: Females unknown.

Etymology. From Greek dicello, meaning mattock or pick-axe with two teeth, and posthe, meaning penis; referring to the bifurcate, spatulate apical process of the penis.

Diagnosis. Small (approximately 3.92 mm.); head and pronotum black with faint greenish-blue luster; elytra dark red-brown with light purple luster; each elytron with large red-orange humeral area; basitarsi elon- gate triangular, length twice apical width; penis ( Fig. 81 ) with large apical process tapered to small, bifurcate, spatulate apex. Females are unknown or indistinguishable from F. comalensis and F. humeralis . See diagnosis under F. comalensis for characters distinguishing F. dicelloposthe from F. comalensis and F. humeralis .

Distribution (Map 5). Known only from the holotype.

Natural History. Unknown.

Figures

FIGURES 9–12. Dorsal habitus of Fidia species. 9. F. delilahae. 10. F. dicelloposthe. 11. F. dichroma. 12. F. guatemalensis.

FIGURES 80–83. Distal part of male aedeagus, lateral and dorsal views (scale bar = 0.5 mm). 80. F. comalensis. 81. F. dicelloposthe. 82. F.humeralis. 83. F. tibialis. (abbreviations: ae- apical emargination; al- apical lobe; ao- apical orifice).