Theognete backorum Anderson, 2010

Anderson, Robert S., 2010, A taxonomic monograph of the Middle American leaf-litter inhabiting weevil genus Theognete Champion (Coleoptera: Curculionidae; Molytinae; Lymantini) 2458, Zootaxa 2458 (1), pp. 1-127 : 62

63. Theognete backorum Anderson , new species ( Figures 153 , 188 , 223 )

Diagnosis. Size. Length, male, 3.03–3.82mm; female, 3.43–3.99mm. Width, male, 1.63–2.25mm; female, 1.85–2.08mm. Pronotum weakly cordate, moderately deeply, rather densely punctate except along midline and towards lateral margins; scales appressed or feebly arched, short and broad, not clumped, apices plumose; flanks with punctures subcontiguous but not arranged into sulci. Elytral intervals with single row of wellspaced, non-overlapping, suberect to erect, clavate, simple scales. Strial regions each with a row of appressed, fine, hair-like scales. Posteroloateral area of elytra with a series of 3–4 distinct punctures. Aedeagus as in Fig. 188 .

Geographical distribution. México (Chiapas).

Natural history. Collected from berlese extraction of cloud forest, liquidambar forest and riparian mesophytic forest leaf litter at elevations ranging from 1300–2100m.

Derivation of specific name. Through his support of the Nature Discovery Fund at the Canadian Museum of Nature, this species is named after Frédéric and Guylaine Back of Monteral, Quebec, Canada, as a gift from Mario Lalanne.

Material examined. 30♂, 13♀♀ ( CWOB, CMNC, ECOS) . Holotype ♂ ( CMNC) : MÉXICO: Chiapas. 8.9km E. Rayón, 1500m, 19.IX.1991, R. Anderson, cloud forest litter, 91-109 / HOLOTYPE ♂, Theognete backorum sp. nov., R. S. Anderson. Aedeagus extracted. Paratypes: MÉXICO. Chiapas. El Bosque (6.6 mi. W.) , 4800', 29.VIII.1973, A. Newton (2♂ MCZC) . Pueblo Nuevo Solistahuacán (8 mi. N), 6000', 26– 27.VIII.1973, A. Newton, berlese cloud forest leaf litter (2♂, 1♀ MCZC) . Rayón (8.9 km E.), 1500m, 19.IX.1991, R. Anderson, cloud forest litter, 91-109 (10♂, 4♀♀ CMNC) . Bochil (5.9 km. E.), 1300m, 15.IX.1992, R.S. Anderson, 92-104, riparian mesophytic forest litter (1♂ CMNC) . Yerbabuena Preserve, 2.1 km. N. W. Pueblo Nuevo Solistahuacán , 2100m, 23.IX.1992, 92-114, R.S. Anderson, cloud forest litter (3♂, 2♀♀ CMNC) . Yerbabuena Preserve, 2.1 km. N. W. Pueblo Nuevo Solistahuacán , 2100m, 23.IX.1992, 92-114, R.S. Anderson, liquidambar forest litter (2♂, 1♀ CMNC) . Municipio Solhistuacán, Reserva La Yerbabuena , 17°11'00.3" N 92°53'52.4" W, 2050m, 22.VII.2003, R. Anderson, wet cloud forest litter, 2003-115 (1♂ CMNC) ; same as before except: 1950m, oak/pine/liquidambar forest litter, 2003-116 (1♀ CMNC) ; 1850m, oak/pine/liquidambar forest litter, 2003-117 (1♂, 1♀ CMNC) . Municipio Coapilla, Cerro El Calvario, nr. Tapalapa , 17°10'25.8" N 93°07'52.2" W, 2000m, 23.VII.2003, R. Anderson, oak/pine/liquidambar forest litter, 2003-119 (7♂, 4♀♀ CWOB, CMNC, ECOS) . Municipio Coapilla, Coapilla (6–8km. N.E.) 17º 10’25” N 93º 07’52” W, 2030m, 26.VII.2005, R. Anderson, oak/pine/liquidambar forest litter, 2005-009 (1♂, CMNC) .

Chorological relationships. Sympatric with T. sylvatica , T. campbelli , T. cortesi , T. illuviosa , T. weadockae , T. jonesi and T. tzotzil .

Figures

FIGURES 144–154. Habitus, dorsal view, Theognete tzotzil species group. 144. T. tzotzil. 145. T. braunae. 146. T. zapatista. 147. T. howdenorum. 148. T. maturini. 149. T. montana. 150. T. lalannei. 151. T. hortenseae. 152. T. scopulus. 153. T. backorum. 154. T. lutulenta.

FIGURES 187–189. Aedeagus, dorsal and lateral view, Theognete tzotzil species group. 187. T. scopulus. 188. T. backorum. 189. T. lutulenta.

FIGURES 204–227. Abdominal ventrite 5, male, ventral view, Theognete tzotzil species group. 204. T. galvezi. 205. T. echinata. 206. T. schaubeli. 207. T. clavisetosa. 208. T. schusteri. 209. T. cortesi. 210. T. trusterae. 211. T. cavei. 212. T. peckorum. 213. T. huitepec. 214. T. tzotzil. 215. T. braunae. 216. T. zapatista. 217. T. howdenorum. 218. T. maturini. 219. T. montana. 220. T. lalannei. 221. T. hortenseae. 222. T. scopulus. 223. T. backorum. 224. T. lutulenta. 225. T. confusa. 226. T. lapouimetorum. 227. T. balli.