Sphaerion costae, García & Nascimento, 2020

García, Kimberly & Nascimento, Francisco Eriberto de Lima, 2020, Elaphidiini (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) from the Caribbean region of Colombia: New species, taxonomic notes and new geographical records, Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia (Pap. Avulsos Zool., S. Paulo) 60 (23), pp. 1-8 : 4-6

Sphaerion costae sp. nov.

( Figs. 5-8 , 10-12 )

Paratypes: COLOMBIA, Atlántico: Usiacurí ( Reserva Campesina La Montaña , 260 m, 10°46.0′02.6″N, 75°00.2′34.0″W, tropical dry forest), 17-18.III.2018, García, K. col., white light trap (1 ♀ MNRJ), 12-14.V.2018, García,K. col., white light trap (3 ♂ MPUJ _ ENT 0069868 , MPUJ _ ENT 0069869 , MPUJ _ ENT0069870 , 7♀ MZSP, 3♀ UARC, 3♀ IAVH, 1 ♂, 3 ♀ CEUA, 1 ♂, 3 ♀ MEFLG, 1 ♂, 2 ♀ ICN) ; UV light trap (1 ♂ MNRJ, 2 ♀ UNAB) ; manual capture (1 ♀ MNRJ, 1 ♀ ICN, 1 ♂ UNAB); (Maleza, 10.4500000° -74.4167000°) , VI.1950, Gallego Montaño, F.L. col. (1 ♀ MEFLG-13998 ). Bolívar: San Jacinto ( Reserva La Flecha , 324 m, 09°51′12.4″N, 75°10′41.4″W, tropical dry forest), 16.IV.2018, García, K. col., manual capture (2 ♂ MPUJ _ ENT 0069871 , MPUJ _ ENT 0070403 ), white light trap (2 ♀, MPUJ _ ENT 0070400 , MPUJ _ ENT 0070402 ), UV light trap (3 ♂ MZSP, 8 ♀, MPUJ _ ENT 0069872 , MPUJ _ ENT 0069873 , MPUJ _ ENT 0069874 , MPUJ _ ENT 0069875 , MPUJ _ ENT 0069876 , MPUJ _ ENT 0069877 , MPUJ _ ENT 0070399 , MPUJ _ ENT0070401 , 1 ♀ CEUA) ; 12-13.V.2018, García, K. col., UV light trap (2 ♀ CEUA, 1 ♀ MNRJ, 1 ♂, 1 ♀ MEFLG) ; VII.2018, Martinez, N. col., light trap (1 ♀ UNAB). Magdalena: Santa Marta (Vda. Palangana, Finca Los Nardos, Hostal Olas de Neguanje , 63 m, 11°16′41.904′N, 74°07′06.034′W, Bosque intervenido xerofítico tropical), 05.VI.2019, Neita, J.C. col., light trap (4 ♂ IAvH-E-214339, IAvH-E-214340, IAvH-E-214341, IAvH-E-214342, 4 ♀, IAvH-E-214343, IAvH-E-214344, IAvH-E-214345, IAvH-E-214346); (Reserva biológica Caoba, corregimiento Bonda, Vda. Theran, 347 m, 11°11′33.4″N, 74°03′24.4″W, Bosque intervenido, tropical alternohígrico) , 04.IV.2019, Neita, J.C. col., light trap (2 ♂ IAvH-E-214347, IAvH-E-214348, 3 ♀ IAvH-E-214349, IAvH-E-214350, IAvH-E-214351).

Description: Male: Integument reddish-brown. Maxillary and labial palps light brown. Elytra light brown, with pale gold, sericeous pubescence. Antennae reddish-brown; goldish setae on ventral face of antennae. Tarsus light brown.

Head: Frons confluently punctate;deeply and transversally sulcate near clypeus; with sparse, long, decumbent setae. Area between antennal tubercles with deep longitudinal sulcus;confluently,finely punctate; with a few short, decumbent setae. Area between upper eye lobes and towards anterior prothoracic margin with abundant, coarse punctation;and dense,short,decumbent setae obscuring integument. Antennal tubercles sparsely, finely punctate in area close to longitudinal sulcus, denser toward top; with short decumbent setae. Submentum densely rugose; transversally and finely striate on middle area,finely punctate on sides; with fine, short, decumbent goldish setae, abundant in anteromedial area. Genae confluently punctate; with dense decumbent setae, glabrous toward apex. Mandibles rugose on base; sparsely and coarsely punctate toward apex; with deep longitudinal sulcus on dorsal surface. Distance between upper eye lobes 3.7 times width of an upper lobe. Antennae 2.5 times elytral length,reaching elytral apex near middle of antennomere VII. Scape abundantly, finely punctate; with sparse, short, decumbent setae, interspersed with long erect setae, denser at base and laterally. Antennomeres with short, decumbent setae partially obscuring integument; interspersed with long, erect setae mainly ventrally, distinctly more abundant on basal segments. Antennomeres IV-VI dorsally carinate. Antennomeres III-V with short spine at inner apex, smaller on V. Antennomeres VI-XI unarmed. Antennal formula (ratio) based on length of antennomere III: scape = 0.57; pedicel = 0.14; IV = 0.97; V = 0.99; VI = 0.97;VII = 1.04;VIII = 0.88; IX = 0.87;X = 0.76;XI = 1.99.

Thorax: Prothorax equally longer than wide; rounded on lateral margins and unarmed. Pronotal disk with five gib- bosities distinctly elevated; one longitudinal, near middle; two anterior ones, bigger and rounded in shape; two posterior ones elongated. Gibbosities rounded, shiny and microsculptured. Anteromedial margin of pronotum with thick, triangular-shaped area. Surface of pronotum sparsely and finely punctate, coarser and denser laterally; with dense pale yellow pubescence obscuring integument, except for gibbosities. Lateral margins of prothorax moderately, coarsely and deeply punctate; with dense pubescence obscuring integument, interspersed with sparse, long, erect setae.Prosternum with abundant sexual punctation; densely pubescent with a few, sparse, short decumbent setae; anterior region of prosternum transversally, finely striate. Prosternal process densely pubescent; slightly narrowed at middle and slightly expanded toward the apex; width at narrowest point about 0.2 times of procoxal cavity width. Mesoventrite microsculptured; with dense, short decumbent setae on anterior and lateral areas. Mesoventral process pubescent, with sides divergent toward apex; width at narrowest point about 0.7 times of mesocoxal cavity width. Mesanepisternum, mesepimeron and metanepisternum with minute abundant setae almost obscuring integument. Metaventrite microsculptured; with few, sparse, fine punctation; and minute, abundant, decumbent setae except for longitudinal central area.Scutellum densely pubescent; posterior margin rounded.

Elytra: Finely and abundantly punctate,denser on anteri- or third,sparser toward the apex; with dense pubescence partially obscuring integument; and long, erect setae aligned in three rows; one next to sutural margin, arising from coarse punctation, abundant in the basal region; one in medium area of apical third; and one next to outer margin on apical third. Apex of elytra emarginated with small spine at outer angle, 0.6 times length of pedicel.

Legs: Femora distinctly clavate, mainly meso- and metafemora; microsculptured; with short, decumbent setae obscuring integument, denser dorsally toward apex, interspersed with long, erect setae.Tibiae with longitudinal carinae laterally; with short, decumbent setae, interspersed with long, erect setae at inner face, denser toward apex. Metatarsomere I longer than II-III together.

Abdomen: Ventrites densely pubescent obscuring integument; each with sparse, long, erect setae on posteri- or margin. Apex of ventrite V truncate.

Variability: Some specimens have lighter integument, reddish and yellowish; denser decumbent setae on head and frons; longer spines at apex of antennomere III; denser pubescence on ventral face of the body, lateral margin of submentum and scape; pronotal disk entirely pubescent (including the gibbosities).

Sexual dimorphism: Females have shorter antennae, reaching elytral apex at apex of antennomere X; prothorax with lateral tubercles, acute at apex; prosternum with a few, coarse punctation in the middle, densely pubes- cent; ventrite V longer, trapezoidal, posterior margin truncate. Some females are lighter than the others, with denser pubescence.

Measurements (in mm): Holotype, male, total length: 15.5, prothorax length: 3.0, largest prothoracic width 3.3, elytral length: 10.6, humeral width: 3.7. Paratypes, ♂ / ♀, n = 9/26. Total length: 15.3 ± 5.8/16.9 ± 5.9, prothorax length: 3.0 ± 1.4/2.8 ± 0.9, largest prothoracic width: 3.3 ± 1.5/3.5 ± 1.2, elytral length: 10.6 ± 4.9/11.8 ± 4.1, humeral width: 3.8 ± 1.5/4.1 ± 1.4.

Etymology: The species epithet is in honor of Cleide Costa (MZSP) in recognition of her work and contributions to the knowledge of Coleoptera , especially for immature stages in the Neotropical Region.

Remarks: Sphaerion costae sp.nov.,is similar to Sphaerion sladeni Gahan, 1903 ( Figs. 9, 13 ) by the reddish-brown integument, and general pubescence. Sphaerion costae sp. nov., differs by having basal antennomeres barely carinate or lacking carinae; prothoracic pubescence on lateral and ventral sides, lateral pubescence denser, especially on males where it forms a patch; longer elytral spines; and distribution in the Caribbean region of Colombia. Sphaerion sladeni have small spines on elytral apex; prothorax without dense pubescence; antennomeres distinctly carinate; with distribution in the Amazon. A single female specimen from the type series of S. costae sp. nov., has the prothorax rounded at sides ( Fig. 10 ), a characteristic that is not present in any species of Sphaerion , or any other similar genera like Mephritus , however, we consider it an aberrant specimen of S. costae sp. nov.

Herein, Sphaerion costae sp. nov., is included in the couplet 4 of Martins (2005) key (translated and modified), along with S. iuasanga and S. lingafelteri according to Galileo et al. (2015) and Galileo & Santos-Silva (2016):

1. Elytra metallic blue or, rarely, metallic green. Brazil (Goiás, Distrito Federal, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Bahia, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo), Bolivia (Santa Cruz), Paraguay.............................. S.cyanipenne Audinet-Serville,1834

— Elytra without metallic coloration ..................................................2

2(1). Integument dark-brown or reddish-brown.....................................3

— Integument reddish or yellow, sometimes, elytra with dark areas along the suture and on dorsal face of apical half.......................6

3(2). Reddish-orange head, scape and legs, contrasting with the rest of integument; pronotum wider at posterior third with center glabrous and shiny. Bolivia (Santa Cruz)....................................... ........................ S.iuasanga Galileo,Martins & Santos-Silva,2015

— Scape and legs similar in color to the rest of the integument;center of pronotum with a short,narrow shining area ..........................4

4(3). Basal antennomeres barely or not carinate; dense prothoracic pubescence lateral and ventrally; long elytral spines. Colombia (Atlántico,Bolívar).............................................. S.costae sp.nov.

— Basal antennomeres distinctly carinate; prothoracic pubescence sparse;short elytral spines..........................................................5

5(4). Males with antennomeres III-IV each with short spine. Both sexes with elytral apex truncate in short extension; abundant body pubescence; scape slender and narrow toward the apex. Brazil (Rondônia, Mato Grosso, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso do Sul, Bahia,Minas Gerais), Bolivia (Santa Cruz, Tarija) .......................... .................................................................. S.sladeni Gahan,1903

— Males with antennomeres III-IV unarmed. Both sexes with elytral apex rounded; sparse body pubescence; scape thick toward the apex. Bolivia (Tarija), Paraguay, Argentina (Salta, Tucumán, Chaco), Uruguay.............................. S.rusticum Burmeister,1865

6(2). Dense elytral pubescence,interspersed with contrasting punctures, mainly on apical half;tarsomeres of males thickened. Brazil (Mato Grosso do Sul), Bolivia (Santa Cruz, Tarija), Argentina (Córdoba, Corrientes), Paraguay, Uruguay............ S.lentiginosum Berg,1899

— Elytral pubescence sparse or absent,without contrasting punctures; tarsomeres of males not thickened.............................................7

7(6). Larger dimensions (length, 31-52 mm); antennae, in both sexes, with relatively long spine at antennomeres III-VI. United States (Texas) , Mexico (Chiapas, Yucatan) , Nicaragua, Brazil (Pará, Piauí, Bahia, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Santa Catarina) , Argentina and Uruguay....................................... .......................................................... S.exutum (Newman,1841)

— Smaller dimensions(length, 21-40mm);antennae unarmed or with minute spines (males) or with very short spines at antennomeres III-VI (females)............................................................................8

8(7). Antennae (male) longer, exceed elytral apex at antennomere VI; femora distinctly clavate. Brazil (Mato Grosso, Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Bahia, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul) , Bolivia (Beni, Santa Cruz, Tarija) , Paraguay, Argentina (Jujuy, Salta), Uruguay........................................... S.inerme White,1853

— Antennae (male) shorter, exceeding elytral apices at antennomere VIII;femora less distinctly clavate ( Fig.14 ). Bolivia (Santa Cruz)... .................................... S.lingafelteri Galileo & Santos-Silva,2016

Figures

Figures 1-8. (1-4) Mephritus costae sp. nov. Holotype male: (1) Dorsal habitus; (2) Ventral habitus; (3) Lateral habitus; (4) Head, frontal. (5-8) Sphaerion costae sp.nov.,holotype male:(5) Head,frontal;(6) Dorsal habitus;(7)Ventral habitus;(8) Lateral habitus.Scale bars:figs.1-4 = 2 mm;figs.5-8 = 5 mm.

Figures 9-15. (9, 13) Sphaerion sladeni Gahan, 1903: (9) Dorsal habitus; (13) Detail of pronotum and head. (10-12) Sphaerion costae sp. nov., paratype females: (10) Female with lateral margins of prothorax rounded, dorsal habitus; (11) Female with lateral margins of prothorax tuberculate, dorsal habitus; (12) Detail of pronotum and head.(14-15) Mephritus apicatus (Linsley,1935),dorsal habitus:(14) Male;(15) Female.Scale bars = 5 mm.