Pharaxonotha perezi Tang & Gomez Dominguez, 2022

Tang, William & Dominguez, Hector Gomez, 2022, Two new species of Pharaxonothinae beetles (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) inhabiting cones of the cycad Ceratozamia santillanii Pérez-Farr. & Vovides (Cycadales: Zamiaceae) in Mexico, Zootaxa 5150 (3), pp. 428-442 : 437-439

Pharaxonotha perezi Tang & Gomez Dominguez , new species

( Figures 6A–K )

Adult diagnosis. Pharaxonotha perezi can be distinguished from other described members of the genus by a combination of characters: Body length 2.59–3.51 mm; pronotum with anterior angles rounded, pronotal length relatively short with length/width (PL/PW) = 0.68–0.74; spermatheca compact with spermathecal and glandular duct adjacent and inserted in a common shallow pit ( Fig. 6J ); with known distribution in Mexico, state of Chiapas on Ceratozamia santillanii .

Adult male description. Length 2.80–3.11 mm, width 1.10–1.24 mm (n = 6). Body in dorsal view elongateoval, greatest width at middle of elytra; in lateral view convex dorsally ( Figs. 6A–C ). Body color entirely brown; dorsal surface punctate, shining and appearing glabrous, short procumbent hairs associated with punctation on pronotum and elytra visible in profile only under high magnification, ventrally shining and covered with short procumbent setae.

Head not broad, width = 0.70–0.73× pronotal width ( Figs. 6D–F ); in dorsal view conical, gradually narrowed anteriorly, surface flat to slightly convex, finely, moderately punctured, average distance between closest punctures 1–2× width of puncture; head width 0.62–0.69 mm; dorsal interocular distance 0.39–0.43 mm, head width/dorsal interocular distance ratio 1.57–1.64, ventral interocular distance 0.28–0.31 mm, head width/ventral interocular distance ratio 2.06–2.38. Eye with large black facets, about 3× diameter of head punctures. Antennal length slightly shorter than pronotal width, 1.3× head width; antennomere I (scape) fairly large, slightly elongate; antennomere II slightly shorter than III; IV–VIII small, width equals length; club fairly large, IX and X similar in length; XI enlarged, 1.6× longer than X, globular with rounded apex. Clypeus weakly concave anteriorly, moderately punctate. Mentum and submentum finely punctate, distance between nearest punctures approximately 2× own diameter, each puncture with a short seta ( Fig. 6F ). Gula area smooth, without punctation or setae, border with submentum usually with a shallow transverse depression.

Thorax with pronotum transversely quadrate in dorsal view, length/width ratio 0.70–0.74; with distinct marginal beads laterally and basally, anteriorly with fine marginal bead laterally, but fading medially; convex; anterior angles broadly rounded, not projecting; posterior angles weakly developed, with small denticle at angle; lateral carinae parallel-sided or evenly shallowly arcuate for length; posterior margin slightly projecting medially, projection beginning approximately by pair of small, dark pores in margin located ¼ width from posterior angles, each pore marks base of a distinct sulcus extending anteriorly onto disc ¼ length of pronotum. Prosternum in ventral view convex, with few moderate punctations, distance between nearest punctures approximately 2× own diameter; anterior margin slightly emarginate, finely denticulate with row of long, anteriorly directed setae, longest setae approximately 1/4 length of eye; prosternal process expanded apically, rounded and convex at apex. Hypomeron laterally with few minute punctures, medially lacking distinct longitudinal striations. Scutellar shield distinctly transverse, posterior margin weakly roundly pentagonal. Elytra in dorsal view elongate-oval, convex; length/width ratio1.67–1.74, greatest width near midlength; with distinct marginal line basally; 10 complete striae of moderate puncture size; scutellary striole extending ¼ elytral length, with 9–13 punctures; punctures of elytral striae as large as pronotal punctures, weakly impressed; intervals of striae with fine, shallow punctures; all punctures of elytra bearing a single short seta; seta only visible in profile, extending slightly out of puncture. Mesoventrite with strong punctation, distance between nearest punctures approximately equal to diameter of punctures, puncture depth moderate. Metaventrite glossy, with moderate punctation separated by 2–3× own diameter; finely punctured; entire surface convex, metathoracic discrimen extending approximately 3/4 metaventrite length. Legs narrow, relatively similar in length and shape. Procoxa oval; mesocoxa globular; metacoxa transversely elongate-oval; trochanters obliquely truncate apically; femora robust, moderately compressed laterally; tibiae shorter than femora, gradually dilated to obliquely truncate apices; protibia with apical lateral tooth distinct, with apical fringe of short spinules of concave ventral apical margin usually lacking near lateral tooth; meso- and metatibia with apical fringe of short spinules on anterior margin, finer setae on posterior margins.

Abdomen. Ventrite I with intercoxal process narrow, with triangular point anteromedially; lateral edges slightly projected, lateral and posterior margins arcuate, converging posteriorly; anterior and posterior margins of ventrites more or less straight; ventrite I longer medially than II; II–IV subequal in length; V slightly longer than IV with lateral margins converging posteriorly to a rounded apex; apical margin bearing short, sparse setae; all ventrites bearing moderate, shallow punctation across surface, distance to nearest puncture approximately 2× diameter of puncture, punctures bearing mostly reclining setae; ventrite V with setae length nearly uniformly approximately 2× diameter of puncture; I–IV each with 2 or more median pairs of longer, semi-erect sensory hairs (difficult to see in poor lighting, often abraded). Male genitalia (n=2) with elongate, slightly flattened cylindrical median lobe, long coiled flagellum and dorsoventrally flattened tegmen with basal piece ring-like, similar to all others in the genus; as in all other known members of the genus, tegmen and median lobe held upside down while in repose inside body ( Tang et al. 2020) ( Figs. 6G–H ). Parameres of tegmen in dorso-ventral view nearly parallel-sided, expanding slightly in apical half, apex slightly to strongly asymmetrical and pointing toward midline of tegmen; in lateral view length/width ratio 3.4–4.6, setae confined to apex with length <width of paramere ( Fig. 6I ).

Female. Similar to male, no sexual dimorphism observed. Length 2.59–3.51 mm, width 1.03–1.31 mm (n = 10). Head width 0.62–0.69 mm and 0.69–0.76× pronotal width; dorsal interocular distance 0.36–0.43 mm, head width/dorsal interocular distance ratio 1.60–1.67, ventral interocular distance 0.27–0.32 mm, head width/ventral interocular distance ratio 2.00–2.25. Pronotum length/width ratio 0.68–0.72. Elytra length/width ratio1.69–1.78. Genitalia (n=4): gonostylus cylindrical, widest at apex, tapering slightly and gradually to base, set apically on gonocoxite, length= 3.9–5.6× width ( Fig. 6K ). Spermatheca distinct from all other Pharaxonotha studied so far from throughout its range (Tang, unpublished data): compact and arcuate, but not C-shaped, length/width = 2.8–3.3, apical third approximately 1.3× width of basal third, apical half with moderate annulation, apex rounded, basal third with longitudinal striations, spermathecal and glandular duct adjacent and inserted in a shallow pit on dorsal side of the basal third ( Fig. 6J ).

Type locality. Mexico, Chiapas, near the border of Reserva de Biosfera Selva el Ocote [GPS and locality name omitted], forest understory on limestone .

Range. The original description of the host of this beetle species, Ceratozamia santillanii , indicates its range as the northern highlands of Chiapas State, including the Ocote Biosphere Reserve ( Pérez-Farrera et al. 2009).

Material examined. Holotype (by designation) female of Pharaxonotha perezi with the following labels: 1) [rectangular; white; printed in black ink] “ MEX., Chis , [GPS coord. and locality omitted], cone Ceratozamia santillanii ♂, 16-V-2021, H. Gomez Dominguez & M. Jones ”; 2) [rectangular; red; printed in black ink] HOLOTYPE ♀ Pharaxonotha perezi Tang & Gomez Dominguez 2022 . Deposited in the FSCA . Allotype ( FSCA) and 14 adult paratypes (same data as holotype) deposited at FSCA, IEXA .

Additional specimens studied, but not included in types series: Mexico: Hidalgo, Hwy 105, La Mora, [GPS omitted], 1289m, Ceratozamia chamberlainii mid shed ♂ cone, 23-IV-2018, M. A. Perez Farrera & W. Tang (10); San Luis Potosí, Hwy 70, E of Tamasopo, 640m, [GPS omitted], cone Ceratozamia microstrobila [ C. latifolia ] ♂, 21-IV-2018, M. A. Perez Farrera & W. Tang (57); Potrero de Carneros Km 17 Carr. Rio Verde-Cd. Valles [GPS omitted], 900m, J. A. Peréz de la Rosa y G. Vargas cols. Ex Ceratozamia latifolia (estrobio masculine), 4.VII.2003 (4); Tampermoche, [GPS omitted], ex ♂ Ceratozamia hildae late shed cone, 19-IV-2018, M. A. Perez Farrera & W. Tang (20). These will be deposited in the institutions stated above.

Etymology. Named in honor of Miguel Angel Pérez-Farrera for his work on the systematics, ecology and conservation of Mexican cycads.

Remarks. A female specimen was chosen as the holotype due to the distinctive and highly diagnostic spermatheca of the female in this species. Current morphological analysis did not reveal differences in size or body proportions between the P. perezi population found on C. santillanii in Chiapas and similar beetles collected from C. chamberlainii , C. hildae and C. latifolia in Hidalgo and San Luis Potosi states, over 500 km to the northwest. Therefore, it is unclear whether beetles from these two regions represent disjunct isolated species or whether they represent the two ends of a more continuous distribution across this range. Dwarf Ceratozamia species, similar to these four, occur on similar steep habitats in Veracruz state ( Vovides et al. 2008) between these two areas, presenting the possibility of a more continuous distribution for this beetle. Survey of dwarf Ceratozamia species in Veracruz for cone beetles and analysis of DNA may help to resolve the identity of these similar northern Pharaxontha beetles. Here the type series for P. perezi is restricted to C. santillanii .

Figures

FIGURE 6. Pharaxonotha perezi (A–F: female holotype): A–C) dorsal, lateral and ventral habitus (male habitus with no discernable difference); D–F) head, dorsal, lateral and ventral views; G) tegmen attached to median lobe (top) genital capsule (bottom), ventral views; H) tegmen attached to median lobe, lateral view; I) parameres of tegmen, (top to bottom) ventral and lateral views; J) spermatheca; K) female genitalia, ventral view. Scale bars: white = 1 mm for A, B & C; brown = 0.5 mm for D, E & F; gray = 0.5 mm for G, H & K; black = 0.1 mm for I & J.