Myoplatypus nicaraguensis Kirkendall, 2023

Kirkendall, Lawrence R. & Atkinson, Thomas H., 2023, The rare genus Myoplatypus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Platypodinae): three new species, new reports, and first records for South America, Zootaxa 5351 (3), pp. 301-321 : 304

Myoplatypus nicaraguensis Kirkendall , new species

( Figs 1 , 4 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:FDDB38F8-C67F-46B4-8DFB-09FE2086B1F3

Type material. Holotype male: “ NICARAGUA: Estelí: Almaciguera , 13.0245, -86.37494; 1253 m; 14-III-2010, ex. Quercus sp. ; THA 930; coll. T.H. Atkinson. ” One male paratype, same data. Second male paratype: El Salvador, El Boquerón, I. G. 22.899, 10.VI.1959, Leg. J. Bechyné, one male ( RBINS). The holotype and the Nicaragua paratype are in my collection ( LRKC) but will be donated to NMNH. The El Salvador paratype belongs to RBINS.

Differential diagnosis. Identifiable as a male Myoplatypus by the transverse pair of large spines on ventrite 3 of males and elongate body with a short vertical declivity. Small species (2.6 mm): M. biprorus is slightly larger, M. petrovi about the same size, but for both the declivity is completely different from that of M. nicaraguensis ( Fig. 1 ). Myoplatypus prenexus (Wood) is larger, and the posterolateral projections are more pronounced and are angled downwards (compare Figs 4B and 10B ).

Similar species. Most similar in overall appearance to M. prenexus but is smaller and has a slightly different declivity.

Description of male: Length of body from vertex (front of the top of head) to elytra apex at suture 3.0– 3.4 mm, net body length 2.6–2.8 mm, 3.2–3.3 × as long as wide. Pronotum length 1.0 mm, 1.2 × as long as wide. Elytra length 1.6–1.9 mm, 2.0–2.3 × as long as wide.

Pronotum without mycangial pores. Anterior margin of the metanepisternal-metaventrite impression with 3 spines above, the upper two tiny, quite close to each other and close to the upper margin, the lowest spine larger and on the lower border of the metanepisternum; 1 larger spine below on the metaventrite, equal in size and shape to the lowest spine of the metanepisternum. Spines on ventrite 3 large, mostly black, separated by about 4 × the basal width of a spine. Declivity short, flattened, nearly vertical, finely reticulate (dull), with about 2 or 3 tiny nodules on what are probably interstriae 1 and interstriae 5. Interstriae 3 extending slightly down the declivity, the extension a sharp, low black carina. Posterolateral margin anterior to angle with three teeth, margin ending in a flat, nearly triangular, black-tipped posterolateral process not extending beyond the sutural apex (viewed from above).

Distribution. Collected from mid-elevation cloud forest in northwest Nicaragua and from a national park atop a volcano in western El Salvador.

Biology. Collected from Quercus sp. (Fagaceae) .

Etymology. The species epithet refers to the country where the holotype was collected. Adjective.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Dorsal, lateral, and angled posterior views of the declivities of five tropical species of Myoplatypus. (A–C) M. petrovi. (D–F) M. sicarius. (G–I) M. nicaraguensis. (J–L) M. brevicornis. (M–O) M. quadricornis. For sources of photos, see plates for the respective species; for sizes of species, see Table 1.

FIGURE 4. Myoplatypus nicaraguensis Kirkendall, male holotype. (A) dorsal view. (B) Lateral view; one of the medium-sized spines on ventrite 3 can be seen. (C) Frontal view. (D) Posterior view. Photos by T.H. Atkinson.

FIGURE 10. Myoplatypus connexus (Wood), male holotype. (A) dorsal view. (B) Lateral view; a very large, slightly backwardpointing spine from ventrite 3 can be seen between the two third pair of legs (to the right of the left femur). (C) Frontal view. (D) Posterior view, showing declivity. Photos: Smithsonian Institution (USNMENT00912096), CC0 license, by S.M. Smith.