Solenoptera helbi Lingafelter

Lingafelter, Steven W., 2015, The Prioninae (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) of Hispaniola, with Diagnoses, Descriptions of New Species, Distribution Records, and a Key for Identification, The Coleopterists Bulletin 69 (3), pp. 353-388 : 370-372

25. Solenoptera helbi Lingafelter , new species ( Figs. 4g , 6a–c , 12b , 17b )

Discussion. This rare species is known from only two specimens, both collected in the central mountains of the Dominican Republic mountains in July and August. The August specimen was collected from north of San José de Ocoa in the early afternoon as it flew from a smashed honeydew melon ( Cucumis melo L., Cucurbitaceae ).

This species is very similar to S. furfurosa in overall shape and punctation. However, it differs by being very thickened and fusiform in lateral view (thinner in lateral view in S. furfurosa ); mostly black coloration (reddish brown in S. furfurosa ); pronotal margins evenly dentate, without anterolateral or posterolateral spines (weak anterolateral lobe and posterolateral spine present in S. furfurosa ); prosternal process with less divergent lobes at apex (strongly divergent and widened at apex in S. furfurosa ); and mostly orange femora contrasting sharply with very dark tibiae and tarsi (tibiae only gradually darker than femora in S. furfurosa ).

The shape, coloration, antennae, venter, and punctation are also very similar to the other new species described herein, S. rugosa . These species have similar color of their dorsal integument and femora and similar structure of the prosternum. They are distinguished by the following: S. helbi has the pronotal margins evenly dentate and lacking a posterolateral spine ( S. rugosa has the pronotal margins unevenly dentate with a distinct posterolateral spine); S. helbi has a nearly complete elytral epipleural margin extending laterally in dorsal view and also present on the humeral angles ( S. rugosa has an incomplete epipleural margin on the elytra and lacks this on the humerus); the elytral base is mostly large, deep, but mostly separate punctation in S. helbi (deeply, rugosely punctate in S. rugosa ).

Description, Female (Holotype). Size 33.0 mm long; 12.4 mm wide between elytral humeri; integument with head, antennae, pronotum, elytra, tibiae, tarsi, and femoral bases and apices black; middle of femora orange; venter very dark reddish brown. Body very thick and fusiform in lateral view. Head with broad, deep, V-shaped sulcus extending from frons, widest at antennal tubercles, and narrowing to occiput. Margins of sulcus heavily sculptured and punctate. Apical maxillary palpomere not strongly dilated at apex. Antennae extending to just beyond midpoint of elytra; glabrous; sparsely, shallowly punctate. Antennomeres, except for 3 and 11, strongly broadened apically, triangular, nearly as broad as long. Antennomere 3 elongate, only slightly broadened apically, 1.5 times length of scape. Antennomere 11 about 1.3 times length of 10, oval with subapical constriction. Antennomeres 4–10 successively decreasing slightly in length.

d) Dorsal view, e) Ventral view, f) Lateral view.

Poriferous sensory areas as follows: very small, oval dorsal apicolateral patches on antennomeres 3–5; 1 very small and 1 larger, oval dorsal apicolateral patches on 6–7; small ovoid patches increasing in number and distribution over dorsal surface on 8–9; dorsal surfaces nearly covered in oval sensory areas on 10–11.

Pronotum 11.5 mm wide; 5.5 mm long (2.1 times wider than long); with deep, sparsely punctate anteromedial depression; shiny, sparsely punctate to evenly dentate margins that lack anterolateral lobe or posterolateral spine. Margin with faint, oblique, shiny, sparsely punctate ridge extending from posterolateral angle to to median ridge. Surface glabrous except for scattered, sparse setae along margins and between median ridge and margin of base. Abruptly constricted posterior to posterolateral angle such that base of pronotum extends to halfway point between scutellar margin and humeral margin. Prosternal process broad, slightly broader at apex than base, moderately punctate, strongly notched at apex with apices weakly divergent. Base of prosternum weakly, ventrally produced, but without distinct tubercle.

Elytra 26.0 mm long; 6.2 mm wide (4.2 times longer than wide); glabrous; nearly parallel-sided; not divergent apically at suture. Punctures dense and deep basally, becoming denser and shallower throughout apical 4/5. Epipleural margin complete in dorsal view, extending laterally, and humeral epipleural margin present. Epipleuron in ventral view mostly smooth, especially on basal half. Elytral apex rounded to very weakly dentiform suture. Scutellum broad, rounded posteriorly, moderately, shallowly punctate; glabrous. Legs short, hind femur extending to apical fourth of elytra. Femora very weakly thickened post-medially, not distinctly punctate, mostly glabrous; without denticles. Tibiae with fringe of short pubescence along inner margin of apical halves, most pronounced on metatibiae, least pronounced on protibiae. Thoracic pleura and sternites sparsely pubescent and punctate. Metasternum with shallow, V-shaped impression. Abdomen with venter sparsely pubescent. Last ventrite 1.3 times longer than fourth, truncate at apex.

Etymology. The epithet helbi is a genitive latinized noun named for Matthias Helb who collected a paratype and took the live photograph of this species ( Fig. 12b ).

Type Data. Holotype (female): DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Santiago Province (Parque Nacional Armando Bermúdez, Rio Bao , 1212 m, 10 July 1992, M. A. and R. O. Ivie, collrs. [ WIBF, donated to USNM]) . Paratype (female): DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: San José de Ocoa Province (18°39′14.4″N 70°34′59.0″W, 14 km NNW San José de Ocoa, 1673 m, 1 August 2013, Matthias Helb, coll. [ MHPC, to be donated to USNM]) .

Figures

Fig. 4. Dorsal habitus of Hispaniolan Solenoptera species. a) S. furfurosa, male, b) S. furfurosa, female holotype, c) S. scutellata, male, d) S. scutellata, female, e) S. vittata, male, f) S. vittata, female, g) S. helbi, female holotype, h) S. rugosa, female holotype, i) S. tomentosa, male paratype.

Fig. 6. Solenoptera species, female holotypes. S. helbi: a) Dorsal view, b) Ventral view, c) Lateral view. S. rugosa:

Fig. 12. Living Hispaniolan Prioninae. a) Solenoptera tomentosa, male holotype (photograph by Rick Stanley),

Fig. 17. Distribution maps of Hispaniolan Prioninae. a) Solenoptera vittata and Solenoptera furfurosa, b) Solenoptera helbi, Solenoptera tomentosa, and Derancistrachroma melanoleuca.