Caribbomerus jaliscanus, Heffern & Santos-Silva & Nascimento, 2021

Heffern, Daniel, Santos-Silva, Antonio & Nascimento, Francisco E. L., 2021, American Cerambycidae (Coleoptera): Four new species, new records and taxonomic notes, Zootaxa 4933 (3), pp. 361-378 : 365-366

Caribbomerus jaliscanus sp. nov.

( Figs. 19–24 )

Description. Male holotype. Integument mostly dark brown; antennal tubercles mostly reddish brown; antennae reddish brown with apex of some antennomeres slightly darkened; anterior third of prosternum reddish brown; scutellum reddish brown with blackish margins; elytra dark brown basally, gradually pale reddish brown (almost testaceous) from apex of anterior third; coxae, trochanters, and femoral peduncles reddish brown; femoral clubs brown; abdominal ventrite I almost black laterally, reddish brown centrally, except apex shining light reddish-brown (especially centrally); abdominal ventrites II–IV almost black laterally, dark reddish brown centrally (slightly lighter on IV), except apex shining light reddish-brown (especially centrally); abdominal ventrite V with irregular dark brown macula on each side of anterior third, reddish brown on remaining surface.

Head. Frons moderately finely, abundantly punctate; with narrow oblique carina close to the eye, from antennal tubercle to clypeus; with sparse grayish-white pubescence not obscuring integument. Vertex finely, abundantly punctate (punctures finer than those on frons); with grayish-white pubescence not obscuring integument, denser than the ones on frons. Area behind upper eye lobes finely, somewhat abundant punctate (punctures sparser than on vertex); with grayish-white pubescence not obscuring integument, distinctly sparser than on vertex. Area behind lower eye lobes transversely striate-punctate, with sparse grayish-white pubescence close to the eye, glabrous on remaining surface. Genae with somewhat sparse grayish-white pubescence close to eye, glabrous on remaining surface. Antennal tubercles with punctures finer than on frons except almost smooth apex; with sparse grayish-white pubescence, except glabrous apex. Median groove distinct from clypeus to level of posterior margin of upper eye lobes. Postclypeus with sparse grayish-white pubescence, almost absent centrally, absent on lateral apices; with a few long, erect grayish-white setae on sides of wide central area. Labrum coplanar with anteclypeus at posterior half, oblique at anterior half; with short, decumbent, sparse grayish-white setae on center of posterior half; short, decumbent, sparse yellowish setae on center of anterior half; and long, erect, yellowish setae on sides of entire surface (erect setae longer on posterior half). Gulamentum nearly smooth, glabrous on posterior third, transversely striate-punctate, and both, short and long grayish-white erect setae not obscuring integument (setae denser laterally, and slightly denser centrally). Distance between upper eye lobes 0.54 times length of scape (0.39 times distance between outer margins of eyes); in frontal view, distance between lower eye lobes 0.58 times length of scape (0.42 times distance between outer margins of eyes). Antennae 2.5 times elytral length, reaching elytral apex at base of antennomere VIII. Scape finely, abundantly punctate except smooth outer apex (with row of minute, transverse wrinkles on center of ventral surface); with grayish-white pubescence not obscuring integument, except glabrous smooth area. Antennomeres with short, erect, abundant grayish-white setae not obscuring integument, setae slightly longer and denser on ventral surface of III–VII. Antennal formula (ratio) based on length of antennomere III: scape = 1.56; pedicel = 0.25; IV = 1.43; V = 2.06; VI = 2.62; VII = 3.00; VIII = 3.00; IX = 2.78; X = 2.44; XI = 2.50.

Thorax. Prothorax distinctly longer than wide, about 1.4 times longer than wide, laterally slightly widened from middle to posterior constriction. Pronotum with two slightly elevated gibbosities on each side, one in anterior half near middle, another in posterior third; and slightly distinct, longitudinal elevation on center of posterior half; finely, abundantly punctate except smooth central elevation; with abundant grayish-white pubescence partially obscuring integument, except glabrous central elevation. Sides of prothorax finely, abundantly punctate, except nearly smooth area close to posterior margin and anterior area with sparser punctures (this region gradually widened toward prosternum); with abundant grayish-white pubescence partially obscuring integument, except glabrous nearly smooth posterior area, and nearly glabrous anterior area with sparser punctures. Prosternum coarsely, somewhat abundantly punctate on posterior 2/3, transversely striate-punctate on anterior third (striae more distinctly on apex of anterior third); with grayish-white pubescence not obscuring integument on posterior 2/3, and a few short setae of same color on anterior third. Narrowest area of prosternal process 0.25 times width of procoxal cavity. Ventral surface of meso- and metathorax with grayish-white pubescence not obscuring integument. Mesoventral process moderately abruptly elevated anteriorly, with one small gibbosity on each side of anterior area, gradually narrowed toward its apex. Scutellum with grayish-white pubescence not obscuring integument, forming row on center of posterior half ( Fig. 22 ). Elytra. Coarsely, abundantly punctate throughout; with abundant grayish-white pubescence not obscuring integument (pubescence more yellowish-white depending on light intensity). Legs. Protrochanters slightly tumid, with apex narrowly rounded. Femora pedunculate-clavate, especially meso- and metafemora; meso- and metafemoral peduncles flattened; femora with grayish-white pubescence not obscuring integument, denser on club. Tibiae with grayish-white pubescence not obscuring integument except yellowish pubescence on posterior area of ventral surface (this area longer in protibiae). Metatarsomere I 1.2 times length of II–III together.

Abdomen. Ventrites with grayish-white pubescence not obscuring integument, sparser centrally on I–IV, absent on apex of I–IV, with longer setae of same color interspersed on posterior area of V; apex of ventrite V truncate, slightly concave centrally.

Dimensions in mm. Total length, 9.30; prothoracic length, 1.60; anterior prothoracic width, 1.00; posterior prothoracic width, 1.10; widest prothoracic width, 1.15; humeral width, 1.80; elytral length, 6.25.

Type material. Holotype male from MEXICO, Jalisco: Sierra Huichola , 2266 m, Bolaños, 17-19.VII.2018, G. Nogueira col. ( TAMU).

Etymology. Named for the state of Jalisco in Mexico, where the holotype was collected.

Remarks. The general appearance of Caribbomerus jaliscanus sp. nov. resembles Hypexilis longipennis , but these species differ by the coplanar protrochanters in the former and almost vertical in the latter (generic feature). The original description of H. longipennis is problematic, since apparently it includes more than one species. Furthermore, we are not sure if it is Hypexilis or Caribbomerus . However, C. jaliscanus differs from H. longipennis (see photographs on Bezark 2021) by the dorsal pubescence much more conspicuous.

Caribbomerus jaliscanus differs from males of C. elongatus (Fisher, 1932) (see photographs on Bezark 2021) as follows: antennae in male 1.7 times body length; prosternal process wider, not narrowed centrally; abdomen slightly longer than meso- and metathorax together prosternal process. In male of C. elongatus , the antennae have 1.5 times body length ( Lingafelter 2011), prosternal process narrower, distinctly narrowed centrally, and the abdomen is distinctly longer than meso- and metathorax together.

Figures

FIGURES 13–24. 13) Merostenus howdeni (= Caribbomerus howdeni; = Hypexilis pallida), paratype male, dorsal habitus. 14) Hypexilis pallida, male from the USA (Texas), dorsal habitus. 15–18) Protrochanters, Hypexilis pallida: 15) Merostenus howdeni, paratype male; 16) Male from the USA (Texas); 17) Merostenus howdeni, paratype male, detail; 18) Male from the USA (Texas), detail. 19–24) Caribbomerus jaliscanus sp. nov., holotype male: 19) Dorsal habitus; 20) Ventral habitus; 21) Head, frontal view; 22) Detail of scutellum; 23) Lateral habitus; 24) Protrochanters.