Drycothaea spreta Bates, 1885

Bezark, Larry G. & Santos-Silva, Antonio, 2023, American biodiversity in Lamiinae (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae): description of three new species of Eupogonius LeConte and new distribution records, Zootaxa 5296 (3), pp. 406-420 : 419

Drycothaea spreta Bates, 1885

( Figs 24–29 )

Drycothea spreta Bates, 1885: 422 .

Galileo & Martins (2010) separated D. spreta Bates, 1885 from D. turrialbae (Breuning, 1943) as follows (translated): “Ventral surface black; elytra with large number of black maculae,” leading to D. turrialbae ; and “Ventral surface reddish brown; elytra with small number of black maculae,” leading to D. spreta . However, the number of black maculae on the elytra is practically the same in the holotype of the former and the lectotype of the later. Furthermore, the specimens of D. spreta from Mexico deposited at MZSP show that the color of the ventral surface is variable: entirely dark brown, sometimes almost black; dark brown with sides of the abdomen irregularly orangish; dark brown with abdomen irregular orangish areas interspersed. Studying the photograph of the holotype of D. turrialbae , the only reliable difference is the distance between upper eye lobes, which is slightly larger than in the specimens examined of D. spreta , including the lectotype. Therefore, it is possible that D. turrialbae is just a junior synonym of D. spreta .

The tubercle on the mesoventral process is always longitudinal and located centrally in D. spreta . However, it is never very high and can be virtually absent ( Fig. 29 ).

Currently, the species is known from Mexico (Veracruz, Jalisco) and Nicaragua ( Monné 2023; Tavakilian & Chevillotte 2022; Bezark 2022).

Material examined. MEXICO, Veracruz: Lake Catemaco , 2 males, 18.VI.1969, D. Bright & J.M. Campbell leg. ( MZSP) ; Palenque , 1 male, 22–23.VI.1969, D. Bright & J.M. Campbell leg. ( MZSP) ; México, Dos Amates , 1 male, 16–17.VI.1969, D. Bright & J.M. Campbell leg. ( MZSP) . Oaxaca (new state record): 2000’, 6 mi. S. Valle Nacional, 1 female, 18-20.V.1971, H. Howden leg. ( MZSP) . BELIZE (new country record), Stann Creek: Bocawina , 83 m, 16 km W of Dangriga, 16.927N 88.397 W, 1 male, 1–2.VIII.2017, L.G. Bezark leg. ( LGBC) .

Figures

FIGURES 24–29. Drycothaea spreta Bates, 1885, male from Belize: 24) Dorsal habitus; 25) Ventral habitus; 26) Lateral habitus; 27) Head, frontal view; 28) Tarsal claws; 29) Mesoventral process.