Pseudostenophyma modesta ( Weise, 1921 ) Weise, 1921

Furth, David G. & Zhaurova, Kira M., 2010, Two new flea beetle genera: Alasia alpina gen. et sp. nov. from a Costa Rican cloud forest and Pseudostenophyma gen. nov. from Brazil (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticinae), Zootaxa 2679, pp. 32-50 : 42-47

Pseudostenophyma modesta ( Weise, 1921) , new combination

Figures: 7a–c; 8a–c; 9a–c; 10a–c; 11a–c.

Stenophyma modesta Weise 1921: 137

Stenophyma modesta Weise ; Heikertinger & Csiki, 1940: 347 Stenophyma modesta Weise ; Furth et al. 2003: 16

Lectotype. Male: Brasil: “Rio Purus”. “Amazon, Roman”, “Hyutanahã, 2/215. Hõglãnd“ [hand-written]. Stenophyma modesta m. [hand-written] (Swedish Museum of Natural History)

Paralectotype: Male: Brasil: “Rio Autaz”, “Amazon, Roman” (Swedish Museum of Natural History).

Description. Color entirely yellow to light brown ( Figs. 7 a–c), but rarely with darkening along elytral suture and even laterally on elytra and narrowly on pronotal lateral margins ( Figs. 8 a–b). Elongate slender. Male (x6): Lb: 2.70–2.85 [average =2.77] mm; Le: 1.95–2.05 [1.99] mm. Female (x6): Lb: 2.90–3.05 [2.96] mm. Le: 205–2.30 [2.16] mm.

Head: ( Figs. 7 a–c, 8a–b, 11a): Antennal calli apparent, subtriangular with smooth surface, area immediately posterior smooth, raised; antennae long, approximately as long as body; segment length measurements (average): male: 32-11-19 -39-32-33-29-27-26-24-29, female: 32-11-18 -34-32-31-28-26-25- 24-29; segment 1 very long, segment 2 smallest, segment 3 considerably longer than 2, 4 and 5 subequal, very long, distinctly longer than others, each approximately equal to segments 1–3 combined; frons in lateral view somewhat concave, in frontal view flattened, surface smooth, anterofrontal and frontal ridges (sensu Konstantinov 1998) not apparent; genae in lateral view under eye dorso-ventrally considerably narrower (ca. one third) than eye width in same view and tapering ventrally near mouth; in frontal view frons and clypeuslabrum tapering ventrally towards mouth; eyes large, round, bulging; IOD (male) 0.25–0.30mm, IOD (female) 0.26–0.29mm; antennal calli apparent, triangular in shape, smooth; vertex with coarse, moderately dense punctation; maxillary palpi pointed apically with penultimate segment somewhat swollen but not more than basal segment;

Pronotum: ( Figs. 7 a–b, 8a–b, 11b): Sub-quadrate shape; anterolateral callosities strongly angled; lateral margins straight/parallel, not constricted basally; basal margin straight; transverse pre-basal impression distinct, delimited sub-laterally by short longitudinal carinae; punctation coarse, moderately dense; WP (male): 0.72–0.78mm; WP (female): 0.73–0.85mm. LP (male): 0.50–0.55mm; LP (female): 0.52–0.55mm.

Elytra: ( Figs. 7 a–b, 8a–b, 11b): Le (male): 1.95–2.05mm; Le (female): 2.05–2.30mm. We (male): 0.59– 0.62mm; We (female): 0.65–0.67mm. Striate with coarse punctures, striae distinct across elytra; striae interstices smooth surface; humeri distinct; basal bossae (calli) evident just postero-medial to humeri; epipleura long, originating near humeri, extending as parallel-sided, equal width, tapering just before apex.

Venter: prosternum without extension between coxae ( Fig. 8 c); procoxae sub-conical; mesocoxae subspherical; metasternum slightly inflated in lateral view with sparse long setae laterally. abdominal sternites with sparse pubescence.

Legs: ( Fig. 7 a–b, 8a–b): Femora long, slender metatibial apex not unusually expanded or laterally compressed;

Genitalia: ( Figs. 9 a–c, 10a–b): Aedeagus in ventral view apically slightly tapered and rounded, in lateral view internal sac separating dorsum and venter, in dorsal view apex truncate with slight invagination of apical margin; spermathecal ductus with apparent double coils, receptacle slightly larger basally, gradually narrowing apically to pump; vaginal palpi unicolorous, apically tapered, not evidently bifurcate, with one subapical seta on each side; tignum very slender, apically narrowed.

Host plants. Unknown. However, in Costa Rica, the ALAS Project Phases I–IV collected specimens through fogging of Pentaclethra macroloba (Willd.) O. Ktze. (Fabaceae) , Virola koschnyi Warb. (Myristicaceae) , as well as a few other trees. The ALAS Project Phase V (2001–2005) collected specimens using several techniques, including trapping by Malaise, flight intercept, sweep net, yellow pan, fogging from dates ranging from 9 February through 21 April and from elevations ranging from 300–1550 meters (Furth, unpublished).

Type locality. Brazil: Amazonas, Rio Purus: Hyutanahã, 2 Feb. 1915; Rio Autáz, Oct.

Distribution. Brazil (Amazonas); Costa Rica; Heredia Province, La Selva Biological Station, 10°26'N 84°01'W ( Furth et al., 2003)

Remarks. Somewhat similar to Alasia alpina , but differs as mentioned in Remarks for that species. Differs from A. alpina , especially by head in frontal view with frons narrower and tapered ventrally toward mouth; eye size; pronotal anterolateral angles; pronotal lateral margins; pronotal pre-basal impression; prosternite projection; elytral punctation/striae; metafemoral spring shape.

Etymology. The new name for this genus just indicates that this is not the same as the true Stenophyma as discovered when examining the holotype of S. elegans Baly (see below).

Figures

FIGURE 7. Pseudostenophyma modesta: a) dorsal habitus view; b) lateral habitus view; c) frontal view.

FIGURE 8. Pseudostenophyma modesta, dark form: a) dorsal habitus view; b) lateral habitus view; c) procoxal cavities.

FIGURE 9. Pseudostenophyma modesta, male aedeagus: a) ventral view; b) lateral view; c) dorsal view.