Coelocephalapion camarae Kissinger, 2000

Kissinger, David G., 2000, A New Species Of Coelocephalapion Wagner (Brentidae) From Mexico With Host Lantana Camara L. (Verbenaceae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 54 (3), pp. 365-369 : 365-369

Coelocephalapion camarae Kissinger , new species

Figs. 1–10

Description. Length 1.748 –2.136 mm; width 0.786 –1.097 mm. Piceous, apex of tibia and entire tarsus yellowish. Vestiture minute, white or yellowish, sparse, slightly more apparent on venter and femora. Rostrum of male 0.548 –0.695 mm long; 1.43–1.65 as long as prothorax; in basal ¾ surface finely alutaceous, with sparse, shallow, indistinct punctures 0.010 –0.030 mm in diameter, some arranged in shallow sulci, punctures bearing scales similar in length to those on basal margin of eye but somewhat finer, about 0.018 –0.037 mm long; apical ¼ polished, with sparse, shallow punctures 0.010 –0.020 mm wide bearing minute setae that barely project beyond margin of puncture; in profile ( Fig. 2 ) moderately curved, somewhat widened on ventral margin at insertion of antenna, sides in apical ⅓ nearly parallel, tip depressed slightly on dorsal margin, anterior margin of scrobe of antenna at basal 0.38–0.42 of rostrum at distance in front of eye 2.00–2.45 width of frons, dorsal margin of scrobe somewhat angulate anteriorly, then evenly descending toward eye; in dorsal view ( Fig. 1 ). Rostrum of female 0.640 –0.804 mm long; 1.64–1.87 as long as prothorax; similar to male except beyond insertion of antennae sparse minute punctures with minute setae occur to apex ( Fig. 3 ); anterior margin of scrobe of antenna at basal 0.35–0.38 of rostrum at distance in front of eye 2.23–2.56 width of frons. Frons 0.093 –0.128 mm wide; 0.85–1.13 as wide as dorsal tip of rostrum, with two moderately distinct sulci with indistinct punctures bearing sparse scales slightly finer than those along basal margin of eye; in profile dorsal margin of head nearly flat; subcephalic ridge low, barely reaching middle of eye. Prothorax 0.366 –0.457 mm long, at base 1.19–1.42 as wide as long; in dorsal view ( Fig. 4 ) pronotum with small but distinct basal flange, sides parallel to near middle, narrowed to constricted apex, punctures bowl­like, deep, 0.018 –0.037 mm in diameter, interspaces flat, vary from less than to greater than diameter of punctures, tend to be wider near base, surface finely alutaceous, scales 0.037 –0.055 mm long, similar to scales along basal margin of eye but slightly longer; in profile dorsal margin slightly, evenly convex, highest point near middle, punctures and scales similar to those on dorsal surface. Elytra at humeri 1.36–1.47 as wide as pronotum base; 2.83–3.33 as long as prothorax; 1.17–1.45 as long as wide; intervals slightly convex, at middle of elytron interval 2 about 23 width of stria, dull, intervals with 1 row of indistinct, minute punctures bearing minute scales 0.018 –0.037 mm long, discal area of elytra with scales particularly small and indistinct ( Fig. 4 ); striae deep, coarse, with scales similar to adjacent interval; interval 9 with 1 long sensory seta near apex; on apex striae join 119, 2 isolated, 316, 4 isolated, 5 isolated, 718 ( Fig. 5 ). Metasternum flat on the posterior median area. Legs of male lack special characters. Median lobe of aedeagus in cross section slightly wider than high, section flat dorsally, rounded on ventral margin; in profile ( Figs. 8, 10 ) slightly bulbous at apex; in dorsal view ( Figs. 6, 9 ) slightly narrower in basal and apical regions, apex blunt, about 0.040 mm wide, distinctly produced laterally. Endophallus with scattered slender spicules 0.006 –0.012 mm long that lack a distinct base ( Fig. 7 ). Tegmen parameroid lobes short, largely fused together, membranous, lack macrosetae, fenestrae separated; free ring of basal piece fused with basal plate; basal plate flat medially.

Type Series. Holotype male (in USNM) labeled ‘‘AcSN 1996/Lab. culture progeny/ Rietondale, Pretoria / January 1999 ’’; ’’ Original stock:/ MEXICO: Tabasco State /[Road from] Cárdenas , to Paraíso / 18.05N 93.20W / 14.x.1997 S Neser’ ’; ‘‘Host Plant: Lantana / camara (Verbenaceae) /Adults feed on leaves./ Larvae develop in leaf petioles/& flower peduncles.’’; label with black border, ‘‘NATIONAL COLL. OF INSECTS Pretoria, S. Afr.’’; ‘‘DGKissinger/measured/00635’’ . Paratypes 265. 178, same data as holotype ( SANC, CMNC, DGKC, USNM); 29, same data as holotype but without label ‘‘NATIONAL COLL.... S. Afr.‘‘( DGKC). 30, ‘‘AcSN 2014/Lab. Culture progeny/ Rietondale, Pretoria / January 1999 ’’; ’’ Original stock:/ MEXICO: Veracruz State / Santa Ana (town)/ 19.46N 96.25W / 13.x.1998 J. R. Baars’ ’; ‘‘Host Plant: Adults/ collected (by beating)/from Lantana cf. camara / ( Verbenaceae )’’; label with black border, ‘‘NATIONAL COLL. OF INSECTS Pretoria, S. Afr.’’ ( SANC, DGKC); 28, same data but without label ‘‘NATIONAL COLL.... S. Afr.’’ ( DGKC). [The collection site, 19.47N 96.25W is about 10.7 km SE of Santa Ana on Federal highway 180 near the coast based on Microsoft (1999).]

The following are not part of the type series. Same data as holotype but reared at unknown time before July 1998 ( SANC, DGKC); same, but 3 larvae, 4 pupae ( USNM). Mexico: Guerrero: 2.1 mi NE Cacahumilpa , 4­VII­87, 5,250', Kovarik, Schaffner ( TAMU) . Nuevo Leon: 20 mi W Linares , Hwy 58, 21­VII­82, 3,250', C. W. & L. O’Brien & G. Wibmer ( CWOB) . Oaxaca: 2 mi N Candelaria Loxicha , 17­VII­85, Wooley & Zolnerowich ( TAMU); 10.8 mi S El Punto , 19­VII­87, R. Wharton ( TAMU). San Luis Potosı´ : 8 mi N Tamazunchale , 24­VII­82, 700', C. W. & L. O’Brien & G. Wibmer ( CWOB) . Tamaulipas: road from Alta Cima to Est. Biol. Canindo , 28­VII­93, 900–1,400 m, E. G. Riley, M. A. Quinn ( TAMU) .

Etymology. The species is named for its larval host plant.

Relationships. The classification of Coelocephalapion Wagner has not progressed since the subgenus was elevated to generic rank (Kissinger, 1992) and seven species groups were listed. The members of five species groups, C. bryanti , C. spretissimum , C. frontellum , C. nodicorne , and C. luteirostre , exhibit a strong development of the subcephalic ridge. The members of two species groups, C. decoloratum and C. sordidum , have a relatively weak development of the subcephalic ridge, as does C. camarae . A preliminary interpretation is that these groups represent a series of increasingly derived states from low to high development of the subcephalic ridge. Future research may support this conclusion by finding other associated derived characters.

The five species of the C. sordidum species group possess a derived character in the presence of a tubercle on the posterior median area of the metasternum of both sexes. All the other members of Coelocephalapion lack this tubercle.

Coelocephalapion camarae Kissinger is very similar to C. germanum (Sharp) of the C. sordidum species group; it shares the following possibly derived characteristics with this species group: on elytral tip stria 2 terminates isolated from the other striae ( Fig. 5 ) and the endophallus has spicules but lacks tooth­like sclerotized structures with a base ( Fig. 7 ). The C. decoloratum species group has stria 2 joining with 1 and/or 9 on the elytral tip and the endophallus has distinct tooth­like sclerotized structures (exception C. psichion (Kissinger)) . Like the C. decoloratum species group, C. camarae lacks the tubercle on the posterior median area of the metasternum of both sexes. Thus, C. camarae combines group characteristics of both these species groups.

C. camarae can be distinguished from C. germanum as follows. In C. camarae the male rostrum is 1.43–1.65 as long as the prothorax and the anterior margin of the scrobe is at 2.00–2.45 width of frons from the anterior margin of eye. This is not the same as ‘‘insertion of antenna’’ the estimation of which, based on the intersection of the midpoint of the base of the first antennomere with the rostrum, can vary with the rotation of the antenna. The female rostrum is 1.68–1.83 as long as the prothorax and the anterior margin of the scrobe is at 2.23–2.56 width of frons from the anterior margin of the eye; apex of median lobe of aedeagus in dorsal view is distinctly expanded laterally ( Fig. 9 ); paramere basal plate flat medially. For C. germanum the male rostrum is somewhat shorter, 1.39–1.49 as long as prothorax and the anterior margin of the scrobe is at 1.67–1.97 width of frons from anterior margin of eye; the female rostrum is longer, 1.80–2.00 as long as prothorax and the anterior margin of the scrobe is at 1.75–2.00 width of frons from the anterior margin of the eye; apex of median lobe of aedeagus in dorsal view is not expanded laterally (Kissinger 1968, Fig. 155k); paramere basal plate medially with indistinct, broad carina.

Coelocephalapion germanum (Sharp) is fairly common and widespread from Mexico to Panama and would be readily confused with C. camarae if the ventral tubercle is missed or obscured.

C. camarae keys out to couplet 55 in ‘‘Key to males of species of Coelocephalapion occurring in North and Central America’’ in Kissinger (1968) and can be added to the key as follows:

55 Legs in part yellowish or reddish­yellow; on apex of elytra stria 1 not isolated from 2 and/or 9; subcephalic ridge low, extending to near middle of eye–dophallus may have sclerotized elements ----------------------------- 56 55' Legs dark piceous; on apex of elytra stria 1 isolated from 219; subcephalic ridge absent; endophallus lacks sclerotized structures; Mexico to Venezuela --------------------------- Coelocephalapion aduncirostre (Gerstaecker) 56 Rostrum laterally in apical ¼ lacks scales similar to those in basal 1/4; rostrum more than 1.40 length of prothorax; femur dark in color; endophallus variable regarding sclerotized elements; median lobe in dorsal view variable regarding lateral expansion of tip ---------------------------------- 56A 56' Rostrum laterally in apical ¼ with scales similar in length and width to those in basal ¼; rostrum less than 1.35 length of prothorax; femur in basal half yellowish in color; endophallus with sclerotized teeth up to 0.024 mm long, median lobe in dorsal view with tip not expanded laterally; Mexico (Guerrero, Veracruz, Michoacan) to Costa Rica -------------- -------------------------------------------------------------- Coelocephalapion loratum (Kissinger)

56A. Elytral intervals distinctly convex; tibia largely dark yellowish in color; endophallus with sclerotized teeth up to 0.019 mm long; in dorsal view tip of median lobe not expanded laterally; Mexico (Veracruz) to El Salvador ----------------------------------------- Coelocephalapion absonum (Kissinger)

56A ' Elytral intervals nearly flat; apex of tibia yellowish; endophallus lacks toothlike sclerotized elements; in dorsal view tip of median lobe distinctly expanded laterally; Mexico (Guerrero, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, San

Luis Potosı´, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Veracruz) ---------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------- Coelocephalapion camarae Kissinger

Biology. Coelocephalapion camarae was recorded at altitudes ranging from 700'–5,250'. The altitude for the type series was not recorded. Based on Microsoft (1999) both the Tabasco and Veracruz sites have an elevation of 0–50 m. The sex ratio for C. camarae is about 1:1 (143?: 123 / in type series). With the larval development ‘‘in leaf petioles and flower peduncles’’ of Lantana camara L. , C. camarae may be the first apionine known to develop in the plant family Verbenaceae . Members of the C. decoloratum group are associated with Desmodium (Fabaceae) . Members of the C. sordidum group are associated with Asteraceae .

Figures

Figs. 1–5. Coelocephalapion camarae. 1)? head and rostrum, dorsal view; 2)? rostrum and pronotum, lateral view; 3) / rostrum and pronotum, lateral view; 4) pronotum and base of elytra, dorsal view; 5) left elytron, posterior view. Scale 5 0.21 mm.

Figs. 6–10. Coelocephalapion camarae, median lobe of aedeagus. 6) Dorsal view, scale 5 0.110 mm. 7) Detail of armature of endophallus at point indicated on fig. 6, scale 5 0.027 mm. 8) Lateral view, scale 5 0.110 mm. 9) Detail of apex, dorsal view, scale 5 0.027 mm. 10) Detail of apex, lateral view, scale 5 0.027 mm.