Caprichasia, Clarke, Robin O. S., 2013

Clarke, Robin O. S., 2013, Bolivian Rhinotragini VI: Caprichasia Gen. Nov. (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae), Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia 53 (17), pp. 245-251 : 246-247

Caprichasia gen. nov.

Type species: Caprichasia serjaniaphila sp. nov., hereby designated.

Diagnosis: separation of the genus Caprichasia from species of Ecliptophanes is readily made by comparing the following characters: elytra short, just passing middle of urosternite I in females, reaching apical third of II in males (in Ecliptophanes elytra reach urosternites III-IV); elytral contracted before lobed apex, and apical margin well rounded (in Ecliptophanes apex of elytra is not lobed, and apical margin transversely to obliquely truncate).

Examination of photographs available on the internet indicate species of Caprichasia to be decidedly slimmer and more graceful than the two known species of Parischasia . Separation of the genus Caprichasia from Parischasia (whose species share short, lobed elytra) is readily made by comparing the following characters: antennae (except in a few females) and metafemora long, both passing apex of abdomen; and metafemoral peduncles very narrow (in Parischasia apex of antennae and legs fall well short of abdominal apex; and metafemoral peduncles comparatively robust); antennae with abrupt, 2-segmented club (in Parischasia club is less abrupt, and 4-segmented); in males inferior lobes of eyes moderately contiguous (in both sexes of Parischasia inferior lobes of eyes well separated).

Description: moderately small (5.2-9.5 mm); narrow, subcylindrical and graceful, with long antennae and legs. Elytra short and lobed. Head with eyes distinctly wider than pronotum in male (moderately wider than pronotum in female); rostrum short in male (longer in female). Mandibles acute at apex, cutting edges with tooth. Apical palpomeres fusiform, truncate at tip. Eyes finely faceted, large, obliquely placed in male (smaller and less oblique in female); distal margin of inferior lobes lying on frons, proximal margins transverse in male (slightly oblique in female). Inferior lobes of male moderately contiguous (those of female well separated). Superior lobes moderately wide. Antenna long and narrow with antennomeres III-VIII filiform, IX conical, X and XI subovate, strongly incrassate to form abrupt, 2-segmented club; in male passing apex of abdomen at middle of X (in female just reaching apex of abdomen, or shorter); scape cylindrical, much shorter than antennomere III; III the longest in C. serjaniaphila , 1.2-1.4 longer than IV; V slightly longer than IV, shorter than VI in male (equal to VI in female); X the longest in C. tommyi . Prothorax cylindrical, 1.3-1.4 longer than wide; sides weakly rounded with or without feeble tubercle; apical constriction almost absent, basal constriction shallow. Surface of pronotum almost regularly convex to feebly callose. Prosternal process flat, base laminar, apex trapezoidal with raised sides. Procoxal cavities plugged at sides and closed behind. Procoxae not obliquely placed. Mesosternal declivity not abrupt, sloping; width of process about one third the width of coxal cavity (half width in female), apex cordiform; side of coxal cavity open to epimerum. Scutellum small and scutate. Elytra short, 2.5-3.0 longer than width of humeri; apical quarter to apical third lobed (lobes shorter in C. serjaniaphila ), and elevated (more strongly in males), reaching middle to apical third of urosternite II in males (just reaching apical third of I in females of C. serjaniaphila ); in both sexes weakly dehiscent from base of lobe; humeri wider than base of pronotum, covering sides of mesosternum and base of metepisternum; but sides of elytra from just behind humerus strongly narrowing to base of lobe, exposing rest of metepisternum; humero-apical costa rather weak and incomplete (especially in females). Metasternum strongly convex in male (somewhat flattened in female), longitudinal suture reaching middle of metasternum, narrow, deeply impressed posteriorly in male; metepisternum rectangular, narrow, base not widened (narrower than middle), apex only modestly acuminate.

Abdomen in male narrow, cylindrical and convex throughout; widest at apex of urosternite III; urosternite I slightly narrower and longer than the rest, the latter progressively shorter; urosternite V very slightly narrower than II-IV, strongly transverse, almost rectangular, sides slightly rounded, apical margin slightly emarginate, sides of central two-thirds distinctly tumid, surrounding a moderately deep, semicircular depression; abdominal process intimately inserted between metacoxae, long (0.2 mm), basal portion strongly inclined to abdomen (flatter in females), apical two-thirds re-curved and horizontal, narrow and acuminate. Abdomen in female fusiform, convex, widest at apex of urosternite II, V undifferentiated.

Legs long and slender; distinctly pedunculateclavate; meso- and metafemoral peduncles narrow (the latter more than twice as long as claves); claves fusiform and sub-abrupt. Hind leg much longer than middle leg, both longer than front leg (which itself is longer than usual). Middle of metafemoral club reaching apex of abdomen. Apex of protibiae truncate, not at all excavate laterally. Tarsi short, incrementally longer from front leg to back leg; metatarsomere I slightly longer than II + III in male, equal in female.

General colour: Antennomere IX yellowish.

Surface ornamentation: Body and elytra almost entirely pubescent, legs with relatively sparse, but long setae.

Species included in Caprichasia : Caprichasia serjaniaphila sp. nov., and Caprichasia tommyi ( Hovore, 1989) comb. nov.

Discussion: Hovore (1989) provides a useful diagnosis of his species within the genus Ecliptophanes , which begins with the following: “Within the subgenus Ecliptophanes Melzer , [ O. (E.) tommyi ] appears most similar to O. bucki Melzer and O. silvai Zajciw …”; presumably, and primarily, with reference to the strongly, incrassate, two-segmented club present in these three species. Future revision of Ecliptophanes might indicate the inclusion of E. silvai in the genus Caprichasia , even though its truncate elytra and relatively short metafemora (which do not reach the abdominal apex) mitigate against this move; nor would its placement in Parischasia (characterised by, among others, short lobed elytra, incrassate 4-segmented antennal club, and short metafemora) seem better.

Etymology: combination of capri = from the Italian caprice, meaning unpredictable (or “different”), and chasia to indicate its relationship to Parischasia (as outlined below); furthermore Caprichasia is almost an anagram of the latter.