Embates paludicola Prena, 2005

Prena, Jens, 2005, The Middle American species of Embates Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Baridinae), Zootaxa 1100 (1), pp. 1-151 : 1-151

59. Embates paludicola Prena sp. n.

(Fig. 200–203, 257)

Holotype male (dissected), Costa Rica, labeled: “ COSTA RICA, Heredia:/ La Selva Biol. Sta./ 3 km S Pto. Viejo, 100m / 20°26'N 84°01'W ”, “ 20.IV.2001 / leg. J. Prena ” ( INBC).

Paratypes 27 (14 males, 13 females), Costa Rica and Panama, labeled: as holotype ( CHAH, JPPC 5 ), as holotype except 16.III.2001 ( INBC), 7.IV.2001 ( INBC 2 ), 21.IV.2001 ( CWOB, JPPC 4 ), 22.IV.2001 ( INBC), 24.II.2003 ( SNSD); “ COSTA RICA / Pr. Heredia/ Puerto Viejo / Finca La Selva ”, “ R.J. Marquis, coll./ No. 370 2­V­1981 ”, “ Piper imperiale ”, “ Voucher ”, “ Ambates / #14/ det. DR Whitehead ” ( NMNH); “ COSTA RICA: Prov. Heredia:/ 10km SE La Virgen, 450–/ 550m, 10°20'N 84°05'W / 11.– 16.3.2003 / INBio­ OET­ALAS transect”, “handcollecting/ leg. Jens Prena ”, INB0003229878 ( JPPC), same data except 17.– 20.3.2003, INB0003229973–5 ( INBC 3 ), 8.– 13.4.2003, INB0003230072 ( JPPC); “ PANAMA. Panamá Pr./ Cerro Campana 850 m. / 8° 40' N, 79° 56' W / 22 Feb.'75 Stockwell”, “ Ambates sp. #1” ( CMNC); “ PANAMÁ. Pmá Prov. / Cerro Campana 820 m / 8° 40' N, 79° 56' W / 3 Jun.'75 Stockwell” ( HPSC); “ PANAMA: Coclé Prv./ La Mesa ab. El Valle/ Cerro Caracoral/ 15 Nov 92; el. 800 m / col. H. Stockwell ”, “ Piper / imperiale” ( HPSC); “El Copé, Coclé / Rep. PANAMÁ / 14 Junio 1990 / col. A. Quintero ” ( GBFM) .

Description. Habitus: Fig. 200, total length 7.9–10.2 mm (m=8.8, n=28). Color: integument black; basic vestiture of microscopic scales; scales yellow in two elytral fasciae (Fig. 200), on prosternum, mesepimeron and flank of metasternum. Head: frontal fovea minute, rostrum rather slender, cylindrical (Fig. 201), subcostate dorsomedially, basolateral margin moderately edged, length of rostrum ♂♂ 1.18–1.39 x (m=1.27, n=15), ♀♀ 1.22–1.39 x (m=1.28, n=13) pronotal length, length of ante­antennal portion ♂♂ 0.40–0.43 x (m=0.42, n=15), ♀♀ 0.43–0.47 x (m=0.45, n=13) total rostral length, dorsal margin of antennal scrobe reaching rostral base well before eye; length of funicular segments 1 and 2 subequal, club oblong ovate. Pronotum: length 0.85–0.94 x (m=0.89, n=28) maximum width, widest in basal half, then roundly narrowed, anterior portion tubulate; disk punctate, intervals smooth. Elytra: length 1.67–1.89 x (m=1.76, n=28) width at humeri, width 1.33–1.42 x (m=1.38, n=28) maximum pronotal width, sides subparallel in basal third, apices rounded conjointly, preapical callus developed moderately, striae fine, punctures distinct, interstriae flat, 9 subcostate. Legs: slender, tibia nearly straight, ventral margin slightly bisinuate, with distal cluster of cupreous hairs, tarsal claws arcuate and separate at base. Male: sides of aedeagus converging to round apex, anterolateral portion sclerotized (Fig. 202), body of aedeagus of moderate length, basal third angular in lateral view, apodemes 2.4 x longer than body of aedeagus, flagellum thin, longer than apodemes, transition to curved base gradual, basal appendage elongate, fused subdistally with base of flagellum, projecting beyond base (Fig. 203).

Plant association. In very wet habitats on Piper imperiale (Marquis 1, Prena 22, Stockwell 1).

Distribution. Costa Rica and Panama, scattered (Fig. 257).

Specific epithet. The name is a compound Latin noun derived from palus (swamp) and colo (to dwell).

Discussion. It is surprising that this showy species has escaped collectors for so long, particularly as it occurs at frequently visited sites. Based on meristic data and structural details of the male genitalia, I place E. paludicola near E. leucopleura . The color­pattern is convergent to those of E. championi , E. cretifer and E. salamandra , with the latter species forming their own morphological complexes (see discussion of relationships there).