Trigonopeltastes arborfloricola, Smith, Andrew B. T., 2016

Smith, Andrew B. T., 2016, Five new species of Trigonopeltastes Burmeister and Schaum from Central America with new country records for other New World Trichiini (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Cetoniinae), ZooKeys 617, pp. 91-127 : 92-93

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Scarabaeidae

Trigonopeltastes arborfloricola sp. n.

Type locality.

Reserva Privada Silvestre Domitila, Granada, Nicaragua.

Type series.

Holotype male at USNM labeled "NICARAGUA: Granada Prov. / Reserva Privada Silvestre / Domitila, 70 meters / 11°42.51'N, 85°57.16'W / 10 June 2007 N.E. Woodley / S.W. Lingafelter - tree flowers" (typeset). The holotype bears my red holotype label.

Description of holotype

(Figs 1-6). Male. Length 9.0 mm, width 4.0 mm. Color: dorsal surface black with orange markings on elytra and light scales on pronotum, pygidium (Figs 1-2, 5-6). Mesofemur and metafemur tan along outside half, black along inside half; profemur, tarsi black. Head: Surface with short, dense setae medially on disc (sparsely setose to glabrous on apex of clypeus, base of frons) (Fig. 5), clypeus without longitudinally elongate punctures (punctures on head dense, round). Clypeus slightly wider than long with midline not elevated, apex emarginate. Antenna with 10 antennomeres, club length slightly shorter than length of antennomeres 2-7. Maxilla with long, thin brush protruding beyond clypeus in dorsal view. Mentum densely setose, obscuring surface. Pronotum: Surface of disc dull-black with shiny mi cropunctures. Marginal bead complete (obscured mediobasally), with complete ring of short, dense, yellow setae inside marginal bead. Pronotal disc with more-or-less complete inverted triangle grooved into the surface; groove with short, dense, yellow setae (Fig. 5). Scutellum: Surface with short, dense, white setae. Elytra: Surface glabrous, matt with shiny micropunctures, without cretaceous bands. Elytral striae 1-3 distinctly impressed, especially towards apex; remaining striae weakly defined with rows of punctures not impressed into surface. Orange markings consisting of a large mediobasal patch and smaller medioapical patch on each elytron (Figs 1-2). Pygidium: Surface without cretaceous makings, with complete ring of short, dense, yellow setae (Fig. 6). Disc with distinct, transverse microridges; surface evenly convex with apex slightly deflexed. Venter: Sternum and abdominal sternites without cretaceous markings, covered with dense, short, yellow setae. Legs: Protibia with 2 teeth near apex (Fig. 5). Mesotibia robust with edges weakly bowed outward medially. Tibial spurs acute, unmodified. Holotype with part of right protarsus missing. Parameres: Robust with lateral notches towards apex (Figs 3-4).

Etymology.

The name arborfloricola approximates "tree flower dweller" in Latin. The name is a noun in apposition. As indicated on the label, the holotype was collected in tree flowers.

Distribution

(Fig. 56). NICARAGUA - Granada (1): Reserva Privada Silvestre Domitila.

Temporal data.

June (1).

Remarks.

This species is fairly distinct in the complete lack of cretaceous markings and orange color pattern on the elytra. Hopefully more specimens will turn up in the lowlands of southern Nicaragua and northern Costa Rica so the intraspecific variation can be described.