Tessaropa hispaniolae Lingafelter, 2010

Lingafelter, Steven W., 2010, Methiini and Oemini (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae) of Hispaniola, The Coleopterists Bulletin 64 (3), pp. 265-269 : 266

Tessaropa hispaniolae Lingafelter , new species ( Figs. 1 , 4 )

Diagnosis. This new species, among the smallest of all Methiini , fits the definition of Tessaropa Haldeman given in Linsley (1962) due to the completely divided eyes, indistinct second antennomere, and abdomen imbricated at the sides. As in females of Methia Newman , the abdominal apex is modified with a large apical opening. The asperate, carinate scape is a feature that is unusual among methiines, apparently, and does not match Methiini as defined in couplet 2 of the key to tribes (Martins and Carvalho 1984).

Only one other species of Tessaropa , T. luctuosa Zayas from Cuba ( Zayas 1975; Monné and Bezark 2010), is known from the West Indies. Tessaropa hispaniolae , known from a unique female specimen, is distinguished from T. luctuosa by having a mostly glossy integument (matte in T. luctuosa ), bicolored elytra (entirely black in T. luctuosa ), and three rather distinct longitudinal, raised calli on the pronotum (without distinct pronotal calli in T. luctuosa ).

Description. Small, 2.6 mm long, 0.7 mm wide; integument testaceous, with head darker and elytra paler at middle. Head mostly glabrous; uniformly, minutely punctate and asperate. Upper and lower eye lobes completely, widely separated; lower lobes occupying nearly all of head below antennal insertion in lateral view; upper lobes much smaller, each with about 10 rows of facets, broadly separate on vertex behind antennal tubercles. Interantennal impression lacking; antennal tubercles barely elevated. Antennae of only known specimen lacking antennomere 11 on one side and possessing only scape on other side; extending approximately as long as body; minutely asperate with fine, inconspicuous, short, translucent pubescence. Scape extending to anterior pronotal margin; moderately asperate, with 3–4 transverse carinae. Fifth antennomere noticeably longer than all others. Pronotum distinctly longer than broad, weakly rounded at sides; distinctly narrower than elytral base; pubescent at sides with fine, translucent setae. Large, longitudinal central callus present with less pronounced, shorter peripheral contiguous calli, 1 on either side of middle. Prosternum glabrous, smooth, without punctation or pubescence. Elytron smooth, shiny, mostly glabrous and impunctate; incomplete, extending less than halfway to abdominal apex; testaceus with central disk paler than base and apex, giving bicolored appearance. Elytra broadly acuminate toward apices, widely separated, and rounded. Scutellum shiny, glabrous, rounded posteriorly. Legs short; hind femora reaching halfway to abdominal apex from insertion; uniformly testaceous. Femora strongly clavate and flattened. Protibia moderately flattened, curved, shorter than meso- and metatibiae. Venter shiny, glabrous. Abdomen of female highly modified: fifth ventrite greatly reduced, exposing broad, incurved ovipositor underneath overhanging, notched, terminal tergite.

Etymology. The specific epithet is based on Hispaniola from where this species is known. The epithet is a noun in genitive case.

Type material. Holotype (female): Dominican Republic, Pedernales, 25.5 km N Cabo Rojo , 21 May 1992, R. Turnbow ( RHTC, donated to USNM).

Figures

Fig. 1. Tessaropa hispaniolae, holotype. a) Dorsal habitus, b) Ventral habitus, c) Anterior perspective of head.

Fig. 4. Map of Hispaniola showing distribution of Tessaropa hispaniolae, Methia dolichoptera, and Malacopterus tenellus. The widespread circum-Caribbean and West Indian species Methia necydalea is not shown since it would obscure the distribution points of the other species.