Nosoderma turquinense (Garrido)

Foley, Ian A. & Ivie, Michael A., 2008, A phylogenetic analysis of the tribe Zopherini with a review of the species and generic classification (Coleoptera: Zopheridae), Zootaxa 1928 (1), pp. 1-72 : 28-29

Nosoderma turquinense (Garrido)

Figs. 23, 25 .

Meralius turquinense Garrido, 2004: 56 .

Nosoderma turquinense ; Foley and Ivie 2007: 68 .

Meralius montanus Garrido, 2004: 59 . NEW SYNONYMY.

Nosoderma montanum ; Foley and Ivie 2007: 68 .

Diagnosis: This species is distinguished from N. echinatum by the elongate form, large elytral nodules, and long club-shaped secondary setose vestiture ( Fig. 25 ). In general form it resembles some species of Sesaspis but it is easily distinguished from that genus by lacking setose punctures on the ventral surface, and the presence of the distinct prosternal groove.

Redescription (of male): 17.5 mm. Fig. 107. Brachypterous. Dorsal vestiture multicolored tomentose, consisting of short, apressed scales; secondary setation of long club shaped golden setae. Anterior clypeal margin weakly concave; bridge connecting suprantennal ridge and subgenal ridge absent; subgenal ridge strongly developed; antennomere 3 approximately 1.75 X longer than 4; labial palps inserted ventrally; labial margin with tufts of setae inserted in fossae; mentum acute at apex. Scutellum not visible; lateral margin of pronotum with distinct teeth; apical angle with large posteriorly directed fin-shaped tooth; hypomeron with short arcuate groove near apical margin; well developed transverse groove medially on prosternum. Elytra elongate, approx. 1.75 X as long as wide, 1.78 X longer than pronotum; lateral margin of declivity with two strongly projecting, acute nodules; apex with similar large nodules one either side of suture, creating deeply emarginate tip; start of declivity with large nodule medially. Metasternum with distinct small pit. Profemora only, with small nodule; tibial spurs present but short, barely extending beyond setose fringe; tarsal strip absent. Ventrites 1–4 rounded; margin between ventrites 1–3 with median groove; ventrite 5 with narrow preapical groove flattened at apex.

Distribution: The higher areas of the Sierra Maestra, Cuba.

Recorded distribution: A summary of the 30 specimens examined -- CUBA: Santiago de Cuba .

Rejected record: VENEZUELA: N. Grenada, this specimen (NHMB) mentioned in the generic notes is undoubtedly a mislabeled Cuban specimen.

Types: Meralius turquinense Garrido. Holotype female (IESC): Cuba; Pico Turquino, S. M.; 1500 m. 31/ 7 1990; L. de Armas (IESC) PARATYPES: 1 male —La Siberia; Sierra Maestra, Ote; 7 VI 1963; Cols. Zayas, García/ Zopheridae ; Ident OHG 2564; Meralius turquinensis ; Garrido 200 (OHGC). 1 female —La Siberia; Sierra Maestra, Ote; 7 VI 1963; Cols. Zayas, García/ [should have a label that says “ Zopheridae ; Ident OHG 2566; Meralius turquinensis ; Garrido 200” but it is missing] (OHGC). 1 female —Sierra Maestra, Cuba; Julio 10–20 de 1922; Col. C. H. Guillou y; S. C. Bruner; 1076– 350m / Zopheridae ; Ident OHG 2568; Meralius turquinensis ; Garrido 200 (OHGC). 1 female – El Joaquin; y La Platica; Turquino; P. Valdéz/ Zopheridae (OHGC) . 7 females – 29-11-2000; Bajo; corteza/ Zopheridae ; Ident OHG [2592, 2693, 2594, 2595, 2596, 2598]; Meralius turquinensis ; Garrido 200 [seventh specimen is missing the second label, and is #2567] (OHGC).

Meralius montanus Garrido. Garrido (2004) reports the holotype to be in the IESC. There are four male specimens in the IESC that match the reported data of the holotype of M. montanus . None are the specimen illustrated in the original paper, but that illustration is probably one of the paratypes in the Garrido collection (OHGC). None of the IESC specimens bear a holotype label, but the one that has been dissected is considered the holotype: La Gran Piedra; Stgo de Cuba; 1100m 21/7; L. de Armas. On the underside of this label is “ ♂ Bajo; corteza.” The three other male specimens with same label in IESC are not paratypes. PARATYPES: 3 males —La Gran Piedra; Stgo de Cuba; 1100m 21/7; L. de Armas/ Zopheridae ; Ident OHG [2557, 2559, 2565]; Meralius montanus ; Garrido 200 [some minor variation exists among the exact lettering of the first label] (OHGC). 1 male – La Gran Piedra; VI – 1971; Oriente Cuba; Col. R. Gonzales/ Zopheridae ; Ident OHG 2556; Meralius montanus ; Garrido 200 [this specimen is included in the type series via the OHG number, although the first label does not strictly agree with the Holotype as indicated in the enumeration of types in Garrido 2004] (OHGC).

Notes: [In the discussion below, Meralius turquinensis and Meralius montanus are used to discuss the original concepts of Garrido (2004), while Nosoderma turquinensis is used in reference to our concept of a single species.] As defined by Garrido (2004), Meralius turquinensis (from Pico Turquino) is geographically separated from M. montanus (from La Gran Piedra). Both localities are in the Sierra Maestra, but that area includes several different ranges with different origins. Garrido (2004) reported two unnamed specimens from a third Sierra Maestra range, between the two type localities—the Loma del Gato in the Sierra del Cobre.

Femoral caluses of M. turquinensis and M. montanus do indeed differ. However, there is only one reported male of M. turquinensis , and it is the largest male known. It has a correspondingly exaggeratedly large femoral calus (“cayo femoral”), but otherwise is similar to those of M. montanus . Two additional males from Pico Turquino in the IESC have smaller caluses. The variation in lateral serration of the elytron and pronotum, as well as the size of elytral and pronotal tubercles does not show any geographic consistency. The single Loma del Gato male (Male 254) is in fact a N. turquinensis that is in form intermediate between the 2 named populations. It has a smaller femoral calus than the reported M. turquinensis , but of the depressed form of that population. Variation in this character is extremely wide in many species, scattered across the Zopherini as a whole, and this specimen is the best argument for the synonymy of M. turquinensis and M. montanus . It is labeled: Loma del Gato, Sie-;rra del Cumbre, O-;riente Cuba, Oc-;tober 12, 1935/ Zopheridae ; Ident. OHG 2–54; Meralius sp. n. (OHGC). We can find no other difference to support the separation of these into species.

The Loma del Gato Female 340 mentioned by Garrido (2004, pg 61) is in fact a typical N. turquinensis with the apex of the elytra glued into the posterior opening in the prothorax, and the mesothoracic opening directed caudally, explaining why it looks “totally different.” It is labeled: Loma del Gato, Sie-;rra del Cumbre, O-;riente Cuba, Oc-;tober 1–2, 1935/ J. Acuña, S. C.; Bruner, elv.; 2600–3525 ft. (OHGC). A second, undamaged, female with the same label data is in the IESC.

This species is sympatric with N. echinatum , which is much wider in distribution.

Figures

FIGURES 22–25. 22–23. Dorsal habiti. 22. Nosoderma echinatum, Cuba; 23. N. turquinense, Cuba. 24. N. echinatum ventral surface of prosternum. 25. N. turquinense leg surface.