Exepimelitta, Clarke & Flora & Fauna & Casilla & de & Sierra & Bolivia, 2016

Clarke, Robin O. S., Flora, Hotel, Fauna, Casilla, de, Santa Cruz, Sierra & Bolivia, 2016, Provisional revision of the genus Epimelitta Bates, 1870 and associated genera, with a brief synopsis of the genus Acorethra Bates, 1873 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae), Insecta Mundi 2016 (504), pp. 1-43 : 11-14

Exepimelitta gen. nov.

( Fig. 7-20 )

Type species: Charis mimica Bates, 1873 , here designated.

Description of the genus. Small to moderately large (female larger and usually more robust), total length 8.0- 13.7 mm, and broad (total length/width metathorax 3.46-4.33). Forebody (f) slightly longer than abdomen (a), f/a 1.04-1.23. Head: comparatively narrow (widths prothorax/head with eyes 1.11- 1.26 in male, 1.23-1.42 in female); rostrum shortest in male Exepimelitta nigerrima (width/length 3.67), longest in female E. windsori sp. nov. (width/length 2.45). Labrum transverse, about two times wider than long and rounded laterally. Apex of clypeus hardly wider than labrum, its base separated from frons by moderate declivity (more so in male than female). Apical palpomeres of maxilla and labium short (longer in E. nigerrima ), subcylindrical, truncate at apex. Galea long and narrow. Inferior lobes of eyes subcontiguous in male, least so in E. lestradei , width of one lobe/interocular distance 3.34-5.33, in female far apart 1.00-1.15; strongly convex (in male of E. consobrina and E. nigerrima ), or less convex (in male of E. lestradei , E. mimica and E. windsori , and all females). Superior lobes of eyes almost parallel-sided, with 9-11 rows of moderately large ommatidia; laterally narrowed by one half of their mesal width; and in male separated by 2.25-2.86 the width of one lobe, in female 3.50-4.33. Antennal tubercles weakly raised, rounded at apex, in male separated by 2.40-3.00 width of scape, in female 3.00-3.60 width of scape. Antennae: robust (more so in female); short, apex in male reaching from base to middle of metacoxae (in E. windsori just passing metacoxae), in female usually slightly shorter. Scape subpyriform (in E. nigerrima ), or subcylindrical (in the remaining species), and narrow (width 0.2-0.3 mm); antennomeres III filiform; IV subfiliform; V elongate, and subserrate (hardly so in E. windsori , almost serrate in E. mimica ); VI-X serrate and incrementally more quadrate. Antennomere III short, 0.93 length scape (in male E. lestradei and female E. nigerrima ), or as long as scape (in male E. nigerrima and female E. lestradei ), or 1.06-1.08 longer than scape (in E. mimica and E. windsori ); about 1.5 longer than IV (in both sexes of E. lestradei and E. windsori ), or about twice as long as IV (in the remaining species); V-VII, or V-VIII (in some species) subequal, and usually longer than IX-X; XI ovate (in both sexes of most species), or more elongate and less rounded (in male E. windsori ); with moderately long to very small apical cone, and nearly always longer than VIII-X. Prothorax: distinctly transverse, in male length/width 0.80-0.85, strongly transverse in female 0.73-0.81; in male somewhat trapezoidal, the sides contracted and almost straight from widest point to apical margin; in female obovate, the sides well-rounded, strongly so towards base; usually widest well behind middle in male (prothoracic quotient 1.68-1.94), in female widest near middle (prothoracic quotient 1.91-2.14). Basal margin of prothorax strongly rounded and juxtaposed between elytral humeri; its width equal to width of apex, or slightly narrower (widths apex/base 0.95-0.97). Surface of pronotum irregular, moderately convex (slightly more so in female); disrupted by moderately deep, transverse depression dominating pronotal disc; and to each side of disc with broad pair of wide, arced calli (these not well delimited in all species), a smaller anterior one closer to midline on apical third (almost evanescent in smaller specimens), a large posterior one more prominent, and rounded behind (and sufficiently tumid to overhang sides of pronotum and basal constriction). Pronotal disc further disrupted by smooth callosities at midline (sometimes absent), as follows: narrow callosity adjacent to apical margin; and an irregularly shaped swelling between the tumid, posterior calli. Apical constriction usually weak or absent; basal constriction strongly abrupt towards sides, and not fossate. Prosternum: flat to apical border, at midline usually planar with its process; but base of latter somewhat raised in E. nigerrima , or below level of prosternum in female E. mimica ; not at all arced, sublaminate, either narrow, 10-14 times narrower than width of procoxal cavity (in E. windsori and E. mimica ), or 6-9 times narrower than width of procoxal cavity (in the remaining species). Apex of prosternal process small and golf-tee shaped. Procoxal cavity rather broadly plugged laterally; moderately widely open behind, the gap between apex of post coxal process and apex of prosternal process 0.2-0.3 mm. Scutellum: rather small, scutate, or trapezoidal (in E. nigerrima ) but pubescence usually hiding details. Elytra: short and cuneate; irrespective of sex 1.20-1.40 longer than width across humeri; sides weakly arced; apices hardly divergent (but elytra well separated by moderately strongly gape for slightly more than apical third); apex reaching apex of metacoxae, or just passing its apex in some specimens. Each elytron gradually and strongly narrowed to blunt, unarmed apex (the latter somewhat lobate in appearance); on basal twothirds (or less) with rather narrow, irregular translucent panel of variable size (its shape and size depending upon the extent of encroaching dense puncturation); but cleaver-shaped in E. lestradei . Surface surrounding translucent panel irregular, usually raised adjacent to scutellum; and at humeri hiding mesepimera; humeri usually rounded, yet strongly projecting, and towards sides somewhat abruptly depressed (to leave them narrow and prominent); towards apex translucent panel depressed, and abruptly separated from side of elytron by short, well defined carina (which may represent remnants of the humeroapical costa); and at apex separated from sutural border by dense puncturation. Mesosternum: at center hardly more prominent than sides; mesosternal declivity deep and abrupt (in E. consobrina , E. lestradei and female E. windsori ), not as deep and well inclined, about 60º slope (in E. nigerrima , E. mimica and male E. windsori ). Mesocoxal cavity: hardly wider than base of mesosternal process (in E. consobrina and E. nigerrima ), or 1.3-1.6 wider than base of process (in the remaining species). Base of mesosternal process nearly flat or with moderately raised sides; apex lanceolate or nearly so, or subcordiform (in E. mimica ), sides diverging and acuminate at apex (bluntly to sharply pointed), apical margin somewhat projecting, and abruptly depressed. Mesoxal cavity rather narrowly, to moderately widely open to mesepimerum. Lengths of mesosternum/metasternum 0.85-0.92. Metathorax: wide, usually wider in male (but see E. windsori ), body length/width metathorax 3.46-3.87, in female 3.65-4.03; sides rounded from base to middle of hind margin; metasternum moderately tumid, and weakly flattened for apical half in male (more flattened in most females), its surface more or less level with mesocoxae. Metepisternum widest at base, strongly tapering to subacuminate apex. Abdomen in male: cylindrical; almost parallel-sided; somewhat flattened; weakly annulated; rather wide (widest near apex of urosternite II in E. consobrina and E. windsori ), or apex of III (in E. mimica and E. nigerrima ); urosternites II-IV strongly transverse; I-IV sequentially shorter towards apex of abdomen, or II and III equal in length. Urosternite V subtrapezoidal; surface weakly differentiated, with flat, U or V-shaped area often demarcated by slightly raised sides; apical margin broadly emarginate, or hardly so (in E. lestradei and E. mimica ) between acutely pointed sides (in most species); when viewed laterally urosternite V winged, with somewhat acute apical angles, or rounded apical angles (in E. consobrina ). Abdominal process a rather narrow isosceles triangle, moderately to rather strongly inclined to abdomen (slope about 30-75º). Abdomen in female: characteristically broad and ovate; flattened; weakly annulated; widest near base of urosternite II (in E. mimica ) or near apex of II (in the remaining species); urosternite I subconical; II-IV strongly transverse (III about three times wider than long); I-IV sequentially shorter towards apex of abdomen. Urosternite V trapezoidal; surface undifferentiated; sides weakly constricted across apical half, the latter moderately down-turned; apical margin weakly rounded, and sometimes minutely angled at sides. Abdominal process large, broad and blunt; almost planar with abdomen. Legs: in both sexes ratio lengths front/middle/hind leg 1.0:1.1-1.2:2.3-2.5. Front and middle legs: body length/length of legs 2.3-3.0 and 2.1-2.5 respectively. Front leg: femur about as long as tibia (in most species), or 1.15-1.21 longer (in E. consobrina and E. nigerrima ); tibia moderately robust; narrow at base, rather abruptly widening and almost parallel-sided to apex; when viewed dorsally apical margin oblique, somewhat lanceolate; apico-lateral angle dentate. Middle leg: femur moderately long (longest in male), 1.35-1.50 longer than length of tibia; femoral clave robust (but hardly tumid when viewed from above), in both sexes length of femur/lateral width of femoral clave 2.54-2.90 (the clave wider in male); tibia rather robust and almost parallel-sided to apex (in most species), or less robust and gradually widening to apex (in E. lestradei and E. windsori ). Hind leg: robust, body length/length of leg in both sexes 1.0-1.3; femur strongly pedunculate-clavate; clave characteristic, when viewed laterally sides almost parallel-sided for middle half, and tumid (when viewed from above), or hardly tumid (in E. windsori ); femoral apex reaching from middle of urosternite IV to near apex of V; clave long; peduncle short, moderately narrow, and usually flattened (length clave/peduncle 2.40-3.16). Metatibiae robust and uniformly wide to preapex; with large brushes, these emanating from slight swellings of tibial surface; (less obviously in E. lestradei and E. windsori ). When viewed dorsally tibia almost straight (in E. lestradei , E. windsori and female E. mimica ), or somewhat bisinuate (in both sexes of E. consobrina and E. nigerrima , and in male E. mimica ); apex bifurcate, with long spur on mesal side. When viewed laterally tibia slightly curved and bisinuate (in both sexes of most species), or straight and bisinuate (in E. mimica ); preapex with distinct spur; apex abruptly widened, both mesal and lateral surfaces produced into short, spatula-like extension, laterally this extension with truncate apical margin (in E. consobrina and E. nigerrima ), or rounded apical margin (in E. lestradei , E. windsori and E. mimica ). Metatarsus rather robust, but distinctly narrower than apex of metatibia; tarsomere I cylindrical; II not pediculate, almost quadrate; III as long as or slightly longer than II, the lobes narrow, rounded at sides, and weakly divergent. In both sexes: first tarsomere 0.89-0.93 length of II+III.

Genitalia. The description of the genitalia is based on two species, Exepimelitta nigerrima ( Fig. 50 ) and E. windsori ( Fig 51 ). Median lobe of aedeagus: moderately short (about 1.8 mm), slender, modestly arced, with acuminate apex; and small dark bodies present. Tegmen: similar to species of Charisia ; markedly different from Epimelitta . Apical part long, basal part shorter and broader. Apical part divided into two finger-shaped lobes, these moderately divergent, and long (length/width 3.2-3.7). Each lobe with moderately curved lateral and mesal margins, at apex hardly wider, slightly asymmetrical and subacuminate. Y-piece long and narrow, the stem about as long as the fork.

General pubescence. Pubescence greatly amplified in both sexes; the setae black or chestnut. Notable pubescence (very dense tufts of long, suberect setae) present on upperside of body and elytra as follows: sides and transverse depression of pronotum; arced patch on basal half of elytra (especially well developed in female). Notable pubescence on underside of body as follows: below inferior lobes of eyes (less notable in Exepimelitta windsori ); towards sides on apical margin of prosternum; between mesocoxae and hind margin of metasternum; covering most of metepisternum; towards sides of urosternites II-IV (in most species), or only sides of II and III (in E. windsori , and E. lestradei with those on III reduced). Less notable pubescence consisting of whitish, recumbent hairs on meso- and metasterna (at least in male); on urosternite I of abdomen narrow arced fascia laterally (in E. consobrina , E. lestradei , E. nigerrima and E. windsori ), or lateral fascia replaced with scattered flecks (in female E. mimica ), or entirely absent (in male E. mimica ); and hind margin of urosternite I with narrow fascia medially (in female E. lestradei ). Notable pubescence on legs as follows: ventral surface of profemoral clave (very dense, long tufts); mesofemoral clave; metafemoral clave (near middle of dorsal surface and towards apex of ventral surface). Metatibia with large, untidy brushes (their arrangement differing interspecifically, and sometimes between the sexes, sometimes spirally arranged, sometimes not, sometimes covering most of the tibial surface, or shorter on one side than the other, or each brush may be interrupted in the middle, or not); and the color of the brushes variable (some bicolored, others not, some sexually dichromatic, others not); and the variation would seem to be too much to be a useful taxonomic tool (but see key to the species, where it is used to separate E. consobrina from E. nigerrima ). All species with oblique, small, white patch of recumbent hairs towards the apex of metafemoral claves, on both mesal and lateral surfaces.

General puncturation. Upperside (including elytra): generally very dense, rather small, and alveolate or subalveolate. On pronotum: almost micropunctate in transverse depression; and very small areas of surface usually smooth and impunctate on posterior calli and towards distal margins of midline (in Exepimelitta mimica and E. nigerrima ), or smooth impunctate areas absent (in E. lestradei and E. windsori ). On elytra: smooth, relatively impunctate areas restricted to apex, or mesal half of translucent panels, elsewhere invaded by small dense punctures, or larger, sparser punctures (in E. nigerrima ). Underside puncturation mirrors the state of its pubescence: the punctures generally very dense and small; simple and deeper (on prosternum); microscopic (on mesosternum), shallow and beveled (on metasternum). On abdomen: punctures shallow and usually somewhat beveled, small (larger in E. lestradei ); and dense (less so towards sides and apex), or relatively sparse (in female in E. nigerrima ).

Species included in this genus. Exepimelitta consobrina ( Melzer, 1931) , comb. nov.; E. lestradei ( Peñaherrera-Leiva and Tavakilian, 2003) , comb. nov.; E. mimica ( Bates, 1873) , comb. nov.; E. nigerrima ( Bates, 1892) , comb. nov.; and E. windsori sp. nov.

Figures

Figures 7-12. Exepimelitta gen. nov. Fig. 7-10. Exepimelitta nigerrima (Bates, 1892): 7) male dorsal aspect; 8) male ventral aspect; 9) female holotype dorsal aspect; 10) Exepimelitta nigerrima var. flavipubescens (Fisher, 1947), female dorsal aspect. Fig. 11-12. Exepimelitta consobrina (Melzer, 1931), male paratype: 11) dorsal aspect; 12) ventral aspect.

Figures 13-18. Exepimelitta gen. nov. Fig. 13-16. Exepimelitta mimica (Bates, 1873): 13) male dorsal aspect; 14) male ventralaspect; 15) female dorsal aspect; 16) female ventral aspect.Fig. 17-18. Exepimelitta lestradei (Peñaherrera-Leiva and Tavakilian, 2003), dorsal aspect: 17) male holotype; 18) female paratype.

Figures 19-24.Exepimelitta gen. nov.and genusCharisia revalidated. Fig. 19-20. Exepimelittawindsori sp. nov., dorsal aspect: 19) male holotype; 20) female paratype. Fig. 21-22. Charisia durantoni (Peñaherrera-Leiva and Tavakilian, 2003), dorsal aspect: 21) male; 22) female. Fig. 23-24. Charisia euphrosyne (Newman, 1840), female: 23) dorsal aspect; 24) ventral aspect.

Figures 49-57. Tegmen and median lobe of aedeagus in the genus Epimelitta and related genera. Fig. 49- 54. Magnification x1 (represented by2 mmscale bar):49) Epimelitta scoparia (Klug, 1825);50) Exepimelitta nigerrima (Bates, 1892); 51) Exepimelitta windsori sp. nov.; 52) Charisia melanaria Gounelle, 1911; 53) Charisia mneme (Newman, 1841); 54) Acorethra chrysaspis Bates, 1873. Fig. 55-57. Magnification x2 (represented by 1 mm scale bar): 55) Adepimelitta debilis (Gounelle, 1911); 56) Adepimelitta eupheme (Lameere, 1884); 57) Erratamelitta erato (Newman, 1840).