Tillomorphites otiliae, Vitali, 2017

Vitali, Francesco, 2017, Two new fossil species of Tillomorphites Vitali (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) and remarks on the morphological evolution, mimicry, biogeography and phylogeny of the tribe Tillomorphini, Baltic Journal of Coleopterology 17 (2), pp. 147-160 : 148-151

Tillomorphites otiliae n. sp.

( Figs. 2a - e )

Holotype

Female, Baltic amber, ex coll. M. Veta, author’s coll. FS65BS35.

The type is included in a rectangular-trapezoidal, 20 x 15 x 5 mm, oval piece of yellow-orange amber containing the following syninclusions: a Trichoptera, two Diptera Sciaridae (one present as head), an exuvium of a possible neanic stage of Acridoidea (only four legs present), many stellate hairs and wood dust. The beetle is partially covered by turbidity along the right side and lacks the left antennomeres V- XI; the ovipositor is fully exposed.

Paratype

Female, Baltic amber, ex coll. M. Veta, author’s coll. FS70BS39.

The type is included in a 25 x 11 x 4 mm parallelogram-shaped piece of yellow-orange amber with many stellate hairs as syninclusions. The beetle is partially covered by turbidity on the pronotum and the mouth pieces; the abdomen looks inflated due to the possible presence of eggs.

Differential diagnosis

This species differs from T. robustus and T. spinipes n. sp. in the absence of short erect setae on the half of each antennomere and in the more elongated and nearly smooth elytra. Moreover, it differs from T. robustus in the different pronotal shape and from T. spinipes in the simply recumbent pubescence of the legs.

Description

Female, Body length 4.3 (holotype) to 4.9 mm (paratype). Body throughout black except for the elytra, showing a pre-median transversal reddish band (holotype) and a similar pre-apical band (paratype).

Head short; forehead oblique, smooth; antennal tubercles widely separated and scarcely elevated; interantennal furrow fine; eyes large, finely faceted, very strongly reniform, scarcely prominent; upper eye-lobes well developed; under eye-lobes nearly occupying all space of genae. Palpomeres sub-equal; last palpomere obovate, longer than the previous one. Antennae 11-segmented, shorter than body, glabrous; antennomeres III - IV with a very fine spine at the apex; antennomeres V - X externally dentate at the apex; scape short, bowed; pedicel transverse one-ninth as long as scape; antennomere III club-shaped, one-half as long as scape; antennomeres IV club-shaped, about one-third longer than III; antennomere V even longer; antennomeres VI and VII equal, hardly longer than V; antennomeres VIII and IX equal, hardly shorter than V, antennomere X even shorter, antennomere XI one-third as long as scape (antennomere proportions according to the formula: 1.8: 0.2: 9.0: 1.3 1.6: 1.7: 1.7: 1.5: 1.5: 1.4: 0.6).

Pronotum longer than wide, ob-ovate, constricted before the base; apex one-fifth wider than base, anteriorly feebly convex, very finely furrowed along its margin; base bilobed, posteriorly convex in the middle, two-fifth narrower than elytral base, finely furrowed along its margin; disc convex, smooth and glabrous. Scutellum small, not guessable since partially covered by turbidity.

Elytra apically inflated, moderately convex, 2.7 times as long as wide at humeri; base feebly convex, concave in correspondence of the basal angles of the pronotum; humeri rounded; lateral margins furrowed; apex largely rounded; disc smooth, covered with some long semi-erect setae at base.

Legs relatively short and robust, pubescent, femora clavate; tibiae linear; tarsi short; metatarsus one-half as long as metatibia; metatarsomere I as long as II and III together or

Vitali F.

as onychium; metatarsomeres II and III transverse.

Prosternum with numerous fine transversal ridges; intercoxal process fairly narrow; procoxae globose, procoxal cavities externally rounded, posteriorly open; mesocoxal cavities laterally closed; visible urosternites (I-V) progressively shortened to the apex, very finely and densely punctured, seemingly granulated, covered with some erect setae.

Etymology

I am honoured to dedicate this new species to my wife Otilia, who gave me as a present both typical specimens and selflessly supports my research providing invaluable assistance.

Figures

Fig. 2a. Tillomorphites otiliae n. sp., Holotype.