Asytesta cornuta Setliff, 1865

Setliff, Gregory P., 1865, Two New Species ofAsytestaPascoe, 1865 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Cryptorhynchinae) from West Papua, The Coleopterists Bulletin 1865 (1), pp. 91-94 : 91-94

Asytesta cornuta Setliff , new species ( Figs. 1–2 , 5–6 )

Diagnosis. Very close to Asytesta cordis new species, but differs by having a dark fascia outlining a V-shaped area of lighter colored scales and lacking large cream-colored maculae on the pronotal disk. Also, the fourth elytral intervals each have short, white vittae near the humeri, and the apex of the aedeagus is produced and abruptly truncate.

Description of Holotype. Male ( Figs. 1, 2 ). Length 5.6 mm, width 2.9 mm, rostral length 2.0 mm. Body elongate-oval, length 1.9X width; integument dark reddish brown, antennae and tarsi light reddish brown. Densely covered with small, light tan to dark brown scales dorsally, sides of pronotum, pleura, and venter covered with lighter

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colored scales; legs with alternating bands of tan and dark brown scales, interspersed all over with longer, pale setae becoming more hair-like on inner margin of tibiae near apex. Pronotal disk with irregular black fascia across middle and pair of oblique, black vittae at base, fascia and vittae together outlining V-shaped patch of lighter scales in between; 14 small, circular, white maculae arranged in transverse rows, 2 maculae near apical margin, 6 maculae in a row before middle, 6 maculae in irregular row behind middle; anterolateral region of pronotum with distinct ring of pale scales enclosing area from lateral margin of prosternal canal to anterior margin of procoxae, with patch of brown background scales in center. Elytra mottled, densely covered with interspersed tan and brown scales; 4 th intervals each with short, pale vittae at base, terminating at elongate black maculae near center of disk. Head: Visible in dorsal view, with faintly indicated crown-like carinae on vertex above eyes. Eyes slightly bulging; interocular distance narrower than subbasal width of rostrum. Rostrum slightly shorter than pronotal length, basal half rugose, coarsely punctate to apex, parallel-sided to just before apex, weakly broadened at apex, suprascrobal carinae sharply produced laterally, forming pair of tooth-like processes at middle of scrobe (as in Fig. 4 ), with small, medial denticle near rostral base, somewhat obscured by scales. Antennae with funicular article 2 longer than article 1, club compact, oval, about as long as funicular articles 1 and 2 combined. Thorax: Pronotum 1.3X broader than long, broadest just behind middle; punctures large and shallow on disk and sides, each bearing 1 light brown, hair-like seta, spaces between punctures greater than diameter of puncture. Prosternal canal moderately deep, lateral walls nearly vertical; mesosternal receptacle produced laterally with posterior wall nearly obliterated. Scutellum visible, minute, diameter subequal to punctures at base of elytra. Elytra 1.3X longer than broad, anterior margin emarginate at middle, gradually tapering to apex; subcontiguous at sides with pronotum. All intervals except 4 th distinctly convex, granulate; granules each bearing 1 pale decumbent seta; granulate prominence on 3 rd intervals raised well above adjacent intervals, bearing multiple small shiny granules, elevated slightly behind elytral base, interrupted by short flat area in basal 1/4, then continuously elevated and granulate to declivity. Legs: Femora unidentate ventrally, tooth small and simple. Hind femur longer than elytral apices, exceeding apex by 1/4 their length; mesofemur shorter than elytral apices. Protibia not laterally compressed, ventral margin with short, obtuse flange in basal 1/3, dorsal margin weakly emarginate apicad of middle. Abdomen: Ventrite 1 weakly distended, as long as ventrites 2–4 combined, on slightly lower plane than remaining ventrites, intercoxal process as broad as entire length of ventrite 1. Genitalia: Body of aedeagus moderately curved, 1/3 as long as apodemes; apex strongly produced and truncate ( Figs. 5, 6 ). Endophallus with pair of elongate, apodeme-like basal sclerites.

Material Examined. H o l o t y p e: ♂, I R I A N JAYA, Sorong-Prov., Salawatti [sic] Isl., Kalobo, ca. 10– 30 m . 19-22.X.1996. leg. A. Riedel ( ARC) .

Distribution. Salawati Island (West Papua Province, Indonesia).

Etymology. The species epithet is derived from the Latin “ cornu ”, meaning “horned” and is in reference to the medial denticle on the male rostrum.

Comments. Female unknown.

Figures

Figs. 1–4. Asytesta species. 1) A. cornuta, male, lateral habitus; 2) A. cornuta, male, dorsal habitus; 3) A. cordis, male, dorsal habitus; 4) A. cordis, detail of head and rostrum, frontal view.

Figs. 5–8. Asytesta species. 5) A. cornuta, aedeagus, dorsal view; 6) A. cornuta, aedeagus, lateral view; 7) A. cordis, aedeagus, dorsal view; 8) A. cordis, aedeagus, lateral view.