Laemophloeus incisus Sharp, 1899:521

Thomas, Michael C., 2014, A review of New World Laemophloeus Dejean (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae): 2. Neotropical species with antennal club of three antennomeres, Insecta Mundi 2014 (363), pp. 1-38 : 8-9

Laemophloeus incisus Sharp, 1899:521

Fig. 7 , 27-30

Laemophloeus incisus Sharp, 1899:521

Laemophloeus catharinensis Kessel, 1926 :72,82, new synonym

Laemophloeus similans Kessel, 1926 :72,83, new synonym

Types: Of Laemophloeus incisus Sharp : I have examined a male and female from the BMNH mounted on the same card with the following data: “ Laemophloeus incisus Types D.S. Zapote” [on card with specimens]/” Type ” [red-bordered circle]/”Zapote, Guatemala, C.G. Champion.”/”B.C.A., Col. II(1) Laemophloeus incisus .”. Of Laemophloeus catharinensis Kessell and L. similans Kessel : Although the types of these species could not be identified in the Kessel collection, it is likely they were present. All of the specimens in the Kessel collection agreeing with the descriptions of the two Kessel species ( Kessel 1926: 82-83) that I examined were conspecific with L. incisus Sharp , and both Kessel species are here synonymized under L. incisus Sharp.

Diagnosis. The following combination of characters is diagnostic for this species: Length, 1.5mm - 2.8mm; body entirely testaceous to castaneous ( Fig. 7 ); pronotum without antebasal denticle but with lateral margin sinuate before posterior angle; males with deep emargination over antennal insertion ( Fig. 29 ); and in large specimens an elongate elliptical antennomere XI that is about as long as the combined length of the two preceding antennomeres. The male genitalia ( Fig. 28 ) with the almost circular shape of the aedeagus; short, rounded parameres; and bulb-like sclerotization in the internal sac ( Fig. 30 ) are unique in the genus.

Distribution. Mexico, Caribbean, Central and South America.

Specimens examined. 159, BELIZE: Orange Walk: Rio Bravo Conservation Area , Well Trail ; Toledo: Columbia Forest Station ; BOLIVIA: Santa Cruz: 3.7km SSE Vera Cruz , Hotel Flora & Fauna ; Potrerillos del Guendá , 40km NW Santa Cruz ; BRAZIL: São Paulo: Matão , Fazenda Marchesan ; Rondônia: 62km SW Ariquemes , near Fazenda Rancho Grande ; COLOMBIA: Antioquia: 24km. S & 21km W of Zaragoza, above Rio Anori ; COSTA RICA: Cartago: Turrialba ; Heredia: Estacion Biologica La Selva ; HONDURAS: Atlantida: Jardín Botánico Lancetilla ; Comayagua: 2.8km NNE Los Planes ; Copan: 6km NW Agustin ; Yoro: Parque Nacional Pico Pijol; JAMAICA: St. Andrew: Holywell Forest Camp ; Portland: Hardwar Gap ; between Hardwar Gap and Green Hills ; MEXICO: Quintana Roo: 19km N Felipe Carrillo Puerto ; Veracruz: Lake Catemaco , “Coyame” ; PANAMA: Chiriqui: Puerto Armuelles ; Colón: Barro Colorado Island , Snyder-Molino Trail ; Sierra Llorona Lodge ; Panama: Las Cumbres ; PERU: Junín: 11km NE Puerto Ocopa, Los Olivos ; 25km SW Satipo, Kuviraki ; SURINAME: Brokopondo: Ston Eiland Eco-Resort near Brownsberg ; Saramacca: Demboentong; TRINIDAD: S an Juan-Laventille: Curepe ; Tunapuna-Piarco: Arima-Blanchissuese Rd .; William Beebe Tropical Research Station . In FSCA and RHTC .

Discussion. Specimens from Jamaica are darker, almost castaneous in color, than elsewhere, but I can find no other differences to distinguish that population.

Laemophloeus insulatestudinorum Thomas , n.sp.

Fig. 8 , 31-33

Types: Holotype male, deposited in IRSNB, with following label data: “ Galapagos: I. Santa Cruz Verst. S.E., basse altitude (à la lumière) IX/ X. 1964 N. & J. Leleup ”. The genitalia have been dissected and imbedded in a drop of DMHF on the card point with the specimen . Allotype female, deposited in IRSNB, with following label data: “ Galapagos: I. Santa Cruz Verst. S.E., basse altitude (à la lumière) XII.1964 / 1.65 N. & J. Leleup ”

Diagnosis. This species is very similar to L. suturalis , but can be distinguished by being darker, larger, and with the setae of the parameres ( Fig. 31 ) much shorter than in L. suturalis ( Fig. 56 ).

Description: 3.6mm long; elongate-ovate; dorsal and ventral surfaces testaceous; with the following darkly infuscate: mandibles distally, anterior margin of epistome; disc of head laterad to median line; pronotum laterally; elytra basally, laterally, and apically; legs slightly paler.

Head: 2.4× wider than long; epistome with emargination over labrum moderate, mandibular emarginations rather shallow, antennal emarginations very slight; frontoclypeal suture distinct throughout ( Fig. 31 ); longitudinal line impressed; finely punctate, punctures much smaller than an eye facet, separated by 1-3 diameters, each subtending an inconspicuous seta about 2-3 times length of a puncture diameter; disc of head between punctures smooth and shiny, with microreticulation restricted to a small posterolateral area, but with scattered micropunctures. Mandibles large, rather straight. Eyes moderate, length 0.5× that of head ( Fig. 31 ). Antennae moderate, attaining about basal fourth of elytra; scape about 1.5× longer than broad; pedicel subquadrate, about 0.5× length of scape; III narrow and elongate, 0.8× length of scape; IV-VII elongate, subequal in length; each 0.6× length of scape; VIII slightly shorter than preceding, club comprised of IX-XI, IX-X each slightly expanded distally, IX 0.7× length of scape, X slightly shorter than IX; XI 1.3× length of scape, internal face slightly curved.

Thorax: 1.8× wider than long; widest at about apical fifth; 1.3× wider at apical fifth than across basal angles; anterior angles not produced, obtusely rounded; hind angles not produced, right; antebasal denticle distinct ( Fig. 31 ); sublateral line with a median dark spot and with median fovea; punctation and pubescence similar to head; surface smooth and shiny between punctures, not microreticulate except at extreme posterolateral angles of disc, with scattered micropunctures. Legs rather long; femora stout.

Elytra: 1.4× longer than wide; inner margin of cell 1 distinctly grooved from apex to basal third, outer margin obsolete, inner margin of cell 2 grooved from apex to basal fourth; cell 3 complete; humeral carina well-marked; discal surface with lines of shallow, minute punctures, no discernable pubescence.

Male genitalia: ( Fig. 32-33 ) parameres broadly triangular, apparently fused except for narrow line at distal sixth; each paramere with 2 setae, a short, stout basal seta near inner margin at about midpoint, not attaining apex of paramere, and a shorter, narrower seta on lateral margin; basal plates elongate, with a curved process distally ( Fig. 32 ); flagellum very narrow, longer than basal strut, internal sac with a v-shaped fibrous patch.

Female allotype: 3.3mm long; head 2.7× wider than long; eye larger, comprising 0.7× length of head; antennae shorter, attaining midpoint of pronotum, antennomeres IV-VIII moniliform; pronotum 1.4× wider than long; elytra 1.6× longer than wide.

Variation: Length of paratypes range from 2.5mm to 3.6mm.

Distribution. Known only from Santa Cruz Is., Archipiélago de Colón, Ecuador.

Paratypes. 11, with label data as follows: 7, “ Galapagos: I. Santa Cruz Verst. S.E., basse altitude (à la lumière) XII.1964 / 1.65 N. & J. Leleup ” ; 1, “ Galapagos: I. Santa Cruz Verst. S.E., basse altitude (à la lumière) II.1965 N. & J. Leleup ” ; 1, “ Galapagos: I. Santa Cruz vers S.E., basse altitude (à la lumière) I/ II.1965 N. & J. Leleup ” ; 2, “ Galapagos: I. Santa Cruz Station Darwin (lumière) Basse altitude X.1964 N. & J. Leleup ”. Most of these also bear a black on purple printed label: “ Coll. R. I. Sc. N. B.”. Deposited in IRSNB and FSCA .

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the latinization of the Galapagos Islands, which means Islands of Tortoises.

Discussion. This species is quite similar to L. suturalis and is probably derived from that widespread Neotropical species. Its combination of differences in external structure and male genitalia seem sufficient to recognize its species status.

Figures

Figure 7. Habitus, Laemophloeus incisus Sharp, male.

Figure 8. Habitus, Laemophloeus insulatestudinorum Thomas, n.sp., male.

Figures 27-30. Laemophloeus incisus Sharp. 27) Head and pronotum, male. 28) Male genitalia. 29) Head, male. 30) Sclerotization of internal sac.

Figures 31-33. Laemophloeus insulatestudinorum Thomas, n.sp. 31) Head and pronotum, male. 32) Aedeagus. 33) Male genitalia.

Figures 55-58. Laemophloeus suturalis Reitter. 55) Head and pronotum, male. 56) Aedeagus. 57) Male genitalia. 58) Abdominal segment 8, male.