Epipoda abeli, Clarke, 2014

Clarke, Robin O. S., 2014, Bolivian Rhinotragini IX: new genera (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae), Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia (São Paulo) 54 (26), pp. 375-390 : 385-387

Epipoda abeli sp. nov.

Figs. 3A, 3B, 3C, 5

Holotype: male, 8.65 mm, deposited in the MNKM.

Diagnosis (based on females of nearly equal size): both species very much the same in most characters; but rather different in those that follow: in E. abeli sides of elytra adjacent to translucent panels rufous and black (in E. vanini entirely black); in E. abeli pro- and mesofemora black with chestnut sides (in E. vanini all femora entirely chestnut); in E. abeli abdomen blackish, with urosternite I mostly yellow, II-IV with patches of yellow, and V entirely yellow (in E. vanini abdomen black, and only urosternite I yellow); in E. abeli interocular of inferior lobe of eyes 1.38-1.46 width of one lobe (in E. vanini interocular 2.50 wider than width of one lobe); in E. abeli antennae slightly more slender; scape longer and wider, 1.2 × 0.5 units; antennomeres V-XI less crassate, and middle of V hardly wider than apex of IV (in E. vanini scape shorter and narrower, 1.0 × 0.4 units; antennomeres V-XI distinctly more crassate, with middle of V distinctly wider than apex of IV); in E. abeli all tibiae noticeably longer and more slender (in E. vanini all tibia comparatively robust); in E. abeli metatibia bisinuate when viewed from the side, straight when viewed from above (in E. vanini metatibia straight when viewed from the side, bisinuate when viewed from above), and in E. abeli metatibial setae long and narrow, and nowhere dense (in E. vanini metatibial setae shorter and thicker, and somewhat dense towards apex).

Description of holotype ( Figs. 3A, 3B ): length of forebody and abdomen both 3.75 mm; prothorax 1.27 wider than width of head across eyes (1.10 mm).

Colour: the following black: head (except basal two-thirds of mandibles, labrum and clypeus pale chestnut), prothorax (only post coxal process pale chestnut), meso- and metasterna (except sides of mesosterna pale chestnut), and abdomen (except disc of urosternite I and apical tergite with pale chestnut infusion). Mouthparts yellowish, apical palpomeres black. Elytra with basal fifth brownish-buff, posteriorly black, except for translucent panels (the latter entirely framed by black colour, except anteriorly where the frame is narrowly interrupted). Antennae entirely pale chestnut. Front and middle legs pale chestnut with black infusion on claves and tarsi (only mesofemoral peduncles and base of mesotibia yellow); hind legs with yellow femoral peduncles, chestnut infused with black claves, black tibia (with basal quarter yellow), and black tarsi; on all legs coxae (and narrow area around procoxal cavity) pale chestnut.

Structure: rostrum 2.83 wider than long (0.30 mm); one inferior lobe of eye 3.33 wider than interocular distance (0.15 mm). Distance between superior lobes of eyes 3.33 width of one lobe (0.15 mm). Distance between antennal tubercles 2.50 width of scape (0.20 mm). Lengths of antennal segments: scape 0.55 mm; pedicel 0.2 mm; III 0.7 mm; IV 0.35 mm; V 0.50 mm; VI and VII 0.40 mm; VIII and IX 0.35 mm; X 0.30 mm; XI 0.40 mm. Prothorax 1.10 longer than wide (1.45 mm); prothoracic quotient 1.88; apical margin 1.05 wider than basal margin (1.10 mm). Procoxal cavity 5.50 wider than base of prosternal process (0.10 mm). Mesocoxal cavity 3.67 wider than base of mesosternal process (0.15 mm). Elytra 1.87 longer than width across humeri (1.50 mm); reaching base of urosternite II. Length of mesosternum 0.75 mm. Length of metasternum 0.95 mm. Abdominal segments incrementally shorter towards apex; length urosternite I 1.00 mm; II 0.75 mm; III 0.70 mm, IV 0.65 mm; V 0.60 mm. Urosternite IV with moderately deep, round fossa occupying most of ventral surface. Ratio front/middle/ hind leg 1.0:1.2:1.8. Profemur 1.13 longer than protibia (1.15 mm); mesofemur 1.18 longer than length of mesotibia (1.40 mm); mesofemur 2.75 longer than width of clave (0.60 mm); length of body 1.4 longer than hind leg (5.9 mm); metafemoral clave 1.87 longer than peduncle (0.80 mm); apex of metafemora reaching apical third of usosternite III; metatibia 1.07 longer than metafemur (2.30 mm); metatibia 2.13 longer than metatarsus (1.15 mm); metatarsomere I about 1.13 longer than length of II + III.

Variation: among the 14 male paratypes colour variation modest: apical palpomeres often chestnut; apical and basal borders of prothorax chestnut in many specimens; basal third of elytra more ochraceous in many specimens; black frame surrounding translucent panels on elytra entire in some specimens, but latero-posteriorly black colour replaced by pale chestnut in most specimens; mesotibia may be entirely pale chestnut; metatarsus in many paratypes chestnut; margins of all coxal cavities vary from entirely black to entirely chestnut.

Structural variation: one inferior lobe of eye 3.00-4.50 wider than interocular distance, the quotient only smaller than holotype in one example. Prothorax 1.07-1.15 longer than wide, the average quotient about the same as that of holotype. Antennomere III 1.27-1.36 longer than scape, the quotient as holotype for two paratypes, larger for the rest. Elytra 1.83-2.16 longer than width across humeri, the quotient larger than holotype in three paratypes (in one of which length of elytra more than twice width across humeri).

Description of female ( Fig. 3C ): colour much as male in both species; labrum and clypeus darker; in one paratype black frame surrounding translucent panels on elytra entire (except for latero-posterior pale chestnut section); in one paratype pronotal disc mottled with rufous-chestnut, and sides broadly rufous-chestnut; basi-lateral margins of urosternites II-IV, and all of V, pale chestnut; femoral claves and antennae darker.

Structural dimorphism somewhat reduced in this species, but female differs significantly from male by the following characters: rostrum 3.17 wider than long (0.30 mm). One inferior lobe of eye 1.38-1.46 wider than interocular distance (0.32 mm).

Antennomeres generally less crassate, middle of V not wider than apex of IV, and apex of V only 4,0 units wide; and VII-IX 4,0 to nearly 5,0 units wide; antennomere III 1.08 longer than scape (0.6 mm), and VII-IX of equal length (0.35 mm). Prothorax 1.03-1.06 longer than wide; apical margin 0.96 width of basal margin. Procoxal cavity 3.33 wider than base of prosternal process (0.18 mm). Mesocoxal cavity 3.14 wider than base of mesosternal process (0.15 mm). Elytra reaching basal 1/3 of II. Length of mesosternum 0.90 mm, and metasternum 1.00 mm. Urosternite I with strongly rounded sides, giving it a broadly conical appearance; urosternite IV not fossate. Ratio front/middle/hind leg 1.0:1.2:1.9. Mesofemur 2.91 longer than width of clave (0.55 mm). Metafemoral clave 2.13 longer than peduncle (0.80 mm); apex of metafemora reaching basal quarter of urosternite IV. Metatibia 2.30 longer than metatarsus (1.20 mm).

Measurements (mm): 15 males, 2 females: total length 7.55-9.00/8.65-9.15; length of pronotum 1.45-1.70/1.65-1.80; width of pronotum 1.35-1.50/1.60-1.70; length of elytra 2.45-2.95/2.95-3.05; width at humeri 1.35-1.65/1.60-1.75.

Holotype: male, BOLIVIA, Santa Cruz: 5 km SSE Buena Vista , 17°29’96”S/ 63°39’13”W, 440 m, Hotel Flora & Fauna, on felled trunk/branch of “Jorori”, 04.IX.2005, Clarke & Zamalloa col. ( MNKM).

Specimens analysed: holotype; location as for holotype, flying to/on flowers of “Barbasquillo”, 1 female, 15. VIII .2005, Clarke & Zamalloa col. ( RCSZ) .

Specimen examined: same locality as holotype, on felled trunk/branch of “Jorori”, 6 males, 04-05. IX.2005 ( RCSZ); flying to/on flowers of Gomphrena vaga , 5 males, 08-15. VIII.2007, Clarke & Zamalloa col. ( RCSZ) ; ditto, 1 male, 26. VII.2008 ( FSCA) , ditto, 1 male ( USNM) , ditto, 1 male ( MZUSP); flying to/on flowers of “ Ramaneo ”, 1 female, 14. VIII.2008, Clarke & Zamalloa col. ( RCSZ) .

Comment: since the species was observed mating, and the females ovipositing, on the same tree trunks and branches, “Jorori” is the first host plant record for this species. “Jorori” is Swartzia jorori Harms , of the family Fabaceae .

Etymology: this species is named in honour of my good friend, Abel Monasterio, to thank him for providing me with a personal, and much subsidised dental service.

Figures

FIGURES 3‑5: 3, Epipoda abeli sp. nov.: A, male holotype, B, male paratype ventral aspect, C, female paratype. 4, Epipoda vanini sp. nov.: A, female holotype, B, female holotype ventral aspect. 5, Epipoda abeli sp. nov.: genitalia (length of median lobe about 1.2 mm), tegmen (left), median lobe (right).