Dichotomius (Luederwaldtinia) validipilosus (Luederwaldt, 1931) Fig. 18, Map 15

Pinotus validipilosus Luederwaldt, 1931: 103 (original description).

Pinotus validipilosus – Blackwelder 1944: 208.

Dichotomius validipilosus – Roze 1955: 44.

Diagnosis

Dichotomius validipilosus is separated from the other species in the group by the following combination of characters: head surface subrugose. Clypeus not rounded, clypeal margin displaying projection protruding on anterior portion of clypeo-genal suture. Cephalic carina conical, median tubercle apically emarginate, lateral tubercles slightly developed. Pronotal anterior disc with declivity, median edge deeper than lateral sides resembling two underdeveloped lobes. Pronotal median disc punctation fine. Anterior and lateral edges of metasternum with long and abundant setae. Elytral interstriae microsculpture shagreened. Sixth abdominal sternite marginally lower or depressed than other sternites.

Material examined

Holotype

VENEZUELA • 1 ♂; “Venézuela Caracas” [white, p]/ “Ex-Museo N. Van de Poil” [white, p]/ “MUSÉUM PARIS 1938 COLL. A. BOUCOMONT” [green, p]/ “ Typus ” [red with black margins, p]/ “ Pinotus validipilosus n. sp. Lueder. Det. 1931” [white, hw]; MNHN.

Additional material

COLOMBIA – La Guajira • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Cermanke, Rio Rancheria; 2800 m a.s.l.; Jun. 2008; Andrea Esparza leg.; CEMT . – Magdalena • 1 ♀; 24 km S of Sta. Marta, Campana.; 3000 ft a.s.l.; 14 May 1973; Campbell and Howden leg.; CEMT .

VENEZUELA – Aragua • 2 ♀♀; Cuyagua; 50 m a.s.l.; 6 Jul. 2004; D. García leg.; CEMT . – Merida • 4 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Arzobispo Chacón, Mutucuy; 1380 m a.s.l.; 8º14′18″ N, 71º17′12″ W; 13 Mar. 2015; Racconcia leg.; CEMT . – Tachira • 2 ♂♂; Palmira, La Flautera; 15 Jul. 1985; B. Joffre leg.; CEMT .

Redescription

Male

MEASUREMENTS. Length: 21.6 mm.

HEAD. Anterior surface subrugose (Fig. 18C), extending posteriorly not reaching base of cephalic carina. Clypeus not rounded, with large central emargination separating two rounded clypeal teeth, feebly angled upwards (Fig. 18A, C). Clypeal margin distinct, projection protruding on anterior portion of clypeo-genal suture. Cephalic carina, as wide as high, conical in shape. Median tubercle three times as high as lateral tubercles, apically emarginate. Lateral tubercles slightly developed. Ventral clypeal process truncate and broadened apically (see Fig. 2B).

PRONOTUM. Twice as wide as long and as wide as elytra. Pronotal median disc shiny and with fine punctures, ocellate punctures near posterior basal central margin. Anterior disc with sharp declivity, medial edge deeper than lateral sides, resembling two underdeveloped lobes (Fig. 18A). Hypomeron external margin bearing rows of disorganized setigerous punctures, median disc smooth and shiny (see Fig. 2E).

ABDOMEN. Mesosternum and metepisternum surface microsculpture shagreened, ocellate setigerous punctures separated by once diameter of a puncture. Metasternum anterior portion next to basal margin of mesosternum and margins of mesocoxa microsculpture shagreened, with dense pilosity surrounding margins of mesocoxa joining medial and lateral portions of metasternum (see Fig. 2G, Fig. 18D). Longitudinal sulcus distinctly sculpted, ending as shallow mid-fossa. Sternites ocellate punctures along anterior margins. Sixth abdominal sternite marginally lower or depressed than other sternites (Fig. 18D). Pygidium completely delimited by margin. Large punctation restricted to basal margin. Medial and apical surfaces finely punctate.

ELYTRA. Wider than long. Interstriae microsculpture shagreened (see Fig. 2J) with fine shiny punctures arranged randomly. Striae with ocellate punctures separated by once diameter of a puncture on elytral disc.

LEGS. Metacoxa surface microsculpture shagreened, posterior margin covered by row of dense setigerous punctures close together; setae dense, half the length of setae of metasternum.

PARAMERES AND LAMELLA COPULATRIX. Fig. 18 E–G.

Morphological variation

Females (Fig. 18B)

As males except for the following characters:

HEAD. Anterior surface rugose, less dense on interocular space. Cephalic carina quadrituberculate; two median tubercles higher than lateral ones.

PRONOTUM. Anterior disc declivity weak, not modified. Surface finely punctate, punctures firmly impressed, denser at anterolateral margins next to fossae. Medial sulcus conspicuous. Pygidium delimited by incomplete margin, faded apically.

Remarks

The distribution of D. validipilosus and D. deyrollei overlaps and, although males can easily be differentiated, the females are quite similar and can only be distinguished by the pronotal punctation, which is lacking in D. validipilosus, and the character of the sixth abdominal sternite, which is marginally lower in D. validipilosus .