Fidia costaricensis Strother, 2008

Strother, M. S. & Staines, C. L., 2008, A revision of the New World genus Fidia Baly 1863 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Eumolpinae: Adoxini), Zootaxa 1798 (1), pp. 1-100 : 35-36

Fidia costaricensis Strother , New Species

( Figs. 8 , 102 ; Map 11)

Holotype ♂ ( INBIO): "Sn Pedro M Oca 4 junio 1984 Col: A. Solis B [handwritten] / COSTA RICA INBIO CRI001004054 [bar code label] / HOLOTYPE Fidia costaricensis M.S.Strother 1993 [red]". The specimen is glued on a point, with the dissected abdominal sterna, terga, and pygidium glued on a card pinned beneath specimen. The aedeagus and associated sclerites are preserved in glycerin in a microvial pinned beneath the specimen. It is in good condition except for the following: the left eleventh antennomere and the apical 1/4 of the right elytron are missing, and there is a hole near the suture from the original pin. The holotype is the only specimen known.

Description (of holotype). TL = 4.88 mm, HW = 2.51 mm. Color: Head black with faint bluish luster, labrum dark red-brown; pronotum glossy black; elytra glossy black anteriorly with deep, dark red-brown tint near apices; femora glossy black with faint bluish luster, basally and ventrally dark red-brown; tibiae basally black, becoming dark red-brown apically; tarsi dark red-brown to nearly black basally; thoracic sterna, abdominal sterna, and pygidium glossy black with faint dark red-brown tint along sutures and margins; pubescence predominantly white on head, pronotum, scutellum, lateral and sutural margins of elytra, and venter; some setae on anterior portion of pronotal disc and anteromedial portion of each elytron brownish-black. Pronotum: Slightly wider than long, widest at middle, slightly narrowed anteriorly, less so posteriorly, sides gently convex in dorsal view, dorsum feebly convex in lateral view; moderately densely punctate, punctures fine; pubescence sparse, long, fine, erect, with apex of each seta recurved, not obscuring surface sculpture. Mesepisternum: Entirely glabrous. Elytra: Intrahumeral callus weakly developed; humeral callus impunctate, glabrous; asetose punctate-striae obsolete on disc, more or less evident on lateral aspect, setose punctules sparsely placed, feebly impressed on disc, much more closely placed and deeply impressed laterally, imparting weakly undulate- or reticulate-rugose appearance to lateral aspect; pubescence sparse, setae long, hairlike, erect. Abdomen: Medial area of first sternum flattened; medial area of second, third, and fourth sterna gently concave with dense, transverse mat of short, stout, posteriorly directed golden setae; last sternum with large, moderately deep, broadly oval, transverse impression bordered on each lateral margin by short, longitudinal callus bearing dense tuft of long, erect setae, apical margin of last sternum broadly convex; pygidium subquadrate, gently tapered to broad, truncate apex, dorsum with shallow impression immediately anteromesad each posterolateral angle. Legs: Femora robust, abruptly tapered towards base; spinose external apical margin of metatibia subobtusely rounded; all tibial spurs small, lacking visible surface sculpture; probasitarsus gradually tapered towards base, disco-setae on pro- and mesotarsi only. Penis: In posterior view, sides parallel; apex convex with narrow medial notch extending approximately ½ distance from apex of penis to posterior margin of ostium, angles at opening of notch approximately 90°. In lateral view, eudorsal surface of declivitous part gently convex; euventral surface feebly convex, tapered gradually to acute apex. Viewed from beneath, euventral surface deeply excavated near apex creating broad, recurved flange on either side of midline. Sperm guide absent. Spermatheca: Females unknown.

Etymology. Named for the country in which the holotype was collected.

Diagnosis. Medium-sized (approximately 4.88 mm.); glossy black with sparse, fine, suberect to erect pubescence; pronotal punctures fine; elytra lacking distinct punctate-striae on disc; elytral disc with numerous brownish-black setae in addition to white setae. Male with dense, transverse mat of short, stout setae on medial area of abdominal sterna II–IV, last sternum with large, moderately deep, broadly oval, transverse impression bordered on each lateral margin by short, longitudinal callus bearing dense tuft of long, erect setae; apex of penis with narrow medial notch extending approximately ½ distance from apex of penis to posterior margin of ostium, angles at opening of notch approximately 90° ( Fig. 102 ). Females are unknown.

Fidia costaricensis is quite distinctive and is not likely to be confused with any other known species. Males of F. guatemalensis have similar abdominal modifications, but are brassy-black with gold or purple luster, the pronotum is coarsely punctate-reticulate, the elytral disc has coarse, irregular punctate-striae, and the spinose external apical margin of the metatibia is acutely subangulate.

Distribution (Map 11). Known only from the holotype.

Natural History. Unknown.

Figures

FIGURES 5–8. Dorsal habitus of Fidia species. 5. F.comalensis. 6. F. confusa. 7. F. convexicollis. 8. F. costaricensis.

FIGURES 101–102. Distal part of male aedeagus, lateral and dorsal views (scale bar = 0.5 mm). 101. F. guatemalensis. 102. F. costaricensis.