Phyllobaenus turnbowi Leavengood, 2020

John M. Leavengood, Jr., 2020, Phyllobaenus thomasi and P. turnbowi, two new species from Mexico and Belize (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Hydnocerinae: Hydnocerini), Insecta Mundi 2020 (833), pp. 1-6 : 4-6

Phyllobaenus turnbowi Leavengood , new species

( Fig. 5–16 )

Holotype. Female. MEXICO: San Luis Potosi, Guadalcazar Rd. at km. 11.5, 19 July 1982, R. Turnbow ( RHTC).

Paratypes. 6 specimens. MEXICO: San Luis Potosi, Guadalcazar Rd. at km. 11.5, 19-VII-1982, R. Turnbow ( RHTC, 1) ; 21 km E San Luis Potosi, 18-VII-1982, R. Turnbow ( TAMU, 1) ; km. mk. 6, Guadalcazar rd. , 19-VII-1982, R. Turnbow ( TAMU, 3) ; gravel rd. at km. mk. 11.5 on Guadalcazar rd. , 19-VII-1982, R. Turnbow ( TAMU, 1) .

Diagnosis. The unique color pattern and truncate-emarginate elytral apices will readily distinguish this species from its congeners. In terms of color pattern and general form, the most similar species are Phyllobaenus corticinus (Gorham) and P. intricatus (Gorham) . However, neither of these species possess emarginate elytral apices and both have different overall color patterns.

Description. Holotype (female): Body length 5.78 mm. Head, anterior scutellum, pro- and mesothorax pale red; antennae, mouthparts and coxae pale orangish-testaceous; legs orangish-testaceous with infuscations forming bands in the apical third of the metafemora and weaker dispersed infuscations in the metatibiae; metathorax and abdomen dark reddish-brown; elytra black with white apices and a white area shaped as a Roman numeral “V” occupying the anterior three-fifths (excluding the humeri), the posterior margin of which completely divides the elytra with a white transverse fascia ( Fig. 12–13 ). Head about as wide as elytral humeri, with the prominent eyes protruding beyond the lateral pronotal angles; moderately closely punctate; sparsely clothed with fine, long, erect, pale hairs interspersed with short semirecumbent hairs, and eyes sparsely clothed with only fine, long, erect, pale hairs. Antennae with funicular segments (i.e., III–IX) of alternating size, with segments IV, VI and VIII each smaller than the segments at either side; terminating in a large one-segmented club. Pronotum densely-irregularly coarsely punctate (larger punctures than on the head) with punctation weak on the pronotal tubercles and obsolete at anterior and posterior collars; sparsely clothed with fine, long, erect, pale hairs interspersed with short, semirecumbent hairs; lateral pronotal angles anteriorly placed and not quite as wide as eyes or elytral humeri. Elytra deeply, coarsely and evenly punctate; sparsely clothed with fine, long, erect, pale hairs interspersed with short semirecumbent hairs, the erect hairs longest at the humeri, hairs directed laterally along midelytral fascia; coleopterous in form and completely covering the abdomen, somewhat dorsoventrally flattened ( Fig. 12–13 ), with apices broadly independently truncate-emarginate with a smooth inner margin; lateral elytral margins weakly serrulate, growing stronger apically (strongest just before the apical emargination), each posteriorly projecting denticle with a single seta ( Fig. 14–15 ). Ventral prothorax sparsely clothed with fine, long, erect, pale hairs interspersed with short, semirecumbent hairs; metathorax similar but with very few semirecumbent hairs. Abdomen shining and sparsely clothed with fine, long, erect, pale hairs; apical visible sternite with a deep basal groove extending nearly to mid-length, apex of apical sternite evenly rounded and unmodified except for a very weakly indicated emargination at which the marginal setae converge ( Fig. 16 ); apical tergite with a more distinct emargination ( Fig. 15 ). Legs somewhat shining, sparsely clothed with fine, long, erect, pale hairs of varying length; slender (not clavate), with femora thicker than spindly tibiae; metafemora not quite reaching elytral apex; tarsi with weakly developed ungues ( Fig. 6 ). Paratype (male) with visible sternite V almost completely divided and forming two long, curved, clasper-like appendages ( Fig. 10–11 ); sternite VI modified, with central posterior margin concealed by sternite V ventrally, but produced dorsolaterally on each side into a curved, setose, clasperlike appendage terminating in a blunt end ( Fig. 7, 9–11 ); apical visible tergite with a deep emargination forming two rounded lobes ( Fig. 7–11 ); visible portion of aedeagus with elongate parameres apically abruptly angled downward (as in P. inusitatotibialis ) ( Fig. 7, 11 ); phallus robust, elongate, strongly sclerotized, tapering apically and anteapically constricted, with apex laterally compressed, terminating in a blunt knob ( Fig. 9–11 ).

Distribution. Known only from the type locality (San Luis Potosí, México).

Etymology. This patronym honors the sole collector of this species, Bob Turnbow, who I first met on a collecting trip with Mike Thomas.

Remarks. The specimens of the type series appear to have faded color such that in life (or with fresher specimens) the color pattern may be more brilliant. Otherwise, the paratypes show no noticeable variation in color pattern. The elytra are rather parallel, widest just behind the middle, and with no sign of constriction or antebasal depressions as are often found in species with similar elytral form (e.g., P. corticinus , P. intricatus ) ( Leavengood and Garner 2014). Unlike many species of Phyllobaenus and Isohydnocera , neither the ventrolateral metathorax nor the scutellum have an increased density of hairs (nor are they more silvery). Moreover, other species possessing truncate and/or emarginate elytral apices have more deeply apically dehiscent elytra (e.g., P. lateralis , P. subulatus ) that are not coleopterous in form and have a midelytral plical subulation, they are less coarsely punctate (and certainly not for the full length of the elytra), and the elytra often do not fully cover the abdomen. The form of the tarsi (i.e., the weak ungues) is consistent with other species of similar elytral form (e.g., P. corticinus , P. nitidicollis ), which Leavengood et al. (2012) identified as problematic with respect to generic assignment. As such, to remain consistent with those species of similar form, the new species is placed (tentatively) within Phyllobaenus . This new species appears to be closely allied with I. albocincta , I. cryptocerina , P. albofasciatus , P. bituberculatus , P. cinctus , P. corticinus , P. cyanipennis , P. cyanitinctus , P. cylindricollis , P. impressus , P. intricatus , P. nitidicollis and P. vitrinus . Sharing similar elytral form but possessing distinct tarsal ungues are the species P. inusitatotibialis , P. niveifasciatus and P. unifasciatus .

Figures

Figures 1–11. Phyllobaenus thomasi female paratype. 1) Habitus, dorsal. 2) Abdomen, ventral. 3) Tarsal claw. 4) Abdomen, dorsal. Phyllobaenus turnbowi male paratype. 5) Abdomen, lateral. 6) Tarsal claw. 7) Terminalia, caudal. 8) Abdomen, dorsal. 9) Terminalia, dorsal. 10) Terminalia, ventral. 11) Terminalia, ventrolateral.

Figures 12–16. Phyllobaenus turnbowi female holotype. 12) Habitus, dorsal. 13) Habitus, lateral. 14) Elytral apex. 15) Abdomen, dorsal. 16) Abdomen, ventral.