Pseudolechriops longinoi Hespenheide & LaPierre

Hespenheide, Henry A. & Lapierre, Louis M., 2006, A review of Pseudolechriops Champion (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Conoderinae), Zootaxa 1384, pp. 1-39 : 8-10

2. Pseudolechriops longinoi Hespenheide & LaPierre , new species

Fig. 2 , a–e

Diagnosis: Black except rostrum and legs reddish brown, posterior tibiae darker, flattened and weakly arcuate on posterior margin; from above rhomboidal in shape with elytra conspicuously wider than base of pronotum; sides of pronotum moderately densely covered with setae; elytra with transverse basal fascia of white setae connecting along suture to elongate spot of white setae at middle; rostra of males and females strongly sexually dimorphic in shape; Costa Rica.

Description: Holotype male: Black, except tarsi, tibiae, femora, antennae and rostrum reddish brown; rostrum, apices of posterior femora and posterior tibiae darker; from above ( Fig. 2 a), indistinct pattern of narrow white setae on elytra at bases of elytral intervals, extending for 1/2 of length of intervals 1 and 2, with slightly more conspicuous spot at middle; pronotum with inconspicuous hair like setae on disk, and broader white setae on sides, barely visible from above; head with white setae between eyes on lower 1/2 and on lateral margins of carinae to antennal insertions, and in medial spot above groove in lateral carinae, rostrum glabrous and polished below groove in lateral carinae; beneath moderately densely and uniformly covered with elongate white setae; femora and anterior and middle tibiae rather densely covered with fine white setae, setae on hind tibiae dark and inconspicuous, appearing glabrous; 2.85 mm long.

Head very prominent, about 3/4 as long as pronotum, dorsally with fine medial carina, eyes arcuately rounded, nearly as wide as pronotum at apex; from front, eyes narrowly separated, closest below apex and separated on upper half by narrow medial depression; interior margins of eyes raised to form ridges on lower half ending in obtuse teeth; rostrum slender, antennae inserted at middle, from side nearly straight, from front flattened and broadening slightly toward base above antennal insertions and with lateral margins carinate, carinae ending with an oblique polished groove at base of rostrum that separates rostral carinae from carinae at lower margins of eyes ( Fig. 2 c). Pronotum from above nearly cylindrical, only slightly wider at base than apex, from lateral view very weakly convex on basal 1/2, disc punctate, distinctly carinate along midline. Elytra together about 1/2 broader than pronotum and only 1/6 longer than wide, giving a rhomboidal appearance, lateral margins weakly arcuate, apices conjointly rounded. Mesosternum with well-defined groove with high ridges to receive rostrum continuing to excavate and carinate anterior margin of metasternum; metasternum with rather broad medial polished depression along midline to abdomen. Abdomen with first ventral sternite narrowly depressed along midline, glabrous and more deeply so on posterior 1/2, second sternite also weakly depressed on anterior 1/2, from side abruptly declivous near apex. Middle and posterior femora with minute tooth on inner margin just beyond the middle, very finely carinate; posterior tibiae conspicuously broadened and flattened to near apices, very weakly arcuately rounded on posterior margin ( Fig. 2 b). Aedeagus transparent yellowish ( Fig. 2 e).

Allotype female: As male, but base of rostrum convex in cross-section and more coarsely punctate, without lateral carinae on rostrum or lower inner margins of eyes ( Fig. 2 d). Mesosternal groove present but weaker, first abdominal segment indistinctly depressed along midline; 2.95 mm long.

Holotype male: Costa Rica: Heredia Pr., La Selva Biol. Sta., 3 km S Pto. Viejo, 10o 26’ N 84o 01’ W, 26.07.1996, H.A. Hespenheide, Cecropia (INBC).

Allotype female: Costa Rica: same data as holotype but 31.07.1993 (INBC).

Paratypes: Costa Rica: Heredia Pr., La Selva Biol. Sta., 3 km S Pto. Viejo, 10o 26’ N 84o 01’ W, 28.07.1982, 27.07, 10.08.1992, 31.07.1993, 18.07.1994, 26.07.1996, H.A. Hespenheide, Cecropia (5, BMNH, CHAH), La Selva B. S., 50–150m, 0 4.07, 14– 22.08 .1996, L.M. LaPierre, C. obt [usifolia] (2, BMNH, LMLC), 11– 12.06.2003, L.M. LaPierre, on leaf undersides of juvenile Cecropia obtusifolia (1, LMLC), 25, 29.08.1996, L.M. LaPierre, Cecropia (3, INBC). Nicaragua: Rio San Juan Pr, Refugio Bartola, 16 km ESE El Castillo, 10o 58/59’ N 84o 20/21’ W, 10.05.1999, H.A. Hespenheide (2, CHAH, SEAN)

Etymology: This species is named in honor of John T. Longino for his work on the ecology of the Cecropia - Azteca relationship ( Longino 1991), as well as his coordination of the Arthropods of La Selva ( ALAS) Project ( Longino & Colwell 1997; see below).

Discussion: Two other undamaged male specimens are 2.5 and 2.65 mm long; females measure 2.8–3.1 mm long (mean = 2.96 mm for 14 specimens). This species has not been reared but adults have been observed on the undersides of juvenile Cecropia leaves.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Pseudolechriops longinoi, new species: a. dorsal habitus, b. lateral habitus and hind leg, c. front of head of male, d. front of head of female (a – d, line = 1.0 mm), e. dorsal (left) and lateral (right) views of entire male aedeagus and apex (above; line = 0.5 mm).