Poecilogaster Heller, 1895: 16

Anzaldo, Salvatore S., 2017, Review of the genera of Conoderinae (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, ZooKeys 683, pp. 51-138 : 82-83

Poecilogaster Heller, 1895: 16 Figs 46 , 89

Type species.

Poecilogaster longior Heller, 1895 [by subsequent designation: Alonso-Zarazaga and Lyal 1999: 115] (= Copturus brevis Waterhouse, 1879).

Gender.

Feminine.

Diagnosis.

Poecilogaster has the general appearance of a large Lechriops that lacks a femoral carina. The rostral channel extends to the anteriorly depressed metaventrite and is laterally carinate on the mesoventrite, the second antennal funicular article is slightly longer than the first, the metafemora are not carinate and toothed ventrally, and the mesal face of femoral apex usually bears a long spine. Champion (1906: 44) notes a large tubercle on the prosternum behind the procoxae, which is not unique to Poecilogaster and known in other genera (e.g. some Copturomorpha ).

Phylogenetic relationships.

While easily recognized by general appearance it is difficult to place within the Lechriopini . The longer second funicular article, ventrally toothed femora, and long spine at the mesal face of the femoral apices are suggestive of a relationship with Lechriops and Hoplocopturus while the non-carinate femora and deeply excavated mesoventrite is similar to Eulechriops . Heller (1895: 16) suggests a relationship with Lechriops and also speculates a potential relationship with the South American genera Hemigaster Lacordaire, 1865 (= Hemicolpus Heller, 1895) and Acopturus Heller, 1895 based on the shape of the second abdominal ventrite. Neither of those latter genera have been observed in the course of this study but both are currently placed in the Zygopini .

Host associations.

Unknown.

Described species.

Two, including one described by Zayas (1988).

Range.

Costa Rica, Panama, Cuba ( Zayas 1988); South America.

Figures

Figures 46 - 54. Variation in eye shape. 46 Poecilogaster brevis [ARTSYS 0000805] with relatively vertical, separated eyes 47 Arachnomorpha circumlineata [ARTSYS 0000535] showing subcontiguous eyes separated at the top by a broad interocular space 48 Archocopturus medeterae [ASUHIC 0086637] with subcontiguous eyes separated at the top by a thin lanceolate space 49 Cylindrocopturus quercus [ASUHIC 0016905] with vertical, separated eyes 50 Helleriella longicollis [ASUHIC 0065241] with widely separated eyes and a very thin rostrum 51 Larides cavifrons [ASUHIC 0016882], showing a strongly depressed interocular space 52 Male Lissoderes cecropiae [ASUHIC 0064708] showing oval, subcontiguous eyes and an apical antennal insertion on the rostrum 53 Philenis fuscofemorata [ARTSYS 0000659] showing ovoid eyes and slender antennae 54 Zygopsella ruficauda [ARTSYS 0000526] with a sinuous lateral and mesal margin of the eyes which is strongly inflexed at the lower lateral margin.

Figures 87 - 90. Lateral and dorsal habitus images of Lechriopini. 87 a-b Mnemynurus poeciloderes [ARTSYS 0000803] 88 a-b Paramnemyne decemcostata [ASUHIC 0065104] 89 a-b Poecilogaster brevis [ASUHIC 0086631] 90 a-b Pseudolechriops megacephalus [ASUHIC 0086629]. Scale bars = 2 mm.