Pseudolechriops Champion, 1906b: 90

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 : 83

Pseudolechriops Champion, 1906b: 90 Figs 13 , 26 , 90

Type species.

Pseudolechriops megacephalus Champion, 1906 [by original designation].

Gender.

Masculine.

Diagnosis.

Pseudolechriops is rather distinctive in appearance yet difficult to satisfactorily characterize as a genus, with variation across the species in the following characters: the insertion of the antenna on the rostrum can be in the basal (e.g. in P. megacephalus Champion, 1906) or apical half (e.g. P. klopferi Hespenheide & LaPierre, 2006), the second funicular article can be longer than (e.g. in P. megacephalus ) or subequal to the length of the first article (e.g. P. coleyae Hespenheide & LaPierre, 2006), the eyes can be vertical and relatively widely separated (e.g. in P. megacephalus ) or larger and subcontiguous (e.g. in P. klopferi ), the inner flange of the tibial apex can be flat (with no projection) to bearing an elongate, uncus-like process (Fig. 26 ), and hind femora that can be completely carinate and ventrally toothed (e.g. P. megacephalus ), or partially carinate basally and without a tooth (e.g. P. coleyae ). Despite this variation, the modification to the mesoventrite is unique, with the rostral channel being a deep, ovoid, receptacle (Fig. 13 ) for receiving the rostrum on the mesoventrite and anterior margin of metaventrite. Additionally, the procoxae lack a mesal process, which is found in many other lechriopines.

Notes.

Hespenheide and LaPierre (2006) distinguish two distinct species groups. The species are possibly mimics of ants in the genus Azteca Forel, 1878 ( Hespenheide and LaPierre 2006: 37).

Phylogenetic relationships.

Champion (1906: 90) and Lyal et al. (2006: 229) noted similarities with the South American genus Tachylechriops Heller, 1895 and Lechriops ; Hespenheide and LaPierre (2006: 3) disagree but do not present an alternative hypothesis. The mesoventrite of Pseudolechriops is most similar to that of Lechriops in shape although the sides of the channel in Pseudolechriops are much more ventrally prominent and the median channel deeper. The exserted head, elongate hind femora, and vertex of head with a linear carina are similar to Microzygops .

Host associations.

Adults can be found on the undersides of leaves of several species of Cecropia ( Urticaceae ), and the larvae develop in living or dead leaf petioles ( Jordal and Kirkendall 1998, LaPierre 2002, Hespenheide and LaPierre 2006).

Described species.

Ten, including nine described by Hespenheide and LaPierre (2006).

Range.

Mexico [ Hespenheide and LaPierre 2006], Guatemala, Belize, Honduras [ Hespenheide and LaPierre 2006], Nicaragua [ Hespenheide and LaPierre 2006], Costa Rica [ Hespenheide and LaPierre 2006], Panama; South America [ Hespenheide and LaPierre 2006].

Figures

Figures 10 - 18. Variation in the mesoventrite. 10 Lechriops californicus [ASUHIC 0024146] showing relatively parallel carinae marking the lateral margin of the rostral channel and a closure of the channel on the metaventrite 11 Microzygops nigrofasciatus [ARTSYS 0000797] with tubercles anterior to the mesocoxae and slight, arcuate carinae on the anterior region of the mesoventrite (encircling the central scaled region) 12 Paramnemyne decemcostata [ARTSYS 0000798] showing tuberculate posterolateral margins of the mesoventrite and a transverse carina near the posterior margin of the metaventrite 13 Pseudolechriops klopferi [SSAC 0001060] showing a deep ovoid receptacle on the meso- and metaventrite 14 Turcopus viscivorus [ARTSYS 0000530] showing a receptacle on the mesoventrite with prominently carinate posterior margin 15 Lissoderes subnudus [SSAC 0001066] showing a completely unmodified mesoventrite covered with multifid setae 16 Peltophorus adustus [ASUHIC 0031514] showing a ventrally expanded posterior margin of the mesoventrite to receive the rostrum in repose 17 Philenis fuscofemorata [ARTSYS 0000659] with tubercles at the posterolateral margins of the mesoventrite and a deep depression at the posterior margin in between 18 Philinna bicristata [ARTSYS 0000799] showing slight lamellate processes at the posterolateral margins of the mesoventrite as well as transversely flattened projections behind the procoxae.

Figures 19 - 36. Variation in the metatibial apex. 19 Mesotibial apex of Lechriops vestitus illustrating parts of the tibial apex: a) posterior apical angle with large, curved uncus; b) middle of the apex with produced, rounded inner flange; c) anterior apical margin with premucro; d) oblique ridge of premucro; e) apical setal tuft 20 Male Trichodocerus brevilineatus [ARTSYS 0000609] with a tibial uncus arising at the middle of the apex 21 Cratosomus punctulatus mexicanus [ASUHIC 0031510] with thick fascicles of golden setae near the anterior apical margin and a dense setal brush at the posterior apical face 22 Pseudopiazurus centraliamericanus [ASUHIC 0086627] with a large, subapical premucro 23 Piazurus laetus [SSAC 0001077], showing a typical tibial apex for that genus 24 Acoptus suturalis [ASUHIC 0016915] 25 Cylindrocopturinus pictus [SSAC 0001288] with a pointed, premucro-like inner flange 26 Pseudolechriops klopferi [SSAC 0001060] showing an elongate, uncus-like inner flange. 27 Arachnomorpha circumlineata [ARTSYS 0000535] 28 Archocopturus medeterae [ASUHIC 16884] 29 Cylindrocopturus adspersus [ASUHIC 0016896] with a rounded, produced inner flange 30 Helleriella longicollis [ASUHIC 0065241] with a very short uncus 31 Lissoderes cecropiae [ASUHIC 0064707] with an elongate uncus and minute premucro 32 Phileas granulatus [ARTSYS 0000528] with the middle of the apex (between uncus and premucro) sunken 33 Peltophorus adustus [ASUHIC 0012325] with a short uncus and posterodistal setal comb extending halfway to the base of the tibia 34 Zygops erythropygus [ASUHIC 0086640] with short posterodistal setal comb. 35 Philenis flavipes [ASUHIC 0065102] 36 Philinna bicristata [ARTSYS 0000799] with a small tooth at the anterior apical angle.

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.