Argopistes woodleyi, Blanco, Javier & Konstantinov, Alexander, 2013

Blanco, Javier & Konstantinov, Alexander, 2013, Review of the New World species of the genus Argopistes Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini), Zootaxa 3626 (2), pp. 249-267 : 262-266

Argopistes woodleyi new species

(Figs 1, 40–49)

Habitus. Body oblong oval in dorsal view, strongly convex in lateral view, 3.07–3.35 mm, 2.42–2.50 mm wide.

Color. Pronotum, ventral side of body and background color of elytra dark yellow. Elytra never completely yellow, usually with dark brown to black triangle at apical one third, leaving tip of elytra dark yellow, sometimes with more or less well developed dark brown or black circle ( Figs 40–42 ).

Head. Entirely concealed by apical margin of pronotum. Vertex moderately convex, shiny, impunctate. Antennal calli small, nearly trapezoidal, non-protuberant, somewhat flattened, midfrontal sulcus slightly impressed. Antennal socket about same size as antennal calli. Interantennal space narrower than transverse diameter of antennal socket. Eyes large, oblong, inner margins adjoined to both antennal calli and antennal sockets creating slight emargination along inner margin. Frons elongate, generally flattened, separated from each gena by slightly protuberant narrow ridge. Frontal ridge thick, raised between antennal sockets, creating an anterio-dorsal keel-like projection, then becoming slightly raised before reaching clypeus. Genae slightly concave under eyes. Antennae filiform, extending slightly beyond elytral humeri, basal antennomere longest.

Thorax. Pronotum strongly convex, transverse, twice as broad as long at basal margin. Basal margin arcuate, slightly sinuate. Lateral margins explanate, converging towards and extending slightly beyond apical margin. Dorsal surface finely and densely punctate. Scutellum small, triangular. Intercoxal prosternal process slightly depressed longitudinally, posterior margin slightly indented, concealing short mesosternum. Metasternum with median longitudinal line.

Elytra. Humeral calli present, but not well developed. Elytral surface with confused and minute punctation. Rows of fine punctures extending from basal margin to apical margin. Epipleura not reaching apex of elytra.

Legs. Metafemur generally triangular with rounded corners; length about 2/3 length of abdomen; with groove along inner margin. Metatibia longitudinally slightly bowed in dorsal view; about same length as metatarsi combined; with shallow, flat groove at dorsal surface; apex with emarginate sheath-like prolongation, creating two acutely pointed projections; large pointed spur arises from base of first metatarsomere, and extends between and beyond two acutely pointed projections. First metatarsomere attached to metatibia preapically; at least as long as following three metatarsomeres combined. Bare, basal part of first metatarsomere 1.66 times longer than apical part covered with setae.

Genitalia. Female—Receptacle of spermatheca oval, larger than pump; ventral side convex; dorsal side nearly straight. Pump narrow and elongate ( Fig. 47 ). Tignum long and narrow, reaching 3rd visible sternite ( Fig. 49 ). Vaginal palpus more or less triangular in shape with median side much shorter than lateral ( Fig. 48 ). Male—Aedeagus slightly convex in lateral view, straight; widest at basal opening in ventral view, sides not parallel but slightly curved inwardly; tip of aedeagus bent dorsally in lateral view ( Fig. 46 ).

Comments: Among the New World species, A. woodleyi is most similar to A. coccinelloides and A. coronatus and can be differentiated from them based on the following character states: tip of aedeagus bent dorsally in lateral view ( Fig. 46 ), vaginal palpus more or less triangular in shape with median side much shorter than lateral ( Fig. 48 ).

Etymology: This name is a patronym dedicated to N. Woodley ( Fig. 50 ) who was the first to collect this species.

Distribution: Dominican Republic.

Host plants: unknown. Although we collected 12 specimens of A. woodleyi over two years, we could never see them obviously feeding, so we do not know the host plant of A. woodleyi .

Material examined: Holotype: 1) Dominican Republic: La Altagracia Prov. El Veron, road to Hoyo Azul, 18˚33.447’N 68˚26.834’W, 1.VII.2005, leg. N. Woodley; 2) Argopistes woodleyi sp. nov. des. J. Blanco & A. Konstantinov (USNM). Paratypes, same lables as holotype (4 USNM), same labels except for the date, 4.VII.2006 and 5 specimens were collected by A. Konstantinov (7 USNM).

Figures

FIGURES 40 – 45. Argopistes woodleyi sp. nov. 40, 42, 43 dorsal habitus, color variations; 41 habitus, lateral view; 44 head, frontal view; 45 hind leg.

FIGURES 46 – 49. Argopistes woodleyi sp. nov. 46 aedeagus, ventral, lateral and dorsal views; 47 spermatheca; 48 vaginal palpi; 49 tignum.

FIGURE 50. N. Woodley while collecting Argopistes woodleyi in Hoyo Azul, Dominican Republic.