Meganeltumius Romero and Johnson

Romero, Jesús & Johnson, Clarence Dan, 2003, Meganeltumius juani, New Genus, New Species (Coleoptera: Bruchidae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 57 (2), pp. 237-242 : 237-238

Meganeltumius Romero and Johnson , new genus

Type species. Meganeltumius juani Romero and Johnson.

Etymology. Named because it resembles a large member of the genus Neltumius Bridwell , but with significant differences. The generic name refers to the larger body size when compared to species of Neltumius .

237

Description of Characters Diagnostic of the Genus. The following combination of characters distinguishes this genus from other genera known to us. The dimorphic antennae are subpectinate in males and serrate in females. The pronotum has two paired, well-defined gibbosities, the posterior pair is larger that the anterior pair ( Fig. 1). The elytron has a gibbosity anteriorly between stria 2 and 5 and two more small gibbosities on strial interval 2, one mesal and one posterior to it ( Fig. 2 ). The hind femur is especially diagnostic in that it is armed on its inner edge with about eight small serrations beginning about 0.5 from the base and ending at the apex in a subapical spine about 0.5 as long as the width of the tibial base ( Figs. 3, 4 ). This pattern of serrations and spines on the metafemur is unique to this genus of bruchids. The genitalia are very elongate and the lateral lobes are cleft to about 0.65 their length ( Figs. 5, 6 ). These elongate genitalia differ significantly from the shorter genitalia of species of Neltumius (Kingsolver, 1964; Romero and Johnson, submitted).

Figures

Fig. 2. Meganeltumius juani, male adult. 2) Dorsal view.

Figs. 3–4. Meganeltumius juani, male adult. 3) Hind leg, lateral view; 4) Hind leg, medial view.

Figs. 5–6. Meganeltumius juani, male genitalia. 5) Median lobe, ventral view; 6) Lateral lobes, ventral view.