Cymatodera monticola Rifkind

Rifkind, Jacques, 2015, New species of Cymatodera Gray (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Tillinae) from México and Central America, with notes on others, Zootaxa 3946 (4), pp. 519-552 : 536-537

Cymatodera monticola Rifkind , n. sp.

( Figs. 34–36 )

Type specimens. Holotype male: México, Oaxaca, 3 mi N. Suchixtepec, 9500’, km 144, Rt. 175, S. Oaxaca, VI-4- 6 -[19]71, H. Howden. Holotype deposited in CMNC. Paratypes: MEXICO, OAXACA: 1, same data as holotype; 1, Hwy. 175, 3 mi. N. Suchixtepec, 9500’, VI-4 -[19]71, D. E. Bright, collector. Paratypes are deposited in JNRC and WFBM.

Diagnosis. Separable from other Mexican brachypterous Cymatodera species by virtue of a singular combination of relatively large size (> 10 mm), elongate, subflattened, partially translucent elytra with a strongly bisinuate posterior margin ( Fig. 34 ), and unique pygidial characteristics. Cymatodera monticola is similar to C. barri Rifkind , also a Oaxacan endemic, but in that species the elytral apices are rounded, with the male abdominal tergite 5 deeply incised at the posterior margin, and tergite 6 with the posterior margin usually transverse rather than emarginate.

Description. (Holotype). Length: 12.0 mm. Form: elongate, dorsoventrally compressed, brachypterous. Color: reddish brown; head and pronotum a little darker; elytra testaceous and partially translucent, with indistinct brown markings ( Fig. 34 ) as follows: on each elytron a small, oblique macula posterior to base and a small, irregularly sinuate, transverse fascia posterior to middle. A random scattering of elytral punctations are similarly infuscate. Head: measured across eyes, wider than pronotum; surface rather finely punctate and roughened; vestiture inconspicuous, pale, and mostly reclinate; antennae of moderate length. Pronotum: widest at anterior margin; longer than broad (ratio of length to width 3:2); surface shining, finely, transversely rugulose, coarsely but shallowly punctate anteriorly; vested as on head. Elytra: typical brachypterous form; elongate (ratio of length to width 7:3); widest at posterior 4/7; disk subflattened above; anterior margin narrow, arcuately emarginate; humeri obsolete; posterior margin bisinuate, apices subacuminate; surface shining, with rather deep, moderately to significantly coarse punctures, subserially arranged but not regularly assorted by size; vestiture inconspicuous, rather sparsely arrayed, composed of fine, pale, suberect and erect setae of moderate length. Metaventrite: short, sulcate posteriorly, subconical on either side; surface shining, finely, sparsely, punctulate. Abdomen: ventrite 5 ( Fig. 35 ) with sides oblique; posterior margin deeply, arcuately emarginate; ventrite 6 ( Fig. 35 ) with sides slightly inflected at middle, bowed outwardly posteriorly, each side with a sinuate, posteriorly divergent carina forming a flange distally that narrows to become part of a slightly downcurved, blunt tipped, lateral projection; surface rugose, without a longitudinal carina at middle; posterior margin rather broadly, arcuately emarginate at middle, extended laterally to form interior border of the lateral projections; tergite 5 ( Fig. 36 ) with hind margin bisinuate, slightly, arcuately inflected at middle; tergite 6 ( Fig. 36 ) with sides broadly arcuate, hind angles subacute, hind margin with a broadly V–shaped emargination. Aedeagus: apex of phallus rather sharply upturned.

Variation. The female has the abdominal sternites partially infuscate. Ventrite 5 has the posterior margin broadly, shallowly, arcuately emarginate; ventrite 6 has its sides slightly oblique, its hind margin shallowly, triangularly inflected, with a distinct depression at middle; tergite 6 is also shallowly, triangularly inflected at posterior margin, which appears to be folded downward along its length.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to this species’ montane habitat.

Distribution. Known only from the Sierra Sur of Oaxaca, México, in the vicinity of San Miguel Suchixtepec.

Biology. Specimens were collected at 9500’ (2895 m) in early June.

Figures

FIGURES 34 – 36. 34. Habitus of Cymatodera monticola Rifkind, n. sp. (holotype male). 35. Pygidium (ventral view) of male Cymatodera monticola. 36. Pygidium (dorsal view) of male Cymatodera monticola.