Cymatodera oxchuc 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 : 544-545

Cymatodera oxchuc Rifkind , n. sp.

( Figs. 52–55 )

Type specimens. Holotype male: México, Chiapas, Oxchuc , Cascadas Corralito, VII-21-2007, J. & A. Rifkind, colls., beating riparian vegetation. Holotype deposited in CSCA. Paratype: 1, same data as holotype. Paratype deposited in JNRC.

Diagnosis. Among described species of Cymatodera , only C. sallei Thomson has similarly emarginate elytral apices. In C. oxchuc , however, the emargination is deeper, and consequently both the internal and external angles of the elytral posterior margin are more prolonged and more acute. The two species also differ significantly in their elytral patterning, as well as in the shape of the male pygidia. Another similar species from southern México, described directly below, differs from C. oxchuc most conspicuously in the shape of the male pygidium (cf. Figs. 54–55 with Figs. 57–58 ). Several other undescribed species with similarly emarginated elytral apices are known from México and Honduras, but from female specimens only, so their description should await availability of associated males.

Description. (Holotype). Length: 17.10 mm. Form: elongate, subcylindrical; elytral apices deeply emarginate. Color: brownish testaceous; pronotum reddish brown; head and venter castaneous except ventrite 6, and posterior margins of ventrites 1–5, testaceous; elytra with a pale, irregular, rather indistinct X–shaped marking on anterior 1/ 2 ( Fig. 52 ) and a subovate, oblique pale macula on either side of suture at posterior 1/4. Head: measured across eyes, significantly broader than pronotum; surface finely, densely punctate and rugulose; vestiture moderately dense but inconspicuous on cranium, composed of fine, pale, rather short, anteriorly directed, reclinate setae; frons, however, bearing a more conspicuous covering of more robust, reclinate and erect pale setae, arranged in a complex of swirling and converging patterns ( Fig. 53 ). Pronotum: narrower than elytra at humeri; elongate; surface shining, shallowly punctulate, shallowly, transversely rugulose, moderately densely set with rather fine reclinate, and stouter erect, pale setae. Elytra: elongate (ratio of length to width 16:5), parallel sided; humeri distinct, subquadrate; lateral margins weakly convergent beginning at posterior 5/12, feebly subsinuate anteapically, with posterior angles produced and acuminate; posterior margin of each elytron deeply, arcuately, emarginate; internal angles acute, dehiscent; integument rather deeply set with coarse, serially arranged punctures, largest in diameter at anterior 1/4, somewhat smaller at middle, smaller still and less conspicuous on posterior 1/3 where they are notably obsolete on disk on either side of suture; vestiture consisting of short, fine, suberect, and slightly longer erect, pale setae, moderately densely arrayed, inconspicuous on anterior 1/2, somewhat more noticeable on posterior 1/2. Metaventrite: shining, rather densely set with very fine, shallow punctures; vestiture fine, pale, adpressed or suberect, inconspicuous; posterior rather deeply sulcate, provided with a pair of short, sharply crowned, conical tubercles. Abdomen: shining, integumental sculpturing as on metasternum; ventrite 5 with sides slightly obliquely convergent, posterior angles acute, posterior margin rather deeply, arcuately emarginate; ventrite 6 ( Fig. 54 ) elongate (posterior margin far surpassing elytral posterior margin), membranous anteriorly, anterior sclerotized margin oblique at sides, transverse at middle, lateral margin subparallel (subsinuate anteriorly), posterior angles strongly produced, subacute apically, hind margin feebly subsinuate on internal edge of posterior angles, then rather shallowly, arcuately emarginate at middle; tergite 5 rather broadly, triangularly emarginate posteriorly; tergite 6 ( Fig. 55 ) extremely elongate (more than 3X as long as broad), concave ventrally, anatorhynchoid, arcuate hind margin far surpassing both posterior margin of ventrite 6 and elytral posterior margin. Aedeagus: lateral lobes quite narrow, elongate, subacute apically.

Variation. The single paratype specimen, also a male, is very similar to the holotype.

Etymology. The specific name refers to the type locality, in the heart of the Tzeltal Mayan region of Chiapas.

Distribution. Known only from the Centro Ecoturístico El Corralito, in the vicinity of Oxchuc , Chiapas, México.

Biology. Specimens were collected in July by beating riparian vegetation in pine–oak–liquidambar forest.

Figures

FIGURES 52 – 55. 52. Habitus of Cymatodera oxchuc Rifkind, n. sp. (holotype male). 53. Cymatodera oxchuc (holotype male): detail of head, showing swirling setal pattern. 54. Pygidium (ventral view) of male Cymatodera oxchuc. 55. Pygidium (dorsal view) of male Cymatodera oxchuc.

FIGURES 56 – 59. 56. Habitus of Cymatodera merickeli Rifkind, n. sp. (holotype male). 57. Dorsal view of pygidium and elytral apices, Cymatodera merickeli (holotype male). 58. Pygidium (ventral view) of Cymatodera merickeli (holotype male). 59. Pygidium (ventrolateral view) of Cymatodera merickeli (holotype male).