Sicoderus bautistai Anderson, 2018

Anderson, Robert S., 2018, The genus Sicoderus Vanin 1986 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Curculioninae: Erodiscini) in the West Indies, Zootaxa 4497 (3), pp. 301-345 : 308

Sicoderus bautistai Anderson , n. sp.

( Figures 5–6 , 11 . Map 3)

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:316C938B-26EF-4B4B-9E43-38F034E83D8B

Description: Length male, 3.2–3.8 mm; female, 2.9–3.8 mm. Integument black, shining. Eyes separated by a distance of about one half width of rostrum at midlength. Rostrum 1.00–1.08x length elytra in male, 1.09–1.17x length elytra in female. Antennal insertion slightly beyond middle in male, at about middle in female. Prothorax constricted anteriorly, globose, widest at middle; punctures sparse, moderately large and deep, well-separated, not forming striolae on disc but with vague striolae laterally on flanks; scattered erect setae present. Elytra in dorsal view widest at about midlength, lateral margins convergent anteriorly and posteriorly; humeri fully reduced, not at all angulate; numerous erect setae present. Strial punctures large, shallow; striae very slightly impressed throughout length. Membranous wings absent. Abdominal ventrite 1 of male not raised in middle near posterior margin but with small tuft of fine setosity; of female, uniformly convex in middle near posterior margin. Ventrite 5 of male with shallow, finely setose, median impression extended about one-half length of ventrite 5; of female, uniformly convex. Legs with front femora with very small, blunt tooth, middle and hind femora lacking tooth; tarsal claws with small basal tooth. Aedeagus (fig. 11) widest at apex, internal sac with pair of elongate curved basal sclerites, strongly convergent and conjoined anteriorly, each lacking basal extension. Female not dissected.

Material examined: 9 males, 3 females. Holotype male ( CMNC), labelled DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Province La Vega, Constanza, 1160m, 30.VIII.1988, beating in secondary pine/guava forest, M. Ivie, K. Phillips, K. Johnson . Paratypes: Data as holotype (1 male; WIBF). Province La Vega, 4.7 km S. Jarabacoa, 24–25.V.1992, R. Turnbow (1 male, CMNC) . Province Elías Piña, La Estrella, 8 km E Hondo Valle , 7.VIII.1979, L.B. O'Brien (2 males, 1 female; CWOB) . 10 km E Hondo Valle , 7.VIII.1979, C.W. O'Brien (1 male; CWOB) . 11 km E Hondo Valle, 7.VIII.1979, C.W. O'Brien (1 male, 1 female; CWOB). HAITI: Furcy, 4000’, 9.VII.1956, B. & B. Valentine (1 male, 1 female; FSCA). Mount Puilsboreau [ Morne Puilboreau ], 11.X.1960, H.L. Dozier (1 male; BMNH).

Derivation of species name: This species is named after José Antonio Bautista, a Dominican professional baseball right fielder formerly for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball.

Natural History: Two specimens were collected beating vegetation in secondary pine/guava forest (1160 m).

Comments: Along with S. ramosi , S. guanyangi and S. turnbowi , these four species form a complex of closely related species distinguished by the form of the basal sclerite of the internal sac of the male genitalia, form of the male ventrite 1 and presence and size of femoral teeth.

Figures

FIGURES 5–8. Species of Sicoderus. 5. Sicoderus bautistai, dorsal habitus. 6. Sicoderus bautistai, lateral habitus. 7. Sicoderus beatyi, dorsal habitus. 8. Sicoderus beatyi, lateral habitus.

FIGURES 9–12. Species of Sicoderus. 9. Sicoderus aeneus, aedeagus, dorsal view. 10. Sicoderus alternatus, aedeagus, dorsal view. 11. Sicoderus bautistai, aedeagus, dorsal view. 12. Sicoderus beatyi, aedeagus, dorsal view.