Elateropsis dichroma Lingafelter

Lingafelter, Steven W., 2015, The Prioninae (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) of Hispaniola, with Diagnoses, Descriptions of New Species, Distribution Records, and a Key for Identification, The Coleopterists Bulletin 69 (3), pp. 353-388 : 364-365

19. Elateropsis dichroma Lingafelter , new species ( Figs. 3f , 10a , 16a )

Discussion. This species is known from one specimen, a female, taken by beating in southwestern Dominican Republic in July. The single known specimen displays some asymmetrical deformity with regard to punctation on the pronotum (more heavily punctate on the left half), elytral length (right elytron is 1 mm shorter than left), and pubescence of the mesepisternum (heavily pubescent on the left side, nearly glabrous on the right).

Based on the lack of pubescent patches on the pronotum and elytra, the ferruginous or orange femora, and the elongate depression at the middle of the pronotum, this species keys in Galileo and Martins (1994) to Elateropsis scabrosus Gahan, 1890 . It differs in having a less punctate and sculptured pronotum with a shallow median impression ( E. scabrosus has a heavily rugose-punctate pronotum with a deep median impression). It also has different elytral proportions (relatively shorter compared to width, while E. scabrosus has longer, narrower elytra). It is unique in having the head, pronotum, scutellum, and most of the venter black, with remaining structures (elytra, legs, antennae, palpi) ferruginous.

Description. Size 17.5 mm long; 6.0 mm wide between elytral humeri; integument ferruginous on elytra, legs, antennae, palpi, and abdominal apex; black on head, pronotum, scutellum, and most of venter. Head with broad, heavily punctate depression extending over most of vertex and frons, in front, between, and behind antennal tubercles. Antennae extending just beyond midpoint of elytra; mostly glabrous except for microsetae and densely microsculptured with scattered punctures on dorsal surface. Antennomeres 4–9 strongly flattened and triangular, each with apex much broader than base [segments 10–11 missing from specimen; segment 9 partially missing]; poriferous sensory areas present in following configuration: inconspicuous on 3; confluent, circular, restricted to apex of dorsolateral margin on 4; confluent, circular throughout dorsolateral margin on 5; conjoined linear throughout dorsolateral margin on 6; conjoined linear throughout dorsolateral and dorsomesal margins on 6; striate on most of dorsal surface of 7–8, and probably similar on missing antennomeres 9–11. Antennomere 3 longest, antennomeres 4–8 triangular, much broader apically than basally, decreasing in length to 5, 5–7 subequal, 8–11 presumably slightly decreasing in length.

Pronotum 5.0 mm wide; 3.0 mm long (1.6 times wider than long); with slight longitudinal impression medially; lacking raised calli; sparsely to moderately punctate, with differing sizes and asymmetrical distribution over disk [holotype specimen may be abnormal since punctures are quite sparse on the right half of pronotum compared to left]. Lateral margins obtusely crenulate from anterior margin to weak spine just posterior of middle, and constricted posteriorly toward base, with sparser, obtuse crenulae. Glabrous except for sparse, semierect setae mostly concentrated around margins. Prosternal process broad, approximately as broad as procoxal width, extending beyond posterior margin of procoxae; surface with numerous long, erect and suberect setae; apex deeply notched, receiving mesosternal process. Prosternum lacking any ventral processes.

Elytra 13.0 mm long (length to apex of undeformed left elytron); 3.0 mm wide (4.3 times longer than wide); glabrous except for a few inconspicuous, isolated setae; slightly tapering apically; not divergent at suture. Punctures dense but separate, of varying size, similar to those on left side of pronotum. Elytral apex rounded, irregularly crenulate, without distinct spines. Scutellum triangular, irregularly and sparsely punctate, with a few inconspicuous setae arising from punctures. Legs short, hind femur extending to apical fourth of elytra. Femora gradually thickened toward apical fourth; meso- and metafemora each with 2–3 small denticles ventrally between thickest portion and apex, near tibial articulation (absent from profemora). Metepisternum coated with dense, white pubescence except at anterior third. Mesepisternum with dense, white pubescence throughout [holotype displays asymmetry with the right side having very sparse pubescence]. Metasternum with dense patch of appressed white pubescence of similar size and angle to that of first ventrite. Abdomen with sparse, white setae throughout median area and dense patches of appressed, white pubescence at sides except for ventrite 1 which has patches larger and extending around metacoxal margin. Last ventrite broad with apical margin angling slightly to median notch.

Etymology. The species epithet dichroma is a noun in apposition, latinized from the Greek “Khroma” with prefix “di-” meaning of two surface colors. It refers to the striking contrast of the black head and pronotum with the ferruginous remainder of the dorsally visible integument.

Type Data. Holotype (female): DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Pedernales Province (23 km north of Cabo Rojo, 612 m, 9 July, beating, Sikes and Rosenfeld [ WIBF, donated to USNM]).

Figures

Fig. 3. Dorsal habitus of HispaniolanPrioninae.a) Elateropsis femoratus, male,b) Elateropsis lineatus, female, c) Elateropsis quinquenotatus, female, d) Elateropsis sericeiventris, male, e) Elateropsis trimarginatus, female, f) Elateropsis dichroma, female holotype, g) Elateropsis woodleyi, male holotype, h) Solenoptera dominicensis, male, i) S. dominicensis, female.

Fig. 10. Hispaniolan Prioninae. a) Elateropsis dichroma, female holotype, ventral view, b) Elateropsis woodleyi, male holotype, ventral view, c) Solenoptera scutellata, male, ventral view, d) Solenoptera tomentosa, male paratype, ventral view, e) Hovorodon bituberculatum, female, prosternal process, f) H. bituberculatum, female mandible, lateral view, g) Stenodontes exsertus, female mandible, lateral view.

Fig. 16. Distribution maps of Hispaniolan Prioninae. a) Elateropsis sericeiventris, Elateropsis trimarginatus, Elateropsis dichroma, and Elateropsis woodleyi, b) Solenoptera dominicensis, Solenoptera scutellata, and Solenoptera rugosa.