Megacyllene asteca ( Chevrolat, 1860 ) Botero & Santos-Silva & Wappes, 2019

Botero, Juan Pablo, Santos-Silva, Antonio & Wappes, James E., 2019, New species, a new combination, and a new country record in American Clytini (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae), Insecta Mundi 697, pp. 1-19 : 8-12

Megacyllene asteca ( Chevrolat, 1860) , new combination

( Fig. 17–18 )

Clytus (Plagionotus) astecus Chevrolat, 1860: 489 .

Clytus astecus ; Gemminger 1872: 2915 (cat.).

Plagionotus astecus ; Bates 1880: 53; 1885: 299 (distr.); Aurivillius 1912: 380 (cat.); Blackwelder 1946: 580 (checklist); Chemsak et al. 1992: 70 (checklist); Monné 1993: 15 (cat.); Chemsak and Noguera 1993: 62 (distr.); Monné and Giesber 1994: 117 (checklist); Noguera and Chemsak 1996: 401 (checklist); Toledo et al. 2002: 528 (distr.); Monné 2005: 112 (cat.); Monné and Hovore 2006: 46 (checklist); Monné 2018: 159 (cat.); Santos-Silva et al. 2018: 190 (distr.).

Mulsant (1839) erected Platynotus to include P. detritus (Linnaeus, 1758) , and P. arcuatus (Linnaeus, 1758) . He separated Platynotus from Clytus Laicharting, 1784 (which at that time included species currently placed in Megacyllene Casey, 1912 ) in a key: “Prothorax transverse oval; antennae setaceous, thick, subspinose externally at apex of the antennomeres”, leading to Platynotus ; “Prothorax subglobular or oblong, sometimes almost transverse oval, but then with antennae short and toothless”, leading to Clytus . Then Mulsant (1842), finding that Platynotus was preoccupied, used Plagionotus as a replacement. Chevrolat (1860), considered Plagionotus as a subgenus of Clytus , but did not say why. Subsequently, Plagionotus was considered a distinct genus by some authors and subgenus of Clytus by others. Finally, following Villiers (1946) Plagionotus became widely accepted as valid and thus separate from Clytus .

Newman (1840) described Cyllene to accommodate C. spinifera Newman, 1840 . However, comparing the original descriptions of Platynotus and Cyllene , it is impossible to separate them. Chevrolat (1860) also considered Cyllene as a subgenus of Clytus without any explanation. Lacordaire (1869) separated Cyllene from Plagionotus in his key: “Intercoxal abdominal process rounded at apex, especially in females”, leading to Cyllene ; “Intercoxal abdominal process in acute triangle in both sexes”, leading to Plagionotus . This key is not diagnostic for the genera because the intercoxal process for species in the genera are not exactly as described and in both genera are more variable than stated. Fortunately, Lacordaire (1869) did correctly report the shape of the mesoventral process for both genera: truncate anteriorly in Cyllene ; inclined anteriorly in Plagionotus , a viable character even today and used to accurately separate the two genera.

The shape of the mesoventral process in 38 species of Megacyllene was examined, (including the type species of Cyllene and Megacyllene ), as well as the same feature in Plagionotus astecus , and nine species of non-American Plagionotus (including the type species of this genus). Accordingly, because the mesoventral process ( Fig. 18 ) is the same as the Megacyllene species examined and not the same as in the Plagionotus examined, P. astecus ( Fig. 17 ) is formally transferred to Megacyllene , resulting in Plagionotus being excluded as a genus found in America (New World).

Material examined. MEXICO, Guanajuato: 2 females, no date indicated, U. R. Martins col. ( MZSP). Morelos: Cuernavaca , 1 male, no date indicated, U. R. Martins col. ( MZSP). Guerrero: 10 km N. Iguala , 3,800′- 4,300′, 1 male, 2 females, 19–21.IX.1989, J. E. Wappes col. ( ACMT). Jalisco: 15 km S. Autlan , 1 male, 29.IX.1991, J. E. Wappes col. ( ACMT).

Redescription of Amyipunga armaticollis ( Zajciw, 1964)

( Fig. 9–16 )

Neoclytus armaticollis Zajciw, 1964: 305 ; Monné 1993: 43 (cat.); Monné and Giesbert 1994: 113 (checklist); Di Iorio 1995: 335 (distr.); Julio et al. 2000: 19 (holotype); Di Iorio 2005: 46 (distr.); Monné 2005: 96 (cat.); Monné and Hovore 2006: 44 (checklist); Wappes et al. 2006: 19 (distr.).

Amyipunga armaticollis ; Martins and Galileo 2011: 156; Monné and Monné 2016: 9 (holotype); Lingafelter et al. 2017: 26; Monné 2018: 108 (cat.).

Redescription. Male ( Fig. 9–12 ). Integument mostly black; mouthparts reddish-brown; antennae dark brown, slightly darker on scape and basal segments; elytra dark brown basally, gradually lighter toward apex; tibiae blackish basally, gradually dark brown toward apex; tarsomeres I–III dark brown (III more reddish on metatarsi); tarsomere V reddish-brown; abdominal ventrites dark brown, slightly darker on abdominal ventrite I.

Head. Frons finely, abundantly punctate close to smooth area surrounding median groove, densely micropunctate in wide area close to eyes; with wide, dense, longitudinal white pubescent band on each side, from base of antennal tubercle to clypeus, with very sparse, short white setae on remaining surface; with long, erect, sparse white setae throughout, slightly more abundant on pubescent bands. Area between antennal tubercles finely, abundantly punctate; nearly glabrous toward frons, with moderately dense grayish-white (whiter depending on light intensity) bristly pubescence toward upper eye lobes, with long, erect grayish-white setae interspersed. Remaining surface of vertex finely, densely punctate, with shallow, coarser punctures interspersed; with yellowish-brown pubescence covering but not obscuring integument. Area behind eyes densely micropunctate with abundant fine punctures interspersed; area close to eye with yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument behind upper eye lobe, gradually denser and white toward lower eye lobe; remaining surface with sparse yellowish-brown pubescence; with a few long, erect yellowish setae toward ventral surface of lower eye lobe. Genae with sculpturing as behind eyes except smooth distal area; with white pubescence not obscuring integument, except glabrous smooth area, and area close to center of inferior surface of lower eye lobe with slightly denser pubescence, and nearly glabrous area close to frons; with sparse, long, erect yellowish setae in pubescent area. Antennal tubercles finely, abundantly punctate basally toward frons, nearly entirely punctate toward upper eye lobes, smooth on remaining surface; glabrous toward frons and apex, with grayish-white pubescence toward upper eye lobes. Median groove distinct from clypeus to prothoracic margin (less so after upper eye lobes). Postclypeus finely, abundantly punctate in wide central area, smooth laterally; with white, dense bristly pubescence on each side of wide central area (continuing longitudinal bands on frons), with sparse, bristly white pubescence centrally, glabrous laterally; with sparse, long, erect white setae in wide central area. Labrum coplanar with anteclypeus at posterior 3/4, inclined at anterior quarter; with abundant, long, erect yellowish setae in coplanar area, abundant, short yellowish-brown setae in inclined area. Gulamentum smooth, glabrous posteriorly; wide anterior area somewhat depressed, except elevated anterior area, coarsely, abundantly rugose-punctate, with bristly white setae not obscuring integument, with long erect yellowish setae interspersed. Distance between upper eye lobes 1.25 times length of scape; in frontal view, distance between lower eye lobes 0.88 times length of scape. Antennae 0.85 times elytral length, reaching midlength of elytra; scape gradually widened toward apex, with maximum width slightly wider than twice basal width; scape, pedicel and antennomeres with yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument, denser, shorter, less conspicuous toward distal segments; pedicel and antennomeres III–IV with long, erect, abundant brownish setae ventrally; antennal formula (ratio) based on length of antennomere III: scape = 1.08; pedicel = 0.30; IV = 0.85; V = 0.81; VI = 0.62; VII = 0.58; VIII = 0.40; IX = 0.38; X = 0.35; XI = 0.46.

Thorax. Prothorax wider than long (including lateral tubercles). Pronotum moderately coarsely, densely punctate; with dense white pubescent band on each side close to anterior and posterior margins, moderately abundant yellowish-brown pubescence posteriorly close to dense white band, moderately abundant white pubescence not obscuring integument between arched lateral carinae, except yellowish-brown pubescence in anterior third, and sparse yellowish-brown setae along central carina, and slightly dense white pubescence laterally. Sides of prothorax with sculpturing and pubescence as on sides of pronotum, with long, erect white setae interspersed. Prosternum moderately finely abundantly punctate at posterior 2/3, finely, transversely striate at anterior third; with moderately dense white pubescence laterally close to sides of prothorax, from posterior margin to near anterior margin, V-shaped, moderately distinct white pubescent band, from central apex of prosternal process to near sides of anterior margin, sparse white pubescence close to sides, procoxal cavities, and remaining surface of anterior third; with long, erect white setae throughout, more abundant posteriorly; posterior sides of prosternal process with sparse white pubescence with long, erect setae of same color interspersed. Mesoventrite finely, densely punctate (becoming slightly asperate); with distinctly sparse, decumbent white setae with long, erect setae of same color interspersed, slightly denser laterally and close to base of mesoventral process; mesoventral process with abundant yellowish-brown pubescence centrally, more white laterally, with long, erect setae (yellowish centrally, whitish laterally) interspersed; mesanepisternum with sculpturing as on mesoventrite, with dense white pubescent band close to mesepimeron, reaching and covering distal side of mesoventrite, and remaining surface with distinctly sparse whitish pubescence; mesepimeron with yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument, with long, erect setae of same color interspersed. Metanepisternum with moderately abundant yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument in anterior 2/3, and dense white pubescence in posterior third. Metaventrite mostly with abundant yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument, except wide, inverted V-shaped white pubescent band centrally in anterior area, and moderately wide, transverse white pubescent band near metacoxal cavities (fused with that on metanepisternum), and glabrous narrow area centrally; with sparse, long erect setae (yellowish in yellowish-brown pubescent area, whitish in white pubescent areas). Scutellum with dense white pubescence.

Elytra. Moderately finely, densely punctate; apex widely obliquely truncate, with outer angle somewhat rounded ( Fig. 16 ); pubescence dense, tawny, except: humeral area with yellowish-white pubescence; with arched white pubescent band in anterior third, almost reaching scutellum, laterally narrowed, arched backward, not reaching epipleural margin; arched white pubescent band starting about midlength, following along suture toward anterior third, laterally narrowed, arched backward, not reaching epipleural margin; another band in posterior third, similar to central band, but laterally less strongly curved backward; narrow pubescent band surrounding distal margin, and distal area of suture. Legs. Meso- and metafemora with club somewhat abruptly widened from peduncle; pro- and mesofemora with white pubescence not obscuring integument, with yellowish-brown pubescence interspersed, especially on ventral surface of peduncle, and long, erect white setae ventrally. Metafemora white pubescent with yellowish-brown pubescence interspersed on peduncle, ventral surface of club, central area of dorsal surface of club, and part of distal area of sides; remaining surface of sides with yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument; entire surface with long, erect whitish setae ventrally; widest area of club about 4.5 times basal width of peduncle. Tibiae with white pubescence dorsally and laterally, not obscuring integument, with yellowish-brown pubescence interspersed; ventral surface with erect yellowish-brown setae, denser toward apex. Tarsi with yellowish-brown pubescence; metatarsomere I about 2.5 times II–III together.

Abdomen. Ventrites finely abundantly punctate (surface somewhat rugose); ventrites I–II with dense white pubescence except narrow anterior area with sparse yellowish-brown pubescence, with long, erect white setae interspersed throughout; ventrites III–IV with dense white pubescence on posterior third, sparse yellowish-brown pubescence on anterior 2/3, with long, erect white setae interspersed throughout; ventrite V with sparse yellowish-brown pubescence, slightly denser laterally and near apex, with long, erect yellowish-brown setae interspersed; abdominal ventrite V slightly narrowed toward apex; apex of ventrite V rounded.

Female ( Fig. 13–14 ). Antennae 0.7 times elytral length, reaching about apex of anterior third of elytra; scape narrower (maximum width slightly less than twice basal width); meso- and metafemoral club gradually widened from peduncle; metafemoral club narrower (widest area of club narrower than 3.0 times basal width of peduncle); abdominal ventrite V distinctly narrowed toward apex.

Variation (males and females). Integument mostly dark brown; elytra nearly entirely dark reddishbrown; elytra dark reddish-brown with irregular dark brown or black areas interspersed; femora reddish-brown on peduncle, brown or dark reddish-brown on club; tibiae entirely brown; protibiae entirely light reddish-brown, and meso- and metatibiae yellowish-brown in basal third, gradually brown or dark reddish-brown toward apex; pro- and mesotarsi brown or dark reddish-brown, and metatarsi light reddish-brown; abdominal ventrites dark reddish-brown with distal area dark brown; abdominal ventrites entirely dark brown; longitudinal pubescent bands on frons distinctly yellow or light yellowishbrown; erect setae on frons yellowish; area between antennal tubercles with yellow or yellowish-brown pubescence toward upper eye lobes; pubescence behind and close to eye yellow to light yellowish-brown; pubescence on genae light yellowish-brown; pubescence on postclypeus light yellow to yellowish-brown; setae on labrum entirely nearly golden; setae on anterior area of gulamentum yellowish; bristly setae in anterior area of gulamentum distinctly sparse; antennal pubescence yellowish or somewhat golden; transverse pubescent bands on anterior and posterior sides of pronotum yellow; pubescence on pronotum entirely yellowish-brown, almost inconspicuous due to integument color; pubescence on pronotum yellowish-brown, conspicuous, with sparse, whitish setae interspersed; pubescence on prosternum and prosternal process yellowish-white; dense pubescent band on mesanepisternum yellowish-white; dense pubescence on metanepisternum light yellowish-brown or yellow; dense pubescence on metaventrite yellowish-brown, or metaventrite without distinctly dense pubescence contrasting with remaining pubescence; scutellum with dense yellow pubescence; elytral apex in small specimens obliquely truncate, making outer angle somewhat acute ( Fig. 15 ); bands of dense pubescence on elytra yellow; humeral area with yellowish pubescence; central and posterior pubescent bands of elytra not distinctly projected forward along suture; meso- and metafemora in small males female-shaped (club not abruptly widened from peduncle) pubescence and erect setae on femora and tibiae yellowish-brown.

Dimensions (mm), male/female. Total length, 7.55–12.55/8.85–13.40; prothoracic length, 1.75– 2.90/1.90–2.35; anterior prothoracic width, 1.40–2.10/1.65–2.00; posterior prothoracic width, 1.30– 1.95/1.50–1.90; maximum prothorax width, 2.00–3.25/2.25–2.90; humeral width, 2.00–3.20/2.25–2.90; elytral length, 5.30–8.80/5.80–8.20.

Material examined. BOLIVIA, Santa Cruz: 10 km W Buena Vista-San Mateo road (7,000′), 1 male, 13.X.2006, Wappes, Nearns , and Eya col. ( ACMT); Achira ( Vicoquin area ), 1 female, 8.X.2007, Wappes and Morris col. ( MZSP); (5.5 km NE of Achira, Vicoquin area, Subtropical Forest ; flying to fresh cut trees; 1800 m), 1 male, 25.XI.2004, no collector indicated ( MZSP); 4–5 km N Achira (Road to Amboró), 1 male, 12–13.X.2000, Wappes and Dozier col. ( ACMT); Florida prov. (16 km NE Mairana; 6,600’; 18°05’S / 63°54’W), 4 males, 6 females, 11.XII.2011, Wappes, Bonaso , and Sekerka col. ( ACMT); Rd to Amboro above Achira , chaco, 18°07.43′S, 63°47.98′W, 2 males, 14–15.X.2006, Wappes, Nearns and Eya col. ( ACMT); 1 male, 9–11.X.2004, Wappes and Morris col. ( ACMT).

Remarks. Amyipunga armaticollis ( Zajciw, 1964) is redescribed here to correct errors in its original description, provide a more complete description including intraspecific variation, and detail the differ- ences between it and the closely related Megacyllene moritzii Thomson from Venezuela. It should also be noted that the type was lost in the 2018 fire that destroyed the MNRJ and all its contents.

Zajciw (1964) described Neoclytus armaticollis from Bolivia (Santa Cruz), based on a single specimen.

According to him, the holotype was a male. However, the photograph of the holotype (based on antennal length, and shape of the metafemora), indicates it is a female. According to Martins and Galileo (2011) (translated): “ Zajciw (1964: 305) based the description of A. armaticollis on a male, whose apices of the metafemora, apparently, do not extend beyond the tips of the elytra. We examined a specimen, which we judge to be male, where the apices of the metafemora overlap the elytra with less than half of the club. The length of the metafemora is important to differentiate A. armaticollis from A. moritzii Thomson , in which the metafemora overlap the apex of the elytra at the base of the club, in addition to being remarkably thickened. A. moritzii also differs from A. armaticollis by the white pubescence of the ventral face of the body, which covers small portion of the lateral parts of the metaventrite and occupies much narrower areas in the abdominal segments.” Based on multiple specimens of both sexes of Amyipunga armaticollis examined, the amount of ventrite pubescence varies significantly and as such is not a diagnostic character to separate it from A. moritzii . However, the longer length of the metafemora in both sexes in the latter is a consistent character that reliably separates them.

Figures

Figures 17–21. 17) Megacyllene asteca, female, dorsal habitus. 18–21) Prosternal process. 18) M. asteca, female. 19) M. nebulosa, female. 20) M. acuta, male. 21) Plagionotus detritus, female.

Figures 9–16. Amyipunga armaticollis. 9–12) Male. 9) Dorsal habitus. 10) Ventral habitus. 11) Lateral habitus. 12) Head, frontal view. 13–14) Female, dorsal habitus. 13) Specimen 1. 14) Specimen 2. 15–16) Elytral apex, female. 15) Specimen 1. 16) Specimen 2.