Nesiosphaerion charynae Lingafelter, 2008

Lingafelter, Steven W., 2008, Seven New Species of Elaphidiini (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) from the Dominican Republic with Taxonomic Notes, New Country Records, and a Key toElaphidionAudinet-Serville from Hispaniola, The Coleopterists Bulletin 62 (3), pp. 353-379 : 353-379

Nesiosphaerion charynae Lingafelter , new species

( Figs. 7, 8 )

Description. Small to moderate sized, 7–10 mm long; 2.5–3.0 mm broad; integument pale testaceus, with head darker reddish-brown. Head with very sparse, translucent pubescence, most dense at inner eye margins; interantennal impression weak; antennal tubercles not strongly elevated; antennae of males extending beyond elytral apex by about two antennomeres, antennae of females extending by less than one; last antennomere of female subequal in length to penultimate antennomere; last antennomere of male about 1.25 X longer than penultimate antennomere; antennomere four of both sexes distinctly shorter than three and five; antennae strongly mesally carinate and conspicuously spined mesally on antennomeres 3–6 or 7; laterally most antennomeres expanded at apex and weakly dentiform on 7–9 in most specimens; antennal spines short and approximately of equal length on 3–5; antennae with moderate, inconspicuous, appressed, translucent pubescence with scattered longer setae mesally and apically on most antennomeres. Pronotum distinctly longer than broad, slightly rounded at sides; distinctly narrower at middle than elytral base; conspicuously pubescent with fine, translucent setae, except for wide longitudinal central callus and vaguely defined anterolateral calli (pubescence less dense in females). Males with pronotum covered in dense punctures throughout (except on calli); females have 362 punctures less dense, but more visible due to reduced pubescence. Minute, dense punctures present in front of procoxae in males (sparse, shallow, and indistinct in females). Prosternal intercoxal process evenly recessed between procoxae, weakly expanded at apex; procoxal cavities open posteriorly. Elytron pale testaceus, mostly glabrous except for sparse, long, erect setae. Elytral apices truncate or with very slight outer apical spine. Elytron with dense, large punctures, but mostly separate (larger and less dense than pronotum), becoming much shallower toward apex. Scutellum truncate posteriorly, with very sparse, white pubescence concentrated on posterior margin. Legs moderate in length; hind femora reaching last abdominal ventrite; pale testaceus except for extreme apex of femora and extreme base of tibiae which are darker brown; pubescence translucent, sparse throughout. Femoral apices without spines. Venter nearly glabrous with some concentrations of translucent pubescence on mesepisternum, metepisternum, and metasternum at sides. Last ventrite of males broadly rounded at apex; that of female subtruncate.

Etymology. This species of Nesiosphaerion is named for Charyn Micheli who participated in several expeditions and collected many related species, including the first known Dominican Republic specimens of its congener, N. testaceum (Fisher) . The epithet is a noun in apposition.

Discussion. There are only three other species in this somewhat heterogenous genus: N. testaceum (Fisher) from Hispaniola; N. insulare (White) from Jamaica; and N. caymanensis (Fisher) from the Cayman Islands (Monné et al. 2007). This species ( Figs. 7, 8 ) is easily distingished from the others in that the pronotum is covered with fine, translucent pubescence and small dense punctures, except for longitudinal calli at the middle and sides. This species lacks the pronotal sexual dimorphism described above for N. testaceum : in males the punctation and pubescence are somewhat denser, giving the pronotum a more matte-opaque appearance ( Fig. 8a ). In females the punctation and pubescence are reduced, leaving the pronotum shinier ( Fig. 8b ). In males there are dense patches of punctures anterior to the procoxae, but these are inconspicuous or very reduced in females.

Type Material. Holotype, male: ‘‘ Dominican Republic: 150 m N. bridge on road Cabo Rojo – Aceitillar , Pedernales Prov., 16 m. 17 ° 58.530 9 N, 71 ° 39.034 9 W; 7.iv.2004. D. Perez, B. Hierro, R. Bastardo. RD #212’’ ( USNM) . Paratypes, 2 (all Dominican Republic, Pedernales Prov.): same data as holotype (1 male, USNM); Cabo Rojo , 10 m, 17 ° 55 9 N, 71 ° 39 9 W, 26–27 September 1991, C. Young, S. Thompson, R . Davidson, J. Rawlins; coastal desert (1 female, CMNH) .

Figures

Fig. 7–8. Nesiosphaerion charynae Lingafelter, new species. 7) dorsal habitus photograph, female paratype; 8a) detail of pronotum, male; 8b) detail of pronotum, female.