Theognete echinata Anderson, 2010

Anderson, Robert S., 2010, A taxonomic monograph of the Middle American leaf-litter inhabiting weevil genus Theognete Champion (Coleoptera: Curculionidae; Molytinae; Lymantini) 2458, Zootaxa 2458 (1), pp. 1-127 : 64-67

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.2458.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7E42061C-9D11-49C5-8737-CEED0864E699
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/3DE2B016-B4B3-4F56-8F5F-59789B34766E
taxon LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:act:3DE2B016-B4B3-4F56-8F5F-59789B34766E
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Theognete echinata Anderson
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

66. Theognete echinata Anderson , new species ( Figures 134 View FIGURES 133–143 , 170 View FIGURES 169–171 , 205 View FIGURES 204–227 )

Diagnosis. Size. Length, male, 2.81–3.01mm; female, 2.95–3.51mm. Width, male, 1.57–1.88mm; female, 1.63–2.02mm. Pronotum subcordate, scales suberect to erect, fine, hair-like, concentrated in anterior twothirds of length; punctures very fine and shallow, indistinct. Elytra with scales erect, slightly recurved towards apex, clavate, simple, arranged linearly on intervals; strial regions with scales small, appressed, fine, hair-like; posterolateral area of elytra with series of 3–4 distinct, deep punctures. Mesosternum with deep, pilose, pitlike impression. Tergite VIII emarginate in middle. Aedeagus as in Fig. 170 View FIGURES 169–171 .

Geographical distribution. México (Tamaulipas).

Natural history. Collected from berlese extraction of cloud forest and liquidambar forest leaf litter at elevations from 1000–1375m.

Derivation of specific name. Named from the Latin echinatus, meaning prickly, in reference to the form of the setae on the elytra.

Material examined. 81♂, 52♀♀ ( BMNH, CMNC, CWOB, ECOS, UAQM, USNM) . Holotype ♂ ( CMNC) : MÉXICO: Tamaulipas. nr. Gómez Farías , 1000m, 7.VIII.83, S&J Peck, cloud forest litter / HOLO- TYPE ♂, Theognete echinata sp. nov., R.S. Anderson. Aedeagus extracted . Paratypes: MÉXICO. Tamaulipas. Gómez Farías (near), 1000m, 7.VIII.1983, S. & J. Peck, cloud forest litter (10♂, 9♀♀; CMNC) . Mpo. Gómez Farías , 4500', 16.III.1988, P. W. Kovarik (1♀ CMNC) . Gómez Farías (6 mi. W.) , Rancho del Cielo , 8.VII.1967, J. Fish, J. Reddell, P. Russell (1♀ USNM) . Municipio Gómez Farías, Rancho del Cielo , near cabins, 1200m, 17.VII.2006, 23º06.063 N, 99º12.191 W, R.S. Anderson, mixed hardwood forest litter, 2006-006 (4♂, 1♀ CMNC) GoogleMaps . Municipio Gómez Farías, Rancho del Cielo , along road, 1050–1150m, 18.VII.2006, 23º05.657 N, 99º11.540 W, R.S. Anderson, mixed oak forest litter, 2006-005 (1♀ CMNC) GoogleMaps . Municipio Gómez Farías, Rancho del Cielo , along road, 1200m, 18.VII.2006, 23º05.657 N, 99º12.191 W, R.S. Anderson, mixed hardwood (Liquidambar) forest litter, 2006-007 (2♂, 1♀ CMNC) GoogleMaps . Municipio Gómez Farías, Rancho del Cielo , along road, 1180m, 18.VII.2006, 23º05.657 N, 99º12.191 W, R.S. Anderson, mixed hardwood (Magnolia) forest litter, 2006-008 (14♂, 7♀♀ CMNC) GoogleMaps . Municipio Gómez Farías, Julilo , 1450m, 19.VII.2006, 23º08.473 N, 99º12.789 W, R.S. Anderson, Liquidambar /oak forest litter, 2006-009 (7♂, 4♀♀ CMNC) GoogleMaps . Municipio Gómez Farías, Julilo , 1380m, 19.VII.2006, 23º08.473 N, 99º12.789 W, R.S. Anderson, mixed oak forest litter, 2006-010 (5♂, 3♀♀ CMNC) GoogleMaps . Municipio Gómez Farías, Julilo , 1300m, 19.VII.2006, 23º08.473 N, 99º12.789 W, R.S. Anderson, mixed oak forest litter, 2006-011 (12♂, 6♀♀ CMNC, UAQM) GoogleMaps . Municipio Gómez Farías, Julilo , 1450m, 19.VII.2006, 23º08.473 N, 99º12.789 W, J.L Cozar, Liquidambar /oak forest litter (2♂ CMNC) GoogleMaps . Municipio Gómez Farías, Julilo , 1380m, 19.VII.2006, 23º08.473 N, 99º12.789 W, J.L. Cozar, oak forest litter (2♂, 1♀ CMNC) GoogleMaps . Municipio Gómez Farías, Rancho del Cielo , along road, 1180m, 18.VII.2006, 23º05.657 N, 99º12.191 W, J.L. Cozar, mixed hardwood forest litter (21♂, 17♀♀ BMNH, CMNC, CWOB, ECOS, UAQM, USNM) GoogleMaps . Municipio Gómez Farías, Julilo , 1450m, 19.VII.2006, 23º08.473 N, 99º12.789 W, P.J. Horsley, oak-pine forest litter (1♂ CMNC) GoogleMaps .

Chorological relationships. Sympatric with T. striatifemur and T. kovariki .

Theognete distenta species group

Recognition. Members of the T. distenta species group can be recognized by very slightly more widely separated procoxae than occur in the T. tzotzil group, as well as by the structure of the prosternum, which has a raised area with a “u”-shaped emargination directed posteriad between the coxae ( Figs. 12–15 View FIGURES 8–13 View FIGURES 14–18 ). Along with some members of the T. semistriata group and two T. tzotzil group members, the T. distenta group is the only species group in which some members have a tooth or sharp swelling on the basal margin of the elytra in the humeral region (8 species). With the exception of three species, the aedeagus is not sclerotized across the base. One species has the elytra distinctly punctate with the punctures arranged linearly along the striae.

Diagnosis. Length 2.3–4.6 mm. Cuticle black. Legs moderate in length; femora with small, shallow punctures. Pronotal disk weakly cordate (14 species) to transverse and inflated, especially so in males (4 species); medially not carinate; moderately densely, shallowly to deeply punctate, regularly sculptured, not tuberculate laterodorsally; with vestiture of moderately dense to sparse, fine to coarse, appressed to erect, shallowly to distinctly plumose scales more or less evenly distributed over disk (14 species) or concentrated in paramedial and laterodorsal clumps (4 species). Pronotum with flanks flat to subtuberculate anterodorsally. Elytra rounded to elongate oval, widest part at or near midlength, smooth or variously weakly tuberculate (1 species), striae not evident or distinctly punctate and with at least some striae shallowly to moderately strongly impressed (1 species); vestiture composed of fine to coarse, appressed to erect, non-plumose (3 species) to long, distinctly plumose scales scattered regularly over disk or concentrated in clumps; strial punctures not (17 species) to deeply (1 species) impressed in lateral region of elytra. Posterolateral area of elytra with pilose crease (1 species) or variously impressed as series of 3–6 separate to subcontiguous punctures, punctures continuous with punctures of lateral region of elytra (1 species). Procoxae moderately to widely separated, by about half to full width of coxa (2 species). Mesocoxae separated by less than 1.5 x width of coxa. Prosternum variously swollen transversely in front of coxae, swelling broadly U-shaped posteriorly, impressed and pitlike posteriorly under swelling, or with swelling not to very slightly produced posteriad between coxae, deeply impressed and pit-like posteriorly under swelling. Mesosternum flat or slightly sloping anteriad, punctate or impressed to various extent at extreme apex (usually obscured by prosternum), junction with metasternum distinct or with median transverse pit-like, usually pilose, impression bounded posteriorly by metasternum (17 species). Metasternum with moderately deep median impression, with distinct, separate small pits or setose punctures laterally behind mesocoxa that may be subcontiguous with median impression. Abdominal ventrite 5 more or less punctate throughout. Tergite VIII in female emarginate in middle or subtruncate (2 species). Aedeagus short (10 species) to moderate (6 species) or long (2 species), apex rounded, not produced to slightly produced (11 species) or moderately to markedly produced (7 species); dorsally not sclerotized (15 species) or sclerotized (3 species) across base.

Distribution. Click here for GoogleEarth® maps of T. distenta species group distributions.

Key to species of the T. distenta species group

1 Elytra with all striae, including those in lateral deflexed region, indicated by series of distinct, linearly arranged punctures; stria 1 distinctly linearly impressed but otherwise striae generally not impressed ( Fig. 249 View FIGURES 247–253 ); aedeagus as in Fig. 266 View FIGURES 266–268 ......................................................................................................................................................... T. weiri

1’ Elytra with striae not indicated by distinct, linearly arranged punctures, striae generally not impressed although stria 1 and 2 sometimes with few shallow punctures and very shallowly impressed in discal region only ....................... 2

2 Elytra with humeral region with distinct tooth or angulate swelling at basal margin ................................................. 3

2’ Elytra with humeral region lacking tooth or angulate swelling at basal margin, evenly rounded ............................... 9

3 Elytra with posterolateral region with deep pilose crease (as in Fig. 27 View FIGURES 25–28 ); aedeagus as in Fig. 260 View FIGURES 260–262 ........... T. kaulbarsi 3’ Elytra with posteroloateral region with a series of punctures ..................................................................................... 4

4 Front coxae separated by about width of coxa ............................................................................................................. 5

4’ Front coxae separated by distinctly less than width of coxa ....................................................................................... 6

5 Elytra with scales erect, clavate (fig. 239); aedeagus as in Fig. 256 View FIGURES 254–256 ....................................................... T. dansereaui

5’ Elytra with scales appressed, elongate-oval ( Fig. 245 View FIGURES 236–246 ) ................................................................................ T. newtoni

6 Elytra with scales suberect, recurved; pronotum not distinctly punctate, shining, transverse and inflated in male ( Fig. 250 View FIGURES 247–253 ); aedeagus as in Fig. 267 View FIGURES 266–268 .................................................................................................................... T. desautelsi

6’ Elytra with scales appressed; pronotum distinctly punctate, not shining, similarly weakly cordate in male and female ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 7

7 Elytra distinctly longer than wide ( Fig. 237 View FIGURES 236–246 ); aedeagus as in Fig. 255 View FIGURES 254–256 ........................................................ T. romanoi

7’ Elytra rounded and globose, at most very slightly longer than wide ........................................................................... 8

8 Elytra with sutural stria and second stria finely, distinctly punctate and impressed ( Fig. 241 View FIGURES 236–246 ); aedeagus as in Fig. 259 View FIGURES 257–259 ................................................................................................................................................................ T. baranowskii

8’ Elytra with sutural stria and second stria not punctate and not to very shallowly impressed ( Fig. 246 View FIGURES 236–246 ); aedeagus as in Fig. 263 View FIGURES 263–265 ........................................................................................................................................................ T. globosa

9 Pronotum with scales clumped in distinct paramedian and anterolateral tufts ( Figs. 239 View FIGURES 236–246 , 247, 248 View FIGURES 247–253 ) ...................... 10

9’ Pronotum with scales regularly distributed, no distinct tufts although scales sometimes denser in anterior half of disk ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 12

10 Elytral scales fine, long and shaggy, strial regions with fine, elongate, hair-like, non-plumose scales ( Fig. 248 View FIGURES 247–253 ); aedeagus as in Fig. 265 View FIGURES 263–265 . Honduras...................................................................................................................... T. corderoi

10’ Elytral scales more robust, short to moderate in length, not shaggy, strial regions with fine, hair-like, variously plumose scales ( Figs. 239 View FIGURES 236–246 , 247 View FIGURES 247–253 ). México (Oaxaca) ........................................................................................................ 11

11 Elytral scales clumped into multi-rowed tufts in anterolateral area ( Fig. 247 View FIGURES 247–253 ); aedeagus as in Fig. 264 View FIGURES 263–265 ... T. lalibertei

11’ Elytral scales linearly arranged in anterolateral area, not clumped ( Fig. 239 View FIGURES 236–246 ); aedeagus as in Fig. 257 View FIGURES 257–259 ..... T. terrestris

12 Pronotum with distinct large, deep punctures separated by less than their own diameter ........................................ 13

12’ Pronotum with small, shallow to moderately deep but indistinct punctures generally obscured by bases of attached scales .......................................................................................................................................................................... 14

13 Elytral scales appressed; pronotum with few sparse but broad, plumose scales; pronotum not inflated in male ( Fig. 252 View FIGURES 247–253 ); aedeagus as in Fig. 269 View FIGURES 269–270 . México (Chiapas) ............................................................................. T. adarmstrongae

13’ Elytral scales suberect to erect, recurved (arched); pronotal punctures with single elongate, fine, simple scale ( Fig. 253 View FIGURES 247–253 ); pronotum transverse and inflated in male ( Fig. 253 View FIGURES 247–253 ); aedeagus as in Fig. 270 View FIGURES 269–270 . México (Queretaro) .................. ..................................................................................................................................................................... T. laurentae

14 Elytral scales appressed to very slightly suberect; aedeagus as in Fig. 261 View FIGURES 260–262 . Honduras............................... T. boaseae

14’ Elytral scales distinctly suberect to erect. México.................................................................................................... 15

15 Pronotum and elytra with dorsal vestiture of dense, long, erect, clavate scales recurved at extreme apex, appearing bristly ( Fig. 236 View FIGURES 236–246 ); aedeagus as in Fig. 254 View FIGURES 254–256 ...................................................................................................... T. fossor

15’ Pronotum and elytra with dorsal vestiture of moderately dense, long, suberect to erect scales, tapered apically and recurved to various extent throughout entire length of scale, not appearing bristly ................................................. 16

16 Elytra with strial regions with distinct, elongate, fine, hair-like scales ( Fig. 251 View FIGURES 247–253 ); aedeagus as in Fig. 268 View FIGURES 266–268 ................. ............................................................................................................................................................... T. broadheadae

16’ Elytra with strial regions lacking distinct scales ....................................................................................................... 17

17 Elytral scales fine, recurved more apically and not fully arched, denser along intervals 2, 4 and 6 ( Fig. 244 View FIGURES 236–246 ); aedeagus as in Fig. 262 View FIGURES 260–262 ................................................................................................................................. T. chauliothorax

17’ Elytral scales slightly more robust, recurved more gradually throughout length and generally fully arched, regularly spaced on all intervals ( Fig. 240 View FIGURES 236–246 ); aedeagus as in Fig. 258 View FIGURES 257–259 .......................................................................... T. distenta