Palmaraltica tomentosa ( Jacoby, 1880 ) Roie & D’Hont & Konstantinov & Furth, 2023

Roie, Martijn Van, D’Hont, Anouk, Konstantinov, Alexander & Furth, David, 2023, Types of Cuyabasa Bechyné, Palmaraltica Bechyné and Rhynchasphaera Bechyné (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini: Oedionychina) of the Naturhistorisches Museum, Basel, with keys to species and descriptions of genitalia, and new combinations for species transferred to the oedionychine, Zootaxa 5318 (1), pp. 67-82 : 75

Palmaraltica tomentosa ( Jacoby, 1880) , comb. nov.

( Figure 5 )

Asphaera tomentosa Jacoby 1880:601 ( Eastern Ecuador, syntype sex unknown).

Measurements. LB = 8.62–9.46 mm; WB = 4.78–5.43 mm (N=2)

Distribution. Ecuador.

Type examined. Syntype: Ecuad. Buckley., 1st Jacoby Coll., Type. Sp. figured., Type 19071 ( MCZC, https:// mczbase.mcz.harvard.edu/guid/MCZ:Ent:19071) .

Additional material examined. 42201, Buckley, Equador Macas, Fry coll. 1905.100 (1 female BMNH) .

Literature records. No specific locality was given in original description, but all of the species described in Jacoby (1880) are from eastern Ecuador.

Description of genitalia. Spermatheca ( Figure 5D ) coil-shaped, 4–5 times as long as wide. Spermathecal pump rounded, about one-fifth as long as receptacle, bent, with apex directed downwards. Division between receptacle and pump faint. Apex of pump flattened, blunt, short. Receptacle widest at base. Canal attached at base of receptacle. Vaginal palpi ( Figure 5E ) conical, arched, shaped nearly as boomerang; apex blunt with long setae. Male genitalia not available for study.

Diagnosis. Palmaraltica tomentosa can be separated from P. yepezi by general coloration and habitus ( Figure 5 ), together with having simple front tarsal claws; it differs from P. heteronycha by narrower shoulders, straighter pronotal edges and dark coloration of the elytra on the basal two-thirds but not at the apex. The female genitalia of both species seem to be different as well, with strongly arched vaginal palpi and a downward facing spermathecal pump in P. tomentosa ( Figure 5D&E ).

Remarks. Examination of pictures of the syntype on the MCZ type repository (https://mczbase.mcz.harvard. edu/MediaSearch.cfm?action=search&media_id=1375700,1388858,1378374,1388867,1381004), and study of two specimens from the BMNH, revealed that this species is congeneric with other species of Palmaraltica , based on the following characters: pro- and mesotarsal claws bifid; metatarsal claws simple; body covered in dense pubescence. The second BMNH specimen, from the Baly collection (not listed in additional material), was very dark in coloration and seemed to lack the yellow apical coloration of the elytra. We could not determine if this was due to poor preservation, or if the specimen demonstrated intraspecific variation, or if the specimen belongs to an undescribed species of Palmaraltica . More study is required with additional material.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Female specimen of Palmaraltica tomentosa Jacoby, comb. nov. from the BMNH. A. Dorsal view; B. Lateral view; C. Frontal view; D. Spermatheca; E. Vaginal palpi. Scale bar: 1 mm.