Hemiphrynus smithi Gilbert, 2011

Gilbert, Arthur J., 2011, A review and clarification of the alticine genera Hemiphrynus Horn 1889 and Phrynocepha Baly 1861 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini), Insecta Mundi 2011 (200), pp. 1-57 : 20-21

Hemiphrynus smithi Gilbert sp. nov.

( Fig. 17 , 23, 30, 37, 82)

Type Specimens. Holotype (male) and allotype (female). MEXICO. MICHOACAN: hwy. 15; 4 mi. W. Zacapa [Zacapu?], 7,700ft., 8 August 1982, C. W. and L. O’Brien and Wibm . Holotype and allotype deposited in the Texas A&M University type collection.

Paratypes (3 males and 1 female) – same data as holotype (2) [ AJGC], (2) [ TAMU].

Description. Male (holotype). Body length 3.47 mm; width at elytral humeri 1.47 mm; form elongate. Elytra shining, bluish-black; head, pronotum, legs yellow-orange. Head not elongate, without ventral “jowl-like” area; genal length 0.50x length of eye; vertex dull, reticulate, coarsely punctate; anterior margin of postclypeus truncate, abruptly elevated to anterolateral ridge; frontal carina broad, raised in lateral view, peaking between antennal fossae; antennal fossae separated by distance slightly more than width of antennal fossa (fossal width measured from inside edges); labrum orange, rectangular, with corners rounded, shining, impunctate; labral notch indistinct; frontal tubercles distinct, not elevated over arc of head viewed laterally, separated by coronal suture; area in front of antennal fossa without slightly sunken appearance, without frontogenal suture, without lateral carina; interocular distance 1.35x wider than width of both eyes combined; antennae slender, 0.84x length of body; antennomeres orange; antennomeres 2-3 shortest; 4 longer than 3; antennomeres 4-11 nearly equal in length. Pronotum transverse, reticulate, moderately punctate, widest at middle; lateral margins tapering to anterior margin; with two indistinct basolateral depressions; basal margin nearly straight; anterolateral projections distinct, rectangular, with corners rounded; posterolateral angles distinct, acute. Scutellum black, shining, obtusely triangular, impunctate. Elytra reticulate, impunctate; humeri poorly developed. Prosternal intercoxal process level with prosternum, not elevated ventrally to level of procoxae, very narrowly, inconspicuously separating procoxae. Procoxae conical, appearing contiguous. Procoxal cavities open. Legs including tarsi, orange; pro- and mesofemora not enlarged; tarsomere 1 of protarsi enlarged, wider than 3, as long as 2-4 combined; tarsomere 1 of mesotarsi enlarged, wider than 3, as long as 2-4 combined; tarsomere 1 of metatarsi not enlarged, much longer than 2-4 combined, not wider than tarsomere 3; all tibiae with central longitudinal carina along entire length. Abdomen black, shiny, impunctate, sparsely pubescent; fifth ventrite entire, orange at tip. Aedeagus gradually bent nearly 90 degrees ventrally, dorsal aspect abruptly cut to center of aedeagus posterior to ostium ( Fig. 30 ); basal piece about 29% total length of aedeagus; ventral end broadened subapically, narrowing to acute tip; tip with short median, ventral carina ( Fig. 37 ).

Female (allotype). Similar to holotype, differing in the following characters: size slightly larger (length 4.65 mm; width 2.06 mm); tarsomere 1 not enlarged or overly elongate on all legs; fifth abdominal ventrite truncate, without orange tip.

Variation. Male: length 3.47 – 3.53 mm; width at humeri 1.41 – 1.71. The single female paratype measures 4.47 mm in length and 1.88 mm in width. The stout or slender appearance of the antennae, as represented by the fourth antennomere (length to width ratio), varies. The male fourth antennomere is slender, approximately 3.1x longer than wide, and in the female the fourth antennomere is even more slender, approximately 4.3x longer than wide.

On a male specimen where the abdomen was dissected and cleared, the fifth ventrite has an anvil shaped, sclerotized structure that curves inward. This is covered by the emarginate pygidium and concealed on most specimens.

Remarks. The second and third antennomeres are subequal in length in this species, a character shared by no other species in the genus. This is also one of the smaller species, a character that will separate it from all other species except small specimens of H. sydneyae (new species below) and H. sulcatipennis . Hemiphrynus smithi appears to be most closely related to H. sydneyae with respect to the shape of the aedeagi. However, they are distinctly different in their external appearance. Hemiphrynus sydneyae has a roughly sculptured, coarsely punctured pronotum (Fig. 24), while the pronotum of H. smithi , although coarsely punctured, is very even or regular dorsally (Fig. 23). Hemiphrynus sydneyae also has a tendency to have elytral costae, especially in the females ( Fig. 4 ). Hemiphrynus smithi does not show any signs of elytral costae. Other characters have been previously stated for other species that will also differentiate H. smithi . See the remarks for the other species for additional differences.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in the Mexican state of Michoacan at an elevation of approximately 7,700 feet.

Host. Unknown.

Etymology. Named for Dr. Norman J. Smith, a good friend, hymenopterist, travel partner and collector.

Specimens Examined. See “ Type Specimens.”

Figures

Figures 13-18. Frontal view of faces of Hemiphrynus. 13) H. barri. 14) H. corrugatus. 15) H. elongatus. 16) H. intermedius. 17) H. smithi. 18) H. sydneyae.

Figures 29-31. Aedeagi, lateral view. 29) Hemiphrynus sulcatipennis. 30) H. smithi. 31) H. sydneyae.

Figures 32-38. Tips of aedeagi, ventral view. 32) H. barri. 33) H. corrugatus. 34) H. elongatus. 35) H. intermedius. 36) H. sulcatipennis. 37) H. smithi. 38) H. sydneyae.

Figures 1-4. Habitus of adult Hemiphrynus. 1) Hemiphrynus elongatus, male. 2) H. intermedius, male. 3) H. sulcatipennis, male. 4) H. sydneyae, female.