Nealcidion achiraense, Santos-Silva & Monné, 2023

Santos-Silva, Antonio & Monné, Miguel A., 2023, The incredible biodiversity of American Lamiinae (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) description of four new species, synonymy, and taxonomical notes, Zootaxa 5244 (3), pp. 244-260 : 252-254

Nealcidion achiraense sp. nov.

( Figs 17–24 )

Description. Holotype male ( Figs 17–21 ). Integument mostly dark brown; ventral mouthparts reddish brown, except yellowish apex of some segments, pale-yellow labial and maxillary palpomeres I, and labial palpomeres II–III and maxillary palpomeres II–IV black with reddish brown apex; almost entire basal half of antennomere III reddish brown; basal third of antennomere IV and basal quarter of antennomeres V–X with orangish ring, not reaching base; basal third of antennomere XI with orangish ring, not reaching base; remaining surface of antennomeres IV–XI brown, slightly lighter toward XI, except yellowish apex of XI. Base of trochanters reddish brown and remaining surface yellowish brown. Femoral peduncles yellowish-brown laterally, dark brown dorsally and ventrally; tibiae with wide brownish-orange ring about middle. Tarsomeres I brown basally, gradually dark brown toward apex. Apex of ventrites 1–4 reddish brown.

Head. Frons densely, finely punctate; with abundant, both brown and grayish-white pubescence not obscuring integument, grayish-white pubescence on triangular central area close to clypeus and close to eyes; with one long, erect dark brown seta close to each eye. Antennal tubercles and area between them with abundant brown pubescence almost obscuring integument, with short, decumbent grayish-white setae interspersed, except posterior apex of tubercles with pale-yellow pubescence and frontal area between tubercles and eyes mostly with grayish-white pubescence. Area between antennal tubercles and upper eye lobes with yellowish-white pubescence centrally and dark brown pubescence laterally; area between anterior margin and middle of upper eye lobes with dark brown pubescence not obscuring integument, except glabrous median groove and pale-yellow pubescence close to eyes; remaining surface of vertex with dense yellowish-brown pubescence, except glabrous median groove. Area behind upper eye lobes with dense yellowish-brown pubescence close to vertex, and sparse yellowish pubescence on remaining surface. Area behind lower eye lobes with abundant yellowish pubescence not obscuring integument, pubescence more yellowish-white toward ventral surface, except subglabrous oblique band about middle from eye to prothoracic margin. Genae densely, finely punctate, punctures slightly sparser close to frons and clypeus, except smooth apex; with pale-yellow pubescence not obscuring integument, pubescence denser and yellower close to eye, with brown pubescence interspersed, except glabrous smooth apex; with a few long, erect dark brown setae interspersed. Wide central area of postclypeus with abundant, bristly pale-yellow pubescence not obscuring integument, and long, erect setae of same color interspersed; with one long, erect brown seta on each side. Sides of postclypeus glabrous. Labrum with abundant dark brown pubescence on posterior 2/3, glabrous on anterior third, except anterior margin with fringe of golden setae; with long setae directed forward interspersed on posterior 2/3, some setae dark brown and others brownish-yellow. Gulamentum smooth and glabrous, except intermaxillary process slightly depressed and with somewhat sparse yellowish-white pubescence. Distance between upper eye lobes 0.17 times distance between outer margins of eyes; in frontal view, distance between lower eye lobes 0.52 times distance between outer margins of eyes. Antennae 2.2 times elytral length, reaching elytral apex at basal quarter of antennomere VI. Scape with dark brown pubescence not obscuring integument, with yellowish-white pubescence interspersed, except basal half of outer and ventral surfaces, and outer region of middle of dorsal surface mostly with yellowish-white pubescence, and apex with abundant brownish-yellow pubescence. Pedicel with dark-brown pubescence partially obscuring integument, except base of dorsal surface and most of outer surface with brownishyellow pubescence. Base of antennomere III with narrow dark-brown pubescent ring, and base of antennomeres IV–XI with narrow brown pubescent ring; light integumental ring on anterior region of antennomeres III–XI with dense yellowish-white pubescence, and remaining surface with brownish pubescence, except apex of XI with dense yellowish-white pubescence; apex of antennomere III widened internally; ventral surface of antennomeres III–IV with short, erect black setae, setae sparser on IV. Antennal formula based on length of antennomere III: scape = 0.75; pedicel = 0.09; IV = 0.65; V = 0.55; VI = 0.48; VII = 0.42; VIII = 0.41; IX = 0.39; X = 0.35; XI = 0.35.

Thorax. Prothorax wider than long; lateral tubercles large, rounded; sides divergent from anterolateral angles to lateral tubercles, convergent from lateral tubercles to posterolateral angles. Pronotum with large gibbosity on each side of middle, and longitudinal carina centrally, from anterior margin to posterior fifth, forming distinct tubercle close to posterior fifth; sparsely, coarsely punctate, except smooth central area and area close to posterior margin; large central area with dense pale-yellow pubescence, except small, triangular dark-brown pubescent macula centrally close to anterior margin, large, triangular dark-brown pubescent macula posteriorly, from before middle to posterior margin, and longitudinal, arched dark-brown pubescent macula on top of each lateral gibbosity; sides with wide, longitudinal, sinuous dark-brown pubescent band, not reaching area close to sides of prothorax before lateral tubercles of prothorax, form anterior to posterior margin, with irregular yellowish-brown pubescent areas interspersed; area close to sides of prothorax with abundant yellowish-brown pubescence partially obscuring integument, from anterior margin to dorsal surface of lateral tubercles of prothorax. Sides of prothorax sparsely, coarsely punctate; with abundant grayish-white pubescence partially obscuring integument, pubescence more yellowish close to pronotum. Prosternum with abundant grayish-white pubescence not obscuring integument, except glabrous anterior sulcus. Prosternal process with abundant grayish-white pubescence not obscuring integument on anterior 2/3, slightly sparser on posterior third; narrowest area 0.25 times procoxal width. Mesoventrite with abundant yellowish-white pubescence not obscuring integument centrally, and dense pale-yellow pubescence laterally. Mesanepisternum and mesepimeron with dense pale-yellow pubescence close to mesoventrite, pubescence sparser, yellowish-white close to elytra. Mesoventral process with abundant grayish-white pubescence not obscuring integument, pubescence slightly sparser laterally; apex widely concave; narrowest area 0.35 times mesocoxal width, and apex 0.48 times mesocoxal width. Metanepisternum and sides of metaventrite with abundant yellowish pubescence almost obscuring integument, with dark-brown pubescent spots interspersed, except apex of metanepisternum with dense yellowish-brown pubescence; remaining surface of metaventrite with abundant whitish pubescence not obscuring integument, except glabrous metathoracic discrimen. Scutellum with dense dark brown pubescence, except one dense yellow macula on each side of anterior 2/3. Elytra. Humerus somewhat projected forward; humeral carina well marked from humerus to posterior sixth; centrobasal crest ( Fig. 21 ) long, from near base to almost apex of anterior third, gradually, distinctly elevated from base to its middle, then abruptly inclined and slightly, gradually inclined toward the conical and elevated tubercle on its apex; dorsal surface with two moderately well-marked longitudinal carina, innermost from apex of centrobasal crest to about posterior fifth, outermost from humerus to about posterior fifth, more distinct from anterior quarter; dorsal carinae fused apically; somewhat abundantly, coarsely punctate, punctures on anterior third and sides of anterior half of dorsal surface tuberculate on their anterior outer margin; apex slightly obliquely concave, making outer angle rounded projected and sutural angle slightly rounded projected; anterior quarter of dorsal surface with dense fulvous pubescence, posterior margin of this area semicircular, except yellowish longitudinal pubescent band from base to middle of centrobasal crest and yellowish-brown pubescence on suture; inner apical margin of anterior fulvous anterior region with narrow yellowish-white pubescent band; apex of middle of centrobasal crest partially glabrous and with somewhat long, erect blackish setae; area close to fulvous anterior pubescent area with somewhat small, irregular blackish pubescent macula (this macula involves posterior region of centrobasal crest); with dense, oblique grayish-white pubescent band dorsally, from humeral carina to near posterior third, with its anterior and posterior margins irregular; dorsal surface of posterior third with large, irregular, slightly oblique black pubescent macula; humeral and dorsal carinae with dense yellowish-brown pubescence, with dark-brown pubescent spots interspersed, yellowish-brown pubescent band distinct on humeral carina from near to its apex, from near fulvous pubescent region to black posterior macula on outermost dorsal carina, and between anterior and posterior black pubescent maculae on innermost carina (dorsal yellow-pubescent bands interrupting the anterior grayish-white pubescent band); posterior quarter with oblique, wide, irregular white pubescent band, from epipleural margin to suture, centrally interrupted by longitudinal yellowish-brown pubescent band; remaining surface of apical quarter with dense yellowish-white pubescence; remaining dorsal surface with dense greenish-yellow pubescence; sides of anterior 3/4 with both dark brown and greenish-brown pubescence irregularly distributed. Legs. Femora with abundant grayish-white pubescence not obscuring integument on peduncle, inferior region of sides of club, except apical quarter, and ventral surface; remaining surface of club with dense yellowish pubescence with irregular glabrous and subglabrous areas interspersed, except dorsal surface with irregular brownish pubescent macula about middle. Tibiae with dense yellowish pubescence on base of dorsal and lateral surfaces; with dense, wide whitish pubescent band on brownish-orange central ring; with abundant, bristly dark yellowish-brown pubescence about apical half of ventral surface of protibiae, except entire apex with dense yellow pubescence; with sparse brown pubescence on remaining basal half of all tibiae; with somewhat abundant brown pubescence with short, suberect yellowish setae interspersed on remaining apical half of protibiae; remaining apical half of mesotibiae with dense, bristly brown pubescence on dorsal sulcus, with yellow pubescent band on inner margin of dorsal sulcus, brown pubescence with both yellowish and whitish setae interspersed on sides, abundant, short, erect, thick brown setae on remaining dorsal surface, sparse, bristly yellowish-brown setae on remaining ventral surface, except entire apex with dense yellow pubescence; remaining apical half of metatibiae with abundant, short, erect brown setae dorsally, brown pubescence on sides, with short, both yellowish-brown and white setae interspersed, somewhat sparse, erect brown setae ventrally, except entire apex with dense yellow pubescence; protibiae depressed ventrally on almost entire apical half, with a tooth on base of inner surface of this region; metatibiae not arched. Tarsomeres I with dense yellowish-white pubescence, except apex with brown pubescence; tarsomeres II with yellowish-white pubescence on basal half, pubescence sparser than on I, brown on posterior third; tarsomeres III with dark-brown pubescence with yellowish-white pubescence interspersed; tarsomeres IV with a few moderately short yellowish-brown setae; tarsomeres V with brownish pubescence basally and apically, and dense yellowish-white pubescence on remaining surface; metatarsomere I slightly longer than II–III together.

Abdomen. Ventrites with abundant grayish-white pubescence not obscuring integument, except glabrous apex of 1–4. Apex of ventrite 5 widely concave; apex of last tergite emarginate centrally.

Female ( Figs 22–24 ). Similar to male, but differs by the antennae shorter, 1.8 times elytral length, reaching elytral apex at posterior third of antennomere VII, centrobasal crest of the elytra ( Fig. 24 ) less elevated and with apical projection rounded, and apex of last tergite acute.

Dimensions (mm) (Holotype female/ paratype females). Total length, 13.95/12.25–16.60; prothoracic length, 2.10/1.85–2.35; anterior prothoracic width, 2.60/2.25–2.90; posterior prothoracic width, 3.00/2.80–3.50; maximum prothoracic width, 3.50/3.20–3.90; humeral width, 5.10/4.65–6.45; elytral length, 10.10/9.10–12.05.

Type material. Holotype male from BOLIVIA, Santa Cruz: 4-5 km N Achira, rd. To Floripondo , 18º09′S 63º47′W, 6,350 ft, 15.IX.2012, Wappes, Skelley, Bonaso & Hamel leg. ( FSCA) . Paratypes — BOLIVIA, Santa Cruz: 1 female, same data as holotype ( FSCA); above Achira Campo, Road to Amboro , Vicoquin area , 18º07′S 63º48′W , 1 female, 11.XI.2012, Bonaso & Windsor leg. ( MZSP, formerly FSCA); road to Amboro, above Achira , Ac cut/burn area, 18º07.43′S 63º47.98W, 1940 m , 1 female, 14–15.X.2006, Wappes, Nearns & Eya leg. ( FSCA).

Etymology. The name is a reference to the location where the holotype was collected (Achira, Province of Santa Cruz, Bolivia).

Remarks. Nealcidion achiraense sp. nov. is similar to N. kayi Nascimento, Santos-Silva & McClarin, 2020 ( Fig. 25 ; see also photographs on Bezark 2023 and original description), but differs as follows: elytra with oblique grayish-white pubescent band about middle in both sexes; narrowest area of the prosternal process in male 0.25 times procoxal width; narrowest area of the prosternal process in female about 0.40 times procoxal width; narrowest area of the mesoventral process in male 0.35 times mesocoxal width; narrowest area of the mesoventral process in female about 0.50 times mesocoxal width; metafemoral club in male shorter and less tumid; and metatibiae in male not arched. In N. kayi , the elytra have inverted V-shaped or inverted sub L-shaped yellowish-white or yellowish pubescent band about middle, narrowest area of the prosternal process in male about 0.45 times procoxal width, narrowest area of the prosternal process in female about 0.55 times procoxal width, narrowest area of the mesoventral process in male 0.35 times mesocoxal width, narrowest area of the mesoventral process in female 0.70 times mesocoxal width, metafemoral club in males are longer and more tumid, and the metatibiae in males are arched. Nealcidion achiraense sp. nov. is somewhat similar to N. brachiale (Bates, 1872) ( Fig. 26 ) and N. emeritum (Erichson, 1847) ( Fig. 27 ), but differs by the scape not sinuous on inner surface (sinuous in N. brachiale and N. emeritum ), centrobasal crest of the elytra longer and tuberculate about middle and apex (shorter and not tuberculate dorsally in N. brachiale and N. emeritum ), and elytra with moderately wide and oblique whitish pubescent band, inclined backward from humeral carina to suture (with very wide whitish pubescent band, inclined forward from sides to suture in N. brachiale ; short irregular, inclined forward, sometimes as in N. kayi , in N. emeritum ).

Figures

FIGURES 17–24. Nealcidion achiraense sp. nov., holotype. 17–20) Holotype male: 17) Dorsal habitus; 18) Ventral habitus; 19) Lateral habitus; 20) Head, frontal view; 21) Centrobasal crests. 22–24) Paratype female: 22) Dorsal habitus; 23) Ventral habitus; 24) Centrobasal crests.

FIGURES 25–27. Nealcidion spp., dorsal habitus. 25) Nealcidion kayi Nascimento, Santos-Silva & McClarin, 2020, paratype male from Ecuador (Napo, Cosanga). 26) Nealcidion brachiale (Bates, 1872), female from Mexico (Veracruz, Lake Catemaco). 27) Nealcidion emeritum (Erichson, 1847), male from Peru (Huánuco, Marañón).