Ceresium aethiops Newman, 1842

Yokoi, Yaheita, 2023, Note on genitalia and taxonomy of the Callidiopini from the Philippines, with description of six new species and two subspecies (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Cerambycinae), Contributions to Entomology 73 (1), pp. 31-66 : 31

Ceresium aethiops Newman, 1842

Figs 7A-I , 22A-K

Ceresium Aethiops Newman, 1842: 247. Type locality: Manila.

Ceresium Aethiops : White 1855: 244.

Ceresium aethiops : Aurivillius 1912: 123.

Ceresium aethiops : Hüdepohl 1994: 93, 94.

Examined specimen.

1 ♂: "Mt. Banahao, P. l. Baker"; "1914, 14". (SMF).

Description.

Venter: Fig. 7B, C . Prosternum convex, sub-parallel-sided; setae whitish, dense, curved, adpressed; punctures in middle large, deep, regular. Prosternal process rather narrow, apically expanded; apex thinned, truncated. Mesoventrite saddle-shaped; the middle with several large, irregular punctures; setae sparse and fine in middle, dense and adpressed near sides and the process. Mesoventral process broad; sides sinuate; apex rounded and deeply emarginated in the middle. Metaventrite sub-parallel-sided; setae dense and adpressed, though the middle nitid. Abdomen glossy, impunctate; sternites 3-5 pubescent on sides, nitid in the middle; 6-7 sparsely setose. 7th longer than the preceding, sub-trapezoidal; apex weakly arcuate.

Legs: Tibiae keeled (Fig. 7D ).

Male genitalia (Figs 7F-I , 22A-K ): Median lobe less than 2/5 the length of abdomen; bullet-shaped in dorsal view; strongly arcuate in lateral view; dorsal plate dehiscent in basal half; ventral plate longer, dehiscent in basal 7/10, apex moderately acute. Tegmen about 9/10 as long as median lobe; weakly multi-sinuate in lateral view. Parameres 2/5 the length of tegmen; apical 1/3 bi-lobed; lobes evenly narrowed toward apices; apices fringed with short to long setae. Apical process of endophallus (Figs 7F , 22D-F ) more than 1/4 as long as median lobe; relatively slender, arcuate in profile. Apical sclerite apically expanding, flattened, deeply dehiscent, separately rounded; basal corners each projected posteriorly as a sharp tooth. Median sclerite sub-oval, heavily thickened on the multi-arcuate edges; with a prominent horn-shaped dorsal projection. Basal sclerite rounded-spatulate, bent upward. Blade of 8th sternite transverse; stout, apex thickened, shallowly emarginated in a multi-sinuate line; sides arcuate; apex and sides fringed with short to long setae; peduncle as long as blade. 8th tergite bell-shaped; fringed with long setae on sides and shorter ones on apex. Basal halves of sternite and tergite enclosed together by a thick, partly sclerotized membrane.

Distribution.

Philippines (Manila); Luzon.

Comparative notes.

The external characteristics of this specimen from Mindanao correspond to the original description of holotype. It should be supplemented that the puncture on its elytra is unusually sporadic (Fig. 7E ). This type of elytral surface has not been observed in other Ceresium species.

Regarding genitalia, the median lobe is more strongly arcuate than usual for a Ceresium species. Apical process of endophallus is characteristic of this species, though it is, with its large, deeply dehiscent apical sclerite, somewhat reminiscent of Ceresium ikuoyokoii Yokoi, 2019, from Sumatra. Multi-sinuate apex of 8th sternite is also characteristic. In addition, the thick, partly sclerotized membrane surrounding the basal parts of sternite and tergite is noteworthy.

Figures

Figure 7. A-I. Ceresium aethiops Newman. Male from Luzon. A. Habitus, dorsal view; B. Ditto, ventral; C. Prosternum and mesoventrite; D. Protibia, ventral view; E. Elytron; F. Median lobe and endophallus with apical process; G. Endophallus, part, surface; H. Tegmen, apical part of paramere, lateral view; I. Ditto, latero-ventro-frontal view.

Figure 22. A-K. Ceresium aethiops Newman. Male from Luzon. Genitalia. A. Median lobe with endophallus, dorsal view; B. Ditto, lateral; C. Ditto, ventral; D. Endophallus, apical process, dorsal view; E. Ditto, lateral; F. Ditto, ventral; G. Tegmen, dorsal view; H. Ditto, lateral; I. Ditto, ventral; J. 8 th sternite, ventral view; K. Ditto, with 8 th and 9 th tergite in the background and partly sclerotized membrane in the foreground. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (D-F); 1 mm (A-C, G-K).