Asytesta emarginata, Setliff, 2012

Setliff, Gregory P., 2012, 3462, Zootaxa 3462, pp. 1-125 : 64-68

Asytesta emarginata species group

This species group includes Asytesta alexriedeli and A. emarginata that occur in the subalpine zone, above 3400 m elevation. These species are remarkable considering all other known crowned weevils were collected in the lowland rainforest to lower montane zones and no species has ever been reported from the mid to upper montane zones (ca. 2300–3400 m). The absence of crowned weevils, specifically Asytesta , from these altitudinal zones could reflect the relative scarcity of montane species but also highlights our incomplete knowledge of New Guinean montane fauna.

Asytesta alexriedeli Setliff , new species

( Figures 53–54, 106, 125–126, 190)

Diagnosis. This species is very closely allied to A. emarginata new species, but has a different arrangement of vestiture. The vertex of the head bears a bright white band of scales and the dorsal vestiture is mostly sparse, dark background squamae with evenly distributed pale patches. The pronotum has a pair of dark basal maculae that are poorly defined.

Description. Measurements (n = 5): body length 6.0– 7.2 mm (mean 6.5 mm), body width 3.0– 3.5 mm (mean 3.1 mm), pronotal length 2.0– 2.5 mm (mean 2.3 mm), elytral length 3.7–4.7 mm (mean 4.2 mm), rostral length 2.2–2.4 mm (mean 2.3 mm). Body suboval, 2.0–2.2 X longer than broad; integument dark reddish-brown to black, basal portions of legs and tibia red. Dorsum appears glabrate with scattered patches of dirty white scales, actually covered with very small, appressed, dark brown (translucent?) scales. Vertex of head with bright white scales forming two distinct patches on either side of medial V-shaped glabrous area and pair of small whitish maculae on temples ( Figure 106); tarsi and sometimes legs and venter with sparse, white, hair-like setae. Pronotum with pair of poorly defined, dark patches at posterior margin (best viewed without magnification), anterolateral region of pronotum with distinct, well defined ring of white scales enclosing area from lateral margin of prosternal canal to anterior margin of procoxae, with darker background scales in center; dorsal portion of ring not extending beyond middle of procoxa. Scales very fine (indistinct under low magnification), appressed.

Head. Visible in dorsal view, with broad U-shaped, crown-like carinae on vertex above eyes ( Figure 106), interrupted at back by glabrous V-shaped area where head articulates on pronotum, medial longitudinal carinae within crown from apex of V-shaped area to center of crown. Eyes slightly bulging, small, semicircular, posterior margin truncate; interocular distance narrower than subbasal width of rostrum. Rostrum slightly shorter to slightly longer (in 1 female) than pronotal length, parallel sided to just before apex, slightly broadened at apex, with small medial interocular pit at base often obscured by squamae. Basal 1/3 of male rostrum rugose, coarsely punctate to apex, with suprascrobal carinae on lateral margins straight, not produced or forming lateral tooth-like process. Basal 1/3 of female rostrum less rugose than male, apical 2/3 smooth, finely punctate to apex. Clypeus truncate. Antennal club elongate-oval ( Figure 106).

Thorax. Pronotum 1.3–1.5 X broader than long, broadest at base; medial area weakly produced, posterior margin subtruncate. Pronotal disk with three distinct, impunctate depressions in posterior half marked by transverse granulate prominences apicad of middle, coarsely rugose with large rasp-like, setose granules; granules crowded in some areas, absent from others; punctures not obscured by vestiture, shallow, distributed as granules, spaces between punctures subequal to diameter of puncture, each bearing one, minute, light to dark brown, hairlike seta. Prosternal canal shallow, lateral walls not vertical; mesosternal receptacle very shallow, nearly obliterated, lateral margins very weakly produced, posterior margin broadly open. Scutellum visible, diameter subequal to punctures at base of elytra. Elytra 1.2–1.4 X longer than broad, anterior margin emarginate at middle, declivity gradually declining to apex; punctures larger than on pronotum, basalmost punctures of each stria at anterior margin like all remaining punctures. Humeri flattened and produced anteriorly and laterally at base of intervals 7, subcontiguous with posterolateral margin of pronotum. Intervals convex, granulate. Granulate prominence on third intervals abruptly and strongly elevated slightly before middle of elytra; prominence raised well above adjacent intervals, distorting outline of dorsal contour in lateral view, narrow, blade-like, longitudinally acute at apex, granules in single row at apex, terminating gradually past declivity; fifth, sixth and seventh intervals distinctly granulate, produced, elevated above adjacent intervals, lacking granulate prominences, produced beyond declivity (as in Figure 80). Hind wing vestigial.

Legs relatively short, hind femora exceeding elytral apices by 1/4 their length; mesofemora slightly shorter than elytral apices. Profemora unidentate; profemoral teeth slightly larger than teeth on meso- and metafemora; teeth reduced to obsolescent, simple, distal margin entire, apex obtuse ( Figures 53–54). Protibia laterally compressed, ventral margin with flange obsolete, dorsal margin strongly emarginate apicad of middle. Dorsal margin of middle and hind tibiae strongly emarginate, strongest development in hind tibia. Apex of protibia with supra-uncal process obsolete; uncus and premucro well developed, broadly separated with small flange situated between supporting terminal setal brush. Tarsomere 2 trapezoidal, moderately flattened (as in Figure 64).

Abdomen. Ventrite 1 weakly distended, as long as or longer than remaining ventrites combined, on slightly lower plane than remaining ventrites, ventrite 2 not folded into declivity of ventrite 1, twice as long as ventrite 3 and 4. Intercoxal process on ventrite 1 broad, broader than length of ventrite 1.

Male terminalia. Tergite VII broader than long, anterior margin convex, posterior margin weakly emarginate at middle, wing binding patch distinct, with two rows of 4–6 minute plectral tubercles reaching posterior margin, tubercles greatly reduced, barely visible even under high magnification.

Female terminalia. Tergite VII longer than broad, anterior and posterior margins broadly convex, wing binding patch distinct, with two rows of 6–7 minute plectral tubercles; plectral rows not reaching posterior margin; tubercles greatly reduced, barely visible even under high magnification. Bursa more or less indistinct from vagina; vaginal walls weakly sclerotized; no internal sclerites visible.

Material examined. Holotype: ♂, "Pass between L. Habbema, and Wamena-Riv-Valley, N. Mt. Wilhelmina , 3450m, 19–20.X/ IRIAN JAYA, Jayawijaya-Prov., leg. A Riedel, 1993" ( MZB) . Paratypes: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, "Pass between L. Habbema, and Wamena-Riv-Valley, N. Mt. Wilhelmina , 3450m, 19–20.X/ IRIAN JAYA, Jayawijaya- Prov., leg. A Riedel, 1993" ( ARC) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, label data the same as previous ( SMNK) .

Distribution. West Papua: Jayawijaya Province: Mt. Wilhelmina.

Etymology. This species epithet is named for Alexander Riedel in recognition of his contribution to this study and to the study of weevils in the Indo-Australian region in general. Dr. Riedel personally collected much of the material for this study. I am very grateful for the generous loan from his remarkable collection.

Asytesta emarginata Setliff , new species

( Figures 55, 79–80, 127–128, 190)

Diagnosis. This species is very closely related to A. alexriedeli new species, but has a very different vestiture. The band of scales on vertex of head is tan and the dorsal vestiture is composed of densely distributed tan scales mottled with irregular dark patches. The pronotum alos has a pair of very distinct, fuscous, basal maculae on either side of the midline.

Description. Measurements (n = 1): body length 5.7 mm, body width 2.8 mm, pronotal length 2.1 mm, elytral length 3.6 mm, rostral length 1.9 mm. Body suboval, 2.0 X longer than broad; integument burnt orange to dark reddish-brown, basal portions of legs and tibia red. Densely covered with small, appressed, tan, dark brown, and black scales. Vertex of head, pronotal and elytral disk primarily clothed in tan scales, pair of small, pale, tan maculae on temples (as in Figure 106); sides of pronotum, pleura, and venter with darker scales; legs with alternating bands of tan and dark brown scales, interspersed with long hair-like setae; tarsi with sparse, white, hairlike setae. Pronotum with pair of well defined, black patches at posterior margin (clearly visible without magnification), with small, circular, tan maculae inside black patch near anterior margin; anterolateral region of pronotum with distinct, well defined ring of tan scales enclosing area from lateral margin of prosternal canal to anterior margin of procoxae, with darker background scales in center; dorsal portion of ring not extending beyond middle of procoxa. Scales fine (indistinct under low magnification), appressed to suberect.

Head. Visible in dorsal view, with broad U-shaped, crown-like carinae on vertex above eyes (as in Figure 106), apex of carinae acute, interrupted at back by glabrous V-shaped area where head articulates on pronotum, medial longitudinal carinae weakly developed, with 6 shiny granules within crown. Eyes slightly bulging, small, semicircular, posterior margin truncate; interocular distance narrower than subbasal width of rostrum. Rostrum slightly shorter than pronotal length, parallel sided to just before apex, slightly broadened at apex, with small medial interocular pit at base often obscured by squamae. Basal 1/3 of male rostrum rugose, coarsely punctate to apex, with suprascrobal carinae on lateral margins straight, not produced or forming lateral tooth-like process. Basal 1/3 of female rostrum less rugose than male, apical 2/3 smooth, finely punctate to apex. Clypeus truncate. Antennal club elongate-oval (as in Figure 106).

Thorax. Pronotum 1.3 X broader than long, broadest at base; medial area weakly produced, posterior margin subtruncate. Pronotal disk with three distinct, impunctate depressions in posterior half marked by transverse granulate prominences apicad of middle, coarsely rugose with large rasp-like, setose granules; granules crowded in some areas, absent from others; punctures obscured by vestiture, shallow, distributed as granules, spaces between punctures subequal to diameter of puncture, each bearing one light to dark brown, hair-like seta. Prosternal canal shallow, lateral walls not vertical; mesosternal receptacle very shallow, nearly obliterated, lateral margins very weakly produced, posterior margin broadly open. Scutellum visible, diameter subequal to punctures at base of elytra. Elytra 1.3 X longer than broad, anterior margin emarginate at middle, basal portion at scutellum rounded, at declivity gradually declining to apex; punctures larger than on pronotum, basalmost punctures of each stria at anterior margin like all remaining punctures. Humeri flattened and produced anteriorly and laterally at base of intervals 7, subcontiguous with posterolateral margin of pronotum. Intervals convex, granulate. Granulate prominence on third intervals abruptly and strongly elevated slightly before middle of elytra; prominence raised well above adjacent intervals, distorting outline of dorsal contour in lateral view, narrow, blade-like, longitudinally acute at apex, granules in single row at apex, terminating gradually past declivity; fifth, sixth and seventh intervals distinctly granulate, produced, elevated above adjacent intervals, lacking granulate prominences, produced beyond declivity ( Figure 80). Hind wing vestigial.

Legs relatively short, hind femora exceeding elytral apices by 1/4 their length; mesofemora slightly shorter than elytral apices. Profemora edentate ( Figure 55). Protibia laterally compressed, ventral margin with flange obsolete, dorsal margin strongly emarginate apicad of middle. Dorsal margin of middle and hind tibiae strongly emarginate. Apex of protibia with supra-uncal process obsolete; uncus and premucro well developed, broadly separated with small flange situated between supporting terminal setal brush. Tarsomere 2 trapezoidal, moderately flattened (as in Figure 64).

Abdomen. Ventrite 1 weakly distended, as long as or longer than remaining ventrites combined, on slightly lower plane than remaining ventrites, ventrite 2 not folded into declivity of ventrite 1, twice as long as ventrite 3 and 4. Intercoxal process on ventrite 1 broad, broader than length of ventrite 1.

Male terminalia. As in generic description.

Female terminalia. Female not known.

Material examined. Holotype: ♂, " Upper Yem Valley, NW. Mt. Juliana , 3500m, 19.IX./ IRIAN JAYA, Jayawijaya-Prov., leg. A Riedel, 1993" ( MZB).

Distribution. West Papua: Jayawijaya Province: Mt. Juliana.

Etymology. The species epithet is in reference to the distinctly emarginate dorsal edge of the tibia in this species.

Asytesta vivienae Setliff , new species

( Figures 129–130, 190)

Diagnosis. The granulate prominences on elytral intervals 3 extend past the declivity, the protibial flange on the ventral margin is greatly reduced and the mesosternal canal is obsolete in this species. These characters group A. vivienae with A. alexriedeli new species and A. emarginata new species. This species, however, has the vestiture on vertex of the head the same as on the frons and basal 1/3 of the rostrum. Also, the prominences on intervals 3 reach the basal margin of the elytra. The elytral humeri and intervals 5 and 7 are only weakly produced and the dorsal margin of the tibia are weakly emarginate compared to the other two species in the group. The profemoral teeth are also well developed in this species.

Description. Measurements (n = 3): body length 3.9–5.4 mm (mean 4.9 mm), body width 2.0– 2.9 mm (mean 2.6 mm), pronotal length 1.5–2.3 mm (mean 2.0 mm), elytral length 2.4–3.2 mm (mean 2.9 mm), rostral length 1.3–1.8 mm (mean 1.6 mm). Body suboval, 1.9–2.0 X longer than broad; integument dark reddish-brown, antennae and tarsi light reddish-brown. Densely covered with small, mottled, light tan to dark brown scales. Vertex of head, frons, and basal 1.3 of rostrum primarily clothed in tan scales, pair of small lighter tan maculae on temples (as in Figure 104); sides of pronotum, pleura, and venter with darker scales; legs with alternating bands of light tan and brown scales, interspersed with long hair-like setae; tarsi with sparse, white, hair-like setae; apex of dorsal flange on tibia glabrous. Pronotum with pair of well defined, black patches at posterior margin (clearly visible without magnification), pair of faint, sublateral, pale lines, terminating at middle of pronotal disk, 8 small, circular, whitish maculae arranged in two transverse rows of 4 maculae each, one row before middle, one row after; anterolateral region of pronotum with distinct, well defined ring of tan scales enclosing area from lateral margin of prosternal canal to anterior margin of procoxae, with darker background scales in center (as in Figure 104); dorsal portion of ring not extending beyond middle of procoxa. Scales fine (indistinct under low magnification), appressed to suberect.

Head. Visible in dorsal view, with broad U-shaped, crown-like carinae on vertex above eyes (as in Figure 104), interrupted at back by glabrous V-shaped area where head articulates on pronotum, medial longitudinal carinae weakly developed. Eyes slightly bulging, small, semicircular, posterior margin truncate; interocular distance narrower than subbasal width of rostrum. Rostrum slightly shorter than pronotal length, parallel sided to just before apex, slightly broadened at apex, with small medial interocular pit at base often obscured by squamae. Basal 1/3 of male rostrum rugose, coarsely punctate to apex, with suprascrobal carinae on lateral margins straight, not produced or forming lateral tooth-like process. Basal 1/3 of female rostrum less rugose than male, apical 2/3 smooth, finely punctate to apex. Clypeus truncate. Antennal club oval.

Thorax. Pronotum 1.3 X broader than long, broadest at base; medial area weakly produced, posterior margin subtruncate. Pronotal disk with three distinct, impunctate depressions in posterior half marked by transverse granulate prominences apicad of middle, coarsely rugose with large rasp-like, setose granules; granules crowded in some areas, absent from others; punctures obscured by vestiture, shallow, distributed as granules, spaces between punctures subequal to diameter of puncture, each bearing one light to dark brown, hair-like seta. Prosternal canal shallow, lateral walls not vertical; mesosternal receptacle very shallow, nearly obliterated, lateral margins very weakly produced, posterior margin broadly open. Scutellum visible, diameter subequal to punctures at base of elytra. Elytra 1.1–1.2 X longer than broad, anterior margin emarginate at middle, steeply declivitous to apex; punctures larger than on pronotum, basalmost punctures of each stria at anterior margin like all remaining punctures. Humeri flattened, weakly produced anteriorly and laterally at base of intervals 7, subcontiguous with posterolateral margin of pronotum. Intervals convex, granulate. Granulate prominence on third intervals reaching anterior margin, continuously granulate to beyond declivity; prominence raised well above adjacent intervals, distorting outline of dorsal contour in lateral view, narrow, blade-like, longitudinally acute at apex, granules in two rows at apex, terminating gradually past declivity; fifth, sixth and seventh intervals granulate, weakly produced, slightly elevated above adjacent intervals, lacking granulate prominences, produced beyond declivity (as in Figure 80). Hind wing vestigial.

Legs relatively short, hind femora exceeding elytral apices by 1/4 their length; mesofemora slightly shorter than elytral apices. Profemora unidentate. Protibia laterally compressed, ventral margin with flange obsolete, dorsal margin strongly emarginate apicad of middle (as in Figure 53). Dorsal margin of middle and hind tibiae weakly emarginate. Apex of protibia with supra-uncal process obsolete; uncus and premucro well developed, broadly separated with small flange situated between supporting terminal setal brush. Tarsomere 2 short, trapezoidal, moderately flattened (as in Figure 64).

Abdomen. Ventrite 1 weakly distended, as long as or longer than remaining ventrites combined, on slightly lower plane than remaining ventrites, ventrite 2 not folded into declivity of ventrite 1, twice as long as ventrite 3 and 4. Intercoxal process on ventrite 1 broad, broader than length of ventrite 1.

Male terminalia. As in generic description.

Female terminalia. Female not known.

Material examined. Holotype: ♂, " New Guinea: Neth., Wamena, 1700m., II.10–25.1960/ T.C. Maa, Collector" ( BPBM) . Paratypes: 2 ♂♂, " New Guinea: Neth., Wamena, 1700m., II.10–25.1960/ T.C. Maa, Collector, Bishop" ( BPBM) .

Distribution. West Papua: Jayawijaya Province: Wamena.

Etymology. This species is named for my daughter, Vivien, who was born during the course of this study.