Metapocyrtus (Artapocyrtus) gapudi, Patano Jr & Amoroso & Mohagan & Guiang & Yap, 2021

Patano Jr, Romeo R., Amoroso, Victor B., Mohagan, Alma B., Guiang, Maria Melanie M. & Yap, Sheryl A., 2021, Two new species of the genus Metapocyrtus Heller, 1912 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae), from Mindanao Island and an updated checklist of Metapocyrtus species in the Philippines, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 69, pp. 282-303 : 287-290

Metapocyrtus (Artapocyrtus) gapudi , new species

( Figs. 6–8 )

Type material. Holotype, male: PHILIPPINES: Mindanao, Mount Kabunulan, Hamiguitan Range , Surop , Governor Generoso , Davao Oriental, 6°27′45.29″N, 126°10′19.07″E, 385 m a.s.l., 23–31 January 2021, coll. R. R. Patano Jr., A. B. Mohagan, and V. B. Amoroso ( CMUZS 2369 ); three paratypes, females, same data as the holotype ( CMUZS 2370 , 2371 , 2372 ).

Diagnosis. This new species differs from all known congeners by the presence of unique patterns of mostly light and dark blue, with some light yellow to white scale markings in elytra, pronotum, rostrum, and abdomen. Legs entirely black. Pronotal and elytral markings resemble those of M. (M.) rugicollis Chevrolat and M. (M.) bukidnonensis Schultze , but differ in colouration of scales and legs. Elytral markings also resemble those of M. (M.) polilloensis Schultze , but differ in scale colouration.

Description. Measurements (n = 4): BL: 9.2–9.4 (9.3 holotype). EL: 5.0–5.1 (5.1 holotype). WE: 3.8–4.0 (4.0 holotype). PL: 2.6–2.8 (2.8 holotype). WP: 2.65–2.9 (2.9 holotype). RL: 1.3–1.4 (1.4 holotype). WR: 1.1–1.2 (1.2 holotype).

Integument black. Body surface mostly shiny except underside with weaker lustre. Body mostly clearly punctured, with markings of glossy, recumbent, round to oval light blue and light yellow scales, more or less mixed with small hairs.

Head sparsely minutely pubescent with markings of light blue and yellow scales below and between the eyes, respectively. Eyes and tarsomeres black, and antennae reddish black. Eyes small and weakly convex. Antennal scape smaller compared to funicle plus club (3.38:1.81). Antennal funiculus composed of seven segments, segment I slightly longer than segment II (0.54 mm: 0.39 mm), almost four times as long as wide. Segment III slightly smaller compared to segment II and longer than wide (1.5:1). Segments IV, V, VI, and VII almost identical in size and almost three times shorter than segment I (0.21 mm). Antennal club almost 1.14 mm in length and 0.43 mm in width, subellipsoidal in shape and almost entirely covered with minute brown setae. Rostrum wrinkled, slightly longer than wide, flattened dorso-apically with white to brown setae and long yellow hairs towards apex. Ventral and lateral sides with scattered short hairs.

Pronotum globular to elliptical in shape, very weakly convex, dorsally and coarsely striate-punctate. A transverse band of blue scales surrounded by light yellow and white scales at the base and at the apex confluent with a lateral band at the base of the lateral margin.

Elytra oblong-ovate to elliptical and slightly convex, coarsely striate-punctate. Each elytron with three transverse bands of blue scales surrounded by white and yellow scales, and a longitudinal band extending from the apex to the third quarter of the elytra, which may or may not be confluent with the third transverse band. Ventral side black with white setae and blue to yellow scales present on both sides of the abdomen. Legs black with white short hairs. Fore and mid femora almost 3.0– 3.15 mm long and 0.65–0.71 mm wide. Tibiae armed with tooth-like projections at the inner margin covered with short setae. Tarsomeres covered with brown sparse setae. Female and male genitalia as shown in Fig. 7 . For males, aedegus arcuate, long, apex truncate, aedegeal body and median apodemes sclerotised. For females, sternite VIII apically rounded; ovipositor lightly sclerotised, apically rounded with lateral projections; spermatheca rounded basally.

Etymology. This new species is named after the late Dr. Victor P. Gapud, a renowned entomologist in the Philippines. His excellent work in curculionids and other invertebrates is the foundation of and benchmark for different entomological studies in the Philippines. The specific epithet is a genitive case noun.

Figures

Fig. 6. Dorsal and lateral views of Metapocyrtus gapudi habitus, female (A) and male (B).

Fig. 7. Genitalia of Metapocyrtus gapudi. Male aedegus, dorsal (a), lateral (b), and ventral (c) views. Female sternite VIII in ventral view (d) and ovipositor (e). Scale bars = 1.0 mm.

Fig. 8. Metapocyrtus gapudi in its natural habitat, perched on a shrub plant along the riverine ecosystem of Mount Kabunulan, Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, Surop, Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental, Mindanao, Philippines.