Tragosoma soror Laplante, 2017

Laplante, Serge, 2017, Description of a new Nearctic species of Tragosoma Audinet-Serville (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Prioninae), with species validations, new synonymies and a lectotype designation, Insecta Mundi 2017 (578), pp. 1-17 : 4-7

Tragosoma soror Laplante , new species

Fig. 1 , 2, 3

Type material. Holotype. Male (body length: 31 mm), labeled: “ USA: Idaho, Ada Co. / Shafer Butte, 25.VIII.2009 / from 2 R *, 3 R *-OH / J.D. Barbour // CNC COLEO / 00090935 // HOLOTYPE / Tragosoma / soror / S. Laplante, 2017 // HOLOTYPE / Tragosoma / soror / Laplante, 2017 / CNC No. 24393”, deposited in CNC. Photos attached to the record in the CNC Collection database can be accessed at http:// www.cnc-ottawa.ca/taxonomy/Specimen.php?id=1399070.

Paratypes, 41 males and 28 females as follows. CANADA. British Columbia. Central Kootenay reg. dist..: Castlegar, 31. VII.1974, Wv. M. (1 ♂, RBCM [ RBCM ENT 991-105033]). Creston, 3.VIII.1955, G. Stace Smith, Ex. cordwood (1 ♀, UBC [ SEM-UBC COL- 5120]). 34 mi. N Creston, 1900’, 30. VII.1960, D.F. Hardwick (1 ♂, CNC [ CNC COLEOPT # 06-935]). Kaslo, 25. VII, R.P. Currie (1 ♀, NMNH). West Kootenay, A.G. Lang (1 ♀, CNC [ CNC COLEOPT # 06-937]). 8 km NE Nelson, N shore Kootenay Lake, 49.554˚N 117.256˚W, 550 m, 7.VIII.2008, LM Humble, Field No: HUM-08-1574, UV light (1 ♂, PFCA). Riondel, Riondel Road, 2500’, 49.74˚N116.85˚W, 10-21.VIII.2009, C. Schmidt (1 ♀, CFIA). Squamish dist.: Squamish, Diamond Head Trail, 3200 ft., 28.VIII.1953, E. Mason (1 ♂, CNC [ CNC COLEOPT # 06-936]). West Kelowna dist.: Westbank, German Bros. Mill Yard, VIII.2001, K.E. Hein, Lindgren funnel (1♀, CMNH). Westbank, Riverside Mill, VII.2001, K.E. Hein, Lindgren funnel traps (1♂, 1♀, CMNH). USA. California. El Dorado Co.: Kyburz Forest, 21. VII.1990, G. Minet (1 ♂, GMIC). Sequoia National Forest, 2066 m, 36º39’53”N 118º50’23”W, 28. VII.2005, P. de Tonnancour, at light (1♂, CPTO). Fresno Co.: Huntington Lake vicinity, Sierra Nevada, 24-25. VII.1984, Ziff (1♀, ADC). Madera Co. : 1 mi. SW Coarsegold, 1500’, 2.VIII.2016, W.H. Tyson, at UV light (1 ♂, WPTC). Plumas Co.: 8 mi. NW Chester, 5000’, VIII. 1989, R.J. Lindquist (1 ♀, CNC [ CNC COLEOPT # 06-941]). San Bernardino Co.: Wrightwood, San Gabriel Mountains, 6400’, 12. VII.1994 (1♂, ADC). Tulare Co.: Monache Meadows, 28. VII.1917 (1♀, CNC [ CNC COLEOPT # 06-946]). Almanor, 4500’, 3.VIII.1965, E. & I. Munroe, black light (1 ♂, CNC [ CNC COLEOPT # 06-945]). Undefined Co. : Yosemite National Park, VII.1989, J. & M. Sláma (2 ♂, MSLC; 1 ♀, RMC). Idaho. Ada Co. : Shafer Butte, 25.VIII.2009, J.D. Barbour (1 ♂, CNC [ CNC COLEO 00090936]; 1 ♂, UCRC [ UCRC ENT 301612]); Shafer Butte, 26.VIII.2009, J.D. Barbour (1 ♂, CNC [ CNC COLEO 00090937]; 1 ♂, UCRC [ UCRC ENT 301613]); Shafer Butte, 27.VIII.2009, J.D. Barbour (1 ♂, CNC [ CNC COLEO 00090938]; 2 ♂, UCRC [ UCRC ENT 301614 & 301615]). Jefferson Co.: Targhee National Forest, Kelly Canyon, VII.1989, J. & M. Sláma (2 ♂, MSLC); no date (1 ♀, MSLC). Boise Co.: 4 mi. S. Lowman, 5.VIII.1978, A.D. Allen, Ex: Ponderosa (1 ♂, RMBC). Fremont Co.: Targhee National Forest, Big Springs, Moose creek, VII.1995, J. & M. Sláma (1 ♀, MSLC). Vicinity of Island Park, VII.1989, J. & M. Sláma (2 ♂, 2 ♀, MSLC). Latah Co.: Moscow, 25. VII.1987, J.B. Johnson (1♂, MSLC). Krassel Research Station, 10.VIII.1962, M.M. Furniss, Hopk. 41329 A, at light (1 ♂, NMNH). Montana. Flathead Co.: Flathead Lake, 7. VII.1948, flight, D.H.B. Ulmer (1 ♂, 1 ♀, CNC [ CNC COLEOPT # 06-938 & 06-939]). Gallatin Co.: West Yellowstone, 15.VIII.2008, D. Beaudry & J.-C. Lajeunie, at light (1 ♂, CPTO). West Yellowstone, 16.VIII.2008, D. Beaudry & J.-C. Lajeunie, at light (2 ♀, CPTO). West Yellowstone, 17.VIII.2008, D. Beaudry & J.-C. Lajeunie, at light (2 ♀, CPTO). Oregon. Baker Co.: Baker, 5.VIII.1957, J.H. Baker (1 ♂, NMNH). Deschutes Co.: Fall River, 18. VII.1968 (1 ♂, JPHC). Lapine, summer 1944-45, R. T. Gast (1♀, CMN). Douglas Co.: Hwy. 138, 11 mi. W. Diamond Lake, 14.VIII.1978, Lot 4, B.F. & J.L. Carr (2 ♀, NMNH). Mount Thielsen wilderness, Cascade Range, VII.1995, J. & M. Sláma (5 ♂, MSLC). Grant Co.: John Day, 4. VII.1961, A.I. Good (1♀, CMNH). Jackson Co.: Hyatt Lake, 15.VIII.1971, B. Gill (1 ♀, CMN). Prospect, 6.VIII.1978, Lot 1, B.F. & J.L. Carr (1 ♂, CNC [ CNC COLEOPT # 06-943]). Klamath Co.: Chemult, 23. VII.1959, R.K. Eppley (1♂, CNC [ CNC COLEOPT # 06-942]). Crescent, 5.VIII.1978, Lot 4, B.F. & J.L. Carr (1 ♂, CNC [ CNC COLEOPT # 06-944]). Gillchrist, 8.VIII.2005, H. Novak (1♀, HBC). Sand Creek, 31. VII.1932, Lat 418, Blackwelder Collection (1 ♀, NMNH). Williamson R. Ranch, Summer 1962, Mel Fitzpatrick (1 ♀, RMBC). Washington. Okanagan Co.: Black Canyon, 1. VII.1949, E.C. Johnston (1 ♂, CNC [ CNC COLEOPT # 06-940]). Wyoming. Lincoln Co.: Alpine, 21, 23. VII.2003, M. Bourandas (1♂, 2♀, CGDR).

Etymology. Soror (= sister), a Latin feminine noun in apposition, is used in reference to the presumed close taxonomic relationship between the new species and T. spiculum .

Description. Male. Body length 28–33 mm. Antenna extending to apical fourth to sixth of elytron, dorsoventrally compressed from antennomere 3 on and regularly tapering toward apex, with short visible setae mostly restricted to a row along its medial edge; antennomere 3 with carina on lateral edge and poriferous area of dorsal surface extending along almost entire length, beginning close to base on the lateral side ( Fig. 2 ); antennomeres 3 and 4 with lateroapical angle distinctly produced; ratio LA-3/ LA-4 = 1.027 –1.213 (mean = 1.105, n = 21) (see scatter graph, Fig. 9 ); antennomere 11 more than 5.5 × as long as wide. Eyes with distance between upper lobes less than width of scape. Pronotum with anterolateral angle rounded, obtusely angulate, or sometimes produced into a small triangular tooth, with median lateral process spiculiform, abruptly narrow from base, and usually projecting slightly forward; pronotal disc with deep, rather dense to contiguous punctures of variable sizes, and covered with rather long and moderately dense fine reddish-yellow setae; hypomeron finely contiguously punctate and setose along posterior margin and lower margin up to middle, and smooth to variably densely and coarsely punctate or rugose on its entire width in front of median lateral process. Scutellum rather densely finely punctate, setose. Protarsus rather wide, with tarsomere 1 as wide as long or almost so. Elytron with rather fine, shallow punctures all over, especially at base, with small almost imperceptible setae on disc, with epipleuron and lateral edge not or hardly pubescent; apical sutural spine widely triangular, shorter (often distinctly so) than maximum width of antennomere 11. Prosternum with medial area weakly convex, finely densely rugoso-punctate.

Female. Body length 30–34 mm. Structures as in male, except: antennae shorter, extending to middle of elytra, less obviously tapering toward apex; antennomere 3 narrower, with lateral carina and dorsal poriferous area beginning around middle on lateral side ( Fig. 3 ); ratio LA-3/LA-4 = 1.144 –1.367 (mean = 1.257, n = 20) (see scatter graph, Fig. 10 ); pronotal hypomeron moderately coarsely and contiguously punctate.

Geographical distribution. This species ranges from southern British Columbia southeastward in the Rocky Mountains to central western Wyoming and southward along the Cascade range to the Sierra Nevada and the San Bernardino Mountains in central California.

Adult activity period. July and August.

Bionomics. One specimen was collected by A.D. Allen “ex Ponderosa [pine]” [ Pinus ponderosa Lawson (Pinaceae) ] 4 mi. S Lowman, Boise County, Idaho in 1978 (RMBC), but the label data do not unequivocally indicate that the specimen developed in that tree. Ray et al. (2012) reported the discovery of eight pupae of that species, eventually reared to adult stage, in downed Pinus Linnaeus (Pinaceae) . Label data indicate that they can be found under loose bark of pine logs, but are mostly collected at light, especially UV light, at night, in or near pine stands.

Remarks. The species described here is the one referred to as « Tragosoma harrisi “ sp. nov. Laplante”» in Ray et al. (2012). These authors independently found in a pheromone study that the species was different from « T. depsarium “ harrisi ”» (= T. harrisii ).

Taxonomic notes. Barcode analysis revealed that, among all species included in the DNA study, T. spiculum shows the most similarity with T. soror . A short sequence of 406–407 base pairs was obtained for each barcoded specimen of these two species. All three T. soror , from British Columbia, Oregon and California, clustered congruently ( Fig. 11 ), showing an intraspecific variation ranging from 0.0–0.25% (mean = 0.16%). The interspecific variation between the only T. spiculum analyzed, from New Mexico, and the three T. soror ranged from 11.08–11.39% (mean = 11.19%).

Tragosoma soror shares with T. spiculum the following character states. Eyes protruding, the upper lobes separated by less than maximum width of scape; prothoracic lateral process spiculiform, often projecting slightly forward; antenna dorsoventrally compressed from antennomere 3 on and regularly tapering toward apex, with lateroapical angle of antennomeres 3 and 4 angularly produced; antennomere 3 with poriferous area covering most of the dorsal surface in males ( Fig. 2 ) and the apical half along the lateral side in females ( Fig. 3 ); the LA-3/LA-4 ratio inferior to 1.22 in males and inferior to 1.37 in females ( Table 1); antennomere 11 long, at least 5 × its width in male. Tragosoma soror differs from T. spiculum by the eyes comparatively less protruding; by the slightly lower LA-3/LA-4 ratio on average in males ( Table 1 and Fig. 9 ); by the pronotal disc with variably coarse and moderately dense to contiguous punctures, rather densely clothed with long fine reddish-yellow setae; and the densely, finely punctate and distinctly pubescent scutellum. In T. spiculum , the eyes are comparatively slightly more strongly protruding; the pronotal disc is rather finely and sparsely to moderately coarsely and densely punctate, and distinctly less setose; and the scutellum is sparsely and coarsely punctate and almost glabrous. The populations of the two species are totally allopatric, T. spiculum being restricted to the mountains of Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. The two species form a distinctive group within the genus that I call the spiculum group.

Although the new species is morphologically close to T. spiculum , in collections the specimens of that species were mixed with those of T. harrisii under the name T. depsarium , most likely because of their distinctly setose pronotum. The populations of T. soror are sympatric with those of T. harrisii in western North America. Tragosoma harrisii differs from T. soror by antennomere 3 with the poriferous area covering less than the apical two-thirds, often beginning around middle in male ( Fig. 4 ), and restricted to apical one fourth or less in female ( Fig. 5 ); by the ratios LA-3/LA-4 superior to 1.25 in males (see Table 1 and scatter graph, Fig. 9 ), and superior to 1.38 in females (see Table 1 and scatter graph, Fig. 10 ) that show no overlap with those calculated for T. soror (LA-3/LA-4 inferior to 1.22 in males and inferior to 1.37 in females; see Table 1); by the lateral prothoracic process usually wide at base, forming a widely triangular projection.

Tragosoma soror is partially sympatric with T. pilosicorne in California and southern Oregon (distribution of the latter species in Chemsak 1996: 130). Both species have the extent of the poriferous area of antennomere 3 ( Fig. 6 ) and the shape of the median lateral prothoracic process similar. Specimens of T. pilosicorne readily differ by the following character states, which are unique among species of the genus: elytron with distinct, deep, and rather dense punctures at base in male, less so in female but still more than in any other species; epipleuron and lateral margin of the inflexed side densely pubescent, especially in apical area; antenna with its entire surface covered with rather long subappressed setae ( Fig. 6 ). Those features show that T. pilosicorne is a morphologically isolated species in the genus.

Species validations, synonymies, and lectotype designation

Figures

Figure 1. Dorsal habitus of a T. soror male paratype from Alpine, Lincoln Co., WY, USA.

Figure 11. Neighbor joining tree for the 16 barcodes of Tragosoma included in the dataset; each record with province or state of origin, GenBank accession number, and sample ID. Full length sequences (658 base pairs) analyzed, unless otherwise indicated in parentheses.

Figures 2–6. Right antennomeres 2-3 of Tragosoma (lateral side on the right). 2) T. soror, male. 3) T. soror, female. 4) T. harrisii, male. 5) T. harrisii, female. 6) T. pilosicorne, male.

Figures 9–10. Scatter plots with medians of LA-3 (on horizontal axis) in relation with LA-4 (on vertical axis) measured (in mm) for samples of T. depsarium, T. harrisii, T. nigripenne, T. soror, and T. spiculum. 9) For males. 10) For females.