Urgleptes obliteratus Ravin & Lingafelter

Ravin, Ian S. & Lingafelter, Steven W., 2015, Review of the genus Urgleptes Dillon (1956) of Hispaniola (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Acanthocinini): descriptions of five new species and one new synonymy, ZooKeys 532, pp. 55-85 : 71-73

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Cerambycidae

Urgleptes obliteratus Ravin & Lingafelter sp. n. Figs 7, 8d, 14, 19

Diagnosis.

This species is easily identified by the three dark, circular elytral maculae, originating mediolaterally and extending toward the suture. This dark circular pattern is repeated on the pronotum which usually contains two posteromedial spots, in some specimens, an additional two are located at the base of the lateral tubercles. The elytral suture is narrowly dark brown. Otherwise, the integument is mostly uniform in color, although in Urgleptes obliteratus it is much paler yellow or flavous than in Urgleptes charynae . Unlike other species, the scape is uniformly pale, with antennomeres light, gradually becoming darker at apices. The femora are also mostly pale, with the tibiae usually darker postmedially.

Description.

Measurements: body length: 3.6-4.8 mm; body width: 1.3-1.7 mm; elytral length: 2.5-3.3 mm; elytral width: 0.6-0.8 mm; pronotal length: 0.7-0.9 mm; pronotal width: 1.0-1.6 mm; body length/pronotal length: 5.2-5.4; elytral length/elytral width: 4.0; pronotal length/pronotal width: 0.5-0.6.

Head: covered in uniform pale to golden pubescence, denser at posterior margin of eyes and inner eye notch margin. Antenna: scape extending to posterior fourth of pronotum; pale-flavous, weakly darker apically; covered in fine, pale to golden pubescence. Remaining antennomeres pallid, darkened apically; covered in brown pubescence, with thickened bristle-like setae at apices; mesal surface of third and fourth segments of most specimens usually with thickened setae. Antennae extending beyond elytral apices by approximately five segments. Eye: lower eye lobe about 2.5 times height of upper eye lobe; lobes narrowly connected by about 5 rows of ommatidia in most specimens. Upper eye lobes separated by twice width of upper eye lobe. Mouthparts: clypeus pallid; lacking distinct pubescence. Labrum pallid; anteriorly fringed with long, golden setae; and basal, longer, suberect, dark brown setae. Mandibles light brown, distinctly darkened on apical halves.

Thorax: pronotum broadly rounded at sides to posteriorly directed, short, acute tubercles on posterior fourth; constricted along posterior fifth behind lateral tubercles; constriction demarcated with row of large, separate punctures across disc, continuing behind base of tubercles and down sides; no other distinct punctures visible. Integument mostly light brown; coated in moderately dense vestiture of white pubescence. Pronotal disc with dark anterolateral and posteromedial fasciae. No distinct calli present on pronotal disc. Prosternum impunctate; covered in moderately dense white pubescence. Prosternal process extremely narrow and greatly expanded posteriorly; procoxal cavities nearly touching. Mesepimeron toward metepisternal margin coated with dense, appressed, white pubescence becoming thinner ventrally. Mesosternal intercoxal process about 3-4 times broader than prosternal process. Integument of ventral sclerites mostly light brown, with margins of coxal cavities darkened. Scutellum dark brown; with white, longitudinal fascia. Elytra: moderately, densely punctate; elytral disc mostly pale-orange with suture dark brown from scutellum to apices. Periscutellar region slightly swollen; coated in white to translucent pubescence extending through out disc; epipleuron slightly darker than surrounding region. Elytron with three, dark, distinct, circular maculae, originating mediolaterally, obliquely extending toward, but not reaching suture. Some specimens with faint, irregular macula extending anteriorly from apex but not reaching circular maculae. Elytral apex subtruncate, with outer apical angle slightly more produced posteriorly than sutural angle. Legs: femora mostly pallid; uniformly covered with golden to translucent pubescence. Protibiae uniformly pallid; meso- and metatibiae darker apically with thickened, bristle-like setae. Mesotibiae with dorsal concavity apically that is lined with dark, bristle-like setae. Tarsomeres dark brown; coated with long, suberect, dark setae.

Abdomen: ventrites covered with fine, appressed, white pubescence; integument mottled brown, posteriorly lighter, apical margin of all ventrites slightly lighter. Fifth ventrite one and a half times longer than fourth. Last tergite strongly narrowed and projecting beyond last ventrite.

Distribution.

Endemic to Hispaniola, this species has been collected only in low elevation (less than 700 meters) coastal areas of the country (Fig. 19) from May through December.

Etymology.

The epithet, obliteratus , refers to the nearly absent maculae on the elytra, unlike most other species of the genus.

Type material.

Holotype (female): DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Pedernales Prov., 25 N of Cabo Rojo, 750 meters 18°06.769'N, 71°37.245'W, beating, 11 December 2014, S. W. Lingafelter (USNM); Paratypes: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: María Trinidad Sánchez Prov., Río San Juan, 19°37'17"N, 70°7'45"W, 20 July 2008, Julien Touroult (JTPC, 2); Puerto Plata Prov., South of Pico Isabel de Torres, El Cupey Rd., 258 m, 19°45.214'N, 70°43.6464'W, 30 July 1999, Ivie & Guerrero (WIBF, 2); San Pedro de Macorís Prov., 12 km W of San Pedro de Macorís, 5-19 May 1985, E. Giesbert (FSCA).