Embates terrabanicus Prena, 2005

Prena, Jens, 2005, The Middle American species of Embates Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Baridinae), Zootaxa 1100 (1), pp. 1-151 : 1-151

9. Embates terrabanicus Prena sp. n.

(Fig. 51–54, 251)

Holotype male (dissected), Costa Rica, labeled: “ Rancho Quemado, 200 m,/ Peninsula de Osa , Prov./ Puntarenas, Costa Rica / Dic 1992, F. Quesada / L­S 292500, 511000”, CRI000 822531 ( INBC).

Paratypes 5 (all female), Costa Rica, labeled: same label as holotype, CRI000 822532 ( INBC) , CRI000 822536 (CMNC); “ Costa Rica, PUNTA.: P.N./ Corcovado , Est. Agujas, 8°/ 32' N 83° 25' W, 300 m,/ 15– 16.3.2000, leg. Prena ” ( CWOB) ; same label except 19– 21.3.2000 ( JPPC 2 ) .

Description. Habitus: Fig. 51, total length 4.2–4.9 mm (m=4.6, n=6). Color: integument dark brown; basic vestiture rather dense, dark brown with few yellow scales; scales yellow in well­defined dorsolateral vitta between head and elytral apices running just proximad of preapical callus (Fig. 51); venter with yellow scales on prosternum and flank. Head: frontal fovea minute or absent, rostrum moderately thick, subcylindrical (Fig. 52), not costate dorsomedially, basolateral margin roundly edged, length of rostrum ♂ 1.33x, ♀♀ 1.25–1.31 x (m=1.28, n=5) pronotal length, length of ante­antennal portion ♂ 0.43x, ♀♀ 0.45–0.47 x (m=0.46, n=5) total rostral length, dorsal margin of antennal scrobe reaching rostral base before eye; length of funicular segments 1 and 2 subequal, club oblong ovate. Pronotum: length 0.80–0.82 x (m=0.81, n=6) maximum width, sides subparallel in basal third, then roundly narrowed and tubulate in front; disk densely punctate, intervals granulose. Elytra: length 1.40–1.45 x (m=1.43, n=6) width at humeri, width 1.38–1.44 x (m=1.42, n=6) maximum pronotal width, sides slightly converging in basal half, apices rounded conjointly, preapical callus weak, striae fine, punctures indistinct, interstriae flat, 7 (distally) and 9 subcostate. Legs: tibiae curved, ventral margin bisinuate, distally with cluster of brown hairs, tarsal claws arcuate and separate at base. Male: apex of aedeagus blunt, middle and anterolateral portion membranous (Fig. 53), body of aedeagus of moderate size, curved in lateral view, apodemes 2.0 x longer than body of aedeagus, flagellum thin, slightly shorter than apodemes, transition to narrowly curved base gradual, basal appendage elongate, projecting beyond base (Fig. 54).

Plant association. Piper terrabanum (Prena 3).

Distribution. Costa Rica, Osa Peninsula (Fig. 251).

Specific epithet. The name is a Latin adjective derived from the name of the plant.

Discussion. Embates terrabanicus is related closely to E. vestitus (Chevrolat) and E. claveri (Hustache) . All three are notably stout species of the E. rufipes complex, a predominantly South American group with a membranous aedeagal apex.