Solenoptera cubana ( Zayas 1975 ) Zayas, 1975

Devesa, Sergio, Fonseca, Elier & Barro, Alejandro, 2016, Solenoptera Audinet-Serville, 1832 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Prioninae, Solenopterini) in Cuba, with description of a new species, Zootaxa 4184 (1), pp. 104-116 : 105-107

Solenoptera cubana ( Zayas 1975) new combination

( Figs 1–11 )

Derancistrus (Prosternodes) cubanus Zayas 1975: 29

Prosternodes cubanus Zayas 1975 ; Galileo & Martins 1993a: 96

Specimens examined. Zayas (1975) described the species from 2 males and 1 female, one male is the holotype (47.9 mm in length) and the others are paratypes (39.7 mm the male and 48.5 mm the female, in length). The specimen with the red label “TYPUS” has the pronotum with very reduced or lacking the lateral pronotal micropunctate areas (sexual punctures). Based on that, the type data are as follows: holotype male, Cuba, Holguín, Cupeyal—Cuchillas del Toa (20º35,00'N, 75º11,00'W), June-1964, F. de Zayas leg., ( FZPC) ; paratype female, Cuba, Guantánamo, Cupeyal—Yateras (20° 26,95N, 75° 03,63W), June-1965, F. de Zayas leg., ( FZPC) ; paratype male, Cuba, Guantánamo, Cupeyal—Yateras (20° 26,95N, 75° 03,63W), June-1966, F. de Zayas leg., ( FZPC) . This species was only known from the three type specimens, but recently two new specimens were found misidentified: 1 male, Cuba, Guantánamo, Maisí (20°14,97’N, 74°09,00' W), 27-June-1935, J. Natenson leg. ( CZACC) ( Figs. 7– 10 ) ; 1 female, Cuba, Holguín, La Zoilita—Sierra del Cristal (20º34,00’N, 75º28,00’W), 02-July-1988, J. Cruz & Nills leg. ( CZACC) .

Discussion. Galileo and Martins (1993a) suggested that Prosternodes cubanus could belong to Solenoptera but they decided to keep it in Prosternodes (even though it keyed out to Solenoptera ) because they did not examine any specimens and they relied only on the original description and illustration. After examining the available material, it can be concluded that P. cubanus possesses all of the characters of a typical Solenoptera : scutellum as long as wide, with rounded edges; prosternal process notched at the apex; pronotum of male micropunctate (sexual punctures) and without anterolateral spine; lateral margins of pronotum with laterobasal notch; anntenomere III flattened and slightly broadened apically.

Distribution. Cuba, endemic to the eastern part of the country, in the Provinces of Holguín and Guantánamo ( Fig. 11 ). It inhabits mountain rainforests and lowland semideciduous forests. The two new specimens expand the distribution range of this species to the East and West of the type locality.

Figures

FIGURE 11. Distribution map of Solenoptera cubana (Zayas).

FIGURES 1 – 3. Solenoptera cubana (Zayas): HOLOTYPE male: 1) dorsal; 2) ventral; 3) lateral.

FIGURES 4 – 6. Solenoptera cubana (Zayas): PARATYPE female: 4) dorsal; 5) ventral; 6) lateral.

FIGURES 7 – 10. Solenoptera cubana (Zayas): male with well developed micropunctate pronotum: 7) dorsal; 8) ventral; 9) head, pronotum and scutellum; 10) proepisternum, prosternum and prosternal process.