Nubosoplatus Swift, 2008

Swift, Ian, 2008, A new genus and two new species of Pteroplatini Thomson from Central America (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), Insecta Mundi 2008 (45), pp. 1-9 : 2

Nubosoplatus Swift , new genus

( Figure 1 A-C, 3)

Description (both sexes). Form: elongate, dorsoventrally flattened, elytra parallel-sided.

Head: with front short, transverse, gena obtusely rounded at apex, about one-half the length of the lower eye lobe, palpi subequal in length, apical palpomeres cuneate, apices obliquely truncate to rounded; antennal tubercles weakly produced, rounded, scape robust, conical, narrowing anteriorly, basal antennomeres (III-VI) elongate, subconical to subcylindrical, each thickened apically, apical antennomeres (VII-XI) slightly flattened and acutely expanded externally at apices, XI simple, antennomeres lacking carinae, penicilli, setal fringes or other modifications, III and IV subequal in length to one another, each about one-third shorter than V,V slightly shorter than VI, VI subequal in length to VII.

Thorax: subquadrate in dorsal outline, anterior and posterior margins equilateral in width, feebly constricted, pleura angulate, slightly inflated to weakly and broadly tuberculate, dorsal surface flattened medially; prosternum broad, male with impressed, punctate areas on the pleura, procoxal process narrow, arcuate between coxae, apex expanded, rounded, procoxal cavities open posteriorly; mesosternal process short, transverse, becoming declivous anteriorly from coxae, mesocoxal process broad, extending to posterior margin of coxae, apex longitudinally impressed, bilobed, only slightly expanded laterally; metasternum flat medially, weakly expanded posteriorly; metepisternum parallel-sided anteriorly, tapered at posterior one-quarter, scent pore evident; scutellum subquadrate, apex rotundate-truncate.

Elytra: integument bicostate on each elytron, epipleura vertical at basal one-third, lateral declivity weakly indicated at margin of subhumeral costa, margins weakly explanate laterally on apical one-half, integumental sculpturing more pronounced in female, apices rounded to suture, thinly fringed with short setae.

Legs: with femora clavate, tibia stout, thickened and expanded apically.

Abdomen: unmodified in either sex.

Type species. Nubosoplatus inbio Swift.

Diagnosis. Nubosoplatus is placed within the tribe Pteroplatini , based upon overall character similarities with Pteroplatus Buquet. Among pteroplatine genera, Nubosoplatus keys to the couplet containing Pteroplatus and Corynellus in Napp and Martins (2006). There are many characters shared with members of the genus Pteroplatus , including the costate elytra, similar pronotal sculpturing, bilobed mesosternal process, and overall coloration and pattern. However, Nubosoplatus may be distinguished by the basal antennomeres which are not penicillate-fimbriate, and exceed the elytral apices in the males, broader procoxal process, and the elytra which are parallel-sided, and less strongly sculpted.

Female specimens of Nubosoplatus share several characters with Corynellus . Both sexes are yelloworange in color and have unmodified antennae. The much shorter genae, laterally expanded pronotum, cuneate apical palpomeres, broader mesocoxal process, and longer antennomere ratios will distinguish Nubosoplatus . Corynellus has the gena and frons more elongate and subequal in length to the lower eye lobes, appearing more prognathic, the pronotum is evenly rounded, the apical palpomeres are elongate and unexpanded, and the antennae are shorter wherein III is slightly longer than IV, with V about onefourth longer than IV, IV-VII subequal to one another in length.

Etymology. This generic epithet is a combination of nuboso (Spanish = cloud), and platus a reference to the tribal name. It alludes to the cloud forest habitat of this pteroplatine taxon. It is masculine in gender.

Figures

Figure 1. Nubosoplatus inbio, males. A) Dorsal habitus. B) Ventral habitus. C) Dorsal habitus showing color variation.