Daisya huetheri Anderson

Anderson, Robert S., 2003, Neotropical Dryophthoridae: Redescription of the Genus Melchus Lacordaire with Description of Daisya Anderson, New Genus, and Seven New Species (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea), The Coleopterists Bulletin 57 (4), pp. 413-432 : 429-430

Daisya huetheri Anderson , new species

Figs. 28–29 , 45–52

Melchus n. sp.; Vaurie 1967:185.

New genus, new species 1; Anderson 2002:7.

Types. Holotype male labelled ‘‘ Panama: Chiriqui / Continental Divide Trail / 3–8 July 1997 / J. Huether’ ’ ( CMNC) . Allotype female labelled ‘‘R[io] San Lorencito , 900 m, R[eserva] F[orestal] San / Ramón, 5 km N de Colonia / Palmereña, Prov. Alaju[ela], COSTA/RICA. 13–18 Jun 1993. I Curso / Scarabaeidae . L-N-244500, 470700’’ and with INBio barcode 1364958 ( INBC) . Paratypes (2 males). Ecuador, Lita ( BMNH) . Panama, Panama Province, Cerro Campana , 850 m, 88409N 798569W, 15.IV.1976, H. A. Hespenheide ( CHAH). The Ecuadorian specimen is that mentioned by Vaurie (1967:185) .

Derivation of Species Name. The species is named after Dr. Jeff Huether of Geneva , New York who collected the holotype .

Identification. As with D. andersonae , the males of this species have the inner margin of the front femur with only a low angular swelling at the apical one-third ( Fig. 50 ). The rostrum of both males and females is dorsally medially carinate, bordered laterally by a row of sunken contiguous punctures ( Figs. 46, 48 ). This is in contrast to the coarsely punctate rostrum of the male ( Fig. 36 ), and finely punctate rostrum of the female ( Fig. 37 ) of D. andersonae . In D. huetheri , article 3 of the tarsus is longer than wide, only slightly wider than the width of article 2, and is sub-oval with the maximum width nearer the midlength and the lateral margins arcuate ( Fig. 50 ).

Description. Female, length 13.1 mm; width 5.3 mm. Male, length, 13.2–16.5 mm; width 5.0– 6.7 mm. Color black, elytra with irregular reddish maculations in basal two-thirds along intervals 3–8; integument with noticeable tufts of micropilosity or micropilose nodules, especially on elytra.

Rostrum with length slightly more than one-half length of pronotum; more or less cylindrical throughout, slightly arcuate ventrally (more so in female); in male, densely and irregularly punctate dorsally and laterally in basal two-thirds, punctures finer, less dense, in apical one-third; in female, densely punctate dorsally in basal two-thirds, in lateral view with upper series of punctures subcontiguous and arranged in linear manner, punctures less dense and shallower apically; male and female in dorsal view with distinct median carina throughout length, raised throughout median portion in female, bordered laterally by row of sunken contiguous, deep punctures in both sexes and irregular nodules in male only, base of rostrum expanded; in lateral view, widest at base. Scrobe with posterior margin situated about width of base of scape from anterior margin of eyes. Antenna with club cylindrical, subquadrate, apex slightly wider than base; apical pilose part about one-quarter length basal glabrous part. Pronotum with lateral portions of disk and flanks moderately densely, regularly, shallowly punctate, punctures with single robust, short seta at middle, surrounded by dense micropilosity; disk very slightly convex, lacking subbasal impression; with distinct glabrous narrow median area and smaller irregularly shaped glabrous lateral areas just anterior to midlength. Pronotum with length greater than width; width slightly less than width elytra at base. Elytra with length slightly less than twice length pronotum; greatest width at humeri; intervals impunctate, flat, with numerous distinct elongate-oval tufts of micropilosity or micropilose nodules, tufts and micropilosity concentrated at apical calli; striae with distinct, shallow, small punctures. Scutellum rhomboidal, length subequal to width, flat. Pygydium flat, punctate throughout; apex subtruncate; apically with dense short, robust setae. Ventrally with hind coxae separated by about width of coxa. Meso- and metasternum, and visible abdominal segments 1 to 5 moderately densely, shallowly punctate; last visible abdominal segment flat, slightly deflexed ventrally at apex. Legs moderate, regularly punctate, especially on outer face of femur; femur clavate, hind femur reaching apex of visible abdominal segment 4; inner margin of front femur of male with low angular swelling at apical one-third, angulation much less distinct on each of middle and hind femur; inner margins of each tibia straight to very slightly sinuate, with scattered, short, slightly curved fine setae in apical three-quarters, setae of more or less uniform length, each of front and middle tibia also with small low rounded denticles interspersed between setae in apical one-third. Tarsi each with article 3 very slightly dilated, sub-oval; width at apex only slightly greater than twice width at base, about one and one-third times width of article 2 at apex; pilose ventrally except glabrous in elongate V-shaped median area; apical margin of article 3 slightly broadly emarginate. Aedeagus with median struts transversely fused for short length at basal one-quarter. Tergite 8 with length one and one-half times width at base. Female genitalia not examined.

Variation. Males vary from 13.2–16.5 mm in length.

Sexual Variation. The one known female of D. huetheri has a very small swelling at apical one-third of the front femur. The rostrum of this female is very similar to the male and is coarsely punctate, sculptured and distinctly medially carinate ( Fig. 48 ); however, it is more markedly ventrally arcuate than in the male.

Distribution. Costa Rica (Alajuela), Panama (Chiriqui) and Ecuador.

Natural History. Adults have been collected in wet upper montane and cloud forest habitats. The type locality for this species is a trail in wet cloud forest along the continental divide just east of the La Fortuna dam.

Comments. In 1971 Patricia Vaurie added labels to the paratype from Cerro Campana as follows ‘‘Not New World species—P. Vaurie ’71, Oriental?’’ and ‘‘Genus? Scutellum, mesepimera, 3 rd tarsal, ant. club, coxae close P. Vaurie ’71’’.

Figures

Figs. 24–29. Daisya species. 24) D. obriani, dorsal view, male; 25) same, lateral view; 26) D. andersonae, dorsal view, female; 27) same, lateral view. 28. D. huetheri, dorsal view, male; 29) same, lateral view.

Figs. 45–52. Daisya huetheri. 45) Head, male, lateral view; 46) head, male, dorsal view; 47) head, female, lateral view; 48) head, female, dorsal view; 49) antenna, male, lateral view; 50) tarsus, front, male, dorsal view; 51) pronotum, male, dorsal view; 52) femora and tibia, front, male, anterior view. Scale line ¼ 1.0 mm, except tarsus, 0.63 mm, and pronotum, 1.55 mm.

Figs. 35–44. Daisya andersonae. 35) Head, male, lateral view; 36) head, male, dorsal view; 37) Head, female, lateral view; 38) antenna, male, lateral view; 39) tarsus, front, male, dorsal view; 40) pronotum, male, dorsal view; 41) femora and tibia, front, male, anterior view; 42) tergite 8 and sternite 8, male, ventral view; 43) aedeagus, male, dorsal view; 44) aedeagus, male, lateral view. Scale line ¼ 1.0 mm, except tarsus, 0.63 mm, and pronotum, 1.55 mm.