Paraeclipta, Clarke Abstract, 2011

Clarke, Robin O. S., 2011, Bolivian Rhinotragini Iv: Paraeclipta Gen. Nov. (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae), New Species And New Combinations, Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia 51 (15), pp. 233-251 : 234-236

Paraeclipta gen. nov.

Type species: Ommata (Eclipta) croceicornis Gounelle, 1911 here designated.

Diagnosis: separation of the genus Paraeclipta from the genus Eclipta Bates, 1873 is justified by comparing it with the type-species, Eclipta flavicollis Bates, 1873 , as follows: apical palpomeres fusiform (in E. flavicollis more securiform); rostrum short (in E. flavicollis long); antennae usually clubbed, basal segments relatively weakly and sparsely setose (in E. flavicollis not clubbed, basal segments strongly and densely setose); prothorax cylindrical, pronotum with dense, alveolate punctures (in E. flavicollis prothorax subglobose, pronotum densely micro-punctate); elytra long, at least 3.4 longer than width of humeri, usually reaching urosternite IV or V (in E. flavicollis elytra short, three times longer than width of humeri, reaching middle of urosternite III), not dehiscent, and elytron widening close to apex (in E. flavicollis strongly dehiscent for apical half, and elytron subacuminate); ratio length of front, middle and hind legs 1.0:1.2-1.3:1.8-2.0 (in E. flavicollis ratio 1.0:1.5:2.6), legs moderately robust and short (in E. flavicollis relatively slender and long); metafemoral clave only reaching apex of urosternite III to base of IV (in E. flavicollis almost reaching apex of abdomen); metatarsomere I equal to II+ III (in E. flavicollis longer than II-IV together).

Description: small (4.90-7.40 mm); subcylindrical; forebody (f) and abdomen (a) about the same length (in P. croceicornis f/a 0.85-0.97; in P. moscosoi sp. nov. f/a 0.94-1.00; in other species f/a 1.05-1.11). Head with eyes wider than prothorax in male; as wide as, or slightly narrower than prothorax in female. Rostrum short (usually slightly longer in female). Apical palpomeres fusiform. Inferior lobes of eyes with distal margin close to side of gena; proximal margin transverse to slightly oblique in male (more rounded in P. moscosoi ), moderately oblique in female; large, convex, and longer than wide in male, smaller, less convex, and distinctly longer than wide in female; contiguous, or moderately so in males (inferior lobes of eyes separated by 6-12 times their own width); in females moderately wide apart ((inferior lobes of eyes separated by 1.2-1.6 times their own width). Superior lobes of eyes separated by 2.5-4.0 times their own width, with (5-7) rows of ommatidia. Mentum-submentum planar, with rectangular area of arced carinas and semi-confluent punctures extending to gula. Apices of antennal tubercles separated by 1.5-2.5 width of scape. Antennae with some inter-specific variation (see individual descriptions), either somewhat thickened throughout (more so in females), or filiform basally and moderately clubbed apically (apical segments may be weakly serrate, more strongly in female P. cabrujai sp. nov., or incrassate); not long, not reaching urosternite III (well short of elytral apex); scape subpyriform (when viewed laterally); antennomeres III-VI cylindrical and setose; VII-X slightly serrate, the latter more strongly in some females; VIII-XI widened to form subcompact, 4-segmented club ( VII and VIII often weakly serrate, especially in females). Antennomere III always the longest, IV shorter than V, V equal to, or longer, than scape, the rest incrementally shorter (with some variation), X shorter than XI, XI with apical cone. Prothorax cylindrical, longer (l) than wide (w) (shortest in P. melgarae sp. nov. l/w 1.12; longest in P. croceicornis l/w 1.33); surface of pronotum somewhat uneven but without calli; sides almost parallel-sided to modestly rounded (especially in females), widest near middle; anterior constriction almost absent (except in P. moscosoi and male P. tomhacketti sp. nov.); basal constriction moderate and narrow. Prosternal process flat (or almost so), narrow at base, strongly widened to trapezoidal apex. Procoxal cavities closed behind and narrowly notched at sides. Mesosternal declivity subabrupt (or sloping in females). Mesosternal process with narrow base (ca. 0.05-0.10 mm, narrowest in P. cabrujai , slightly wider in P. croceicornis , P. melgarae , and male P. tomhacketti , widest in P. clementecruzi sp. nov., female P. tomhacketti and P. moscosoi ); and relatively small, wider apex (which may split into two lobes, as in P. tomhacketti and P. moscosoi ). Side of coxal cavities open to epimerum. Scutellum small in P. cabrujai and P. moscosoi , to very small in P. croceicornis , P. clementecruzi , P. melgarae and P. tomhacketti , and often hidden by pubescence. Elytra long, in males longer than length of forebody (from 1.09 longer in P. croceicornis to 1.25 longer in P. cabrujai ); male elytra longer than width of humeri (from 3.48 longer in P. moscosoi to 4.12 longer in P. croceicornis ), usually reaching urosternites IV or V, but in species with elongated abdomen only reaching apex of urosternite III; narrower in male than female, but always wider than base of prothorax (especially in P. tomhacketti ); contracted towards middle (hiding sides of mesosterna, exposing sides of metepisterna), almost parallel-sided, or slightly diverging, towards apex; not truly dehiscent, but may be slightly separated or gaping (strongest in P. moscosoi ), especially in gravid females; flat (at least for apical two-thirds), including most of epipleura and sutural margins, giving these a double border when viewed from above (less so in P. melgarae and P. tomhacketti ); inner border of epipleura entire, narrow and keel -like (that of suture also, but less strongly); humero-apical costa variable; apices flat, transversely or obliquely truncate (less oblique in P. croceicornis ), apical angles never distinctly spinose, or toothed (but may have small one), but sutural and epipleural borders often slightly extended beyond apex of elytra (to appear spiculate); and lateral angle may look crenellate. Metasternum broad and moderately tumid towards apex (with surface somewhat flattened); longitudinal suture reaching middle of sternum, narrow and deeply inset. Base of metepisternum wide, apex moderately acuminate. Abdomen cylindrical in males, and in females of P. cabrujai , P. tomhacketti and P. moscosoi , fusiform in females of other species. Urosternite V in male usually somewhat tumid laterally (less so in P. tomhacketti , or somewhat “winged” in P. croceicornis and P. cabrujai ), and flattened proximally (more widely in P. moscosoi ); in female conical to subconical and down curved apically. Abdominal process triangular, in male somewhat inclined to abdomen; in female planar with abdomen; not deeply inserted between metacoxae. Last visible tergite usually convex, apex usually passing apex of urosternite V. Legs only moderately robust and short, ratio length of front/middle/hind leg 1.0:1.2-1.3:1.8-2.0; front and middle coxae planar; all legs pedunculate-clavate; profemoral peduncle relatively short, meso- and metafemoral peduncles long and subequal, the former curved, the latter straight and half length of clave; pro- and mesofemoral claves large, abrupt, flatter laterally, tumid mesally (especially mesofemoral clave); metafemoral clave more elongate, apex reaching apex of urosternite III to base of IV (short of elytral apex); apex of protibia slightly narrowed laterally (not widened or toothed, but may have slightly raised, setose puncture at angle); metatibia usually cylindrical, usually sinuate (curved in P. tomhacketti ), and without specialised pubescence; tarsi undifferentiated, metatarsomere I equal in length to II+ III.

General colour: dull, opaque and sombre, not metallic; body generally blackish; prothorax may be yellow with black fascia on prosternum and pronotum; elytra may have yellow humeri; antennae vary from almost entirely yellow to entirely black; legs usually yellow with varying amounts of black on femoral claves and tibiae (these differences diagnostic for each species).

Surface ornamentation: generally similar in all species (but see P. moscosoi , and discussion of elytral punctures under P. tomhacketti ); sub-glabrous above (punctures on elytra setiferous, the hairs very short), basal third of elytra usually with sparse, long, erect hairs (relatively dense in P. moscosoi , only moderately so in P. croceicornis and P. melgarae ). Middle of prosternum, sides of metasternum, metepisterna (and abdomen in P. moscosoi ) with distinct, erect, long pubescence. Short, dense, recumbent pubescence usually present at middle of prosternum, mesosternum and centre of metasternum. Sides of prothorax lacking sexual puncturation. Vertex and pronotum generally uniformly and densely punctate, the punctures alveolate. Elytral punctures variable, usually rounded and separate basally, towards apex may become contiguous to confluent and intricately, transversely carinate, or even rasp -like. Ventral surface generally reticulate and puncturation less uniform; usually somewhat alveolate on prosternum, densely micropunctate on mesosternum, mixture of fine and larger punctures on metathorax, and surface of abdomen reticulate with scattered, bevelled punctures.

Discussion: examination of seven species in the MZUSP collection ( P. bicoloripes , P. flavipes , P. jejuna , P. rectipennis , P. soumourensis , P. tenuis and P. unicoloripes ), and scrutiny of the original descriptions, and photographs available on the internet, indicate the inclusion of Zajciw’s tenuis -group species in Paraeclipta .

The following species (10) are transferred to Paraeclipta gen. nov.: P. bicoloripes ( Zajciw, 1965) , comb. nov.; P. croceicornis ( Gounelle, 1911) , comb. nov.; P. flavipes (Melzer, 1922) . comb. nov.; P. jejuna ( Gounelle, 1911) , comb. nov.; P. kawensis ( Peñaherrera-Leiva & Tavakilian, 2004) , comb. nov.; P. longipennis ( Fisher, 1947) , comb. nov.; P. rectipennis ( Zajciw, 1965) , comb. nov.; P. soumourouensis (Tavakilian & Peñaherrera-Leiva, 2003) , comb. nov.; P. tenuis ( Burmeister, 1865) , comb. nov.; and P. unicoloripes ( Zajciw, 1965) , comb. nov.