Thomasella, Bezark, Antonio Santos-Silva Larry G. & Martins, Ubirajara R., 2012

Bezark, Antonio Santos-Silva Larry G. & Martins, Ubirajara R., 2012, New genera and species of Neotropical Rhinotragini (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Cerambycinae), Zootaxa 3571, pp. 66-80 : 70

Thomasella gen. nov.

Etymology. The name of this genus is in honor of Michael C. Thomas (FSCA) for his constant help with specimens for our studies. Feminine gender.

Type species. Ommata (Eclipta) igniventris Giesbert, 1991 .

Diagnosis. Thomasella is somewhat similar to Oregostoma Audinet-Serville, 1833 , but differs as follows: basal half of pronotum with a very distinct, elongate, central-longitudinally shining gibbosity; elytra convergent towards apex, which is distinctly narrower than base; parameres laterally without very long setae. In Oregostoma , the pronotum does not have a distinct central-longitudinal gibbosity, the elytra are not convergent towards apex, which is about as wide as base, and the parameres have laterally very long and abundant setae. It differs from Neoregostoma Monné & Giesbert, 1992 (based on type species— Oregostoma discoideum Audinet-Serville, 1833 ) by the presence of the strong gibbosity of pronotum, by the metafemora distinctly longer, surpassing elytral apex, by the antennal club slightly distinct, and by the distance between inferior ocular lobes very different in males and females. In Neoregostoma , the pronotum does not possess the strong gibbosity, the metafemora are shorter, not surpassing elytral apex, the antennal club is more distinct, and the distance between inferior ocular lobes is similar in both sexes (wide between). From Chrysommata Peñaherrera-Leiva & Tavakilian, 2003 , that also has metallic integument, by the gibbosity of pronotum, by the longer elytra (surpassing middle of fourth abdominal segment), and by the absence of long and abundant setae on metatibiae. In Chrysommata , the pronotum does not possess the strong gibbosity at base, the elytra are shorter (reaching the apex of third abdominal segment), and the metatibiae have long and abundant setae.

Description. Length between 11.5 and 16.0 mm.

Male ( Figs. 8–10 )—Head not elongated behind eyes (posterior edge of eyes near the anterior edge of prothorax); rostrum (between the apex of inferior ocular lobe and genal apex) long (about 1.1 times length of one inferior lobe in frontal view). Eyes large, distinctly emarginate. Margins of inferior ocular lobes moderately near each other (distance between them about 0.25 times length of one inferior lobe in frontal view). Antennae reach distal third of elytra; antennomeres III–IV filiform; antennomeres V–X serrate; antennal club feebly distinct.

Prothorax slightly longer than wide, base wider than apex; lateral sides rounded, without tubercles. Pronotum not densely pubescent, coarsely, abundantly punctate; basal half with a very distinct, elongate, central-longitudinal shining gibbosity. Procoxal cavities closed. Prosternal process strongly narrowed centrally, distinctly triangularly enlarged from middle to apex (triangular area depressed); apex truncate. Mesosternal process strongly elevated at base (almost vertically). Mesepisterna slightly visible in dorsal view near humerus. Metasternum tumid, with the central region distinctly more elevated than metacoxae. Metepisterna subtriangular (base much wider than apex). Scutellum short, moderately sparsely setose. Elytra long, apex attaining from about distal third of fourth abdominal segment to basal third of fifth, slightly convergent from base to apex, slightly narrowed at middle; surface coarsely, abundantly punctate, glabrous or almost so; apex obliquely truncate, with two small spines; elytral suture dehiscent after basal third; elytral carina absent.

Pro- and mesocoxae without spicule. Pro- and mesofemora clavate; metafemora long, less abruptly clavate than pro- and mesofemora; apex surpasses elytral apex. Metatibiae without brush of setae. Metatarsomere I slender, about as long as II–III together.

Abdomen about as long as thorax, not curved downward; ventrite V laterally not elevated. Parameres short; lateral margins with short, abundant setae; apex rounded with moderately long, abundant setae.

Female—Distance between inferior ocular lobes equal to length of one inferior lobe in frontal view; antennae surpass middle of elytra, not reaching the distal third; abdomen shorter than thorax.

Included species: Thomasella igniventris (Giesbert, 1991) , comb. nov., described and known only from Panama.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 9. 1 – 3, Pseudagaone williamsi sp. nov., holotype female: 1, dorsal; 2, ventral; 3, lateral. 4 – 6, Giesberteclipta costipennis, paratype male: 4, lateral; 5, dorsal; 6, ventral. 7, Giesberteclipta monteverdensis, holotype male, dorsal. 8 – 9, Thomasella igniventris, male: 8, dorsal; 9; lateral.

FIGURES 10 – 19. 10, Thomasella igniventris, male, ventral. 11, Ischasioides giesberti sp. nov., holotype female, dorsal. 12 – 14, Stultutragus tippmanni sp. nov., holotype male: 12, dorsal; 13, lateral; 14, ventral. 15 – 17, Stultutragus ventriguttatus sp. nov., holotype female: 15, dorsal; 16, ventral; 17, lateral. 18, Stultutragus romani, sytntypes, dorsal. 19, Oxylymma durantoni, male, basal antennomeres and pronotum (photo by Jean-Louis Giuglaris).