Sphenophorus spangleri Anderson, 2014

Anderson, Robert S., 2014, A New Species of Sphenophorus Schönherr (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Dryophthorinae) from Sinaloa, Mexico, The Coleopterists Bulletin 68 (3), pp. 437-440 : 437-439

Sphenophorus spangleri Anderson , new species

( Figs. 9–12 )

Diagnosis. Specimens of this species can easily be recognized from two similarly colored Mexican species, Sphenophorus lineatus Champion and Sphenophorus quadrivittatus Gyllenhal , by the larger body size (males 8.8–9.4 mm; females 11.5–12.2 mm), eyes narrowly separated in dorsal view ( Fig. 11 ), antennal club with the apical pilose portion very small ( Fig. 10 ), proportionally narrow body form, very long slender linear tarsal articles which are not expanded laterally, and pygidium with deep, dense, subconfluent punctures limited to apical portion ( Fig. 12 ). At first look, specimens appear similar to spe- cies of Metamasius Horn in the larger body size, elongate body proportions, and contrasting red and black coloration. My first impression of the species was that it was a new Metamasius ; however, placement in Sphenophorus is confirmed by the reduced ventral tarsal vestiture restricted to the lateral margins of the tarsal articles, typical of Sphenophorus species. Besides the characters given above, S. lineatus and S. quadrivittatus are smaller in size than the newly described species and have the more robust body form and shorter and less curved rostrum typical of Sphenophorus .

Description. Male, length, 8.8–9.4 mm; width, 2.9–3.2 mm. Female length, 11.5–12.2 mm; width, 4.0– 4.4 mm. Lustre extremely shiny; color mostly piceous to red dorsally, black ventrally; pronotal disc with median black line widest just anterior to midlength and 2 lateral black lines; all lines extending from anterior to posterior margin. Rostrum about 3/5 pronotal length; elongate, cylindrical, evenly curved; minutely, shallowly punctate; base of rostrum slightly expanded in dorsal view, basal expanded area short, about 1/6 or less total rostral length; glabrous ventrally; peduncle flat, bilamellate anteriorly. Scrobe with posterior margin separated from anterior margin of eyes by about 1/2 width of base of scape. Antennal scape about 3/5 rostral length; club slender, elongate-oval; apical pilose part very small, only about 1/8 length of entire club. Eyes narrowly separated by about width of an antennal funicular article in dorsal view. Pronotal length 1.24–1.36X width; lateral margins subparallel in basal half, convergent subapically, tubulate to apex; moderately densely, moderately deeply punctate on flanks, across apical margin, at middle of base and less so along midline towards apical margin, otherwise disc very finely punctate; flat to very slightly impressed medially at base. Elytra slightly less than twice pronotal length; intervals impunctate, flat; striae with distinct, moderately deep, small punctures. Scutellar shield elongate V-shaped, length twice width at base, slightly emarginate anteriorly. Pygidium flat, almost vertical in orientation, apical portion coarsely deeply subconfluently punctate, punctate area bordered by distinct impunctate, glabrous apical and lateral margins and divided by an indistinct medial glabrous carina (incomplete in some specimens); apical margin with small, lateral tufts of moderately long, fine setae. Ventrally with front coxae very narrowly separated by about width of antennal scape at base; prosternum moderately densely, regularly punctate, flat. Lateral portions of meso- and metaventrite and abdominal ventrites 1 to 5 moderately densely to densely punctate; punctures larger laterally on ventrites 1–5; middle of metaventrite and abdominal ventrites 1–4 virtually impunctate in female, more punctate in male, shiny; last abdominal ventrite flat, punctate in broad apical band in female, band reduced to median patch in male. Legs long, virtually impunctate, shiny throughout; coxae with inner face with minute tuft of 1 or 2 fine hairs; femora slightly clavate, inner faces of middle and hind femora with small basal tuft of hairs; hind femur reaching apex of ventrite 3 or 4; inner margins of all tibiae slightly sinuate, with inner fringe of short (hind) to moderately long (front) fine hairs. Tarsi very long and slender, articles not at all expanded laterally, ventrally with only few long fine hairs at lateral margin, no ventral pilose pads; protarsal article 1 with ventral subapical swelling; claws long, very slender.

Sexual Dimorphism. In the specimens at hand, males are substantially smaller than females in body length and width and are generally more extensively and deeply punctate.

Material Examined. M a l e H O L O T Y P E labelled “ Mexico: Sinaloa, Mazatlan , 17–23.vii.1963, P. Spangler ( USNM). Paratypes: 4 females, 1 male , same data as holotype ( BMNH, CMNC, USNM) .

Distribution. Northwestern Mexico (Sinaloa).

Etymology. This species is named after Paul J. Spangler (1924–2011), former Research Entomologist in Coleoptera at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC.

Natural History. No information is available on the natural history of this species. Spangler’ s field notes do not indicate a habitat or any details about the circumstances of collection (Andrew E. Z. Short, 12 October 2012, in litt.). As Paul Spangler was interested primarily in aquatic beetles, it is possible specimens were associated with emergent aquatic plants in a wetland habitat.

Figures

Figs. 1–12. Sphenophorus species. Sphenophorus lineatus: 1) Dorsal habitus, male; 2) Lateral habitus, male; 3) Head, male, dorsal view; 4) Pygidium, male. Sphenophorus quadrivittatus: 5) Dorsal habitus, female; 6) Lateral habitus, female; 7) Head, female, dorsal view; 8) Pygidium, female. Sphenophorus spangleri: 9) Dorsal habitus, female; 10) Lateral habitus, female; 11) Head, female, dorsal view; 12) Pygidium, female.