A Review of the Genus Laemosaccus Schönherr, 1826 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Mesoptiliinae) from Baja California and America North of Mexico: Diversity and Mimicry
Hespenheide, Henry A.
The Coleopterists Bulletin
2019
MIMICRY AND LAEMOSACCUS In an earlier paper (Hespenheide 1996), I presented the hypothesis that species of Laemosaccus of the L. nephele group with red humeral spots on the elytra were Batesian mimics of members of the Chrysomelidae in the subfamily Clytrinae. There is no evidence that Laemosaccus species are distasteful, and what is either L. nephele and / or L. obrieni have been reported as prey items of birds (Beal 1912). In Cave Creek Canyon, Cochise County, Arizona, 21 forms (species and “ subspecies ”) of Clytrinae were hypothesized to be the primary models of 22 species of mimics in the families Anthribidae (one species), Bruchidae (two species), Buprestidae (four species), Chrysomelidae, subfamily Cryptocephalinae (three species), Coccinellidae (six species), Curculionidae, subfamily Baridinae (one species), and Laemosaccus (five species). Of these, the coccinellids and the cryptocephaline chrysomelids are probably distasteful Mullerian co-mimics. Ecologically, the species of Laemosaccus co-occurred with their clytrine models on both desert legumes and canyon oaks, although more clytrine species occurred in the desert and more Laemosaccus species occurred in the canyons. Species of clytrines showing the mimetic pattern are common throughout Mexico (Bellamy 2003, who renamed the Mexican buprestid genus Acherusia Laporte and Gory, 1837 as Mimicoclytrina Bellamy to reflect their resemblance to clytrines), but decline in numbers of species and in the proportion of the clytrine fauna through Central America to Panama (Hespenheide 1996, fig. 2). Laemosaccus seems to follow a similar pattern. Mimicry is more common in large faunas, especially in wet tropical areas (Hespenheide 1986, 1995); because the largest clytrine fauna is in Mexico, the clytrine mimicry complex is also larger there (Hespenheide 1996). This complex has more members than I first enumerated and deserves further study. The evolution of mimicry produces resemblances between unrelated species (Laemosaccus and other putative mimics, with clytrines and perhaps other Chrysomelidae and Coccinellidae as models; see Hespenheide 1976, 1996) and selects against the divergence of related species. In Batesian mimicry - hypothesized to be the form of relationship between Laemosaccus and clytrines - the selection for precision of mimicry is stronger on the mimic (Laemosaccus), so that resemblances among them should be closer, regardless of ancestry. Close morphological resemblances based on ecology rather than ancestry may be termed mimetic homoplasy (Hespenheide 2005) and can make recognition of species difficult (as in Laemosaccus) or complicate phylogenetic analyses. I have speculated (Hespenheide 1996) that the sympatric “ subspecies ” of the clytrine models (Moldenke 1970) may in fact be reproductively isolated sibling species. It will be interesting to see whether or not genomic studies show the closeness of relationships among Laemosaccus species that the morphology suggests
2019-12-19
73
4
905
939
Hespenheide
Hespenheide
2019
[204,580,391,412]
Insecta
Curculionidae
Laemosaccus
Animalia
Coleoptera
11
916
Arthropoda
species
andersoni
sp. nov.
Zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 076ABC07-A500-4138-BA00-2DD 19122783F( Figs. 7, 8, 19)
Description. HolotypeMale.Length 3.6 mm, width 1.75 mm( Figs. 7, 8). Robust, subcylindrical in cross section, slightly obovate, abruptly rounded and nearly transverse behind, attenuate and narrowly rounded in front, black except each elytron with large, oval, red-orange spot on anterior 2/3 and just interior of lateral margins nearly to suture; pronotum and elytra glabrous, thorax and abdomen ventrally with punctures each with a silvery seta, nearly covering the ventral surface except for small area along posterior portion of metasternum along midline, setae semierect on abdominal ventrite 5, head with sparse, inconspicuous setae on sides of rostrum between eyes and antennal insertions and behind eyes, setae more slender and semi-erect on femora, long, hair-like, and semierect on tergite 8; tergite 7 with small, scale-like setae on basal margin, otherwise glabrous. Head hemispherical, 0.8 mmwide, rostrum rounded-terete, moderately coarsely punctate with distinct medial carina, 0.6 mmlong, antennae inserted at middle. Pronotum globose from above, nearly flat in lateral view, constricted before anterior margin, 1.25 mmlong, 1.4 mmwide, broadest at basal third, lateral margins conspicuously arcuate, finely, evenly punctate, punctures rounded and separate on basal half, somewhat elongate and nearly confluent near midline on apical half, with distinct, fine medial carina on basal 3/4. Elytra distinctly wider than pronotum at base, 2.3 mmlong, 1.75 mmmaximum width, elytral striae narrower than intervals, striae distinctly, finely punctate, intervals raised and rounded, intervals 3 and 5 very weakly toothed. First abdominal ventrite very slightly concave along midline, with setae less conspicuous. Pygidium conspicuously convex (“domed”) at middle, postpygidium with broad, raised, polished prominence along basal half of midline. Profemora with very small, forward-directed, acute ventral tooth beyond middle. Genitalia as in Fig. 19; aedeagus 1.10 mmlong. AllotypeFemale.As male but 3.45 mmlong, 1.45 mmwide, rostrum subcylindrical, more finely punctate; abdominal ventrites broadly glabrous along postero-medial margins, ventrite 5 subequal to ventrite 4 at middle, expanded at sides and equal to ventrites 3 + 4; tergite 7 very strongly convex, granular, glabrous except with erect, hair-like setae at apical fifth.
Specimens Examined. Holotype: Arizona: Cochise Co., Chiricahua Mts., 2.5 mi.SW Portal, 5000’, 10.08.1983, R. S. Anderson( CMNC). Allotype:Same data as holotype ( CMNC). Paratypes: USA: Arizona: Santa Rita Mts., 5 to 8000 ft, July, F. H. Snow(9, SEMC), 12.07.1950, P. P. Cook(1, SEMC). Cochise Co., 2.5-5 kmW Portal, 1646 m, 23.07.1989, R. S. Anderson, 89-12 (2, CMNC); same data as holotype (3, CMNC); ChiricahuaM., 15.06.1939, 24.07.1955, D. J. & J. N. Knull(2, OSU); Chiricahua Mts., Horseshoe Can., 6000’, 4.07.1977, S. McCleve(1, TAMU); Chiricahua Mts., Rucker Cyn. Dam, 25.07.2005, C. W. O’ Brien(1, ASUHIC); Cave Ck. Canyon, 8.08.1974, A. J. Gilbert, H. E. Gilbert(1, ASUHIC); Cava[sic] Cr, 3.09.1943(1, EMEC); Chiricahua Mountains, South Fork Cave Creek, 31°52.47’N 109°10.92’W, 5440’, 23.07.2003, S. M. Clark(1, ASUHIC); Douglas, 7.08.1933, 1.08.1936, W. W. Jones(5, EMEC, USNM); Bisbee, Quarry Cyn., 5600’, 7-8- 1978(1, SWRS); Huachuca Mts., Copper Canyon, 1737-1829m, 26.07.1989, R. S. Anderson, 89-23 (1, CMNC); Coconino Co., OakCr. Can., 21.07.50, D. J. & J. N. Knull(1, OSU); OakCreekCyn., Manzanita Camp, 30.07.1950, B. E. White(7, CASC); Gila Co., Sierra Ancha Mts., Workman Creek, 5.08.1977, S. McCleve(1, TAMU); Pima Co., Mt. Lemmon Hwy., mi. 1-17, 1.08.2000, J. Huether(1, CMNC); [ Pinal Co.] Oracle, 7-7, Hubbard& Schwarz(1, USNM); Santa Cruz Co., Pena Blanca, 14.07.2000, F. W. Skillman Jr.(2, ASUHIC). Mexico: Chihuahua: Basaseachi Falls, 1950 m, 28°11’N 108°13’W, 5440’, 5.07.2006, D. Furth(3, CHAH); Coahuila:nr Jame, 33 mi.SE Saltillo, 7500’, 25.07.63, A. T. Howden(2, CMNC); Durango: 3 kmW El Palmito, 2- 3.10.1976, E. Giesbert(1, EMEC); 25 kmSW La Ciudad, 7300’, 22.06.1991, J. Rifkind, Pine/ Oak(1, WFBM); 36 mi.W Cd. Durango, 9.06.1967, [A. R. Moldenke], on Ceanothus buxifolia(3. BMNH, CHAH, USNM). Estado de México: Santa Catarina del Monte± 12 km(air) ESE Texcoco, 2800 m, 20.06.2000, R. L. Westcott, beating Quercussp.(1, TAMU); Nuevo León: Chipinque Mesa, Zoo, 3700’, 21.06.1983, C. W.& L. O’ Brien& G. B. Marshall(1, ASUHIC).
Host.Adults of L. andersonihave been collected on Quercussp.and Ceanothus“ buxifolia” [= Ceanothus buxifoliusWilld. ex Schult.f., Rhamnaceae] in Mexico.
Etymology.This species is named in honor of Robert S. Anderson, the collector of the holotypeand major collector and student of the Curculionidae( e.g., Anderson 1989, 2002).
Discussion: This is one of the most distinctive of the L. nephelegroup of species in both the domed pygidium of both sexes and the form of the male genitalia. Some fresher specimens have a few postscutellar setae on the first elytral interval. Males vary in size from 2.85 to 4.10 mm(mean = 3.46 mm, n= 17); females vary from 3.10 to 4.40 mm(mean = 3.92 mm, n= 20).
3335062689
1983-10-08
CMNC
R. S. Anderson
Cochise Co.
Chiricahua Mts.
11
916
1
Arizona
holotype
3335062551
1983-10-08
CMNC
R. S. Anderson
Cochise Co.
Chiricahua Mts.
11
916
1
Arizona
allotype
3335062601
SEMC
July, F. H & Snow
United States of America
1220
Santa Rita Mts.
11
916
1
Arizona
paratype
3335062725
1950-12-07
SEMC
Cook
United States of America
11
916
1
Arizona
paratype
3335062345
1989-07-23
CMNC
R. S. Anderson
United States of America
Cochise Co.
1646
2.5 - 5 km W Portal
11
916
1
Arizona
paratype
3335062398
[685,1018,512,533]
1983-10-08
CMNC
R. S. Anderson
United States of America
Cochise Co.
Chiricahua Mts.
11
916
1
Arizona
paratype
3335062344
15.06. 1939, 24.07. 1955
OSU
D. J. & J. N. Knull
United States of America
Chiricahua
11
916
1
Arizona
paratype
3335062457
1977-07-04
TAMU
S. McCleve
United States of America
Horseshoe Can.
Chiricahua Mts.
11
916
1
Arizona
paratype
3335062614
2005-07-25
ASUHIC
Brien
United States of America
Rucker Cyn. Dam
Chiricahua Mts.
11
916
1
Arizona
paratype
3335062409
1974-08-08
ASUHIC
A. J. Gilbert & H. E. Gilbert
United States of America
Cave Ck. Canyon
11
916
1
Arizona
paratype
3335062357
1943-09-03
EMEC
United States of America
Cr
Cava
11
916
1
Arizona
paratype
3335062704
2003-07-23
ASUHIC
S. M. Clark
United States of America
31.8745
South Fork Cave Creek
12
-109.182
Chiricahua Mountains
11
916
1
Arizona
paratype
3335062663
7.08. 1933, 1.08. 1936
EMEC, USNM
W. W. Jones
United States of America
Douglas
11
916
1
Arizona
paratype
3335062386
1978-08-07
SWRS
United States of America
Quarry Cyn.
Bisbee
11
916
1
Arizona
paratype
3335062652
1989-07-26
CMNC
R. S. Anderson
United States of America
1783
Copper Canyon
Huachuca Mts.
11
916
1
Arizona
paratype
3335062666
OSU
D. J. & J. N. Knull
United States of America
Coconino Co.
Coconino Co.
11
916
1
Arizona
paratype
3335062382
1950-07-30
CASC
B. E. White
United States of America
Manzanita Camp
Oak Creek
11
916
1
Arizona
paratype
3335062407
1977-08-05
TAMU
S. McCleve
United States of America
Gila Co.
Workman Creek
Sierra Ancha Mts.
11
916
1
Arizona
paratype
3335062388
2000-08-01
CMNC
J. Huether
United States of America
Pima Co.
Mt. Lemmon Hwy.
11
916
1
Arizona
paratype
3335062377
USNM
Hubbard & Schwarz
United States of America
Pinal Co.
Oracle
11
916
1
Arizona
paratype
3335062646
2000-07-14
ASUHIC
F. W. Skillman Jr.
United States of America
Santa Cruz Co.
Pena Blanca
11
916
1
Arizona
paratype
3335062534
2006-07-05
CHAH
D. Furth
Mexico
1950
28.183332
Basaseachi Falls
1233
-108.21667
11
916
1
Chihuahua
paratype
3335062577
CMNC
A. T. Howden
Mexico
Jame
11
916
1
Coahuila de Zaragoza
paratype
3335062588
1976-03-10
EMEC
E. Giesbert
Mexico
3 km W El Palmito
11
916
1
Durango
paratype
3335062523
1991-06-22
WFBM
J. Rifkind
Mexico
25 km SW La Ciudad
11
916
1
Durango
paratype
3335062404
1967-06-09
BMNH, CHAH, USNM
Moldenke
Mexico
36 mi. W Cd. Durango
11
916
1
Durango
paratype
3335062498
2000-06-20
TAMU
R. L. Westcott
Mexico
2800
Texcoco
Santa Catarina del Monte
11
916
1
Mexico
paratype
3335062555
1983-06-21
ASUHIC
C. W. & L. O’Brien & G. B. Marshall
Mexico
Zoo
Chipinque Mesa
11
916
1
Nuevo Leon
paratype