Caribbomerus elongatus (Fisher)

Lingafelter, Steven W., 2011, New records of Caribbomerus from Hispaniola and Dominica with redescription of C. elongatus (Fisher) and a key to species of the genus in the West Indies (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Cerambycinae, Graciliini), ZooKeys 85, pp. 27-39 : 29-33

Caribbomerus elongatus (Fisher) Figs 145a,f6Table 1

Diagnosis.

Based on the availability of additional non-type material (including males), the variation within this species can now be more fully documented. Although the holotype female has uniformly pale testaceous antennae, the antennae of males are narrowly dark annulate at the apices of most antennomeres (except scape and pedicel). The pronotum of females is slightly swollen posteriorly and then moderately constricted at the base but in males it is nearly parallel-sided and not or barely wider at posterior third unlike most of the remaining species of the genus. The pronotum of both sexes is densely punctate throughout, but in some females there is a very small, vaguely defined median callus lacking punctures and surrounded by a slight depression. The pronotum and elytra have a coating of tawny, appressed pubescence which does not obscure punctures. The elytral apices are abruptly smooth and impunctate with the anterior margin of this region slightly depressed.

Redescription.

Small size, 6.63-7.99 mm long; 1.19-1.82 mm broad; integument reddish-brown, with pronotum, head, and base of elytra slightly darker. Head with sparse, tawny pubescence not obscuring punctation; sparsely but distinctly punctate. Eye lobe coarsely faceted; completely, widely separated; strongly protuberant laterally (nearly projecting as wide as humeri;) lower lobe occupying nearly all of head from lateral view; upper lobe much smaller; lobes connected by 5 facets at narrowest point; broadly separated by two-thirds width of pronotum on vertex behind antennal tubercles. Interantennal impression very deep with antennal tubercles strongly elevated in V-shape. Antennae of males extending approximately 1.5 × length of body in males, 1.3 × length of body in females; covered with fine, inconspicuous, short, translucent pubescence. Antennomeres 3-11 of males noticeably dark brown at extreme apices, otherwise, pale brown (antennomeres uniformly pale testaceous in females). Scape extending beyond anterior pronotal margin; integument smooth, not asperate. Other than antennomere 2, antennomere 3 shortest; remaining antennomeres successively increasing in length to 9; 9-11 subequal. Antennomere lengths as follows: scape: 0.59-0.95 mm; antennomere 3: 0.42-0.69 mm; antennomere 4: 0.75-1.14 mm; antennomere 5: 0.95-1.48 mm; antennomere 6: 1.21-1.86 mm. Pronotum distinctly longer than broad, cylindrical in male; distinctly narrower than elytral base (in female, less cylindrical, slightly swollen at posterior third); sparsely, tawny pubescent; distinctly punctate, but punctures small and non-contiguous; without distinct calli, but with small anterior and posterior depressions in male (female with small, vague middle callus surrounded by depression on pronotal disk). Pronotal length: 1.19-1.57 mm; pronotal width: 0.78-1.13 mm; pronotal length/width: 1.3-1.6. Pronotum about 0.18 –0.19× length of body. Prosternum sparsely pubescent; densely, closely punctate. Elytron pale reddish brown, slightly darker at base (with vague, darker areas at humerus, middle, and apical third in a few specimens); distinctly but separately punctate; punctures becoming slightly sparser posteriorly and then abruptly disappearing from apices; anterior margin of impunctate apices slightly depressed; sparsely tawny pubescent (pubescence becoming denser at apices); very long and narrow, narrowly rounded at apices. Elytron length: 4.62-5.49 mm; elytron width: 0.49-0.76 mm; elytral length/width: 7.2-9.4. Scutellum sparsely tawny pubescent; setae joining together and at middle; rounded posteriorly; not noticeably punctate. Hind Leg moderately long, but femur not attaining abdominal apex; reddish brown; sparsely covered in short pubescence, only weakly expanded apically. Tibiae (particularly metatibia) narrow, elongate, straight, somewhat darkened apically. Venter sparsely pubescent, darker than dorsum. Abdomen of both sexes with margin of fifth sternite evenly, broadly rounded.

Discussion.

Using the key to Caribbomerus of Vitali and Rezbanyai-Reser (2003), this species would run nearest Caribbomerus howdeni (Napp and Martins), a Mexican species, based on the coloration, and shape and pubescence of the pronotum. However, their key is incorrect in coding Caribbomerus elongatus as having a glabrous pronotum. The holotype of Caribbomerus elongatus (and all of the new material seen) clearly has translucent pubescence on the pronotum as noted in Fisher’s (1932) description. This species, previously known by the female holotype from Cuba ( Fisher 1932; Monné and Bezark 2010) and an unspecified number from Oriente, Las Villas, and Pinar del Rio provinces in Cuba as mentioned by Zayas (1975), is now documented for the Dominican Republic (new island & country record).

Specimens.

Holotype (female): Cuba, Wajay, Havana, 15 December, 1930, S. C. Bruner, coll. (USNM). Dominican Republic: San Juan Prov., Sierra de Neiba, trail to Sabana de Silencio, 10 km SSW of El Cercado, 1650-1700 m, 10-11 July, 2006, A. Konstantinov, coll. 18°39.935'N, 71°31.964'W; 18°39.935'N, 71°31.964'W (1 male, USNM); Dominican Republic: Independencia Prov. P. N. Sierra de Bahoruco around Caseta no. 1, 18°16.038'N, 71°32.691'W, December 11-12, 2003, D. Perez, R. Bastardo, B. Hierro, RD#191 (1 male, USNM); Dominican Republic: Independencia, Sierra de Bahoruco, north slope, 13.5 km SE Puerto Escondido, 18°12.24'N, 71°30.54'W, 1807 m, 24-26 Mar 2004, R. Davidson, J. Rawlins, C. Young, C. Nuñez, M. Rial, broadleaf Pinus dense woodland, hand collected, Sample 41243 (1 male, CMNH); Dominican Republic: Independencia, Sierra de Bahoruco, Lomo del Toro, 18°17.16'N, 71°42.46'W, 2310 m, 7-8 November 2002, W. A. Zanol, C. W. Young, C. Staresinic, J. Rawlins, meadow in pine woods, hand collected, Sample 40149 (1 female, CMNH); Dominican Republic: Pedernales, 5 km NE Los Arroyos, 18°15'N, 71°45'W, 1680 m, 17-18 July 1990, J. E. Rawlins, S. Thompson (1 female, CMNH); Dominican Republic: La Vega Prov., Cor dillera Central, Loma Casabito, 15.8 km NW Bonao, 19°02.12'N, 70°31.08'W, 1455 m, 28 May 2003, J. Rawlins, C. Young, R. Davidson, C. Nunez, P. Acevedo, evergreen cloud forest, east slope, UV light, sample 21312 (3 females, CMNH).