Diastolinus espoloni Garrido, 2007

Hart, Charles J. & Ivie, Michael A., 2016, A Revision of the Genus Diastolinus Mulsant and Rey (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 70 (3), pp. 485-540 : 485-540

Diastolinus espoloni Garrido, 2007

( Figs. 51–55 , 103 )

Diastolinus espoloni Garrido 2007: 46 (type locality: Hispaniola); Caballer et al. 2012: 65 (Hispaniola).

Sellio tibidens (not Quensel 1806); Marcuzzi 1962: 31 (in part, Hispaniola records only), 1984: 82 (in part, Hispaniola records only); Garrido 2004b: 119 (in part, Hispaniola records only). The 1962 S. tibidens record is placed here based on Marcuzzi’ s (1962) statement that the male tibiae are armed, as this is the Hispaniolan species with the male tibiae armed that most closely resembles S. tibidens , which does not occur on Hispaniola. We have not seen the voucher, reportedly in the BMNH. The other records are simple repeats.

Type Material. The types in EPRL, from Carretera de Duverje a Jimani, km 6-7, Pedernales Province, were not seen .

Other Material Examined. See Appendix 1.

Diagnosis. This species is most easily distinguished by the subrugose punctures anterolaterally on the pronotal disc ( Fig. 52 ) and armed male tibiae ( Fig. 51 ).

Redescription. Male. Length 8.1–9.5 mm, width 3.4–4.0 mm. Body ( Fig. 51 ) black, except after antennomere 4, gradually each subsequent antennomere more testaceous, last 3–4 antennomeres fully testaceous; somewhat shiny; oblong, moderately convex; scattered, white to golden setae typically short.

Head ( Fig. 51 ) transverse, somewhat flattened; punctures greater than diameter of ommatidium, covering dorsal surface, evenly spaced, separated by 1 puncture diameter posteriorly, separated by less than 1 puncture diameter anteriorly; setae approximately length of posterior punctures, scattered over surface. Labrum densely punctate, punctation confluent, generally smaller than punctures on head, separated by less than 1 puncture diameter. Antenna weakly clavate. Dorsal and ventral portions of eye roughly equal in size and shape. Gular horns short, not prominent.

Pronotum ( Figs. 51, 52 ) widened posteriorly; apical margin evenly, broadly emarginate; apical corners rounded, lateral margin widened from apex in anterior 2/5, then sides nearly parallel to base; basal width subequal to width across humeri; basal margin bisinuate; dorsal surface broadly, evenly convex; all margins narrowly beaded, except obsolete at middle of anterior margin; punctate, puncture diameter on disc equal to punctures on head, spaced less than or equal to diameter of puncture on pronotal disc; punctures ( Fig. 52 ) denser and subrugose antero-laterally, sparse, short, yellow setae present throughout. Hypomeron feebly rugulose, punctate shallowly and sparsely. Prosternal process lanceolate, long, almost reaching mesoventrite, punctate and setose.

Scutellum ( Fig. 51 ) small, subtriangular, almost 3X as wide as long. Elytra constricted in anterior 1/3. Elytron gradually broadening from base to widest point opposite abdominal ventrite 1, then evenly arcuate to apices; striae heavily impressed; strial punctures deep and not confluent; intervals convex, punctation minute, even. Stria 7 ending in lateral stria posterior to humeral angle.

Mesoventrite punctate, somewhat rugulose, shiny. Metaventrite short, rugulose, punctate on anterior border behind mesocoxae.

Leg surfaces setose and finely punctate. Femora expanded. Protibia narrow basally, then suddenly expanded midway into large, triangular spine on posteroventral surface ( Fig. 51 ); anterodorsal surface somewhat arcuate; stout spines after major spine; apex obliquely truncate, ringed by stout spines. Protarsus with tarsomeres 1–3 expanded, ventrally with golden, densely setose pads, tarsomere 2 widest, more than 2X width of tarsomere 4. Mesotarsus with tarsomeres 1–3 weakly expanded, ventrally with densely setose pads. Metatarsus narrow, about 3/4 as long as metatibia, without setose pads; 1 st tarsomere about 1.5X length of 2 nd.

Abdominal ventrites ( Fig. 53 ) finely punctate; ventrites 1–2 slightly concave medially; anterior border of ventrite 1, just behind hind coxae, with row of heavy punctures extending onto intercoxal process; ventrites 2–3 with row of heavy punctures on anterior edge; ventrite 3 with slight medial concavity anteriorly only; ventrite 5 flattened medially, posterior margin evenly rounded. Aedeagus ( Figs. 54, 55 ) with basal piece and parameres strongly arched, about 1/2 elytral length; parameres widening gradually in basal 2/3, then flared suddenly before apex to a broad, straight apical margin; expanded area slightly concave; parameres with slightly sinuate lateral margin, undulate with slight upturned apical margin in lateral view.

Female. Length 8.9–9.4 mm, width 4.0– 4.2 mm. Nearly identical to male except pro- and mesotarsi not expanded. Abdominal ventrites 1– 3 slightly convex medially; ventrite 5 slightly convex.

Biology. Not much is known about this species. Specimens have been taken at elevations of 120–395 m.

Distribution. Hispaniola ( Fig. 103 ).

Diastolinus espoloni Garrido

REP.DOM. Pedernales Prov. 14 km N. Cabo Rojo; 19AUG1988; thorn scrub- trop.dry forest, 150 m; M.A. Ivie, T.K. Phillips, & K.A. Johnson (1 WIBF). REP.DOM. Pedernales Prov. 23km N. Cabo Rojo; 1200′; XII-31-1986; Doyen & Santiago (5. EMEC, 15 WIBF) . REP.DOM. Pedernales Prov. 25.5 km N. Cabo Rojo; 25-VI-1992; P. Skelley (9 FSCA) . REP.DOM. Pedernales Prov. 2km N. Pedernales; 22AUG1987; L. F. Armas; under rocks (1 WIBF) . REP.DOM. Pedernales Prov. 22 km N. Cabo Rojo; 395m; 21AUG1992; D. Sikes & J. Brodzinsky (1 WIBF) .

Figures

Figs. 51–55. Diastolinus espoloni. 51) Dorsal habitus; 52) Pronotum; 53) Abdominal ventrites; 54) Aedeagus, dorsal view; 55) Aedeagus, lateral view.

Fig. 103. Map of the distributions of Diastolinus species on Hispaniola.