Euscelus pulchellus (Suffrian)

Hamilton, Robert W., 2007, Euscelus species of the West Indies (Coleoptera: Attelabidae), Zootaxa 1495 (1), pp. 1-34 : 14-15

Euscelus pulchellus (Suffrian)

(Figs. 41–44)

Attelabus pulchellus Suffrian, 1870 .

Type locality: Cuba .

Type data: Lectotypes are here designated. Lectotype male, 25051, pulchellus Suff. , Cuba [Large rectangular green label] ; Allolectotype female, [same as male lectotype except 25052]. Both types are in poor condition but are identifiable. The female allolectotype has the distinct whitish elytral marks that identify the species but the marks in the male lectotype are not well defined.

Type holder: Institut Zoologie , Martin Luther Universitat, Halle, Germany ( MLUH) .

Specimen data: 1 female, Guantanamo, Cuba, July 26, 1910 ( AMNH). 1 female, Cuba, Trinidad, 1929, det. GAK Marshall ( BMNH). 1 male, 34326, Zool. Mus. Berlin, pulchellus Dej. , Cuba, Mull., Attelabus pulchellus Suffr., Det. E Voss ; 1 female, Hist. Coll., 34326, Cuba. Mull., Zool Mus. Berlin ( ZMHB).

Description: Color: Head, pronotum, elytra, distal ½ of profemora, antennal club, abdominal ventrites and thoracic pleura reddish-brown; all other parts, including markings on the elytra, pale yellowish. Abdomen of the male lectotype is shrunken and pale in color (probably teneral at capture). Size range: Male (n = 2) 5.2 x 2.0 mm (ZMHB) specimen; Female (n = 4) 5.8 x 2.6 mm to 6.0 x 2.8 mm. Head sub-rectangular, longer than wide, without punctures, finely strigate at base; frons smooth, shiny, about ½ as wide as rostral base, with small shallow median impression. Rostrum short, about ½ as long as head, widened from antennal insertions to apex; apex 1/3 wider than rostral base, with few very small punctures. Antennae long, slightly longer than elytra; funicle segments elongate, narrow, clavate; scape ovo-globose; funicle segment 1 short, barrel shaped; ½ as long as scape; funicle segment 2 elongate, much longer than funicle segment 1; funicle segment 3 shorter, 1/4 shorter than segment 2; segment 4 slightly longer than 3; segment 5 long, slightly longer than segment 2; segment 6 subequal to 3; segment 7 subequal in length to segment 4 but apex slightly wider; club elongate, about as long as funicle segments 1 and 2 together; basal and middle club segments cylindrical, subequal; terminal club segment about twice as long as middle or basal segment, acuminate. Pronotum slightly wider than long, slightly narrowed from base to apex; anterior edge strongly emarginate; sides evenly arched out; punctures moderate, irregular; interspaces with weak transverse rugosity, with oblique v-shaped groove through middle; with mid-dorsal longitudinal line like groove; groove extending from anterior collar to basal carina; anterior collar, smooth, raised, wide; anterior basal carina wide, smooth; posterior basal carina very narrow, only about 1/4 as wide as anterior carina. Scutellum sub-trapezoidal, at base 1/3 wider than long, smooth, shiny; with minute punctures; sides very weakly sinuate; posterior margin weakly truncate; posterior corners rounded. Elytra longer than wide, slightly widened beyond middle; punctures coarse, irregular; strial rows weakly defined; intervals and interspaces raised, minutely granulate; with 4 raised yellowish spots on each elytron; one below humeri; one near scutellum largest, irregular; two just behind middle on intervals 2 and 4, oval; spot on interval 4 distinctly larger than spot on interval 2; humeri simple. Abdominal ventrites with sparse setosity and sparse punctuation.

Femoral sexual dimorphism: The profemoral armature, which usually differs between the sexes in eusceline weevils, is the same in both sexes of E. pulchellus . Both male and female have a single distinctly pointed beak like disti-ventral projection on the profemur but the projection is smaller in the female.

Distribution: This species is known only from Cuba.

Comments: Euscelus pulchellus is easily recognized by the coarse punctuation and the unique yellowishwhite spots on the elytra. Both sexes have only a single disti-ventral spine on the profemora. More specimens, especially males, are needed.

Host plant: Host plant association is unknown.