Phyllophaga (Phyllophaga) lorencita Morón and Solís, 2001

Morón, Miguel Angel & Solís, Angel, 2001, Seven New Species Of Phyllophaga (S. Str.) Harris From Costa Rica (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae: Melolonthinae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 55 (1), pp. 11-29 : 17-19

Phyllophaga (Phyllophaga) lorencita Morón and Solís , new species

Figs. 10–13

Holotype. Male. Clypeus, frons and pronotum shiny reddish yellow; elytra shiny testaceus, with two erect long setae at the base of each elytron and row of setae along the elytral suture, setae located toward the apex of elytra longer than preceding elytral setae; mouthparts, sterna, pygidium and legs shiny testaceous. Clypeus 4.2× wider than long, anterior border scarcely sinuate, with elevated margin, surface scarcely concave, coarsely rugo­punctate and with some scattered short setae. Frontoclypeal suture straight and clearly impressed. Frons 1.3× wider than long, convex, coarsely punctate rugose, with short setae on disk. Antenna 9­segmented, with 3­segmented club, lamellae of 7th to 9th segments 1.2× longer than length of preceeding 5 segments combined. Frons 3.2× wider than dorsal diameter of eye. Eye canthus long and narrowed, with 8–10 setae. Labrum bilobed, wide and shallowly sinuated, with scattered slender setae. Mentum slightly convex, finely punctate, with long slender setae at sides, anterior border shallowly notched. Pronotum 1.8× wider than long and 2.7× wider than frons. Pronotal disk shiny, moderately punctate­rugose, punctures irregularly separated from one another by 1–5 diameters, midline with shallow longitudinal depression spaced anteriorly; lateral borders clearly angled, lateral marginal bead irregularly crenulate, with scattered, long, slender setae; complete basal bead indicated by punctures; anterior angles slightly acute, prominent; posterior angles widely obtuse, rounded. Scutellum 1.7× wider than long, with some small punctures. Elytron 2.5× longer than wide, shiny, densely punctate; epipleural border very narrow, extended along complete margin, provided with a row of very short, slender setae; humeral callus rounded, prominent; apical callus rounded. Metathoracic wings completely developed. Propygidium shiny, densely punctate­setiferous. Pygidium scarcely convex, shiny, rugo­punctate, with round punctures, with very short setae covering entire surface; apical margin with 16 long, slender setae; basal margin effaced medially. Pterosterna with long, dense, yellowish setae. Visible abdominal sternites II and IV slightly depressed, smooth and setiferous near the middline; sternite V granulate setiferous, with a shallow transverse depression on posterior half and some scattered short setae toward the sides; anal plate narrowed with a shallow transverse depression, with posterior border elevate and notched at midline, with 20 erect setae. Protibia slightly shorter than protarsus (1:1.3), with external border clearly tridentate, preapical spur small, slighly curved, acute, shorter than 2nd protarsomere. Mesotibia with one oblique, sharp, setiferous carina on external side; upper apical spur straight, narrow, and 0.1× shorter than lower spur. Metatibia shorter than metatarsus (1:1.2), with one oblique, sharp, setiferous carina on external side; upper apical spur articulated, curved, lanceolate, apex rounded, as long as basal metatarsomere, and 1.3× longer than lower spur; lower apical spur articulated with tibial border, with rounded apex. Tarsomeres semicylindrical, elongate, with enlarged apex, some setae apically and one longitudinal thin carina with a line of scattered, stout setae and other line of small setae at side. Protarsomere 1–4 with two carinae all along the ventral side. Tarsal claws symmetrical, similar on all legs, with curved tooth on the ventral border, slightly displaced toward the basal process ( Fig. 10 ). Genital capsule with short parameres, dorsally and ventrally fused, preapical inner borders of the parameres turned out as a blade­like structure, apex with very short, toothlike ventral projections. Aedeagus short, with the apex of sclerotized support bifurcate and dorso­basal crest­like brush of progressively enlarged setae ( Figs. 11–12 ). Tectum slighly convex. Length of genital capsule from apex of parameres to border of basal piece: 3.9 mm. Total body length: 15.8 mm. Humeral width: 6.6 mm.

Allotype. Female. Similar to the male except as follows: anterior border of frons elevated, disk of frons coarsely rugo­punctate; antennae with lamellae of 7th to 9th segments shorter than the length of five preceeding ones (1:1.2). The longitudinal depression at the anterior part of the midline deeper than male; and also with coarser punctures. Visible abdominal sternites V convex, densely setiferous punctuated mainly toward the sides; anal plate 1.3× longer than male anal plate, convex, punctate setiferous, with 16 long slender setae near the posterior border. Meso­ and metatibiae each with one oblique, sharp, setiferous carina on external side. Both apical spurs of metatibia articulated, wide, lanceolate and slightly curved. Ventral genital plates slightly sclerotized, symmetrical, widened, ovate, without setae; dorsal genital plates narrowed, with short setae on the rounded apex ( Fig. 13 ). Total body length: 16.2 mm. Humeral width: 7.0 mm.

Paratype Variation. Males. Similar to holotype except in total body length: 11.4–16.2 mm, humeral width: 4.9–6.0 mm, pronotum of some specimens darker or lighter than holotype, other specimens with antennal club 1.0–1.2× longer than length of preceeding five segments combined. Females similar to allotype except as follows: anterior border of frons less prominent, body punctation coarser or finer, total body length: 12.9–16.1 mm; humeral width: 5.1– 6.5 mm.

Type Series. Described from 67 males and 25 females. Holotype male ( INBIO): ‘‘ COSTA RICA: Alajuela, San Ramón, Río San Lorencito , 800 m, 4­ V­87, A. Solís, INBIO CR 1001 115762 . ’’ Allotype female ( INBIO): ‘‘ COSTA RICA: Cartago, Turrialba, Chirripó , Area de Conservación Amistad , Grano de Oro , 1,120 m, 19/ 30­VI­93, P. Campos INBIO CR 1001 848913 .’’ Paratypes: same data as holotype (2 males); same data as allotype (39 males, 14 females); Alajuela, San Ramón, Río San Lorencito , 800 m, 10­VII­89, A. Solís (25 males, 10 females). Paratypes deposited in CASC, CNC, INBIO, MXAL, TAMU, and ZMHU.

Type Locality. Río San Lorencito , San Ramón, province of Alajuela, Costa Rica (approx. 10°21'N; 84°25'W).

Biological Data. Males and females of P. lorencita n. sp. were collected at lights at two sites separated by 130 km, near San Lorencito river, located on Tilaran ridge, between 800–900 m of altitude, and Grano de Oro, on the Talamanca ridge, at 1,120 m of altitude. Phenology: May (3), June (54), July (35). Other species of Phyllophaga flying at the same time and places were: P. caraga Saylor, P. chiriquina Bates, P. densata Moser, P. gigantea Bates, P. guapiles Saylor, P. guapilesea Saylor, P. nevermanni Saylor, P. orosina Moser, P. prolixa Bates, P. pruinosa Blanchard, P. setidorsis Bates, and another two new species under description.

Remarks. Is not possible to include Phyllophaga (Phyllophaga) lorencita n. sp. in any known species group (sensu Morón 1986). This new species may be related to Phyllophaga reventazona Saylor (Atlantic lowlands, Costa Rica) by the number and proportions of antenomeres, as well as the shape of the parameres and the dorsal vestiture of aedeagus, but the dense and erect pronotal vestiture, the absence of shallow longitudinal depression on the anterior half of the pronotum, the dark reddish brown body color of P. reventazona , will aid in the separation of both species.

Etymology. Derived from Río San Lorencito, at the eastern Cordillera de Tilarán.

Figures

Figs. 10–13. Phyllophaga lorencita. 10) protarsal claw, male; 11) genital capsule, lateral view; 12) paramera, ventro­distal view; 13) genital plates, female. Scale lines 5 1 mm, except Fig. 10 5 0.5 mm.