Embates ornativentris (Champion)

Prena, Jens, 2005, The Middle American species of Embates Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Baridinae), Zootaxa 1100 (1), pp. 1-151 : 1-151

1. Embates ornativentris (Champion)

(Fig. 34–36, 240)

Ambates ornativentris Champion 1907: 167 . Lectotype female, Mexico, here designated, labeled: “Type”, “ ♀ ”, “Toxpam/ Mexico / Salle Coll.” (BMNH). Paralectotypes 8 (supposedly 9 acc. Champion), here designated: Toxpam [may refer to Tuxpan in Veracruz or Toxpalam in Puebla] (BMNH 2), Cerro de Plumas (BMNH 4, NMNH), Zapote (BMNH). Hustache 1938 (cat.); Blackwelder 1947 (cat.); O’Brien & Wibmer 1982 (cat.)

Embates [ ornativentris ]. Alonso­Zarazaga & Lyal 1999 (global combination of all species of Ambates Schönherr 1836 with Embates Chevrolat 1833 )

Redescription. Habitus: Fig. 34, total length 6.2–8.0 mm (m=7.1, n=13). Color: integument piceous, antenna dark rufous; basic vestiture cupreous, scales velvety black in elytral macula between interstriae 2–4(5), both maculae combined approximately as long as wide (Fig. 34), scales ochreous in oblique post­macular fascia and spots around macula; venter with whitish scales on prosternum, mesosternum, mesepisternum, mesepimeron and in median portion of ventrites 1–2, vestiture cupreous elsewhere. Head: frontal fovea absent, rostrum rather thick, falciform (as Fig. 45), subcostate dorsomedially and rugose laterally, basolateral margin strongly produced, length of rostrum ♂♂ 1.10–1.25 x (m=1.18, n=8), ♀♀ 1.19–1.25 x (m=1.22, n=4) pronotal length, length of ante­antennal portion ♂♂ 0.31– 0.35 x (m=0.34, n=8), ♀♀ 0.36–0.38 x (m=0.37, n=4) total rostral length, dorsal margin of antennal scrobe reaching rostral base well before eye; length of funicular segments 1 and 2 subequal, club ovate (♀♀) or subcylindrical (♂♂). Pronotum: length 0.78–0.84 x (m=0.81, n=13) maximum width, greatest width at or near base, sides gradually converging in basal third, anterior portion roundly narrowed and tubulate in front; disk densely punctate, intervals granulose to rugose. Elytra: length 1.41–1.54 x (m=1.48, n=13) width at humeri, width 1.38–1.47 x (m=1.38, n=13) maximum pronotal width, sides slightly converging in basal half, apices rounded conjointly, preapical callus developed moderately, striae fine, punctures moderate, interstriae flat, 9 costate, 5 and 7 subcostate at preapical callus. Legs: tibiae slightly curved, ventral margin slightly bisinuate, distally with indistinct fringe (♂♂) and cluster of cupreous hairs, tarsal claws arcuate and separate at base. Male: apex of aedeagus round, middle sclerotized, anterolateral portion membranous (Fig. 35), body of aedeagus relatively short, curved in lateral view, apodemes 2.9 x longer than body of aedeagus, flagellum very thin, twice as long as aedeagus including apodemes, transition to curved base gradual, basal appendage of moderate length, curved, projecting beyond base (Fig. 36).

Plant association. Not known.

Distribution. Southern Mexico and Guatemala, Atlantic side (Fig. 240).

Material examined. MEXICO. Chiapas: 11.6 mi SE Pichucalco ( TAMU) ; 105 km SE Palenque, Bonampak road ( CMNC) . Oaxaca: Cerro de Plumas ( BMNH 4 , NMNH) ; Temascal ( CWOB) . San Luis Potosí: Taman , 10 mi SW Tamazunchale ( CMNC) . Veracruz: Fortín de las Flores ( CWOB 2 , NMNH) ; Misantla ( JPPC, ZMHB) ; Tuxpan ? [labeled Toxpam] ( BMNH 3 ) . Without location: ( MNHP, SNSD 2 ) . GUATEMALA. Guatemala: Zapote ( BMNH) . BELIZE. Cayo: 4 mi S Belmopan ( CWOB) . Total 24 specimens.

Discussion. The long aedeagal flagellum places E. ornativentris with E. rugosus and relatives, as suggested already by Champion (1907) and Casey (1922). It is the only species in this group with white ventral vestiture.