Cerichrestus freidbergi, Furth, 2019

Furth, David G., 2019, A new species of the Neotropical mimetic genus Cerichrestus Clark from Costa Rica (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticinae): An example of how unknown is biodiversity, Israel Journal of Entomology (Oxford, England) 49 (2), pp. 179-194 : 182-184

Cerichrestus freidbergi n. sp.

( Figs 1–6, 13)

LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:963CDA79-030D-4330-8952-1F2241974B49 .

Etymology: This new species of Cerichrestus is named in honor of Dr. Amnon Freidberg (Curator Emeritus of Entomology, SMNHTAU) for his 75 th birthday. Probably a majority of the specimens in the SMNHTAU insect collections were collected by Dr. Freidberg. He has been a close colleague of mine since we met in the summer of 1971. We have been together on many field collecting trips all over Israel and adjacent territories. Although he is a Dipterist, we still find many things in common to discuss.

Diagnosis: Cerichrestus freidbergi n. sp. is morphologically most similar to C. clarki Jacoby, 1886 , recorded from Panama and Costa Rica, and the only species recorded outside South America. The new species differs from C. clarki primarily through color and pattern ( Figs 1, 7). Cerichrestus clarki has an elytral black pattern slightly tapered towards elytral base ( Figs 7, 13) with a broad median stripe/spot on the apical half (approximately from the suture to stria 7 laterally), a very narrow black stripe along the suture (one stria wide only) to the base then continuing onto the pronotum as a black, median, parallel-sided stripe (equal in width to ca. 3–4 elytral striae), the pronotal stripe is somewhat narrower at the base than apex, i.e., slightly tapered towards the base (not created by arrangement of pubescence). In C. freidbergi , the pronotal stripe is lighter in color, hour-glass-shaped and created by the arrangement of pubescence. Other color differences: C. clarki often has some of the medial area of the thoracic venter lighter in color (orange) whereas C. freidbergi usually has the all-dark thoracic venter; the fore and mid-tibiae of C. clarki are usually all dark, whereas C. freidbergi usually has the fore and middle tibiae lighter, at least partly yellow. Cerichrestus clarki has slightly elevated elytral calli/bossae (mid-basal elevated area, between striae 1–3) giving the appearance of a depressed area near the suture. The pronotal lateral margins of C. clarki are straight-sided, whereas C. freidbergi has an apparent bulge in the middle of the lateral margins; the anterolateral angles of C. clarki are not pointed forward, whereas C. freidbergi has distinct and forwardly pointed anterolateral angles. The new species is larger for most body parts, e.g., the Lb (average) of C. freidbergi in males 5.02 mm and females 5.68 mm, whereas in C. clarki the Lb (average) in males 4.75 mm and females 5.15 mm (see also measurements for C. clarki below). There are no apparent significant morphological differences between C. freidbergi and C. clarki concerning the male aedeagus, female spermatheca, or female vaginal palpi.

Cerichrestus clarki ( Figs 7, 8, 9, 10, 11–13):

Antennomere (#) average lengths: Male #1(11), #2(6), #3(13), #4(12), #5(12), #6(11), #7(11), #8(9), #9(9), #10(8), #11(11). Female #1(11), #2(6), #3(13), #4(12), #5(11), #6(10), #7(10), #8(8), #9(8), #10(8), #11(11).

Body part measurements (10 males, 10 females; range in mm [average]): Lb: males 3.86–5.66 [4.75], females 4.73–6.13 [5.15]; Le: males 3.00–4.16 [3.54], females 3.50–4.50 [3.77]; Weh: males 1.50–1.73 [1.70], females 1.80–2.20 [1.86]; Wem: males 1.80–2.20 [1.93], females 2.03–2.43 [2.15]; Lp: males 0.73–1.03 [0.86], females 0.83–1.10 [0.93]; Wp: males 1.07–1.37 [1.18], females 1.23–1.50 [1.31]; Weye: males 0.37–0.50 [0.43], females 0.40–0.53 [0.44]; IOD: males 0.47–0.67 [0.57], females 0.60–0.70 [0.63].

Holotype: Lb: 4.92 mm; Le: 3.77 mm; Weh: 1.67 mm; Wem: 2.05 mm; Lp: 0.95 mm; Wp: 1.18 mm; Weye: 0.36 mm; IOD: 0.51 mm.Antennomeres: #1(12); #2(6); #3(11); #4(13); #5(12); #6(11); #7(12); #8(10); #9(9); #10(10); #11(13).

Description: Dorsum: entire dorsum with dense, fine, light-colored pubescence.

Antennae: ( Figs 1, 2) color all black except antennomeres 9–11 yellow.Antennomere 1 long, swollen, 2 shortest, 3 twice as long as 2, 4 longest (usually evidently lOnger than 3), 5–7 subequal (OnlY slightlY shOrter than 4), 9–11 subequal ca. 75 % of the length of 5–7.

Antennomere (#) average lengths: Male #1(12), #2(6), #3(13), #4(13), #5(13), #6(12), #7(11), #8(10), #9(9), #10(9), #11(11). Female #1(12), #2(6), #3(12), #4(12), #5(11), #6(11), #7(10), #8(9), #9(9), #10(8), #11(12).

Head: vertex ( Fig. 3) black (especially between eyes), basally lighter (orange), densely and coarsely punctured, with sparse pubescence.Antennal calli only slightly raised with distinct midfrontal sulcus between calli. Frontal ridge black, anterofrontal ridge and clypeus yellow (appearing as almost a transverse yellow band). Labrum black, apical margin with 3 long setae on each side of midline. Frontal ridge short with midfrontal sulcus apparent. Frontal ridge distinctly elevated, anterofrontal ridge protruding forward (beyond clypeus) such that clypeus appears depressed or concave (especially visible in lateral view). Mandibles dark brown. Maxillae yellow, palpi yellow, with penultimate segment usually darker, greatly swollen, apical segment sometimes darkened, much smaller, tapered apically, basal segment yellow. Ventrally head and mouthparts mostly yellow. Eyes spherical, protruding or bulging.

Body part measurements (10 males, 10 females; range in mm [average]): Lb: males 4.70–5.27 [5.02 average], females 5.1–6.16 [5.68]; Le: males 3.46–4.0 [3.77], females 3.86–4.70 [4.27]; Weh: males 1.67–1.97 [1.83], females 1.87–2.33 [2.09]; Wem: males 1.9–2.2 [2.12], females 2.33–2.96 [2.56]; Lp: males 0.87–1.0 [0.92], females 0.90–1.20 [1.0]; Wp: males 1.13–1.37 [1.26], females 1.37–1.63 [1.47]; Weye: males 0.4–0.5 [0.42], females 0.40–0.47 [0.45]; IOD: males 0.57–0.6 3 [0.60], females 0.60–0.73 [0.66].

Pronotum ( Fig. 1): orange/brown, with apparent mid-longitudinal, hourglassshaped (wider basally) darker orange/brown band; subquadrate in shape; basally distinctly narrower than base of elytra, width subequal to width of head including eyes; anterior one-third with apparent transverse band of dense, yellow setae [color pattern appears to be a result of the direction and density of the pubescence]. Posterior two-thirds slanted downwards with less apparent pubescence medially and laterally. Slight but evident sublateral depressions both sub-basally and sub-apically, almost contiguous. Lateral margins somewhat straight-sided but with slight bulge outward at middle.Antero- and posterolateral angles each with a pore and long seta, anterolateral angles noticeably pointed outward from lateral margins.