Xenocona, Gilmour, 1960

Vlasak, Josef & Santos-Silva, Antonio, 2025, The surprisingly little-known fauna of Cerambycidae (Coleoptera) of Ecuador: description of one new genus and eight new species of Acanthocinini (Lamiinae) and new records in Cerambycinae and Lamiinae, Zootaxa 5653 (2), pp. 151-195 : 180-185

Xenocona x-littera sp. nov.

( Figs 47–52 )

Description. Holotype male ( Figs 47–51 ). Head capsule blackish, except light-brown gulamentum, brown area of vertex between antennal tubercles and upper eye lobes, and antennal tubercles reddish brown, with orange apex; ventral mouthparts both brown and light brown, except palpomeres blackish with reddish-brown apex; anteclypeus irregularly yellowish brown and reddish; labrum dark orangish brown on posterior third, yellowish brown on remaining surface; scape brown except blackish ventrally; pedicel brown, except dark brown on dorsal 2/3 and blackish dorsal apex; antennomeres III–V reddish brown, except dark-brown apex; VI–XI orange, except dark-brown apex of VI–VIII and brownish apex of IX–X and orangish-brown apex of XI. Prothorax dark brown, darker on some areas, except irregular brown areas on pronotum. Ventral surface of mesothorax dark brown, except mesoventral process gradually light brown toward apex. Metanepisterna dark brown. Metaventrite reddish brown, except blackish posterocentral area. Scutellum blackish laterally, orangish brown centrally. Elytra blackish on anterior quarter and sides of anterior half, except, wide, slightly oblique, longitudinal reddish-brown band dorsally, from near humerus to about middle, mostly reddish-brown epipleural margin, and longitudinal reddish-brown band close to suture, located just before middle; posterior third mostly light orangish brown, with irregular blackish maculae interspersed; remaining surface mostly dark brown with irregular blackish spots close to suture. Pro- and mesocoxae mostly dark brown; metacoxae mostly reddish-brown. Trochanters orange with irregular, both yellowish and brown areas. Femoral peduncles orangish; femoral clubs reddish brown dorsally, dark brown laterally and ventrally. Protibiae dark brown on basal third, blackish on apical third, reddish on central third; meso- and metatibiae dark brown on basal and apical thirds, orangish on central third. Basal half of protarsomeres I and basal 2/3 of meso- and metatarsomeres I reddish, remaining apical region dark brown; protarsomeres II–IV dark brown; basal half of meso- and metatarsomeres II reddish and apical half dark brown; meso- and metatarsomeres III–IV dark brown; tarsomeres V light reddish brown on basal 2/3, dark brown on apical third. Abdominal ventrites reddish brown, more orangish brown on ventrite 5, with large, irregular blackish areas interspersed.

Head. Frons abundantly, minutely punctate, with a few coarse punctures interspersed; with abundant dull yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument, except glabrous median groove; with one long, erect dark-brown seta close to eyes. Area between antennal tubercles with abundant dull yellowish-brown pubescence partially obscuring integument, except glabrous median groove, glabrous area widened toward upper eye lobes. Area between upper eye lobes with somewhat abundant yellowish-brown pubescence, except glabrous median groove. Remaining surface of vertex with abundant yellowish-brown pubescence partially obscuring integument, except subcircular dark-brown pubescent macula on each side of middle (hidden due to the tilt of the head). Area behind upper eye lobes with dense yellow pubescence close to vertex and lower eye lobe, with narrow yellow pubescent band centrally, pubescence almost absent on remaining central surface. Area behind lower eye lobes almost glabrous close to upper eye lobe, with abundant yellow pubescence inferiorly close to eye, somewhat sparse whitish pubescence close to yellow pubescence, glabrous on remaining surface. Genae 0.46 times as long as lower eye lobe in frontal view; transversely striate laterally on wide area close to eye, densely, finely punctate laterally close to apex, finely, slightly rugose-punctate frontally, except smooth apex; with somewhat abundant yellowish pubescence close to eye, sparse on remaining surface, except glabrous apex. Antennal tubercles with abundant, both dull yellowish-brown and yellowish-brown pubescence partially obscuring integument, except glabrous area near dorsal apex. Wide central area of postclypeus with somewhat abundant dull yellowish-brown pubescence close to frons, and somewhat abundant, short dull yellowish-brown setae directed forward, and long, yellowish-brown setae directed forward, long setae more abundant laterally. Sides of postclypeus glabrous. Posterior third of labrum with abundant yellowish pubescence not obscuring integument, and long, erect yellowish-brown setae interspersed; anterior 2/3 glabrous except fringe of dark-brown setae on anterior margin. Gulamentum transversely striate, smooth, glabrous, except intermaxillary process with a few short, erect dark-brown setae. Outer sides of mandibles with abundant dull yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument on basal half, glabrous on apical half. Distance between upper eye lobes 0.18 times distance between outer margins of eyes; in frontal view, distance between lower eye lobes 0.53 times distance between outer margins of eyes. Antennae 2.2 times elytral length, reaching elytral apex at basal quarter of antennomere VI. Scape with abundant dull yellowish-brown pubescence, slightly lighter ventrally, except irregular areas with sparse brownish pubescence dorsally with short, decumbent yellowish setae interspersed; ventral surface with a few long, erect yellowish setae interspersed near apex. Pedicel with abundant dull yellowish-brown pubescence partially obscuring integument, except brown pubescence on apical 2/3 of dorsal surface and apex of lateral surfaces, and pale-yellow pubescence on apex of ventral surface; with a few long, erect yellowish-brown setae interspersed ventrally. Antennomere III with distinct projection on inner apex; with abundant yellowish pubescence partially obscuring integument, except subglabrous apex; ventral surface with long, erect pale-yellow setae, setae gradually denser and longer toward apex. Antennomeres IV–XI with abundant yellowish-white pubescence partially obscuring integument on light integumental area and sparse brownish pubescence on dark integumental area; IV with abundant, long, erect yellowish setae interspersed ventrally; with sparse, short, erect yellowish setae interspersed dorsally and laterally. Antennomeres X–XI with short, erect yellowish setae interspersed throughout. Antennal formula (ratio) based on length of antennomere III: scape = 0.87; pedicel = 0.14; IV = 0.65; V = 0.48; VI = 0.42; VII = 0.40; VIII = 0.36; IX = 0.36; X = 0.35; XI = 0.32.

Thorax. Prothorax wider than long; anterior and posterior constrictions narrow, distinct; sides divergent from anterior constriction to lateral tubercles, convergent from lateral tubercles to posterior quarter, then subparallel-sided toward posterolateral angles; lateral tubercles wide, with conical apex, located about middle of prothorax. Pronotum with large, elevated, oblique tubercle on each side of middle of anterior third, and slightly elevated, longitudinal central gibbosity; area close to anterior margin with abundant yellowish-white pubescence not obscuring integument on each side of middle; anterocentral quarter with somewhat abundant yellowish pubescence not obscuring integument, pubescence yellower close to anterior margin; apex of anterolateral tubercles with abundant blackish pubescence; center of posterior half with longitudinal yellowish pubescent band, not covering apex of central gibbosity; with subcircular blackish pubescent macula on each side of middle of posterior half; with oblique yellowish-brown pubescent band on each side, from middle to posterior quarter close to central gibbosity; with oblique, somewhat fragmented light yellowish-brown pubescent band on each side of anterior half, from anterior quarter to middle; with moderately abundant, both yellowish-white and yellowish-brown pubescence on posterior quarter close to central pubescent band, not reaching posterior margin; area close to posterior margin with brown pubescence not obscuring integument on each side of central pubescent band; side with large area with dense pubescence, pubescence pale yellow, yellowish brown, and yellowish-white, except dark-brown pubescent spot on each side near lateral tubercles of prothorax, transverse brown pubescent macula on each side of anterior third, and small brownish pubescent spots interspersed; with a few long, erect dark-brown setae interspersed on posterior half. Sides of prothorax with abundant yellowish-white pubescence not obscuring integument, with brown pubescent maculae interspersed, except longitudinal, wide black pubescent band close to posterior margin. Prosternum with abundant yellowish-white pubescence laterally, and slightly sparser, whitish pubescence centrally, except glabrous anterior sulcus. Prosternal process with abundant yellowish pubescence not obscuring integument, pubescence almost absent on apex; narrowest area 0.2 times procoxal width. Anterocentral area of mesoventrite with sparse yellowish pubescence; remaining anterior region with sparse brown pubescence; sides with dense pale-yellow pubescence. Mesanepisterna with abundant dark-brown pubescence not obscuring integument, with short, decumbent, pale-yellow setae interspersed, except dense yellow pubescence close to mesoventrite. Mesepimera mostly with abundant dark-brown pubescence not obscuring integument, except dense pale-yellow pubescence close to metanepisternum. Mesoventral process with abundant yellowish pubescence not obscuring integument, except subglabrous sides and apex; apex strongly notched; narrowest area 0.43 times mesocoxal width; apex 0.53 times mesocoxal width. Metanepisterna with dense pale-yellow pubescence on anterior quarter and posterior fifth, moderately sparse yellowish pubescence centrally surrounded by dark-brown pubescence. Sides of metaventrite with abundant pale-yellow pubescence partially obscuring integument; central area with abundant, bristly yellowish-brown pubescence, except glabrous metathoracic discrimen. Scutellum with dense, longitudinal, almost hourglassshaped pubescent band centrally, and abundant blackish pubescence not obscuring integument laterally. Elytra. Abundantly, coarsely, punctate, part of punctures tuberculate anteriorly on anterior quarter and sides of anterior half; remaining surface with punctures gradually finer, sparser toward apex; apex obliquely truncate; centrobasal crest very slightly elevated, with tuft of erect black setae on top; dorsal surface with two longitudinal, slightly tuberculatecarinae, innermost starting on centrobasal crest, ending about posterior third, outermost from near humerus to about posterior quarter; considering both elytra, with large, almost X-shaped pubescent macula, from anterior to posterior quarter, pubescence with complex color pattern, dull yellowish brown, yellowish, yellowish white, white; with irregular blackish pubescent macula from anterior margin to X-shaped macula, another similar macula laterally of the X-shaped macula, from anterior third to slightly past middle; remaining anterior half with abundant yellowish-brown pubescence with glabrous and subglabrous spots and small, dense yellowish-white spots interspersed; central area of both longitudinal carinae with dashed white tufts of erect setae; remaining posterior region with abundant yellowish-brown pubescence close to X-shape macula, both yellowish and yellowish-white pubescence partially obscuring integument, and irregular, small maculae with sparse dark-brown pubescence; area close to epipleural margin with whitish pubescence on beginning of posterior half. Legs. Femoral peduncles with abundant white pubescence not obscuring integument; femoral clubs with abundant yellowish-white pubescence not obscuring integument ventrally and on inferior region of sides, except small, subglabrous or glabrous spots interspersed on meso- and metafemora, and abundant yellowish pubescence not obscuring integument dorsally and on superior region of sides, pubescence yellower on part of dorsal surface, except irregular arc about middle with very sparse pubescence, pubescence on this area partially dark yellowish brown, brownish pubescent macula on base of dorsal surface, and small, subglabrous or glabrous spots interspersed on superior region of sides of meso- and metafemora. Protibiae with abundant yellowish pubescence not obscuring integument, from base to slightly after middle, except sides of anterior third with abundant brown pubescence not obscuring integument, and glabrous basal quarter of ventral surface; remaining surface with abundant yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument on sides of apical quarter, abundant pale-yellow pubescence partially obscuring integument dorsally on apical quarter, abundant brown pubescence not obscuring integument on remaining dorsal and lateral surfaces, and dense, bristly yellowish-brown pubescence ventrally; with a few long, erect yellowish-brown setae interspersed dorsally on apical third. Mesotibiae with abundant pale-yellow pubescence not obscuring integument on basal quarter, except abundant brown pubescence on sides, dense yellowish-white pubescence about middle; remaining surface with abundant yellowish-white pubescence not obscuring integument on sides, dense, bristly yellowish-brown pubescence ventrally and dorsally, and somewhat abundant, short, erect, thick dark-brown setae interspersed dorsally. Metatibiae with abundant yellowish-white pubescence partially obscuring integument, pubescence denser about middle, except dark yellowish-brown pubescent macula on sides of anterior third, with arc of sparse dark yellowish-brown pubescence about apical third of dorsal and lateral surfaces, and ventral surface of apical half with abundant, bristly yellowish-brown pubescence. Protarsomeres I with abundant yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument on basal third, V with abundant yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument on basal 3/4 and brownish pubescence not obscuring integument on apical quarter, and apical 2/3 of I and entire surface of II–IV with somewhat abundant dark-brown pubescence not obscuring integument. Meso- and metatarsomeres I with abundant yellowish-white pubescence not obscuring integument on basal 2/3 and abundant dark-brown pubescence on apical third; II–III with somewhat abundant yellowish-white pubescence about basal half and abundant dark-brown pubescence not obscuring integument on remaining surface; IV subglabrous; V with abundant yellowish-white pubescence not obscuring integument on basal 3/4 and abundant dark-brown pubescence not obscuring integument on apical quarter. All tarsomeres V with long, erect dark-brown setae interspersed near apex. Metatarsomere I 1.35 times longer than II–III together.

Abdomen. Central region of ventrite 1 with abundant, bristly yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument; remaining surface of ventrite 1 and ventrites 2–4 with abundant yellowish pubescence not obscuring integument, with irregular glabrous and subglabrous areas interspersed, except glabrous longitudinal band on apical half of ventrite 1 and entire surface of ventrites 2–4. Ventrite 5 with abundant light yellowish-brown pubescence centrally on basal half, this area widened basally, and remaining basal half with large, glabrous and subglabrous areas; apical half with abundant yellowish-white pubescence on its central base and somewhat abundant yellowish pubescence on remaining surface; apex widely concave.

Female ( Figs 52a–52b ). Similar to males, differing by the antennomere III and IV without fringe of setae on ventral side, antennomere III without distinct projection on inner apex, abdominal ventrite V more elongated and subparallel sided toward apex, apex truncate and notched centrally, last tergite surpassing elytral apex, apex of last tergite rounded.

Dimensions in mm (holotype male/ paratype male/ paratype females). Total length, 10.60/11.15/10.55–12.15; prothoracic length, 1.80/2.00/1.70–1.90; anterior prothoracic width, 2.05/2.25/2.00–2.30; posterior prothoracic width, 2.55/2.60/2.40–2.70; maximum prothoracic width, 3.05/3.30/2.90–3.30; humeral width, 3.80/3.95/3.70– 4.30; elytral length, 7.50/7.90/7.50–9.05.

Type material. Holotype male from ECUADOR, Pichincha: Bellavista Cloud Forest Lodge (Tandayapa), 2300 m, 2–3 Jul 2023, J. Vlasak leg. ( MZSP, formerly JVCO) . Paratype — 1 male and 3 females, same data as holotype ( JVCO) , 1 female from ECUADOR, Pichincha: Bellavista Cloud Forest Lodge (Tandayapa), 2300 m, 19 Jun 2021, J. Vlasak leg. ( JVCO) .

Etymology. The name “x-littera” (Latin, meaning “letter X”) refers to the light-colored X-shaped macula on the elytra. It is a noun in apposition.

Remarks. Xenocona x-littera sp. nov. differs from Xenocona asperipennis ( Fairmaire & Germain, 1860) and Xenocona superstes (Erichson, 1847) (see photographs on Bezark (2025), in Monné (2004), and in Vlasak & Santos-Silva (2022)), especially by the elytral pubescent pattern, without distinct and isolated whitish or yellowish pubescent macula close to apex of elytra (present in X. asperipennis and X. superstes , usually forming inverted V-shaped macula just before apex when considering both elytra), without dark-brown pubescent maculae forming oblique band after the middle of elytra (present in X. asperipennis and X. superstes ). The few males and females of X. asperipennis examined, either in person (e.g. Fig. 67 ) or through photographs (holotype of Alcathousites chaclacayoi Gilmour, 1962 ) present a wide, slightly oblique pubescent area on the posterior half of elytra, contrasting sharply with those close to its anterior and posterior margins, which is absent in Xenocona x-littera.

Note: Tavakilian & Chevillotte (2024) listed X. asperipennis as described in 1859. However, the work by Fairmaire & Germain was published in two parts (pages 483–512, November 9, 1859; pages 513–532, March 1, 1860) ( Desmarest 1860: CCXC). As Xenocona asperipennis was described on page 513, the correct year is 1860.

Figures

FIGURES 47–52. Xenocona x-littera sp. nov. 47–51) Holotype male: 47) Dorsal habitus; 48) Ventral habitus; 49) Lateral habitus; 50) Head, frontal view; 51) Apex of antennomere III. 52a) Paratype female, dorsal habitus; 52b) Paratype female, partial ventral habitus.

FIGURES 61–69. Cerambycidae spp., dorsal habitus. 61) Chlorida transversalis Buquet, 1844. 62) Eburodacrys triocellata (Stål, 1857). 63) Gorybia semiopaca Martins, 1976. 64) Compsibidion vanum (Thomson, 1867). 65) Sternacutus angulistigma (Bates, 1885). 66) Trypanidius rubripes Bates, 1872. 67) Xenocona asperipennis (Fairmaire & Germain, 1860). 68) Oreodera adornata Martins & Galileo, 2005. 69) Oreodera basipenicillata Tippmann, 1960.