Nealcidion devesai, Vlasak & Santos-Silva, 2025

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 : 168-171

Nealcidion devesai sp. nov.

( Figs 26–33 )

Description. Holotype male ( Figs 26–30 ). Integument mostly dark brown; gulamentum partially brown; ventral mouthparts dark yellowish brown, except brown base of maxilla and palpomeres mostly brown with yellowish-brown apex; mandibles dark reddish brown on basal 2/3, black on apical third; scape and pedicel brown; antennomere III brown except light-brown rings on basal and apical quarters; antennomeres IV–V dark reddish brown except narrow orangish-brown ring near base and wide orangish-brown ring on apical third; VI dark-brown on wide central region of dorsal surface and entire apical quarter, orangish brown on remaining surface; VII–XI narrow brown band basally, wide dark-brown band apically, orangish brown centrally. Pronotum with irregular brown and reddish-brown areas. Sides of prothorax with wide, longitudinal black band from posterior margin to anterior third. Apex of prosternal process partially reddish brown. Scutellum brown centrally. Elytral suture reddish brown, gradually orange toward apex; area between epipleural margin and humeral carina black on anterior third. Pro- and mesocoxae partially orangish brown; metacoxae partially reddish brown. Trochanters orange. Pro- and mesofemoral peduncles and base of pro- and mesofemoral clubs orange; remaining surface of clubs dark brown. Metafemoral peduncle orange; club orange on basal third of inner surface and on basal half of outer surface, dark brown on remaining surface. Tibiae dark brown with wide orange ring about middle. Dorsal surface of tarsomeres I and wide central area of V orange; remaining antennomeres and base and apex of V dark brown. Sides of abdominal ventrites dark reddish brown with irregular dark-brown areas; central area of ventrites 1–4 blackish, except reddish-brown macula on each side of middle of ventrite 4; central area of anterior 2/3 of abdominal ventrite 1 reddish brown except dark-brown maculae on middle; apical third entirely orange.

Head. Frons abundantly, finely punctate; with abundant dull yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument, slightly lighter close to eyes, except glabrous median groove; with one long, erect dark-brown seta close to eyes. Area between antennal tubercles with dull yellowish-brown pubescence close to glabrous median groove, somewhat sparse dull yellowish-brown pubescence close to base of antennal tubercles, and abundant dark-brown pubescence partially obscuring integument on remaining surface. Vertex with abundant light yellowish-brown pubescence partially obscuring integument, except glabrous median groove between antennal tubercles and upper eye lobes and triangular brown pubescent macula on each side of middle close to prothorax. Area behind upper eye lobes with dense light yellowish-brown pubescence. Area behind lower eye lobes with narrow light yellowish-brown pubescent band close to eye, abundant yellowish-white pubescence partially obscuring integument close to yellowish-white pubescent band, more grayish white depending on light intensity, glabrous close to prothorax toward ventral surface. Genae 0.7 times as long as lower eye lobe in frontal view; with abundant light yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument, sparser close to frons, except glabrous apex; with a few long, erect yellowish-brown setae interspersed. Wide central area of postclypeus with abundant, slightly bristly dull yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument close to frons, except glabrous middle, partially glabrous on transverse central area, and somewhat sparse dull yellowish-brown pubescence close to anteclypeus, pubescence denser laterally and absent centrally; with one long, erect seta on each side near frons, setae dark brown on their basal third, dull yellowish brown on remaining surface; with long dull yellowish-brown setae directed forward near anteclypeus. Labrum with abundant dull yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument on posterior third, sparse dull yellowish-brown pubescence on central third, glabrous on anterior third, except fringe of yellowish-brown setae on anterior margin; with long, erect setae interspersed on posterior third and sides of central third, setae dark brown on their basal third, yellowish brown on remaining surface. Gulamentum smooth, glabrous, except intermaxillary process with somewhat sparse, minute brownish pubescence. Outer surface of mandibles triangularly depressed on basal third; depressed area with abundant dull yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument and a few long, erect dark-brown setae interspersed; remaining outer surface smooth, glabrous. Distance between upper eye lobes 0.17 times distance between outer margins of eyes; in frontal view, distance between lower eye lobes 0.50 times distance between outer margins of eyes. Antennae 2.0 times elytral length, reaching elytral apex slightly before middle of antennomere VI. Scape with abundant dull yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument dorsally and laterally, pubescence distinctly sparser on basal quarter of dorsal surface, except dark-brown pubescence not obscuring integument on posterior third of dorsal surface, this area not reaching apex and with a few short, decumbent yellowish-brown setae interspersed; ventral surface with sparse dull yellowish-brown pubescence and abundant, long, erect yellowish-brown setae interspersed, erect setae forming tuft on apex. Pedicel with abundant dull yellowish-brown pubescence basally and on entire ventral surface, dark-brown pubescence not obscuring integument on remaining surface; with a few long, erect yellowish-brown setae. Antennomeres III– XI with abundant yellowish-brown pubescence partially obscuring integument on light integumental areas, dark-brown pubescence not obscuring integument, with minute, decumbent yellowish-brown setae interspersed on dark integumental areas; III with somewhat abundant, long, erect yellowish-brown setae interspersed ventrally; IV–V with a few long, erect yellowish-brown setae interspersed ventrally; VI–X with a few long, erect yellowish-brown setae on ventral apex. Antennal formula (ratio) based on length of antennomere III: scape = 0.76; pedicel = 0.08; IV = 0.73; V = 0.57; VI = 0.48; VII = 0.41; VIII = 0.37; IX = 0.33; X = 0.33; XI = 0.33.

Thorax. Prothorax wider than long, sides with rounded protuberance about middle; anterior constriction narrow. Pronotum with elongated, oblique gibbosity on each side of middle of anterior third and elongated, slightly elevated, subelliptical gibbosity centrally about middle; sparsely, coarsely punctate, forming transverse, sinuous row on posterior quarter, punctures absent on gibbosities and close to anterior and posterior margins; with abundant dull yellowish-brown pubescence partially obscuring integument, pubescence paler centrally, except anterolateral gibbosities with somewhat abundant dark-brown pubescence, dense yellow pubescence close to outer margin of anterolateral gibbosities, glabrous apex of central gibbosity, dull yellowish-brown pubescent macula with sparser pubescence on each side of posterior quarter, and subglabrous posterocentral area; with a few long, erect dark-brown setae laterally on posterior third. Black integumental band on sides of prothorax with dense blackish pubescence; remaining superior surface with abundant dull yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument, inferior surface close to procoxal cavities with dense yellowish-brown pubescence, except glabrous anterior sulcus. Prosternum with abundant dull yellowish-brown pubescence partially obscuring integument laterally and abundant, minute yellowish-white pubescence not obscuring integument centrally, except glabrous anterior sulcus. Prosternal process with abundant, minute yellowish-white pubescence not obscuring integument; narrowest area 0.51 times procoxal width. Anterocentral area of mesoventrite with abundant grayish-white pubescence not obscuring integument, anterolateral areas with abundant yellowish pubescence not obscuring integument, and sides with dense yellowish-brown pubescence. Mesanepisterna with dense yellowish-brown pubescence except sparse pubescence centrally. Mesepimera with dense yellowish-brown pubescence. Mesoventral process with abundant grayish-white pubescence not obscuring integument, except subglabrous sides, this area widened anteriorly; apex truncate, as wide as 0.57 times procoxal width. Metanepisterna with dense yellowish-brown pubescence on anterior quarter and abundant yellowish-white pubescence not obscuring integument on remaining surface. Metaventrite with abundant yellowish-brown pubescence partially obscuring integument laterally and abundant grayish-white pubescence not obscuring integument centrally, except glabrous metathoracic discrimen. Scutellum with dense yellowish-brown pubescence, except narrow subglabrous band anterocentrally and large, semicircular macula with sparse dark-brown pubescence on each side. Elytra. Humeral carina slightly distinct, reaching about posterior third; centrobasal crest short, moderately elevated, with dense tuft of short, erect black setae on top; dorsal surface with two slightly distinct, longitudinal carinae, one from centrobasal crest to about posterior fifth, another between the former and humeral carina, from base to about posterior fifth; somewhat abundantly, coarsely punctate; apex truncate, slightly concave, with outer angle slightly projected. Dorsal surface with abundant dull yellowish-brown pubescence basally, large dull yellowish-brown pubescent macula from about anterior quarter to just after middle, this area projected toward humeral carina about its middle and with subglabrous area interspersed, dull yellowish-brown pubescent band close to suture, fusing basal pubescence to large pubescent macula, dull yellowish-brown pubescent band close to suture on posterior quarter, and remaining surface with abundant dark yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument, appearing to be brownish depending on light intensity and source, with irregular dull lighter yellowish-brown pubescent maculae interspersed, and two longitudinal, narrow, irregular, short dark-brown pubescent bands, one close to lateroposterior area of large central macula, another on posterior quarter. Sides with abundant blackish pubescence not obscuring integument on anterior third, with dull yellowish-brown maculae interspersed; remaining surface mostly with abundant dull yellowish-brown pubescence and subglabrous spots interspersed. Legs. Metafemoral club noticeably long; femora with abundant whitish pubescence not obscuring integument on orange integumental areas; basal half of dark integumental areas with abundant yellowish-white pubescence not obscuring integument, partially with brownish pubescence on some areas, except dense, zig-zag yellowish-brown pubescent band after middle of dorsal and lateral surfaces and entire apex of dorsal and lateral surfaces with dense yellowish-brown pubescence. Metatibiae arcuate. Tibiae with dense dull yellowish-brown pubescence on base of dorsal surface, abundant yellowish-white pubescence partially obscuring integument on ventral surface of basal quarter, somewhat abundant dark-brown pubescence not obscuring integument on remaining basal quarter, abundant yellowish-white pubescence not obscuring integument on light integumental area, abundant dull yellowish-brown pubescence obscuring integument on apex of dorsal and lateral surfaces of protibiae, abundant dark-brown pubescence not obscuring integument on remaining dorsal and lateral surfaces of protibiae, with short, decumbent yellowish-brown setae interspersed, dense, bristly yellowish-brown pubescence on apical half of ventral surface of all tibiae, abundant, decumbent yellowish-brown setae on apical half of sides of meso- and metatibiae, and dense, bristly yellowish-brown setae dorsally and ventrally on meso- and metatibiae. Tarsomeres with abundant whitish pubescence not obscuring integument on light integumental area and abundant dark-brown pubescence not obscuring integument on dark integumental area, except whitish pubescence on basal area of tarsomeres II. Metatarsomere I slightly longer than II–III together.

Abdomen. Sides of ventrites 1–4 with abundant dull yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument laterally and abundant yellowish-white pubescence not obscuring integument centrally, except glabrous central apex. Ventrite 5 with abundant yellowish-white pubescence not obscuring integument, pubescence sparser laterally on anterior half; apex strongly concave. Last tergite ( Fig. 30 ) widely notched apically, not surpassing elytral apex.

Female ( Figs 31–33 ). Similar to males, differing by the antennae shorter, 1.7 times elytral length, reaching elytral apex at middle of antennomere VII, apex of abdominal ventrite 5 rounded, last tergite ( Fig. 31 ) distinctly narrowed toward apex, apex notched and surpasses elytral apex, metafemora proportionally shorter, club narrower, metatibiae not arcuate.

Dimensions in mm (holotype male/ paratype males/ paratype females). Total length, 10.40/9.10–10.05/10.05– 10.70; prothoracic length, 1.60/1.50–1.70/1.50–1.60; anterior prothoracic width, 1.85/1.75–1.90/1.40–1.85; posterior prothoracic width, 2.40/2.15–2.40/2.30–2.50; maximum prothoracic width, 2.60/2.30–2.60/2.50–2.55; humeral width, 3.75/3.45–3.80/3.80–4.00; elytral length, 7.95/6.80–7.50/7.50–8.05.

Type material. Holotype male from ECUADOR, Imbabura: Otavalo, Hacienda San Isidro de Itaqui , 2800 m, 20 Jun 2023, J. Vlasak leg. ( MZSP, formerly JVCO) . Paratypes — 4 males and 5 females, same data as holotype (1 female MZSP, 4 males and 4 females JVCO) .

Etymology. We are pleased to name this species for our colleague Sergio Devesa for his contribution in the study of Cerambycidae .

Remarks. Nealcidion devesai sp. nov. belongs to the group of species in which the metafemoral club of males is notably long. It differs from Nealcidion curvatae Touroult & Poirier, 2021 (see photographs on Bezark (2025) and in Touroult & Poirier (2021)) by the pronotum without three dense and isolated yellow maculae on the posterior half (present in N. curvatae ), and outer elytral apex not spiniform (spiniform in N. curvatae ); from Nealcidion hylaeanum ( Monné & Martins, 1976) (see photographs on Bezark (2025) and in Monné & Martins (1976)) by the elytral pubescent pattern very different, centrobasal crest of elytra slightly elevated (distinctly elevated in N. hylaeanum ), elytral apex not obliquely truncate (obliquely truncate in N. hylaeanum ), and the mesoventral process flattened (longitudinally carinate in N. hylaeanum ); from Nealcidion kayi Nascimento, Santos-Silva & McClarin, 2020 (see photographs on Bezark (2025) and in Nascimento et al. (2020)) by the elytral apex not obliquely truncate (obliquely truncate in N. kayi ), humeral and dorsal carina of elytra slightly distinct (strongly distinct in N. kayi ), elytra without distinct tubercle on basal region aligned with the centrobasal crest (present in N. kayi ), and metafemoral club not strongly tumid in males (strongly tumid in males of N. kayi ); from Nealcidion melasmum Monné & Delfino, 1986 (see photograph on Bezark (2025) and in Monné & Delfino (1986)) by the elytral pubescent pattern distinctly different, and the centrobasal crest of elytra slightly elevated and with tuft of erect setae on top (distinctly elevated and without erect setae on top in N. melasmum ); and from Nealcidion spinosum Monné & Delfino, 1986 (see photograph on Bezark (2025) and in Monné & Delfino (1986)) by the elytral pubescent pattern distinctly different, and mesofemora in males without spines on ventral surface (present in males of N. spinosum ).

Figures

FIGURES 26–33. Nealcidion devesai sp. nov. 26–30) Holotype male: 26) Dorsal habitus; 27) Ventral habitus; 28) Lateral habitus; 29) Head, frontal view; 30) Apex of last abdominal tergite. 31–33) Paratype female: 31) Last abdominal tergite; 32) Dorsal habitus; 33) Ventral habitus.