Leptocometes quechua, 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 : 164-168

Leptocometes quechua sp. nov.

( Figs 20–25 )

Description. Holotype male ( Figs 20–23 ). Head capsule black centrally on frons, gradually dark brown toward sides, vertex and area behind eyes dark brown, ventral surface blackish, genae dark brown toward ventral surface and on entire apex, light brown toward frons and clypeus. Ventral mouthparts light brown except palpomeres black with yellowish-brown apex. Postclypeus mostly dark brown centrally, mostly brown laterally. Anteclypeus dark yellowish brown with irregular dark-brown areas interspersed. Labrum dark brown on posterior 3/4, dark yellowish brown on anterior quarter. Basal 2/3 of mandibles dark reddish brown, except dark-brown margins, dark brown on apical third. Scape light brown; pedicel mostly dark brown; antennomere III orangish brown basally, black apically, light brown on remaining surface; IV orangish brown basally, black on apical third of dorsal and lateral surfaces and apical quarter of ventral surface, light brown on remaining surface; V orangish brown basally, black on almost entire apical half, reddish brown on remaining surface; VI orangish brown basally, black dorsally, except reddish-brown area close to basal orangish-brown area, black on apical half, reddish brown on remaining surface; VII–VIII orangish brown basally, reddish-brown dorsally close to orangish-brown area, black on apical area and reddish brown on remaining surface; IX–XI orangish brown basally, black on remaining surface, except reddish-brown area close to orangish-brown area. Prothorax and ventral surface of meso- and metathorax dark brown. Scutellum dark brown anterolaterally, mostly reddish brown on remaining surface. Elytra dark brown, except black maculae and spots, largest macula located dorsally just after middle, and oblique orangish-brown band dorsally on anterior third, from near suture to near humerus. Femoral peduncles light orangish, more pale-yellow depending on light intensity; femoral clubs dark brown. Tibiae dark brown on basal quarter, light orangish on remaining basal half, more pale-yellow depending on light intensity, except brown ventral surface of protibiae, blackish on apical half. Tarsomeres dark brown, except claws partially reddish brown. Abdominal ventrites dark brown, except orangish-brown macula on center of ventrite 5.

Head. Frons densely, minutely punctate with fine punctures interspersed; with abundant yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument, with yellowish-white pubescence interspersed, except glabrous median groove; with a few long, erect dark-brown setae near eyes. Area between antennal tubercles with dense light yellowish-brown pubescence centrally, except glabrous median groove, and abundant, both brownish and yellowish-brown pubescence laterally. Remaining surface of vertex with dense light yellowish-brown pubescence centrally and close to eyes, except glabrous median groove, and abundant yellowish-brown pubescence partially obscuring integument on remaining surface. Area behind upper eye lobes with abundant yellowish-brown pubescence partially obscuring integument, except dense light yellowish-brown pubescence close to lower eye lobe. Area behind lower eye lobes with dense light yellowish-brown pubescence close to eye, abundant light yellowish-brown pubescence on inferior half, not reaching prothorax, sparse yellowish-brown pubescence on remaining superior third, abundant, minute dark-brown pubescence not obscuring integument on superior half close to prothorax, this area projected toward near eye about middle, glabrous on inferior half close to prothorax; with a few long, erect dark-brown setae interspersed close to eye. Genae slightly longer than lower eye lobe; with dense light yellowish-brown pubescence close to eye, gradually sparser toward glabrous apex; with a few long, erect dark-brown setae interspersed. Wide central area of postclypeus with abundant, bristly yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument; with long, erect black setae interspersed near frons and long, erect yellowish-brown setae directed forward close to anteclypeus, more abundant laterally. Sides of postclypeus glabrous. Labrum with abundant yellowish-white pubescence not obscuring integument on posterior half, with long, erect yellowish-brown and brown setae interspersed, glabrous on anterior half, except fringe of yellowish-brown setae on anterior margin. Gulamentum smooth, glabrous, except sparse yellowish-white pubescence on intermaxillary process. Outer surface of basal 2/3 of mandibles distinctly triangularly depressed; depressed area with abundant dark yellowish-brown pubescence and a few long, erect blackish setae interspersed; anterior third smooth, glabrous. Distance between upper eye lobes 0.35 times distance between outer margins of eyes; in frontal view, distance between lower eye lobes 0.64 times distance between outer margins of eyes. Antennae 2.35 times elytral length, reaching elytral apex at apical quarter of antennomere VI. Scape with abundant yellowish-white pubescence not obscuring integument on basal 2/3, pubescence yellower or whiter depending on light intensity and source, sparser on apical third, except abundant yellowish pubescence on apex; with sparse, short, erect yellowish-white setae interspersed throughout and a few long, erect dark-brown setae interspersed ventrally. Pedicel with abundant yellowish pubescence on base of dorsal surface, abundant yellowish-white pubescence on base of lateral and ventral surfaces, and somewhat abundant brownish pubescence not obscuring integument on remaining surface, except yellowish pubescence on apex; with one long, erect dark-brown seta ventrally. Antennomeres III–XI with dense white pubescent ring basally, somewhat sparse yellowish pubescence on light-brown or reddish-brown integumental areas, and abundant dark-brown pubescence not obscuring integument on dark integument area; with short, erect yellowish-white setae interspersed throughout; III–VI with a few long, erect dark-brown setae interspersed ventrally. Antennal formula (ratio) based on length of antennomere III: scape = 1.03; pedicel = 0.14; IV = 0.89; V = 0.75; VI = 0.67; VII = 0.61; VIII = 0.61; IX = 0.61; X = 0.57; XI = 0.51.

Thorax. Prothorax wider than long; anterior and posterior constrictions distinct, narrow; lateral tubercles large, conical, with blunt apex directed upward, starting slightly from middle, ending near posterior fifth. Pronotum with one large tubercle with rounded apex on each side of anterior third and elongated tubercle centrally from anterior third to posterior fifth, distinctly less elevated than lateroanterior tubercles; sparsely, coarsely punctate, punctures forming irregular row near posterior margin; with abundant pubescence partially obscuring integument, except central tubercle partially glabrous; pubescence yellowish close to anterior margin and centrally from anterior margin to just before middle, pubescence sparser on this area; dark greenish brown on anterior third close to yellowish central pubescence; mostly yellowish brown on remaining surface with irregular dense yellowish-white pubescent spots and light yellowish-brown irregular maculae interspersed; with a few long, erect dark-brown setae on posterior third. Sides of prothorax with abundant yellowish-white pubescence partially obscuring integument, except glabrous anterior and posterior sulci and large dark pubescent maculae on posterior region of lateral tubercle. Prosternum with abundant yellowish-white pubescence partially obscuring integument laterally and abundant whitish pubescence not obscuring integument centrally, except glabrous anterior sulcus; Prosternal process with abundant whitish pubescence not obscuring integument on anterior 3/4 and sparse whitish pubescence on posterior quarter; narrowest area 0.16 times procoxal width. Central area of mesoventrite with abundant whitish pubescence not obscuring integument, sparse whitish pubescence anterocentrally, and dense whitish pubescence on remaining surface. Mesanepisterna and mesepimera with abundant yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument. Mesoventral process parallel-sided on posterior half; apex truncate, slightly notched centrally; with abundant whitish pubescence not obscuring integument; apical width 0.36 times mesocoxal width. Metanepisterna with dense yellowish-brown pubescence, pubescence lighter on posterior third. Metaventrite with dense whitish pubescence laterally, pubescence slightly sparser on remaining surface, except glabrous metathoracic discrimen. Scutellum with dense yellowish-white pubescence centrally, pubescence slightly sparser, more yellowish apically, abundant yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument on sides of posterior half, and subglabrous on sides of anterior half. Elytra. Somewhat sparsely, coarsely punctate on anterior third, punctures finer, distinctly sparser toward apex on remaining surface; centrobasal crest slightly elevated, with abundant, long, erect dark-brown setae on top; apex obliquely, slightly concave; pubescence abundant, mostly greenish brown and yellowish brown, with somewhat abundant white pubescent spots and small maculae on sides of dorsal surface, laterally, and close to suture on anterior third, dark-brown pubescent spots throughout, and sparse, short, narrow yellowish pubescent bands between middle and posterior quarter, except abundant yellowish pubescence not obscuring integument on orangish-brown integumental area on anterior third, abundant black or dark-brown pubescence not obscuring integument on black integumental areas, abundant light yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument on posterior quarter of dorsal surface, dashed light yellowish-brown pubescent band close to suture, pubescence lighter on posterior quarter, and dense yellowish-white pubescent macula dorsally on posterior quarter, almost capital letter pi-shaped when considering both elytra; erect dark-brown setae moderately abundant. Legs. Coxae and trochanters with abundant whitish pubescence not obscuring integument. Femora with abundant whitish pubescence not obscuring integument ventrally and on peduncles; femoral clubs with abundant whitish pubescence not obscuring integument on basal third of sides, abundant yellowish brown pubescence not obscuring integument on basal third of dorsal surface, abundant whitish pubescence not obscuring integument on remaining inner surface of profemora, abundant whitish pubescence not obscuring integument on inferior region of inner surface of meso- and metafemora, this pubescent area projected toward center about middle and apex, dense yellow pubescence on apex of dorsal surface and superior half of sides, abundant greenish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument on remaining dorsal surface and sides. Tibiae with sparse dark yellowish-brown pubescence on basal third, with short, erect yellowish-white setae interspersed on all tibiae and a few long, erect dark-brown setae on dorsal surface of metatibiae; light integumental area with abundant white pubescence not obscuring integument, with sparse, short, erect white setae on all tibiae and a few short, thick, erect dark-brown setae on sides and ventral surface of meso- and metatibiae; apical half of dorsal and lateral surfaces of protibia with moderately abundant brownish pubescence not obscuring integument, sparse, short, erect yellowish setae interspersed, and a few long, erect dark-brown setae on sides; ventral surface of apical 2/3 of protibiae with abundant, bristly dark yellowish-brown pubescence, darker depending on light intensity and source, with a few long, erect dark-brown setae close to lateral margins; apical half of dorsal and lateral surfaces of meso- and metatibiae with moderately sparse dark-brown pubescence, with short, decumbent whitish setae interspersed, except inferior region of inner side with abundant whitish pubescence; ventral surface of meso- and metatibiae with abundant, slightly bristly dark-brown pubescence; dorsal surface of mesotibiae with abundant, thick, short, erect blackish setae; ventral surface of mesotibiae with sparse, thick, short, erect blackish setae ventrally; metatibiae with sparse, thick, short, erect blackish setae throughout and a few long, erect dark-brown setae interspersed. Dorsal surface of protarsomeres I–II with abundant white pubescence partially obscuring integument, except sparser pubescence on apex; dorsal surface of III with abundant white pubescence partially obscuring integument, except almost glabrous apices of lobes; dorsal surface of IV with a few short, decumbent brown setae; basal 2/3 of V with abundant white pubescence partially obscuring integument and apical third with sparse dark yellowish-brown pubescence. Dorsal surface of meso- and metatarsomeres I and V with abundant white pubescence partially obscuring integument on basal 2/3 and apical third with sparse dark yellowish-brown pubescence; basal half of II with abundant white pubescence partially obscuring integument and apical half with sparse dark yellowish-brown pubescence; III with abundant white pubescence partially obscuring integument except subglabrous apex of lobes; IV with moderately abundant white pubescence not obscuring integument. Metatarsomere I 1.9 times longer than II–III together.

Abdomen. Ventrites with abundant light yellowish-brown pubescence laterally and abundant whitish pubescence on remaining surface, both not obscuring integument; apical third of ventrite 5 with sparse long, erect dark-brown setae interspersed; apex of ventrite 5 widely concave.

Female (24–25). Similar to males, but differing: antennae shorter, 1.85 times elytral length, reaching elytral apex near apex of antennomere VII; femoral clubs slightly more slender; and abdominal ventrite 5 with glabrous band anterocentrally.

Dimensions in mm (Holotype male/ paratype males/ paratype females). Total length, 7.05/5.65–7.60/6.95–8.20; prothoracic length, 1.30/1.00–1.45/1.15–1.35; anterior prothoracic width, 1.40/1.10–1.60/1.40–1.65; posterior prothoracic width, 1.65/1.20–1.80/1.50–1.85; maximum prothoracic width, 2.05/1.50–2.25/1.95–2.30; humeral width, 2.55/1.90–2.75/2.45–2.85; elytral length, 4.90/4.00–5.20/4.75–5.85.

Type material. Holotype male from ECUADOR, Pichincha: El Septimo Paraiso Hotel , 1600 m, Mindo, 4 Jul 2023, J. Vlasak leg. ( MZSP) . Paratypes — 5 males and 5 females, same data as holotype (1 female MZSP, 5 males and 4 females JVCO) .

Etymology. We name this species after the native Andean ethnic group of Quechua. It is a noun in apposition.

Remarks. Leptocometes quechua sp. nov. is similar to Leptocometes brevicornis, Vlasak, Santos-Silva & Nascimento, 2020 (see photographs on Bezark (2025), in Vlasak et al. (2020), and in Vlasak & Santos-Silva (2022)), but differs as follows: apex of lateral tubercles of prothorax blunt; erect elytral setae more abundant; and tarsomeres I distinctly wider basally. In L. brevicornis , the apex of the lateral tubercles of the prothorax is acute, the erect elytral setae are sparse, and the tarsomeres I are distinctly slender basally. Although the color of the pubescence of the pronotum and elytra is considerably different, it was not used to differentiate the species because it is variable in L. brevicornis .

Figures

FIGURES 20–25. Leptocometes quechua sp. nov. 20–23) Holotype male: 20) Dorsal habitus; 21) Ventral habitus; 22) Lateral habitus; 23) Head, frontal view. 24–25) Paratype female: 24) Dorsal habitus; 25) Ventral habitus.