Anisopodus inopinatus, 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 : 156-160

Anisopodus inopinatus sp. nov.

( Figs 8–13 , 53–54 )

Description. Holotype male ( Figs 8–11 ). Head capsule dark brown, except antennal tubercles mostly reddish brown, and gulamentum brown; ventral mouthparts reddish brown, except palpomeres partially yellowish brown; anteclypeus mostly dark yellowish brown with dark-brown areas, except dull yellowish-brown anterior area; labrum dark brown on posterior half, reddish brown on anterior half; mandibles partially dark reddish brown on basal third, black on remaining surface; scape and pedicel brown, more dark reddish brown depending on light intensity; antennomere III brown, more dark reddish brown depending on light intensity, except dark-brown apical area; antennomere IV light brown on basal quarter, more reddish brown depending on light intensity, dark brown apically, and brown on remaining surface; antennomeres V–XI orangish brown basally, dark brown apically, brown on remaining surface. Pronotum dark brown on anterior 3/4, lighter close to anterior margin, blackish on gibbosities, and brown close to posterior margin. Sides of prothorax dark brown. Prosternum reddish brown, except yellowish-brown central area. Prosternal process yellowish brown, except reddish-brown lateral margins. Mesoventrite light reddish brown centrally, reddish brown on remaining surface. Mesanepisterna and mesepimera dark brown. Mesoventral process light reddish brown. Metanepisterna and sides of metaventrite dark brown; central area of metaventrite reddish brown, except anterocentral area partially orangish brown. Scutellum mostly dark brown. Elytra partially blackish on circum-scutellar area, remaining area dark brown, gradually lighter toward apex, more dark reddish brown on some areas depending on light intensity, except large dull orangish-brown area on posterior third close to suture, this area gradually widened toward apex and with sparse brownish spots interspersed. Pro- and mesocoxae brown except orange area close to trochanters. Trochanters mostly orange. Femoral peduncles mostly orangish brown, more reddish depending on light intensity; femoral clubs dark brown. Protibiae brown, slightly darker toward apex; mesotibiae brown basally, dark brown on apical third, light brown on remaining surface, this last area darker orangish brown depending on light intensity; metatibiae brown basally, brown on apical third, brownish or remaining surface, this last area more reddish depending on light intensity. Protarsi mostly dark yellowish brown with dark-brown apex; meso- and metatarsomeres I orangish brown, except apex mostly dark brown; meso- and metatarsomeres II–III dark orangish brown basally, dark brown on remaining surface; meso- and metatarsomeres IV and basal half of V orangish brown, and apical half of V dark brown. Abdominal ventrites orange with irregular brown areas interspersed, dark areas more reddish depending on light intensity.

Head. Frons densely, very finely punctate; with abundant dull yellowish-brown pubescence, denser close to clypeus, slightly sparser toward vertex, except dense pale-yellow pubescence close to eyes and glabrous median groove; with one long, erect dark-brown seta close to eyes. Area between antennal tubercles with abundant dull yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument, except glabrous median groove. Area between antennal tubercles and upper eye lobes with sparse dull yellowish-brown pubescence laterally, glabrous centrally. Remaining surface of vertex with abundant yellow pubescence not obscuring integument, except glabrous median groove, this area widened anteriorly, brownish pubescent spot on each side of median groove after eyes, and brown pubescence close to prothorax. Area behind upper eye lobes with abundant yellowish-white pubescence superiorly close to eye, dense pale-yellow pubescence inferiorly close to eye, with abundant, minute dark-brown pubescence superiorly close to prothorax, glabrous inferiorly close to prothorax. Area behind lower eye lobes with dense yellow pubescence close to eye, moderately abundant yellowish-white pubescence not obscuring integument close to yellow pubescence, glabrous on remaining surface. Genae 0.3 times as long as lower eye lobe in frontal view; with sparse yellowish pubescence, except glabrous apex. Antennal tubercles with abundant dull yellowish-brown pubescence frontally, glabrous on base of dorsal surface, and moderately abundant yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument on remaining surface. Wide central area of postclypeus close to frons glabrous centrally and laterally, with abundant dull yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring on remaining surface; area close to anteclypeus with abundant yellowish-white pubescence centrally and abundant dull yellowish-brown pubescence laterally, both partially obscuring integument, and a few long yellowish-brown setae directed forward. Sides of postclypeus glabrous. Labrum with abundant whitish pubescence not obscuring integument on posterior half, glabrous on anterior half, except sparse, short yellowish setae on anterior margin; with a few long, erect dark-brown setae interspersed on posterior half. Gulamentum smooth, glabrous, except sparse yellowish-white pubescence on intermaxillary process. Outer sides of mandibles triangularly depressed on basal 2/3; depressed area with abundant yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument; remaining surface smooth, glabrous. Distance between upper eye lobes 0.24 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 2.1 times elytral length, reaching elytral apex at apical fifth of antennomere VI. Scape slightly sinuous in lateral view; with abundant yellowish-brown pubescence partially obscuring integument, pubescence sparser ventrally; with a few long, erect dark-brown setae interspersed ventrally near apex. Pedicel with abundant yellowish-white pubescence not obscuring integument laterally and ventrally, and sparse yellowish-brown pubescence dorsally; with a few short, erect brownish setae interspersed ventrally. Antennomere III with abundant yellowish-white pubescence not obscuring integument, sparser on posterior half of dorsal surface and area near apex of sides, except dense yellow pubescence apically; with sparse, short, erect yellowish setae interspersed throughout, slightly longer ventrally. Antennomeres IV–XI with dense yellowish-white pubescence basally, this area distinctly shorter from VI, and abundant brownish pubescence not obscuring integument on remaining surface; with sparse, short, erect yellowish setae interspersed throughout. Antennal formula (ratio) based on length of antennomere III: scape = 1.20; pedicel = 0.17; IV = 0.89; V = 0.67; VI = 0.60; VII = 0.50; VIII = 0.45; IX = 0.45; X = 0.43; XI = 0.42.

Thorax. Prothorax wider than long; anterior and posterior constrictions narrow, distinct; sides divergent, sinuous from anterior constriction to lateral tubercles, then convergent toward posterior constriction; lateral tubercles large, conical, with apex directed backward, located slightly before posterior quarter. Pronotum with large, slightly oblique, subelliptical gibbosity on each side of anterior half, with elongated gibbosity centrally, from slightly before middle to posterior fifth;depressed on anterior third between anterolateral gibbosities,distinctly depressed on each side of middle of posterior third; abundantly, coarsely punctate, except smooth apex of gibbosities; with dense, wide, longitudinal, irregular pubescent band centrally, from anterior quarter to posterior margin, pubescence pale yellow anteriorly, whitish posteriorly; central area on anterior quarter with sparse yellowish-white pubescence; apex of gibbosities glabrous; area close to central pubescent band with very sparse yellowish-brown pubescence; sides with abundant, both yellowish and whitish pubescence not obscuring punctures, except dense pale-yellow pubescence close to sides of prothorax; with a few long, erect dark-brown setae laterally on posterior quarter. Sides of prothorax abundantly, coarsely punctate, except smooth area close to anterior margin, this last area gradually widened toward prosternum; with abundant yellowish pubescence partially obscuring integument, pubescence denser, more yellowish-brown centrally close to pronotum.Prosternum with abundant yellowish 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, except glabrous area close to sides on anterior 2/3; narrowest area 0.34 times procoxal width; apex notched centrally. Anterior region of mesoventrite with dense yellowish pubescence centrally, partially glabrous on remaining surface; sides with abundant yellowish pubescence. Mesanepisterna with abundant yellowish-brown pubescence partially obscuring integument, pubescence partially absent on some irregular areas. Mesepimera with sparse yellowish-brown pubescence, except dense yellowish-brown pubescence close to elytron. Mesoventral process with dense yellowish pubescence; apex truncate; narrowest area 0.41 times mesocoxal width; apex 0.55 times mesocoxal width. Metanepisterna with abundant yellowish-brown pubescence not obscuring integument, pubescence denser anteriorly and posteriorly. Metaventrite with dense pale-yellow pubescence laterally, except irregular area close to metanepisterna with sparser pubescence, with abundant yellowish-white pubescence not obscuring integument anterocentrally, and abundant, bristly, golden pubescence on remaining central area. Scutellum with dense yellowish pubescence close to margins, dense yellowish brown on remaining surface, except brown pubescent spot on each side of middle. Elytra. Sides gradually converting from base to posterior quarter, then more strongly convergent toward apex; outer apex triangularly projected, sutural apex slightly projected, and area between them notched; abundantly, coarsely punctate, punctures finer, sparser from posterior third; humeral carina well marked from humerus to outer apical angle; area of centrobasal crest slightly tumid; with two, slightly distinct longitudinal carinae dorsally, innermost from area of centrobasal crest to about posterior third, outermost from near humerus to about posterior quarter; with irregular depressed areas dorsally; dorsal surface with abundant, irregular yellowish-white pubescence basally; blackish area mostly glabrous; with large macula with abundant whitish pubescence partially obscuring integument, from anterior eighth to after middle, posterocentral region triangularly projected backward, sides projected toward humeral carina about middle of macula, and subglabrous spots interspersed; remaining anterior third with sparse brownish pubescence, with irregular yellowish-brown pubescent maculae, and dense, both yellowish-brown and whitish spots interspersed; area close to large whitish pubescent macula with oblique band with sparse brown pubescence, this pubescent band more irregular close to humeral carina; with irregular white pubescent macula close to oblique brown pubescent band; remaining dorsal surface with abundant whitish pubescence close to suture, and irregular areas with sparse brown pubescence, with both, yellowish-brown and yellowish-white pubescence interspersed, and dense, both white and yellowish-white spots interspersed. Legs. Pro- and mesofemora with abundant yellowish-white pubescence not obscuring integument, except pale-yellow pubescent arc dorsally and laterally about middle of club, wide brown pubescent arc dorsally and laterally about posterior third of club, except dense yellow pubescence on apex; base of dorsal surface of mesofemoral club with brown pubescent macula. Metafemora with abundant whitish pubescence not obscuring integument, except yellowish pubescent arc dorsally and laterally about middle of club and brown pubescence not obscuring integument dorsally and laterally on apical region of club, except apex with dense light yellowish-brown pubescence; metafemora surpassing elytral apex about its posterior quarter. Tibiae with abundant yellowish pubescence not obscuring integument on basal 2/3 of pro- and mesotibiae and basal 3/4 of metatibiae, pubescence sparse basally on all tibiae, moderately abundant brownish pubescence with short, decumbent yellowish-brown setae interspersed on remaining dorsal and lateral surfaces of all tibiae, except ventral apex with abundant, bristly yellowish-brown pubescence; apical third of dorsal surface of mesotibiae with abundant, short, erect, dark-brown setae; protibiae strongly expanded on ventral apex; metatibiae arched. Dorsal surface of pro- and mesotarsi with sparse yellowish pubescence; dorsal surface of basal 4/5 of metatarsomeres I with abundant whitish pubescence not obscuring integument; remaining surface of metatarsomeres I and entire surface of metatarsomeres II–V with sparse yellowish pubescence; metatarsomere I 4.6 times longer than II–III together.

Abdomen. Ventrites with abundant whitish pubescence not obscuring integument, except glabrous apex of ventrites 2–4; with moderately long, subdecumbent dark-brown setae interspersed centrally near apex of ventrites 1– 4, and long, suberect dark-brown setae interspersed on posterior quarter of ventrite 5. Apex of ventrite 5 concave.

Female ( Figs 12–13 , 54 ). Similar to males, differing: antennae slightly shorter, 1.95 times elytral length, reaching elytral apex about middle of antennomere VII, metafemora shorter, not reaching elytral apex, and anterocentral region of abdominal ventrite 5 with longitudinal glabrous area.

Dimensions in mm (holotype male/ paratype male/ paratype females). Total length, 11.10/11.25/10.15–11.40; prothoracic length, 1.80/1.90/1.55–1.80; anterior prothoracic width, 1.95/2.20/1.80–2.05; posterior prothoracic width, 2.30/2.40/2.00–2.30; maximum prothoracic width, 3.15/3.30/2.60–3.15; humeral width, 3.75/3.90/3.45– 3.95; elytral length, 7.85/7.80/7.60–8.50.

Type material. Holotype male from ECUADOR, Pichincha: El Septimo Paraiso hotel, 1600 m, Mindo, 4 Jul 2023, J. Vlasak leg. ( MZSP, formerly JVCO) . Paratypes — 1 male, same data as holotype ( JVCO) , 7 females, same data as holotype (1 MZSP, 6 JVCO) .

Etymology. We name this species “inopinatus ” (Latin, meaning unexpected) because it was a surprise to us to discover yet another (seventh, including Leptocometes quechua described in this work) new species at the grounds of the El Septimo Paraiso hotel, which the first author visited many times.

Remarks. Anisopodus inopinatus sp. nov. is similar to Anisopodus cochabambaensis Schmid, 2016 (see photographs on Bezark (2025), in Schmid (2016), and in Nascimento & Santos-Silva (2019)) but differs as follows: distance between upper eye lobes 1.3 times maximum diameter of scape; and metafemoral club longer and not abruptly widened basally. In A. cochabambaensis , the distance between the upper eye lobes is 1.8 times the maximum diameter of the scape, and the metafemoral club is shorter and abruptly widened basally. The new species is also similar to Anisopodus micromaculatus Vlasak & Santos-Silva (2023) (see photographs on Bezark (2025) and in Vlasak & Santos-Silva (2023)) but differs as follows: body stouter, especially in females; different elytral pubescent pattern; and metatarsomere I proportionally shorter in both sexes, in males, almost twice the width between apex of outer elytral spines, about as wide in females. In A. micromaculatus , the body is slender in both sexes, the elytral pubescent pattern is different, and the metatarsomere I is proportionally shorter, in male, slightly wider than the width between the apices of the outer elytral spines, slightly narrower in females.

It is possible that the metatibiae could be straight or nearly so in some males of A. inopinatus . This also occurs in male of other species of Acanthocinini as, for example, in males of Paranisopodus heterotarsus Monné & Martins, 1976 ( Nascimento & Santos-Silva 2019).

Figures

FIGURES 8–13. Anisopodus inopinatus sp. nov. 8–11) Holotype male: 8) Dorsal habitus; 9) Ventral habitus; 10) Lateral habitus; 11) Head, frontal view. 12–13) Paratype female: 12) Dorsal habitus; 13) Ventral habitus.

FIGURES 53–60. Acanthocinini spp., dorsal habitus. 53–54) Anisopodus inopinatus sp. nov., paratypes: 53) Male; 54) Female. 55–60) Sfina nubicola sp. nov., paratypes from Ecuador: 55) Female from Napo (Papallacta); 56) Female from Zamora Chinchipe (Cerro Tapichalaca); 57) Female from Zamora Chinchipe (Cerro Tapichalaca); 58) Male from Zamora Chinchipe (Cerro Tapichalaca); 59) Female from Napo (Papallacta); 60) Male from Zamora Chinchipe (Cerro Tapichalaca).