Erythropterus kochi, Clarke, 2007

Clarke, Robin O. S., 2007, New Species Of Rhinotragini And Heteropsini And A Note On Trachelissa Maculicollis (Trachyderini) (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Cerambycinae), Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia 47 (11), pp. 153-158 : 156-158

Erythropterus kochi sp. nov.

( Figs. 5, 6 )

Etymology: This species has been named after Paul Koch, stalwart companion of many field trips.

Male: Head, scutellum, apical tenth of elytra, centre of prosternum, mesosternum, metasternum, urosternites, antennae and legs black; rest of elytra and pronotum crimson, the latter often suffused dusky.

Front elongate, closely punctured, punctures with short setose pubescence (40x). Genae less than half as long as inferior lobes of eyes. Antennae reach apical fifth of elytra (base of fourth urosternite). Scape cylindrical, densely punctured, one third shorter than III; subequal to IV, shorter than V. Antennomeres III-V shining and bicarinate, uniformly punctate-reticulate. Antennomere III half as long again as IV, longer than V-XI, VI-X expanded at apical angle.

Prothorax slightly elongate, sides rounded anteriorly, almost parallel sided for basal half, widest at basal third, front margin narrower than hind margin. Pronotum closely punctured throughout; punctures regular, shallow, alveolate, not confluent.

Prosternum sparsely pubescent, denser on intercoxal process; regularly and coarsely punctured. Mesosternum, metasternum and urosternites densely and finely pubescent, mesosternal process, centre of metasternum and urosternites with longer, erect hairs; punctures fine and dense, mixed with moderately close, larger punctures on metasternum.

Elytra not covering entire abdomen, exposing apical tergite, flattened, humeral projection acuminate; apices truncate, outer and sutural angles furnished with small spines, almost absent in some examples; glabrous; densely punctate, interstices distinctly microsculptured; sutural borders parallel at apex. Epipleura reflexed, moderately sinuous behind humeri, exposing metepisternum. Scutellum rounded, glabrous, impunctate.

Femora alveolate, punctures microsculptured, interstices smooth. Meso- and metafemora slender, moderately clavate, peduncles carinate. Metafemora distinctly surpassing apex of elytra. Metatibiae finely carinate on internal and external sides. Metatarsus elongate, first tarsomere longer than the following combined.

Female: antennae shorter, reaching apical third of elytra (base of second urosternite); antennomere III distinctly longer than V-XI.

Measurements (mm), male/female respectively: total length 7,7-10,1/8,4-10,2; length of pronotum 1,4-2,0/1,6-2,0; maximum width of pronotum 1,3-1,8/1,4-1,9; length of elytra 4,9-6,3/5,3-6,5; width at humeri 1,3-2,1/1,7-2.1.

Type material: Holotype male, BOLIVIA, Santa Cruz: Hotel Flora & Fauna , 5 km SSE Buena Vista, 17°29’96”S/63°39’13”W, 420 m, 7.X.2005, R. Clarke / S. Zamalloa col., flying to/on flowers of “Sama Blanca Chica ” ( MNKM). Paratypes with same data as holotype, 1 male and 1 female 8.X.2005 ( DZUP); 1 male and 1 female 7.X.2005 ( FSCA); 2 males and 3 females 9.X.2006 ( MNHN); 1 female 8.X.2005 ( MNKM); 1 male 7.X.2005, 1 female 8.X.2005 ( MNRJ); 1 male 7.X.2005, 1 female 8.X.2005 ( MZSP); 1 male and 1 female 8.X.2005, 1 male 17.X.2006, 4 males and 1 female 18.X.2006, 2 males and 1 female 19.X.2006, 1 male 21.X.2006 ( RCSZ). Paratypes visiting different plant from holotype: 1 male 26.X.2005, 1 female 30.X.2005, on flowers of “Sama Blanca” ( MCSZ); 1 female 29.VIII.2005, on flower of “Barbasquillo” vine ( RCSZ); 1 female 9.X.2005, on flower of “Turere” ( RCSZ); 1 male 7.XI.2005, 1 female 8: XI.2005, on flower of “Sama Blanca” ( RCSZ) .

Discussion: Erythropterus kochi sp. nov. is closely related to E. urucuri , differing in the distribution of black pigment, length of metafemora and metatarsi, and other differences requiring further comment.

The head of E. kochi is always entirely black; pronotum is crimson and often suffused dusky; the centre of prosternum is broadly black, the colour intense and contrasting with the crimson sides of the pronotum by well marked borders. The head of E. urucuri is entirely black or may be suffused reddish; prothorax and elytra reddish orange, not crimson, and pronotum not suffused dusky; and only the extreme tip of elytra are darkened by a dusky suffusion, whereas in E. kochi the dark apical band is considerably wider and black.

The length of the metafemora (whether or not they surpass the apex of the elytra) is a character given importance by Napp and Monné (2005) in their key. The metafemora of E. kochi clearly surpass the apex of the elytra, those of male E. urucuri just attain the apex of the elytra and those of the females fall short.

The metatarsus of E. kochi are considerably longer than those of E. urucuri , the ratio of tarsal length to length of metatibia is 7:10, in E. urucuri it is 6:11; and the first metatarsomere of E. kochi is equal in length to the following combined (both 3,6 units), in E. urucuri it is shorter than the following combined (2.4:2.9 units).

In E. kochi the sides of the pronotum are less rounded than those of E. urucuri , which are somewhat irregularly curved, even slightly sinuate at middle in some examples, then rounded to base.

In E. kochi the apices of the elytral do not diverge from one another, the suture remains straight to apex, in E. urucuri the apices diverge away from the suture to form a distinct angle between them.

The differences between E. kochi and the other species of the genus are outlined in the discussion under E. boliviensis and given in the key to the species.

The key which follows is a basic one which I believe will compliment the key given by Napp and Monné (2005), and is justified by the lengthy discussions given under each of the Bolivian species.

Figures

FIGURAS 1-8: 1-2. Neoregostoma giesberti sp. nov., paratypes, 1. male, 2. female; 3-4. Erythropterus boliviensis sp. nov., paratypes, 3. male, 4. female; 5-6. Erythropterus kochi sp. nov., paratypes, 5. male, 6. female, 7-8. Trachelissa maculicollis (Audinet-Serville, 1834), 7. normal form, 8. melanic form.