Metamasius vaurieae Anderson

Anderson, Robert S., 2002, The Dryophthoridae of Costa Rica and Panama: Checklist with keys, new synonymy and descriptions of new species of Cactophagus, Mesocordylus, Metamasius and Rhodobaenus (Coleoptera; Curculionoidea), Zootaxa 80, pp. 1-94 : 73-75

Metamasius vaurieae Anderson , new species

( Figs. 105­106 , 119­123 )

Identification.—This species is easily recognized by its small size (<7 mm in length) and appearance of a Rhodobaenus rather than a typical Metamasius . Among Metamasius it has a characteristic color pattern ( Figs. 105­106 ); a long narrow cylindrical evenly curved rostrum with the basal portion abruptly swollen immediately anterior to the eyes, the antennae inserted by about the width of the base of the scape from the anterior margin of the eyes ( Figs. 119­120 ); femora clavate, long and narrow, the hind femur almost reaching the apex of the pygidium ( Fig. 122 ); pygidium with the apical one­half sharply carinate and setose but not tumescent ( Fig. 123 ). In its small size and color pattern this species most closely resembles M. scutiger and Cactophagus condylus (Vaurie) .

Description.— Male, length 6.0­ 6.9 mm; width 2.4­2.5 mm. Female, length, 6.1­6.3 mm; width 2.3­2.5 mm. Color black and red. Head and rostrum black except for small reddish spot laterally on swollen basal portion of rostrum. Pronotum with median broad black line and lateral broad black line at lateral declivity; flanks with narrower black line immediately dorsad of front coxae. Elytra red with black “V” shaped vitta at middle extended from sutural interval to interval 2; also with elytral intervals 6 to 10 variously black or infuscate in posterior one­half. Ventrally with prosternum, lateral portions of metasternum and lateral portions of ventrites 2­5 red; otherwise black.

Rostrum subequal to length pronotum; elongate, narrow, cylindrical, evenly curved, virtually impunctate except for scattered shallow punctures near base; base of rostrum abruptly expanded in dorsal and lateral views, basal expanded area very short, about onesixth total rostral length; rostrum glabrous ventrally; peduncle flat. Scrobe with posterior margin sepaarted from anterior margin of eyes by about width of base of scape. Antennal scape long, about two­thirds length rostrum; club slightly laterally compressed, oval; apical pilose part subequal in length to basal glabrous part. Pronotum slightly longer than wide; lateral margins subparallel in basal one­half, moderately convergent to apex; sparsely and shallowly punctate in basal median area and laterally; moderately deeply transversely impressed subbasally. Elytra twice as long as pronotum; with striae and intervals impunctate, flat. Scutellum “V” shaped, length twice width at base, flat. Pygidium with apical one­half sharply carinate and setose, not tumescent; lateral margins at apex also setose; apex subtruncate. Ventrally with front coxae separated by slightly less than one­half width of coxa; prosternum somewhat convex between front coxae; flat anterior to coxae. Meso­ and metasterna and ventrites virtually impunctate; last ventrite of male with sparse, short setae, very slightly impressed at middle. Legs elongate, shiny, virtually impunctate except shallowly punctate towards apex femora; femora clavate, long and narrow, hind femur almost reaching apex of pygidium; inner margins of all tibiae and femora with only very short, sparse setae; all tibiae slightly inwardly arcuate. Tarsi each with third article widely dilated, completely pilose ventrally; front tarsus with third article symmetrical, third article of middle and hind tarsi asymmetrical, outer lobe noticeably wider than inner lobe; apical margin of third articles truncate.

Sexual dimorphism.—No significant sexual dimorphism was noted except for the slight, finely setose impression at the apex of the last ventrite in the male.

Material examined.—Male HOLOTYPE labelled “ Costa Rica: Prov./ Puntarenas, 1 km / SE Monte Verde, / 1500­1600m / 10°18’N, 84°48’”, “ 16.viii.1976 / H.A. Hespenheide”, “palm leaf” (INBC). Female ALLOTYPE labelled “Est. La Casona, 1520m / Res. Biol. Monteverde, / Prov. Punt. Costa Rica / J.C. Saborio, Oct. 1991 / L­N­253250, 449700”. INBio barcode 578208 (INBC). PARATYPES (2, 3). COSTA RICA. PUNTARENAS PROVINCE. Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, 10°20'42" N, 84°47'53" W, 8.IX.1998, 1700m, C.W. & L.B. O’Brien (1); 14.VI.2001, 1650m, R. Anderson, on stems/roots of epiphytic Araceae (2). Estacion Biologia Monteverde, 10°19'10" N, 84°48'57" W, 10.VI.2001, 1800m, N. Franz (1); 12.VI.2001, 1730m, R. Anderson, on stems/roots of epiphytic Araceae (1). Paratypes in CMNC, CWOB.

Distribution.— Costa Rica (Puntarenas).

Natural history.—Specimens were collected from 1500­1800m elevation in the vicinity of Monteverde and Santa Elena in Puntarenas province. Three specimens were collected by beating the roots and stems of epiphytic Araceae . The holotype was collected on a ‘palm leaf’ but this is likely incidental.

Derivation of specific name.—This species is named after Patricia Vaurie (1909­ 1982). Her extensive works on the genus Metamasius ( Vaurie 1966, 1967a) and other related genera still serve as the primary reference works for the study of these weevils. An obituary and bibliography was published in in 1982 in the journal, The Coleopterists Bulletin 36: 453­457.

Comments.—This species was first recognized as new by Patricia Vaurie in 1978. She placed a determination label on the holotype questioning whether it was perhaps Metamasius scutiger Champion , another small, but distinct species described from neighbouring Panama.

Figures

FIGURES 101 - 108. Metamasius species. 101 - 102. Metamasius richdeboeri Anderson. 101. Dorsal habitus. 102. Lateral habitus. 103 - 104. Metamasius shchepaneki Anderson. 103. Dorsal habitus. 104. Lateral habitus. 105 - 106. Metamasius vaurieae Anderson. 105. Dorsal habitus. 106. Lateral habitus. 107 - 108. Metamasius wolfensohni Anderson. 107. Dorsal habitus. 108. Lateral habitus.

FIGURES 119 ­ 123. Metamasius vaurieae Anderson. 119. Lateral view of head, male. 120. Lateral view of head, female. 121. Antenna. 122. Hind leg, male. 123. Pygidium, male.