Metamasius hooveri 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 : 60-62

Metamasius hooveri Anderson , new species

( Figs. 74­75 , 80­85 )

Identification.—This species is similar to the somewhat difficult to characterize M. sulcirostris but is very easily recognized by the distinct elytral pattern of two or four somewhat swollen short orange lines on interval 4 (which slightly distort the elytral striae) ( Figs. 74­ 75 ), the distinct double row of setae on the ventral surface of the rostrum (abraded in some specimens but indicated by an irregular short row of micropilose subcontiguous punctures), and the form of the pilosity on the ventrites of both sexes ( Fig. 85 ). In dorsal view, the basal expanded portion of the rostrum has a very fine, shallow median sulcus which extends just beyond the end of the expanded portion onto the narrower part of the rostrum.

Description.— Male, length, 11.5­12.4 mm; width, 4.6­5.2 mm. Female, length, 12.2­ 12.9 mm; width, 5.0­ 5.3 mm. Color black to dark brown except for four slightly swollen short orange lines on the elytral disc, one pair at anterior one­third of elytral length, the other pair just behind the middle, both on interval 4 (adjacent areas of intervals 3 and 5 may be piceous as well); these short lines may be merged into two longer lines in some specimens. Dorsal surface with fine velvety coating obscuring underlying cuticle.

Rostrum slightly shorter than pronotum; elongate, moderately robust, cylindrical, evenly curved, moderately coarsely punctate dorsally at base otherwise very finely, shallowly punctate; apical one­third glabrous and virtually impunctate; base of rostrum slightly, gradually expanded in dorsal view only, basal expanded area about one­third total rostral length, in dorsal view with very fine, shallow median sulcus which extends just beyond end of expanded portion onto narrower part of rostrum. Rostrum ventrally with distinct double row of setae (abraded in some specimens but indicated by an irregular short row of micropilose subcontiguous punctures); peduncle flat; bilamellate anteriorly. Scrobe with posterior margin separated from anterior margin of eyes by about width of base of scape. Antennal scape long, slightly more than one­half length rostrum; club slightly laterally compressed, elongate­oval; apical pilose part subequal to length basal glabrous part. Pronotum with lateral margins subparallel in basal one­half to three­fifths, moderately convergent to subapex, apex tubulate; moderately densely, shallowly punctate, moreso on flanks than on disc; shallowly transversely impressed medially anterior to base. Pronotal length slightly greater than width. Elytral length one and two­thirds times length pronotum; striae and intervals impunctate, flat, except interval 4 slightly swollen at each orange maculation, swelling slightly distorting striae. Scutellum broadly “V” shaped, slightly longer than width at base, slightly concave. Pygidium flat or very slightly convex, with sparsely setose median line in apical one­half, not tumescent; coarsely deeply punctate and setose in apical one­half; apex broadly rounded; apical margin with continuous row of dense, long setae. Ventrally with front coxae separated by about one­quarter to one­third width of coxa; prosternum densely regularly punctate, slightly concave at middle, flat between and anterior to front coxae. Lateral portions of meso­, metasternum and ventrites sparsely, shallowly, regularly punctate; middle of metasternum and ventrites 1 to 3 similarly punctate, not shining; male with midline of ventrites 2 to 4 sparsely, finely setose, except for segment 1 with large median patch of longer, appressed golden hairs, and also with segment 5 with round patch of long hairs and two tufts of longer, dense, erect golden hairs on each side at midlength; female with segments 3­5 with moderately dense, very long, appressed fine hairs in broad patch along midline. Legs moderate in length, shallowly punctate, finely setose; femora clavate, hind femur reaching midlength of ventrite 5; inner margins of tibiae with setae short, sparse on front tibiae, finer and longer on middle and hind tibiae; all tibiae straight. Tarsi each with third article widely dilated, pilose ventrally except in “U” shaped area in basal two­thirds; all tarsi with third articles symmetrical and with apical margins very slightly emarginate.

Sexual dimorphism.—The ventral surface of the ventrites is quite different in males and females of this species. In males, the midline of all segments is finely sparsely setose with segment 5 bearing two tufts of of longer, dense, erect hairs on each side of midline at midlength; in females, segments 3­5 have moderately dense, very long, appressed fine hairs in a broad patch along the midline.

Variation.—Specimens from Limon Province have 2 short tumid lines on interval 4 on each elytron, whereas specimens from Heredia Province have the 2 short lines on each elytron joined into a single longer, tumid line.

Material Examined.— Male HOLOTYPE labelled “Sector Cerro Cocori, Fca. De E. / Rojas, 150m, Prov. Limón, / Costa Rica. Mar 1993. E. Rojas / L­N­286000,567500”, INBio barcode 1406710 (INBC). Female ALLOTYPE labelled “Sector Cerro Cocori, Finca de E. Rojas. / Prov. Limón, Costa Rica, 150m Ago. / 1993. E. Rojas / L­N­286000­ 567500 #2291”, INBio barcode 1136510 (INBC). PARATYPES (9, 1). COSTA RICA. HEREDIA PROVINCE. Estacion Biologia La Selva, 50­150 m, 10°26'N, 84°01'W, Proj. ALAS, 16 Oct 1995 (1; 2731810); 1 Dic 1995 (1; 2731870); 28 May 1998 (1; 2227367); XII.1996 ­ II.1997 (1). LIMON PROVINCE. R.N.F.S. Barra del Colorado, Rio Sardinas, 10m, 25 Aug 1992, F. Araya, L­N 291500, 564700 (1; 807106). Sector Cerro Cocori, Finca de E. Rojas, 150m, Mar 1991, E. Rojas, L­N­286000­567500 (1; 624727); Oct 1991 (1; 618194); Jun 1993, #2179 (1; 1935288). Sector Cedrales de la Rita, 3 km N. del Puente Rio Suerte, Ruta Puerto Lindo, 10m, Apr 1996, E. Rojas, L­ N­278600, 566500, #7236 (1; 2463363). Hacienda Tapezco, Tortuguero (29 km. W.), 10º30'N, 83º47'W, 40m, 13 March 1978, J.P. Donahue et al. (1). Paratypes in CMNC, CWOB, INBC, LACM.

Distribution.— Costa Rica (Heredia, Limon).

Natural history.—All specimens have been collected in lowland rainforest. No other information is available.

Derivation of specific name.— Through their support of the Nature Discovery Fund at the Canadian Museum of Nature, this species is named after Ruth Hoover of Cardinal, Ontario, Canada as a gift from her sister Judith Umbach.

Figures

FIGURES 72 - 75. Metamasius species. 72 - 73. Metamasius gallettae Anderson. 72. Dorsal habitus. 73. Lateral habitus. 74 - 75. Metamasius hooveri Anderson. 74. Dorsal habitus. 75. Lateral habitus.

FIGURES 80 ­ 85. Metamasius hooveri Anderson. 80. Lateral view of head, male. 81. Lateral view of head, female. 82. Antenna. 83. Hind leg, male. 84. Pygidium, male. 85. Apex of abdomen, female.