Metamasius burcheri 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 : 55-57

Metamasius burcheri Anderson , new species

( Figs. 55­56 , 68­71 )

Identification.—This species is easily recognized by the elongate­narrow form of the pronotum ( Fig. 55 ); short rostrum and legs ( Fig. 56 ); short pilose apex of the antennal club ( Fig. 69 ); and long, narrow scutellum. There is no tooth at the apex of the tibia as in the superfically similar Mexican species M. flavopictus (Champion) . This species appears to be most closely related to, and similar to, M. bromeliadicola and M. dimidiatipennis .

Description.— Male, not known. Female, length, 9.8­11.9 mm; width 4.0­ 4.9 mm. Color black and red. Head and rostrum black. Pronotum black, with two elongate red spots (slightly convergent anteriorly) at apical one­third. Elytra black, with red humeri, short oblique red band at basal one­third extended from interval 2 to 8, red spot at apical one­third on intervals 2­5, and apical one­quarter piceous. Ventrally black, with only lateral portions of ventrites 2­5 reddish; legs entirely black, or black, with femora red basally, tibia red throughout middle portion of length.

Rostrum short, about one­half length pronotum; somewhat robust, cylindrical, evenly but slightly curved, very finely, densely and shallowly punctate especially towards base; base of rostrum slightly expanded, basal expanded area short, about one­quarter total rostral length. Rostrum glabrous ventrally, bisulcate with sulci separated by sharp median carina; peduncle concave medially, with small rounded, ventrally directed, subapical tooth. Scrobe with posterior margin separated from anterior margin of eyes by about onehalf width of base of scape. Antennal scape about one­half length rostrum; club slightly laterally compressed, oval; apical pilose part one­quarter of total club length. Pronotum with lateral margins subparallel to slightly convergent in basal two­thirds, slightly more convergent to apex; virtually impunctate on disc, flanks with punctures sparse but moderately deep; flat subbasally. Pronotum very elongate­narrow, length one and one­third times width. Elytra one and one­half times length pronotum; with intervals impunctate, flat; striae with punctures moderately deep, moderately large. Scutellum elongate­narrow, “U” shaped, length three times width at base, flat. Pygidium sparsely but deeply punctate throughout, not to slightly carinate, not tumescent; lateral margins at apex finely setose; apex subtruncate. Ventrally with front coxae separated by slightly less than one­third width of coxa; prosternum flat between front coxae; slightly transversely swollen anterior to coxae. Meso­ and metasterna at most finely, sparsely and shallowly punctate, ventrites 1­4 with punctures larger, deeper, desnser laterally, sparse and shallow medially; last ventrite of female deeply punctate throughout, apex finely setose and very slightly impressed at middle. Legs short, virtually impunctate; femora clavate, short and robust, hind femur only reaching apex of ventrite 4; inner margins of all tibiae and femora with short, moderately dense setae; front and hind tibiae straight, middle tibia very slightly inwardly arcuate. Tarsi each with third article widely dilated, pilose ventrally except for large triangular glabrous spot and middle in basal one­half; all tarsi with third articles symmetrical; apical margin of third articles truncate.

Material examined.—Female HOLOTYPE labelled “Quebrada Segunda, P.N. / Tapanti, 1250m, Prov. / Cartago, Costa Rica. Ago / 1992, G. Mora / L­N 194000, 560000”, INBio barcode 803527 (INBC). PARATYPE (1). GUANACASTE PROVINCE.

Tilarán, Tierras Morenas, Rio San Lorenzo, 800m, 1 November 1993, G. Rodrguez, L_N 283950_424500 (1φ; 3355430) (CMNC).

Distribution. Costa Rica (Cartago).

Natural history.Nothing is known about the natural history of this species. It is closely related to species associated with bromeliads and likely is similarly associated. The two known specimens were collected in forest at 1250m in Cartago Province and 800m in Guanacaste Province.

Derivation of specific name. Through their support of the Nature Discovery Fund at the Canadian Museum of Nature, this species is named after Robert Percy Burcher of Calgary, Alberta, Canada as a gift from his children.

Figures

FIGURES 51 - 56. Metamasius species. 51 - 52. Metamasius atwoodi Anderson. 51. Dorsal habitus. 52. Lateral habitus. 53 - 54. Metamasius bellorum Anderson. 53. Dorsal habitus. 54. Lateral habitus. 55 - 56. Metamasius burcheri Anderson. 55. Dorsal habitus. 56. Lateral habitus.

FIGURES 68 ­ 71. Metamasius burcheri Anderson. 68. Lateral view of head, female. 69. Antenna. 70. Hind leg, female. 71. Pygidium, female.