Paragnorimus howdeni Smith, 2010

Smith, Andrew B. T., 2010, Three new species of Paragnorimus Becker from Central America (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae: Trichiini) with a redefinition of the genus, Insecta Mundi 2010 (126), pp. 1-8 : 6-7

Paragnorimus howdeni Smith , new species

Fig. 3-4 , 8, 10

Type locality. Cerro de Mono (2275 m), Zacapa, Guatemala.

Type series. Holotype male and allotype female at UNSM labeled “ GUATEMALA, Zacapa / Cerro de Mono , 2275m / May 25-28, 1997 / E. Giesbert, coll.” (typeset). Eleven male paratypes at ABTS (2), CMNC (3), UNSM (5), UVGC (1) all with identical data labels to the holotype and allotype. All types listed above also bear my red or yellow type label.

Description of holotype. Male. Length 10.0 mm, width 5.0 mm. Color: dorsal surface of head, pronotum, scutellum dark olive green; elytra with dull orange and dark olive green pattern ( Fig. 3 ). Ventral surface shiny dark green. Legs shiny dark green with tan tarsi. Head. Surface setose with dull-green matt, punctures obscured. Clypeus weakly emarginated, apical margin not elevated, length approximately equal to width, constricted basally at antennal insertion. Head without cretaceous markings. Antennae with 10 antennomeres, club length shorter than length of antennomeres 2-7. Maxillae with long, thin brush protruding beyond clypeus in dorsal view. Mentum thickly setose, obscuring surface. Pronotum. Surface setose with dull-green matt, punctures obscured. Marginal bead complete; with cretaceous markings along apical bead (interrupted medially), basolateral bead, basal bead. Transverse medial cretaceous band almost obscured but represented by short, thin marks on either side of disc; transverse band not indented into surface. Elytra. Surface sparsely setose, matt. Cretaceous bands (2 on each side) thin, transverse; band 1 short, located post-humerally; band 2 more than twice as long, located medially. Elytral striae weakly defined near elytral suture with punctures and weak indentations, obscured laterally. Pygidium . Surface densely setose; disc completely covered by cretaceous markings, evenly convex. Venter. Thorax with numerous patches of cretaceous markings. Sternum densely setose with long setae obscuring surface. Abdominal sternites 2-5 with thick, transverse, cretaceous bands covering almost entire surface. Legs. Protibiae with 2 teeth near apex. Mesotibiae outer edge with a blade-like protrusion in the basal 2/ 3rds. Tibial spurs acute, unmodified. Tarsi with ventral tufts of setae. Parameres. Parameres highly modified apically with 2 distinct lateral teeth ( Fig. 8, 10 ).

Variation. Males: length 9.5-12.0 mm, width 4.5-5.0 mm. Male paratypes match the holotype description except some paratypes vary in the cretaceous markings of the pronotum. The transverse band in some specimens absent and markings along marginal bead sometimes reduced.

Sexual dimorphism. Female allotype: length 12.0 mm, width 5.5 mm. The female allotype differs in the following characters: Color: dorsal surface of head, pronotum, scutellum black; elytra with dull orange and black pattern ( Fig. 4 ). Ventral surface and legs black. Head. Surface shiny, sparsely setose, densely punctate. Clypeus distinctly emarginated. Pronotum. Surface shiny, sparsely setose, densely punctate. Marginal bead complete; with cretaceous markings isolated to small patches along basal bead. Transverse medial cretaceous band absent. Pygidium . Surface moderately setose; disc covered by cretaceous markings only in basal half, weakly convex. Venter. Thorax with isolated traces of cretaceous markings. Sternum moderately setose with long setae not obscuring surface. Abdominal sternites 2-5 with broken, transverse, cretaceous bands covering only a thin part of the apex. Legs. Mesotibiae without blade-like protrusion on outer edge. Tarsi without ventral tufts of setae.

Etymology. It is my pleasure to name this species for Henry Howden. The dedication of this species is in honor of Henry’s tremendous body of work on New World trichiines and for his collegiality and mentorship to me over the years.

Distribution. GUATEMALA - Zacapa (13): Cerro de Mono.

Temporal data. May (13).

Figures

Figure 1-6. Oblique view. 1-2) Paragnorimus hondurensis. 1) Male. 2) Female.3-4) Paragnorimus howdeni. 3) Male. 4) Female. 5-6) Paragnorimus atratus. 5) Male. 6) Female.

Figure 7-10. Male genitalia of the new species of Paragnorimus. 7) Parameres of Paragnorimus hondurensis. 8) Parameres of Paragnorimus howdeni. 9) Parameres of Paragnorimus atratus. 10) Lateral view of Paragnorimus howdeni.