Prionus (Prionus) fissicornis Haldeman, 1846

Santos-Silva, Antonio, Nearns, Eugenio H. & Swift, Ian P., 2016, Revision of the American species of the genus Prionus Geoffroy, 1762 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Prioninae, Prionini), Zootaxa 4134 (1), pp. 1-103 : 46-49

Prionus (Prionus) fissicornis Haldeman, 1846

( Figs. 38–41 , 99–102 , 181–182 )

Prionus fissicornis Haldeman, 1846: 125 ; 1847a: 374; LeConte, 1852a: 108; White, 1853: 17; Melsheimer, 1853: 100 (cat.); LeConte, 1858: 40 (distr.); 1859a: 19, 48; 1873: 289; Lacordaire, 1868: 61; Horn, 1872: 390 (distr.); Crotch, 1873: 83 (checklist); Putnam, 1876: 172 (distr.); Snow, 1878: 67 (distr.); Popenoe, 1878: 82 (distr.); Crotch, 1880: 83 (checklist); LeConte & Horn, 1883: 274; Leng, 1884: 57, 59; Blanchard, 1887: 86; Bateson, 1894: 412; Snow, 1903: 198 (distr.); Evans, 1906: 99 (distr.); Fall & Cockerell, 1907: 191 (distr.); Wickham, 1909: 28 (distr.); Casey, 1912: 250; Lameere, 1912a: 240; 1913: 17 (cat.); 1919: 138; Swenk, 1922: 200; Doane et al., 1936: 165; Brimley, 1938: 210 (distr.); Smith et al., 1943: 311; Alexander, 1958: 49 (distr.); Kirk & Balsbaugh, 1975: 97 (distr.); Stein & Tagestad, 1976: 31; Turnbow & Franklin, 1980: 347; Yanega, 1996: 27; Lingafelter, 2007: 12 (key), 138; Hart et al., 2013: 134, 139 (distr.).

Prionus (Antennalia) fissicornis ; Casey, 1924: 223; Linsley, 1957: 9; 1962: 49; Hovore et al., 1987: 294 (distr.); Chemsak et al., 1992: 21 (checklist); MacRae, 1993: 227 (distr.); Lingafelter & Horner, 1993: 165 (distr.); Monné & Giesbert, 1994: 15 (checklist); Monné, 1995: 55 (cat.); Chemsak, 1996: 113; Heffern, 1998a: 6 (distr.); Monné & Hovore, 2005: 21 (checklist); 2006: 20 (checklist); Özdikmen & Turgut, 2009: 410; Bezark & Monné, 2013: 26 (checklist).

Prionus (Antennalia) fissicornis transversus Casey, 1912: 251 ; Lameere, 1919: 138 (syn., in doubt); Linsley, 1957: 9 (syn.); Lingafelter et al., 2014: 63 (type).

Prionus (Antennalia) transversus ; Casey, 1924: 223.

Prionus (Antennalia) thoracicus Casey, 1924: 223 ; Linsley, 1957: 9 (syn.); Lingafelter et al., 2014: 333 (type).

Male ( Figs. 99–100 ). Integument from reddish-brown to dark-brown, frequently with head, pronotum, basal antennomeres and base of head darker.

Head, excluding mandibles, slightly shorter than prothorax at central area, not elongate behind eyes. Longitudinal dorsal furrow distinct from clypeus to anterior edge of prothorax, usually less conspicuous after posterior ocular edge. Area between antennal tubercles and base of eyes finely, abundantly punctate; central area between upper eye lobes finely, from sparsely to very sparsely punctate; area close to dorsal region of upper eye lobes coarsely, abundantly punctate (punctures usually confluent); central dorsal area between upper eye lobes and anterior edge of prothorax from finely, sparsely punctate to smooth; dorsal surface mostly glabrous, except for short setae close to upper eye lobes; area behind upper eye lobes moderately finely, abundantly punctate, mainly toward lower eye lobes, with short, sparse setae (denser and longer close to eye); area behind lower eye lobes somewhat rugose, with short sparse setae toward prothorax, distinctly longer and abundant closer to eye. Antennal tubercles finely, sparsely punctate on base, smooth toward apex; glabrous. Postclypeus laterally coarsely, confluently punctate, gradually sparsely, finely punctate toward center, that could be smooth; with moderately long, abundant setae laterally (they could be short and distinctly sparse). Anteclypeus not distinctly separated from postclypeus, mainly centrally; smooth, glabrous. Labrum moderately finely punctate, with some smooth areas; with very long, moderately sparse setae (denser close to anterior edge centrally); brush with long setae on anterior margin. Eyes large; distance between upper eye lobes from 0.40 to 0.45 times length of scape; distance between lower eye lobes from 0.30 to 0.35 times length of scape. Submentum trapezoid, distinctly narrower toward gula, slightly depressed, with anterior margin narrow, distinctly elevated; surface rugose, with short, sparse setae, distinctly denser close to eyes. Apex of labial palpi attaining apex of maxillary palpomere IV. Mandibles about 0.5 times as long as head; latero-basal one-third depressed. Antennae 25- to 33-segmented; nearly attaining middle of elytra. Scape finely, sparsely punctate (slightly denser on basal one-third); with short, sparse setae or almost glabrous. Antennomere III ( Fig. 38 ) from slightly shorter to as long as scape dorsally, distinctly enlarged toward apex (distal width equal to about 2.0 times basal width); imbrication very distinct, notably projected ( Fig. 38–40 ); apex of imbrication strongly bifurcate; outer lobe of imbrication distinctly shorter than inner one; dorsal surface finely, sparsely punctate. Dorsal surface of remaining antennomeres (except last one) finely, sparsely punctate, gradually denser toward antennal apex. Dorsal surface of last antennomere finely rugose. Lobes of imbrications of antennomeres gradually with similar length toward antennal apex. Last antennomere complex.

Maximum prothoracic width about equal to 0.8 times elytral base; anterolateral angles rounded, very slightly projected forward; lateral tooth acute, distinctly projected, placed at anterior one-half; basal tooth acute, distinctly projected; basal margin sinuous; distal margin centrally straight, laterally projected forward. Pronotum finely, abundantly punctate centrally; slightly coarser laterally; between those two regions, area with fine, sparse punctures (it can encompass basal and distal one-quarter); glabrous or with very sparse, short setae laterally; center of disc from convex to somewhat flat. Prosternum moderately finely, abundantly punctate, somewhat rugose laterally; with long, abundant setae throughout. Prosternal process not sulcate; with long, sparse setae centrally, almost glabrous on center of distal one-half; with long, abundant setae laterally, mainly toward apex. Elytra moderately coarsely, abundantly punctate, somewhat rugose toward apex; each elytron with three carinae, innermost two most distinct; sutural spine short, but distinct. Metasternum densely microsculptured; with long, dense setae. Metepisterna with sculpture and setae as that of metasternum.

Ventrite I with long, sparse setae; ventrites II–IV with setae shorter, sparser than on I; ventrites I–IV finely, sparsely punctate; ventrite V finely, sparsely punctate on basal one-half, denser on distal one-half; ventrite V with short, sparse setae on basal one-half, denser on distal one-half. Tarsomeres I–III moderately slender, metatarsomeres more so; protarsomeres I–II acute at apex of lobes; meso- and metatarsomeres I–III spined at apex of lobes; spongy setal pads at protarsomere I with slightly distinct longitudinal sulcus at center; meso- and metatarsomeres with narrow, longitudinal, glabrous sulcus at center, distinctly more conspicuous at metatarsomeres.

Female ( Figs. 101–102 ). Head, excluding mandibles, about 0.8 times as long as prothorax at middle. Sculpture on dorsal face of head and area behind eyes similar to that in male. Distance between upper eye lobes equal to about 0.7 times length of scape; distance between lower eye lobes equal to about 0.5 times length of scape. Submentum as in male. Antennae at least 20-segmented, barely reaching, middle of elytra; scape similar to that in male; antennomere III about as long as 0.7 times length of scape; antennomeres ( Fig. 41 ) ventrally carinate, with apex distinctly emarginate (V-like). Prothorax similar to that in male. Metasternum densely microsculptured laterally, gradually finer, sparser toward center; with short, sparse setae laterally. Metepisterna microsculptured, glabrous throughout.

Dimensions in mm (male/female). Total length (including mandibles), 31.6–31.8/36.8–40.0; prothoracic length at center, 4.5–4.3/5.6–5.7; greatest prothoracic width, 9.2–9.3/11.2–11.5; humeral width, 11.5–12.0/12.8– 13.7; elytral length, 23.2–23.5/24.2–26.5.

Geographical distribution. Canada [Ontario ( Evans, 1906)], USA [Nebraska ( LeConte, 1852a), Texas ( LeConte, 1852a), New Mexico ( LeConte, 1852a)], Colorado ( Casey, 1924), Montana ( Linsley, 1962), Minnesota ( Linsley, 1962), North Dakota ( Linsley, 1962), Wyoming ( Linsley, 1962), South Dakota ( Linsley, 1962), Kansas ( Horn, 1872), Oklahoma ( Alexander, 1958), Iowa (Putman, 1876), Missouri ( Linsley, 1962), Arkansas (Chemsak, 1996), South Caroline ( Heffern, 1998a), North Caroline ( Brimley, 1938)].

LeConte (1852a) recorded: “I found this species abundant near the Platte River, of Nebraska Territory. Lieut. Haldeman collected it in Texas, and I have since received if from New Mexico.” As LeConte (1852a) indicated the Platte River, it is possible to know that the specimen(s) was(were) collected in the area of current Nebraska. However, it is not possible to know if the specimen(s) received by him from New Mexico was(were) from within New Mexico either as it is defined today. According to NETSTATE.COM (2012): “In 1850, the Territory of New Mexico was much larger than it is today. The territory included present-day New Mexico, Arizona, parts of southern Colorado, southern Utah, and even a piece of southeast Nevada.”

Types, type localities. Of Prionus fissicornis : holotype male from USAs (“near the Rocky mountains”), deposited at MCZ.

Of Prionus (Antennalia) fissicornis transversus ( Fig. 182 ): holotype female from USA (Texas), deposited at USNM. Figured at Lingafelter et al. (2016).

Of Prionus (Antennalia) thoracicus ( Fig. 181 ): holotype female from USA (Colorado, Akron), deposited at USNM. Figured at Lingafelter et al. (2016).

Material examined. USA, New Mexico: Union County, 2 females, Hwy. No. 120, elevation 1650 m., 6.6 miles N. of Yates, grassland, Barchet & Beierl, 11 July 1998 ( ENPC); 6–8 miles SE Gladstone, 1 male, VII.6.1999, J. E. Wappes col. ( MZSP); 2 females, VI.28 –29.2000, J. E. Wappes col. ( MZSP). Oklahoma: Enid, 1 male, VI.1974, Doug Whitman col. ( ESSIG).

Remarks. Linsley (1957) synonymized Prionus (Antennalia) thoracicus , Prionus (Antennalia) fissicornis parviceps , and Prionus (Antennalia) fissicornis transversus with Prionus (Antennalia) fissicornis : “Casey had a male from Texas and a female from Colorado identified as fissicornis . His parviceps and transversus were based on females from Texas, and thoracicus was based on a female from Akron, Colorado.”

Linsley (1962) and Chemsak (1996) recorded that the antennae in Prionus (Antennalia) are “25- to 30 segmented”. However, as seen above, Linsley (1957) synonymized Prionus (Antennalia) fissicornis and P. (A.) thoracicus with the only species of Prionus (Antennalia) : P. (A.) fissicornis . Nevertheless, according to Casey (1912, 1924) the holotype female of P. (A.) thoracicus has antennae “20-jointed”, the holotype female of P. (A.) f.

parviceps “22-jointed”, and the holotype female of P. (A.) fissicornis transversus “20-jointed”. Thus, it is possible to conclude that the generic description by Linsley (1962) and Chemsak (1996) encompasses only males. Still, according to Casey (1924), the eyes of the holotype of Prionus (Antennalia) thoracicus “are separated by two-fifths more than their width”. However, photographs of the holotype show that they are separated by almost twice the width of a lobe. Comparing the photographs of the three female holotypes described by Casey, currently synonyms of P. fissicornis , it is possible to see that there is great variability in the distance between upper eye lobes: P. (A.) fissicornis transversus has the shortest distance, and P. (A.) thoracicus the largest.

Tavakilian & Chevillotte (2015) recorded: “ Prionus (Antennalia) fissicornis Haldeman, 1848 ”. According to Fox in Skinner et al. (1913), the part of the magazine where P. fissicornis was described was received in the American Philosophical Society at an earlier date: “Vol. III, No. 6. Receipt acknowledged by the American Philosophical Society, March, 19, 1847.” Also, according to the introduction to the list of Fox (1913): “While therefore, the dates of publication were frequently earlier than those given, they were certainly never later.” In the same way, some authors, like Linsley (1957) recorded the year as 1847. However, Skinner et al. (1913), recorded: “On several new genera and species of insects. P ’46, 124.” This means that Haldeman’s work was published in Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, in 1846, starting on page 124. Also, the same authors recorded: “ imbricornis (Cerambyx) . J II, 108 ( Prionus ). P ’46, 125. J II, 108”. This means that Prionus imbricornis was mentioned in the Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, second series, volume II, on page 108 (citation of LeConte) (presented to Academy meeting, according to the same authors, in February 3, 1852), and in Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, in 1846, on page 125 (where it was described). Evidently, it is possible that the publication date is 1847 [between acceptance to the meeting (November 24, 1846) and the presentation to the Academy meeting (March 19, 1847], but as there is no evidence to support this, we are following Skinner et al. (1913).

Many authors, as for example, Lameere (1912, 1913, 1919), Linsley (1962), and Monné & Hovore (2005, 2006), recorded Prionus fissicornis as described in 1845. However, as the paper was accepted for publication in the “ Meeting for Business, November, 24, 1846”, it cannot have been published in 1845: “The committee on the following paper by Mr. Haldeman, reported in favor of publication”.

Males of P. fissicornis differ from those of P. imbricornis by antennae with usually more than 25 (at most 20 in the latter), and by the antennomeres strongly emarginated (not so in P. imbricornis ); females differ by the ventral surface of the projections of antennomeres emarginated (typically projected from VI to IX in P. imbricornis ).

Figures

FIGURES 20 – 51. Antennae. 20 – 23, Prionus (Prionus) pocularis: 20, male, scape, pedicel, antennomeres III – IV, dorsal view; 21, male, antennomeres III – IV, lateral view; 22, male, antennomeres III – IV, ventral view; 23, female, antennomeres IX – XI, ventral view. 24 – 28, P. (P.) poultoni: 24, male, scape, pedicel, antennomeres III – IV, dorsal view; 25, male, antennomeres III – IV, latero-ventral view; 26, male, antennomeres III – V, ventral view; 27, female, scape, pedicel, antennomeres III – IV, dorsal view; 28, female, antennomeres VII – IX, ventral view. 29 – 32, P. (P.) aztecus: 29, male, antennomeres III – IV, ventral view; 30, male, antennomeres III – IV, latero-ventral view; 31, female, antennomers VII – IX, ventral view; 32, male, scape, pedicel, antennomeres III – VIII, dorsal view. 33 – 37, P. (P.) mexicanus: 33, male, scape, pedicel, antennomeres III – VIII, dorsal view; 34, male, antennomeres III – IV, latero-ventral view; 35, male, antennomeres III – IV, ventral view; 36, female, scape, pedicel, antennomeres III – IV, dorsal view; 37, female, antennomeres VII – IX, ventral view. 38 – 41, P. (P.) fissicornis: 38, male, scape, pedicel, antennomeres III – V, dorsal view; 39, male, antennomeres III – V, lateral view; 40, male, antennomeres III – V, ventral view; 41, female, antennomeres VIII – X, ventral view. 42 – 45, P. (P.) imbricornis: 42, female, antennomeres VIII – X, ventral view; 43, male, scape, pedicel, antennomeres III – IV, dorsal view; 44, male, antennomeres III – IV, lateral view; 45, male, antennomeres III – IV, ventral view. 46 – 48, P. (P.) laticollis: 46, male, scape, pedicel, antennomere III, dorsal view; 47, male, antennomeres III – VII, ventral view; 48, female, scape, pedicel, antennomere III, dorsal view. 49 – 51, P. (P.) lecontei, male: 49, scape, pedicel, antennomeres III – IV, dorsal view; 50, antennomeres III – IV, latero-ventral view; 51, antennomeres III – IV, ventral view.

FIGURES 99 – 102. Prionus (Prionus) fissicornis: 99, male, dorsal habitus; 100, male, ventral habitus; 101, female, dorsal habitus; 102, female, ventral habitus.

FIGURES 179 – 183. 179 – 180, Prionus (Antennalia) fissicornis parviceps, holotype female: 179, head, fronto-lateral view; 180, head and antennae, ventral view. 181, Prionus (Antennalia) thoracicus, holotype female, head and antennae. 182, Prionus (Antennalia) fissicornis transversus, holotype female, ventral habitus. 183, Prionus (Prionus) fontinalis, holotype male, head, dorsal view.