Notaepytus cyclosignatus, Skelley, 2009

Skelley, Paul E., 2009, Pleasing fungus beetles of the West Indies (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Erotylinae), Insecta Mundi 2009 (82), pp. 1-94 : 61-64

Notaepytus cyclosignatus Skelley, new species

Figure 1b , 93 , 110 , 134 , 140

Diagnosis. Distinguished by the following: body black, dull, elytra with nearly circular orangish elytral spots ( Fig. 93 , 134 ), body parallel-sided, coarse punctation of head, and moderately coarse eye faceting.

Description. Length: 5.9-6.3 mm; width: 2.8-3.0 mm. Body elongate, parallel-sided, somewhat flattened; surface microreticulate. Color black except as noted: each elytron with two smooth-edged orangish spots, one nearly circular posterior of humerus which approaches striae III medially and a subapical spot apex near lateral margin; apical third of antennomere IX, and all of antennomeres X-XI pale; legs and antennomeres I-II red-brown.

Head interocular width = 2.5 x ocular width; vertex and epistome coarsely punctate, puncture size = 0.75 x ocular facet diameter; separated by 1-2 x their diameter; epistome anterior margin truncate. Eyes coarsely faceted. Antennomere III length = 3 x width, length = length of antennomeres IV+V combined; antennomeres IV-VIII equal in length, each with length = 1.5 x width; antennomeres III-VIII all same width; antennomere IX triangular, length = width; antennomere XI transversely oval, length = 0.75 x width. Terminal maxillary palpomere triangular, symmetrical, slightly wider than long. Terminal labial palpomere triangular, asymmetrical, width = 2 x length, expanded medially, width = terminal maxillary palpomere.

Pronotum transverse; punctures coarse, slightly smaller than those on vertex, evenly distributed; small group of large punctures at each side of basal midline. Scutellum pentagonal, length = 0.75 x width. Elytral strial punctures large, puncture size = an ocular facet diameter, separated by 2 x their diameter; fine interval punctures obscured in microreticulations; base lacking marginal bead. Wings present, fully developed.

Prosternum length = 2.5 x intercoxal width; sternal lines not continuous around coxal cavity; base shallowly concave. Mesosternal lines parallel, not continuous around coxal cavity. Metasternum long, distance between meso- and metacoxae = 1.7 x intermesocoxal width; anterior lines arching medially, but not meeting; lines not continuous around mesocoxal cavity, extending slightly out onto metasternum behind mesocoxa; punctures largest at anterolateral angles, rapidly decreasing in size medially. Abdomen with coxal lines not meeting medially; continuous around metacoxal cavity; punctures coarse laterally, medially decreasing in size and density. Male genitalia with flagellum short, slightly thickened apically, with small ventral subapical swelling ( Fig. 110 ).

Distribution. Found in eastern Hispaniola ( Fig. 140 ).

Type Material. The male holotype of Notaepytus cyclosignatus ( Fig. 134 ) has the following label data: “/ DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Duarte, Reserva Loma Quita Espuela, El Cadillar , 6.7 km NE San Francisco de Marcoirs, 19-20-12N, 70-08-59W / 280m, 5 Apr 2004, R. Davidson, J. Rawlins, C. Young, weedy regrowth with coffee, cacao, UV light, Sample 50313 / Carnegie Museum Specimen Number CMNH-346,485 / [pale yellow paper] Specimen imaged 2008- West Indies Erotylinae , P. Skelley / [red paper] HOLOTYPE Notaepytus cyclosignatus P.E. Skelley /” ( CMNH). The female allotype label data: “/ DOMINICAN RE- PUBLIC: La Altagracia, Parque del Este , 2.9 km S. Boca de Yuma , 18-21-51N, 68-37-05W, 11 m, 28 May 2004 /, J. Rawlins, C. Young, C. Nunez, J. Fetzner, semihumid dry forest, limestone, UV light, Sample 52114 / Carnegie Museum Specimen Number CMNH-367.778 /” ( CMNH). Paratypes studied (2): Dom. Rep .; Hato Mayor, W. Sabana del la Mar, Par. Nac. Los Haitise , 1-JUL-1992, M.A. Ivie, bosque humido [ex Trametes sabrosa ; M. Ivie, pers. comm.] (1 female-WIBF) ; Dom. Rep.; La Altagracia, Nisibon , “Papagallo”, 16-19-JUN-1998, R.E. Woodruff / P.H. Freytag, blacklight trap (1 male-FSCA) .

Variation. The holotype has the basal elytral mark somewhat sinuate anteriorly, but this spot on the paratypes is nearly circular.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin “ cyclo ” for “circular” and “ signatus ” for “mark”. Hence, the species is named for the more “circular marks” on the elytra.

Remarks. Notaepytus cyclosignatus appears most closely related to N. tarsatus based on body form, head punctation, and eye facet size.

Figures

Figure 1. West Indian maps. 1a) Map of West Indian countries mentioned in the text. 1b) Map indicating species occurring on specific islands with distribution of Notaepytus flavitarsis (Lacordaire) indicated by the white triangles.

Figure 89-104. Notaepytus spp., habitus drawings. 89) N. flavitarsis. 90) N. tarsatus. 91) N. cubanacan. 92) N. modestus. 93) N. cyclosignatus. 94) N. elongatus. 95) N. fulvitarsis. 96) N. decoregens. 97) N. ignotensis. 98) N. haitensis. 99) N. inversus. 100) N. baorucoensis. 101) N. neibaensis. 102) N. lavegaensis. 103) N. cyanoros. 104) N. elateroides.

Figure 105-120. Notaepytus spp., male genital flagella. 105) N. flavitarsis. 106) N. tarsatus. 107) N. modestus. 108) N. elateroides. 109) N. cyanoros. 110) N. cyclosignatus. 111) N. inversus. 112) N. neibaensis. 113) N. haitensis.114) N. ignotensis. 115) N. fulvitarsis (DR: Hato Mayor). 116) N. fulvitarsis (DR: La Vega). 117) N. fulvitarsis (DR: Barahona). 118) N. decoregens. 119) N. baorucoensis. 120) N. lavegaensis. All reproduced to same scale, scale line = 1 mm.

Figure 132-137. Notaepytus spp. occurring on Hispaniola. 132) N. modestus. 133) N. elongatus, holotype. 134) N. cyclosignatus, holotype. 135) N. haitensis, paratype. 136) N. ignotensis, paratype. 137) N. inversus, holotype.

Figure 138-140. Distribution maps of Notaepytus spp. on Hispaniola. 138) Circle = N. modestus; triangle = N. elongatus. 139) Circle = N. fulvitarsis; triangle = N. decoregens; square = N. haitensis; square with ‘X’ = N. inversus. 140) Circle = N. cyclosignatus; triangle = N. lavegaensis; square = N. neibaensis; square with ‘X’ = N. baorucoensis.