Skelley, Skelley, 2009

Skelley, Paul E., 2009, Pleasing fungus beetles of the West Indies (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Erotylinae), Insecta Mundi 2009 (82), pp. 1-94 : 33-36

Genus ALTISESSOR Skelley , new genus

Type species: Altisessor ater Skelley, n. sp., here designated. Diagnosis. Distinguished from other Tritomini by small body size, elongate-cylindrical body shape, unpatterned body with metallic shine, femora lacking posterior marginal bead, antennomere II longer than wide (length = 2 x width = length of antennomere III, Fig. 16 ), antennomere IX transverse, and lack of ocular striae.

Description. Body small, 3.1-5.0 mm long, elongate, cylindrical, humped back or egg-shaped; surface with microreticulations, often weak; color dark brown to black, without color pattern, somewhat glossy usually with metallic luster of various colors. Eye facets moderate in size, eyes not protruding from side of head.

Head short, rounded and broad, ocular striae absent. Terminal maxillary and labial palpomeres equal in width, width less or equal to width of mentum. Antenna attaining basal quarter of pronotum; antennomeres I-III equal in length; antennomere II elongate, length = 2 x width; antennomere IV-VIII equal in length; antennomere VIII wider than VII, apically angled, appearing as part of club; antennomere IX width = length, trapezoidal with basal sides angulate; antennomere IX = 2.0 x antennomere VII in width and length, antennomere IX-XI same width and length; antennomere X semicircular, antennomere XI subcircular. Maxillary palp terminal palpomere triangular, mostly symmetrical with rounded base. Labial palp terminal palpomere asymmetrical, medially expanded. Mentum with plate triangular, transverse, wider than long.

Pronotum transverse, convex above; anterior angles weakly projecting; lateral margins gently curve toward eyes; anterior edge with marginal bead distinct behind eyes, sometimes weakly present medially; base weakly bisinuate, lacking marginal bead even laterally. Elytra elongate, convex; elytral base lacking marginal bead; striae evident with distinct rows of punctures. Wings present, fully developed or reduced to membranous strip.

Prosternum with anterior marginal bead strong, not pinched; prosternal lines continuous around coxal cavity. Mesosternum transverse, wider than long; lines divergent anteriorly, continuous around coxal cavity; posterior edge truncate or slightly concave; with a transverse row of large punctures (often reduced). Metasternal lines weak or absent medially behind mesosternum. Mesocoxal lines on the metasternum absent. Femur lacking marginal bead. Tibia slender, with rounded edges. Tarsi pseudotetramerous, terminal tarsomere length = length of tarsomeres I-III combined. Male genitalia of typical tritomine form, unmodified and similar to that of Notaepytus spp. (as in Fig. 87-88 ), flagellum modified and species specific ( Fig. 68-71 ).

Distribution. Altisessor is restricted to the mountainous regions of the Greater Antilles ( Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico).

Larvae. Diagnosis based on larvae collected with adults of A. ater ( Fig. 52-56 ). Head pale with dark speckled pattern; T1 notum with mottled markings, no distinct eyespot; T2-A9 dorsally pigmented. T1-A8 terga lacking prominent marginal tubercles; surface of T1 to middle of abdomen lacking spine-like prominences; terga from middle of abdomen to A8 with increasingly prominent dorsal and lateral spine-like tubercles; A9 tergum with fork-shaped urogomphal prominence possessing single base. A1-7 spiracles on small prominences; A8 spiracle on peg-like prominence. Larvae were collected in a cloud forest on small, living and dead tree branches. All branches were covered with moss and lichens.

Etymology. Altisessor is derived from the Latin altus for “high”, and sessor for “inhabitant” or “one who sits”. All species were collected at higher elevations and appear to be restricted to specific mountain ranges. The gender is masculine.

Remarks. The elongate shape of antennomere II ( Fig. 16 ) is unique among American Erotylinae . The elongate, cylindrical, humpbacked body and small size, uniform coloration, and lack of ocular striae distinguish this genus from other West Indian genera. As with Notaepytus , at least one member of Altisessor has reduced hind wings and is functionally flightless.

Biology. Altisessor ater was collected in cloud forests near 3000 ft. elevation. The mountainside site possessed few flat, horizontal areas, and was near larimar mines. The locality was an old coffee growing area purportedly near virgin wilderness. Woody plants in the area were covered with mosses, lichens, and other epiphytes.

The majority of adult specimens were beaten from small woody branches (alive or dead), day and night. However, collections from dead branches were mainly at night. Visual searches by day were unsuccessful, however several adults were observed on small dead branches at night. One adult was collected at black light and another in a flight intercept trap, suggesting the potential for flight. Most were collected at night, and it is possible those collected on epiphytic rich living branches were beaten from their daytime hiding place. However, one larva was beaten from an epiphyte-covered, living citrus branch that had no visible fungus.

Figures

Figure 12-17. Key characters. 12-15) Ventral view head and mouthparts. 12) Dacne ducke. 13) Antillengis epochthidius. 14) Notaepytus flavitarsis. 15) Epytus cyaneus. 16-17) Anterior diagonal view of head. 16) Altisessor ater. 17) Notaepytus flavitarsis.

Figure 85-88. Notaeptyus spp., key characters. 85) N. flavitarsis, normal long metasternum. 86) N. cubanacan, shortened metasternum of wingless form. 87) N. fulvitarsis (DR: La Vega) male genitalia with flagellum everted. 88) N. lavegaensis male genitalia, with flagellum inverted. Genitalic scale line = 1 mm.

Figure 68-71. Altisessor spp., male genital flagellum. 68) A. ater. 69) A. centralis. 70) A. hottensis. 71) A. oriens. All reproduced to same scale, scale line = 1 mm.

Figure 52-56. Altisessor ater, larva. 52) Head, anterior view. 53) Head and thorax, lateral view. 54) Dorsal habitus. 55-56) Terminal segments of abdomen with prominent urogomphus, dorsal and lateral view.