Caulophilus bennetti, Davis & Engel, 2007

Davis, S. R. & Engel, M. S., 2007, Cossonine weevils in Dominican amber (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 39 (2), pp. 803-820 : 803-820

Caulophilus bennetti nov.sp. ( Figs 18-22 )

H o l o t y p e: USNM 505352 (= Woodruff #9801), amber, Dominican Republic, Early Miocene (Burdigalian).

D i a g n o s i s Similar to C. swensoni except rostrum approximately three-quarters length of pronotum, scape distinctly shorter (cf. Figs 13 and 18 ), ventral margin broadly and uniformly curved along entire length in profile.

D e s c r i p t i o n: Total body length (including rostrum) ca. 3.63 mm; maximal width ca. 1.83 mm; elytral length ca. 0.77 mm. Integument dark brown to black (as preserved). Compound eyes subcircular, length approximately equal to width; interocular distance slightly less than width of rostrum in dorsal view. Rostrum puncticulate; rostrum approximately three-quarters length of pronotum; ventral margin weakl and uniformly curved along entire length in lateral view ( Fig. 18 ); rostrum width subequal along length, widened very slightly and gradually apically in dorsal view ( Fig. 19 ). Antenna inserted at mid-length of rostrum; scrobe short, well-developed, one-third length of scape; scape reaching slightly beyond anterior margin of compound eye; scape short, one-third length of rostrum ( Figs 18, 20 ); funicle narrow with sparse setae basally, gradually enlarging to setose club. Vertex glabrous and punticulate. Pronotum glabrous, length approximately 1.2✕ width; anterior portion narrower than posterior portion; small, shallow punctures present, punctures separated by distance 1-3✕ puncture diameter; an elongate, low, longitudinal ridge along middle of pronotum; lateral margins broadly rounded. Prosternum with shallow, circular depression anterior from procoxae; circular area with small, shallow punctures, separated by distance 0.5-2✕ puncture diameter; posterior half of prosternum rugose and slightly crenulate; coxae positioned as in figure 22. Scutellum minute and ovoid. Elytra each with approximately nine to ten striae; punctures of elytral striae circular, small and shallow, separated by distance approximately 1✕ puncture diameter; humeri subquadrate; a sparse covering of long setae at apex of elytra, setae slightly shorter than length of antennal scape. Metasternum puncticulate. Abdominal ventrites with punctures more dense than on metasternum. Femora widest at mid-length and puncticulate; tibiae laterally expanded apically ( Fig. 21 ); apical tibial unci at outer angle large, slightly less than length of tarsomere IV; a small denticle present on opposite side of uncus on inner angle, length slightly less than pretarsal claw length.

808

E t y m o l o g y: The specific epithet is a patronymic honoring Mr. Daniel J. Bennett, noted field biologist and hymenopterist.

Figures

Figs 10-22: Three species of Caulophilus, Caulophilus falini nov.sp. (holotype, USNM 505815), C. swensoni nov.sp. (holotype, USNM 502877, and paratype, USNM 502666), and C. bennetti nov.sp. (holotype, USNM 505352). (10) lateral aspect of head of C. falini; (11) protibia, profemur, protarsus, and pro-pretarsus of C. falini; (12) ventral aspect of prothorax of C. falini depicting position of procoxae; (13) lateral aspect of head of paratype of C. swensoni; (14) dorsal, slightly oblique aspect of head of holotype of C. swensoni; (15) antenna of holotype of C. swensoni; (16) protibia, profemur, protarsus, and pro-pretarsus of paratype of C. swensoni; (17) ventral aspect of prothorax of holotype of C. swensoni depicting position of procoxae; (18) lateral aspect of head of C. bennetti; (19) dorso-frontal aspect of head of C. bennetti; (20) antenna of C. bennetti; (21) protibia, profemur, protarsus, and pro-pretarsus of paratype of C. bennetti; (22) ventral aspect of prothorax of C. bennetti depicting position of procoxae. All drawn as preserved.