Peridinetus melastomae Champion

Prena, Jens, 2010, The Middle American species of Peridinetus Schönherr (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Baridinae), Zootaxa 2507, pp. 1-36 : 8-10

1. Peridinetus melastomae Champion

( Fig. 11, 12 )

Peridinetus melastomae Champion, 1907: 174 . Seidlitz (1909: 326).

Conophoria melastomae . Casey (1922: 9).

Peridinetus (Conophoria) melanostoma . Hustache (1938: 9) [lapsus or uncommented emendation]. Peridinetus (Conophoria) melanostomae . Blackwelder (1947: 887) [lapsus]. Peridinetus (Conophoria) melastomae . O’Brien & Wibmer (1982: 178).

Diagnosis. Peridinetus melastomae is very similar to P. lateralis (see diagnosis there). It differs from that species by the subconical shape of the pronotum ( Fig. 11 , 54 ), absence of white spots on the pronotal disk and less depressed elytral disk. The studied specimens were 6.7–10.1 mm long (standard length 6.4–9.8 mm).

Distribution. The species has been found in Costa Rica and Panama at 1000–2900 m elevation.

Plant association. Piper pittieri (Prena 15 ×, larvae and adults), P. tenuimucronatum (Prena 8 ×), P. lanceaefolium (Prena 2 ×), P. obliquum (Prena 2 ×), P. e p i g y n i u m (Prena 1 ×).

Type material. Holotype, Costa Rica, [Valle de los] Arcángeles ( BMNH).

Material examined. Costa Rica. Cartago: R.F. Río Macho, Hwy. km 96, 2900 m ( INBC 1, JPPC 12); R.F. Río Macho, La Esperanza del Guarco, Hwy. km 61, 2400 m ( INBC 1); Cañon, Hwy. km 58, Genesis II, 2300 m ( JPPC 7). Heredia: P.N. Braulio Carrillo, 6 km ENE Vara Blanca, 2000 m ( INBC 1, JPPC 8), Est. Barva, 2500 m ( INBC 4). Limón: Cerros Tararia, 2650 m ( INBC 2); P.N. La Amistad, Valle del Silencio, 2500 m ( JPPC 8). Puntarenas: R.F. Los Santos, Hwy. km 70, Mirador de Quetzales, 2650 m ( JPPC 2); San Gerardo de Dota, 2400 m ( INBC 1, JPPC 3); Monteverde, 1500–1600 m ( CHAH 1, INBC 1, JPPC 3). San José: Valle de los Arcángeles, 1500 m ( BMNH 1); 3 km NE Esperanza ( HPSC 1). Panamá. Chiriquí: Volcán, 2600 m ( BMNH 1). Total 65 specimens.

Figures

FIGURES 9 – 16. Dorsal and lateral habitus of Peridinetellus and Peridinetus species. 9 – 10, Peridinetellus subglaber, La Selva (Costa Rica); 11 – 12, Peridinetus melastomae, Monteverde (Costa Rica); 13 – 14, P. notabilis, Guanacaste N. P. (Costa Rica); 15 – 16, P. p i c t u s, Río Tuquesa (Panamá).

FIGURES 50 – 57. Dorsal and lateral habitus of Peridinetus species. 50 – 51, P. stigmatipleura, San Isidro del General (Costa Rica); 52 – 53, P. lugubris, Monteverde (Costa Rica); 54 – 55, P. lateralis, Cerro Zurquí (Costa Rica); 56 – 57, P. collaris, Cusuco N. P. (Honduras).