Embates callifer Prena, 2005

Prena, Jens, 2005, The Middle American species of Embates Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Baridinae), Zootaxa 1100 (1), pp. 1-151 : 1-151

34. Embates callifer Prena sp. n.

(Fig. 128–132, 259)

Holotype male (dissected), Costa Rica, labeled: “ Rio San Lorenzo , 1050m./ Tierras Morenas, Z.P./ Tenorio, Prov. Guanacaste / Costa Rica. M. Segura / 23 mar a 21 abr 1992 / L­N 287800, 427600”, CRI000 422773 ( INBC).

Paratypes 5 (3 males, 2 females), Costa Rica, labeled: “ R. Sn Lorenzo, 1050m./ Tierras Morenas, R.F./ Cord. Guanacaste, Prov./ Guan. COSTA RICA./ C. Alvaro, Set 1991,/ L­N­287800, 427600”, CRI000 572337 ( JPPC); “ R. San Lorenzo, 1050m,/ R.F. Cord. Guanacaste / ( Tenorio ), Prov. Guan./ COSTA RICA. C./ Alvaro, Abr 1991,/ L­N­287800, 427600”, CRI000 443589 ( INBC) ; “ COSTA RICA: Prov. Heredia:/ 6km ENE Vara

Blanca , 1950–/ 2050m, 10°11'N 84°07'W / 15.– 16.2.2003 / INBio­OET­ALAS transect”, “handcollecting/ leg. Jens Prena ”, INB0003230244 ( JPPC) ; “ COSTA RICA: Hered./ Cerro Chompipe , 10km / NNE Heredia, 2100m / 12­27.VI.1997, S.&J./ Peck, ex. montane/ forest, f.i.t., 97­21” ( CMNC) ; “ PANAMA, B. del Toro :/ 4 km V Boquete 1700 m / 9. August 1995 / leg.: F. Oedegaard ” ( JPPC) .

Description. Habitus: Fig. 128 and 132, total length 4.4–7.4 mm (m=6.0, n=6). Color: integument rufous, partially piceous; basic vestiture light yellow, dorsolateral pronotal vitta moderately broad, ill­defined, scales cupreous to dark brown in variable, irregularly shaped elytral macula (Fig. 132b) or only at raised portions of interstriae 2–5 (Fig. 128, 132a) and below subapical callosity; venter with creamy white to light yellow scales. Head: frontal fovea minute or absent, rostrum moderate (Fig. 129) but more slender at high elevations, subcylindrical, costate dorsomedially, basolateral margin slightly edged, length of rostrum ♂♂ 1.02–1.42 x (m=1.21, n=4), ♀♀ 1.10–1.42 x (n=2) pronotal length, length of ante­antennal portion ♂♂ 0.33–0.36 x (m=0.34, n=4), ♀♀ 0.36–0.37 x (n=2) total rostral length, dorsal margin of antennal scrobe reaching rostral base before eye; funicular segment 2 longer than 1, club oblong ovate. Pronotum: length 0.92–1.03 x (m=0.99, n=6) maximum width, sides subparallel to slightly rounded in basal third, anterior portion tubulate; punctation of disk confluent. Elytra: length 1.79–1.82 x (m=1.80, n=3) width at humeri, width 1.34–1.49 x (m=1.44, n=6) maximum pronotal width, sides subparallel in basal half, apices rounded conjointly, preapical callus strongly developed, striae fine, punctures indistinct, interstriae flat, 9 costate, 3, 5 and 7 costate subdistally, callosities at base (interval 3), middle (intervals 2–3) and occasionally in basal third of interval 5. Legs: slender, tibia slightly curved and parallel­sided, ventral margin with distal cluster of yellow hairs, tarsal claws curved and separate at base. Male: apex of aedeagus round, anterolateral portion sclerotized, median portion membranous or narrowly sclerotized (Fig. 130), body of aedeagus relatively short [more elongate in slender specimens], basal third curved in lateral view, apodemes 2.8 x [2.0 x in slender specimens] longer than body of aedeagus, flagellum thin, longer than apodemes, transition to curved base gradual, basal appendage large, pointed, fused distally with base of flagellum, projecting far beyond base (Fig. 131).

Plant association. Piper tenuimucronatum (Prena 1).

Distribution. Costa Rica and western Panama, evergreen (pre)montane forests between 1050 and 2100 m (Fig. 259).

Specific epithet. The name is a Latin compound adjective derived from callus (callosity) and fero (to bear).

Discussion. The scarce material available and its morphological heterogeneity combine to uncertainties in the definition of E. callifer . The three specimens from Tierras Morenas are larger, stouter, and have a shorter rostrum than the specimens from higher elevations. This may or may not account for the variable proportions of the aedeagus. The specimen from Boquete has a more uniform color­pattern compared to the others, while the dark elytral macula is rather well­defined in the two specimens from elevations above 2000 m in Braulio Carrillo N. P. (Vara Blanca, Chompipe).