Rhopalophora peruana, Martins, Ubirajara R., Galileo, Maria Helena M. & Santos-Silva, Antonio, 2015

Martins, Ubirajara R., Galileo, Maria Helena M. & Santos-Silva, Antonio, 2015, A new genus and two new species of Rhopalophorini Blanchard, 1845 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Cerambycinae), Zootaxa 4000 (3), pp. 377-382 : 380-382

Rhopalophora peruana sp. nov.

( Figs. 5–7 )

Description. Integument black; the following reddish-brown: center of clypeus, most of labrum, base and apex of scape, most of pedicel, antennomeres III–XI, wide longitudinal band laterally on prothorax (slightly distinct depending on angle of light), wide longitudinal band on elytral disc, from base to near middle, base of epipleura, peduncle of femora, parts of tibiae, most of tarsal segments I–III.

Head. Frons with moderately dense, decumbent, short, golden setae (more whitish depending on angle of light), partially obliterating integument. Clypeus with short, moderately dense, decumbent, yellowish-white setae, except for center which is glabrous. Vertex with dense, decumbent, golden setae. Area behind upper eye lobes finely, abundantly punctate; setae as on vertex, but distinctly sparser towards margin of prothorax after middle. Area behind lower eye lobes with fringe of yellowish-white, dense, moderately long setae close to eyes (wider towards inferior side of eyes, almost reaching margin of prothorax), interspersed with long, sparse setae; remaining surface, finely, sparsely punctate, almost glabrous. Gena with short, sparse, yellowish-white setae. Gula shiny, very finely, sparsely punctate, glabrous, laterally with sparse, fine punctures and some setae. Submentum moderately coarsely, abundantly punctate; with short, moderately dense yellowish-white setae, interspersed with long, sparse setae. Mandibles laterally with sparse, yellowish-white setae (denser on basal third), interspersed with long, sparse setae. Distance between upper eye lobes equal to 0.65 times length of scape; distance between lower eye lobes, in frontal view, equal to 0.85 times length of scape. Antennae as long as 2.0 times elytral length; reaching elytral apex at basal third of antennomere VIII; antennal formula based on antennomere III: scape = 0.57; pedicel = 0.30; IV = 0.82; V = 1.02; VI = 1.07; VII = 0.92; VIII = 0.77; IX = 0.70; X = 0.60; XI = 0.70.

Thorax. Lateral sides of prothorax and pronotum coarsely, abundantly punctate; with short, moderately abundant, golden setae, interspersed with whitish setae; golden setae of pronotum also forming two narrow bands, convergent from base to about middle, following parallel towards anterior margin; basal half with some long setae. Prosternum with yellowish-white, moderately abundant setae, interspersed with long, sparse setae. Meso- and metasternum with yellowish-white setae, almost obliterating integument, interspersed with long, sparse setae. Scutellum with golden, dense setae. Elytra. Coarsely, abundantly punctate throughout; with moderately abundant, decumbent yellowish-white setae, interspersed with white setae, and long, sparse setae; apex truncate, with short spine at sutural angle. Legs. Femora and tibiae with long, sparse yellowish-white setae, (more abundant on tibiae).

Abdomen. Urosternites with dense, yellowish-white, dense setae, almost obliterating integument, interspersed with long, sparse setae.

Female. Antennae as long as 1.45 times elytral length; reaching elytral apex about middle of antennomere XI; antennal formula based on antennomere III: scape = 0.68; pedicel = 0.31; IV = 0.77; V = 0.94; VI = 1.00; VII = 0.83; VIII = 0.60; IX = 0.60; X = 0.48; XI = 0.54.

Variability. Clypeus totally black; most of pronotum reddish-brown; parts of club of femora reddish-brown; apex of femoral peduncle brown.

Dimensions in mm (holotype /male/female). Total length, 6.15/7.10/6.70–7.55; length of prothorax at center, 1.20/1.45/1.30–1.50; largest width of prothorax, 1.00/1.20/1.05–1.25; anterior width of prothorax, 0.80/1.00/0.90– 1.00; posterior width of prothorax, 0.90/1.10/0.95–1.10; humeral width, 1.25/1.50/1.40–1.55; elytral length, 4.20/ 4.80/4.20–5.15.

Type material. Holotype male from PERU, Cusco: Limatambo, 07.II.1978, University of Maryland-SEL: SMF Expedition col. ( USNM). Paratypes: 2 females, same data as holotype ( USNM); male, same data as holotype ( MZSP). PERU, Cusco: Limatambo, female, 11.I.1979, W. E. Steiner col. ( USNM). Apurímac: Abancay, female, 25.II.1979, W. E. Steiner col. ( USNM).

Etymology. Allusive to the country of the type locality.

Remarks. Rhopalophora peruana differs from R. angustata Schaeffer, 1905 , R. casignata Martins & Napp, 1989 , R. eximia Bates, 1892 , R. lineicollis Chevrolat, 1859 , R. miniaticollis Chevrolat, 1859 , R. nigriventris Bates, 1885 , R. paraensis Martins & Napp, 1989 , R. prolixa Monné, 1989 , R. punctatipennis Linsley, 1935 , R. rubecula Bates, 1880 , R. serripennis Giesbert & Chemsak, 1993 , R. tenuis (Chevrolat, 1855) , and R. yucatana Giesbert & Chemsak, 1993 , mainly by the shorter hind legs (metafemora not reaching elytral apex). In all those species the metafemora surpass the elytral apex. It differs from R. prorubra Knull, 1944 mainly by the darker pronotum (at most with reddish-brown areas) (distinctly reddish or yellowish in R. prorubra ). Rhopalophora peruana differs from R. pulverulenta Guérin-Méneville, 1844 , R. venezuelensis Chevrolat, 1859 , and R. neivai Mendes, 1940 by the pronotum and elytra mostly dark (totally light, or nearly so, in those species). It also differs from D. dyseidia Martins & Napp, 1989 by the elytral apex truncate and without projection at outer angle (obliquely truncate and with distinct projection at outer angle in D. dyseidia ).

Rhopalophora peruana can be included in the alternative of couplet “4”, from Napp (2009) (alternative of couplet “3” modified; “4” modified and simplified), (translated):

3 Femora bicolored..................................................................................... 4 - Femora unicolorous................................................................................... 5 4 Metafemora surpass elytral apex by about two-thirds of femoral club. Ecuador............................. R. casignata - Metafemora, at most, reaching elytral apex................................................................ 4” 4” Elytral apex obliquely truncate and with distinct projection at outer angle. Ecuador........................ D. dyseidia - Elytral apex truncate, without projection at outer angle. Peru...................................... R. peruana sp. nov.

Figures

FIGURES 5 – 7. Rhopalophora peruana, holotype male: 5. Dorsal habitus; 6. Ventral habitus; 7. Lateral habitus.