Sapotes Casey 1888

Gotoh, Hiroki & Lavine, Laura C., 2007, Fig. 3 in Genetic Control of Color Polymorphism in the Stag Beetle Cyclommatus metallifer Boisduval (Coleoptera: Lucanidae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 24 (2), pp. 208-223 : 209-210

Genus Sapotes Casey 1888

Type species. Sapotes puncticollis Casey 1888: 241

Classification. Curculionidae , Leptopiinae, Ophryastini by Kissinger 1964:34; in Curculionidae , Leptopiinae, Ophryastini by O’Brien and Wibmer 1982:66; in Curculionidae , Entminae, Ophryastini by Alonso-Zarazaga and Lyal 1999.

Diagnosis. Small to medium sized broad-nosed weevils (Entiminae); apterous; anterior margin of prothorax with well-developed postocular lobes bearing vibrissae; antennal scrobe well defined; rostrum trisulcate with distinct narrow, medial sulcus extending from base of rostrum to edge of rostral disc and lateral sulci, subparallel, extending from just above rostral disc and abruptly arching at 90 ° to base of eye ( Fig. 1A ). Head, thorax and abdomen with setae of varying lengths (0.04–0.40 mm). Southwestern United States and northern Mexico.

Description. Body oblong, length 3.2 to 6.1 mm; width, in dorsal view, 1.3– 2.8 mm. Integument densely covered with regularly to irregularly overlapping scales, sometimes coalescing to form grainy appearance; individual scale color of individuals variable, usually color arranged in patches of grey, black, tan, and white. Color pattern of scales varying between individuals, populations and species. Scales sometimes highly abraded in older individuals. Body covered with setae of varying lengths (0.04–0.40 mm). Head in lateral view with slight depression between rostrum and frons; frons slightly bulging. Setae on frons and vertex usually evenly spaced and inclined to appressed. Rostrum trisulcate, with a distinct narrow, medial sulcus extending from base of rostrum to edge of rostral disc and two lateral sulci, subparallel, extending from just above rostral disc and abruptly arching at 90 ° to base of eyes ( Fig. 1A ), often occluded by scales. Dorsal and ventral margin of scrobe well defined and passing at base of eye. Eyes large, oblong, 3/5 to twice as high as wide. Antennae densely clothed with round scales and setae. Funicular antennomere 1 as long as antennomere 2 and 3 combined. Club with three segments, ringed with small setae at junctures and clothed with fine pubescence. Prothorax slightly wider than long in dorsal view and rounded in dorsal view. Anterior margin with postocular lobes well developed, bearing vibrissae located from base to apical margin of eye. Elytra generally rounded in dorsal view with elytral curvature varying from uniformly rounded to a more flattened curvature. Elytral declivity more vertical and straight in males than females ( Fig. 1B ); declivity in females with apices of elytra flaring slightly ( Fig. 1C ). Elytra in dorsal view with basal margin of elytra slightly to markedly carinate. Intervals nearly flat with rows of setae either arranged in straight line down middle or staggered; punctures shallow and scale-filled. Abdomen with sternum 1 approximately twice length of sternum 2; sternum 2 equal or subequal in length to combined length of 3 and 4; sternum 5 wider than long, broadly rounded at apex. Legs. Procoxae contiguous; mesocoxae separated by distance approximately width of second funicular segment; metacoxae separated almost twice width of one metacoxa; femur unarmed; tibia mucronate; protibia with three to seven spines on inner margin; corbels on metatibia closed, and heavily clothed with flattened, white scales; tarsi anteriorly with scales and setae, pubescent beneath, with third segment bi-lobed. Male genitalia. Male median lobe relatively large (1/4 to 1/5 body length), highly sclerotized, cylindrical, dark brown to black; in lateral view strongly curved in apical third; in dorsal view apical portion slightly to moderately constricted, paired apodemes about equal in length to lobe ( Figs. 4A, 4B, 4E, 4F ). Spiculum gastrale asymmetrical and complex apically; in lateral view evenly curved along length, with lightly sclerotized, oblong base; apical portion with lateral double-pronged projections offset from perpendicular with rounded apices bearing three to five setae ( Figs. 4C, 4G ). Phallobase highly sclerotized in basal arm, becoming less so apically, and membranous apically ( Figs. 4D, 4H ). Female genitalia. Ovipositor (1.8 to 2.1 mm length) with diverging, moderately sclerotized styli seated within a lightly sclerotized foretube with scattered, fine setae (0.08–0.13 mm) present on styli and extending from 1/4 to 1/2 on length of foretube ( Fig. 5C ). Sternum 8 1.1 to 2.1 mm length, lightly sclerotized and apically gently rounded, with 20–40 fine setae; apodemes heavily sclerotized and bifurcating at attachment site ( Fig. 5D ). Spermatheca (length 0.23 to 0.35 mm from ducts to extension of tip) C-shaped, with two ducts projecting slightly from enlarged portion, and a narrowed extension twice or more the width of enlarged portion ( Figs. 5E, 5F, 5G, 5H, 5I ).

Figures

Fig. 1. A) rostrum of Sapotes longipilis showing medial sulcus and arching lateral sulci. B–C, sexual dimorphism in elytral declivity of Sapotes sordidus: B) elytral declivity of male S. sordidus; C) elytral declivity of female S. sordidus.

Fig. 4. A–H, male genitalia of Sapotes. Reference lines to the left of figures equal to 0.5 mm. A. dorsal view of median lobe of S. sordidus; B. lateral view of median lobe of S. sordidus; C. dorsal view of spiculum gastrale of S. sordidus; D. phallobase of S. sordidus; E. dorsal view of median lobe of S. setosus; F. lateral view of median lobe of S. setosus; G. dorsal view of spiculum gastrale of S. setosus; H. phallobase of S. setosus.

Fig. 5. A–I, male and female genitalia of Sapotes. Reference line to the right of figures equal to 0.5 mm. A–B. apical portion of male median lobe of S. longipilis; A. dorsal and B. lateral view. C. ovipositor of S. caseyi. D. sternum 8 of S. caseyi. E–I, spermathecae of Sapotes species, with length from tip of arm to ducts: E. S. puncticollis (0.27 mm); F. S. longipilis (0.35 mm); G. S. caseyi (0.30 mm); H. S. sordidus (0.28 mm); I. S setosus (0.23 mm).