Penthoscapha gerhardschereri, Riedel, Alexander, 2009

Riedel, Alexander, 2009, Revision of the genus Penthoscapha Heller (Coleoptera, Curculionoidea, Entiminae, Eupholini) with notes on the genera of Eupholini from New Guinea, Zootaxa 2224, pp. 1-29 : 10-14

Penthoscapha gerhardschereri sp. n.

( Figs. 4–7 , 20–21 , 30 , 33 , 44–46, 54, 56, 58 , 63, 65 , 68 , 71 )

Diagnosis. Elytral sculpture deeply foveate-rugose from base to apex, intervals 3, 5, 7 markedly costate; microsculpture at apical declivity coriaceous, sutural interval subapically forming blunt protrusion ( Fig. 20 ); females with densely squamose patches, sutural interval apically extended into short acute process ( Fig. 21 ). Lateral contour of elytra ( Figs. 4, 6 ) convex.

Description. Holotype, male ( Fig. 4–5 ). Length. Total length 16.0 mm; pronotum + elytron 12.5 mm.

Coloration black; elytra with yellow exocuticular pigment contained in bottom of foveae. Body dorsally subglabrous, ventrally sparsely setose.

Head shining, dorsally subglabrous, ventrally sparsely setose; between eyes 1.29 X as wide as vertical diameter of eye, with parallel curved wrinkles bordering eyes, with longitudinal fovea. Vertex with median furrow. Eyes moderately prominent from outline of head. Gena subequal (1.03 X) to vertical diameter of eye.

Rostrum ( Fig. 33 ) 1.56 X longer than wide at base; maximum width in front of antennal insertion 1.31 X width at base. Dorsum with broad, shallow impression, containing very low median ridge; in front of eyes with distinct sublateral impressions.

Antenna. Funicle + club 1.64 X length of scape; club 3.30 X as long as wide.

Thorax. Pronotum 1.17 X wider than long; sides in basal third subparallel, widest in apical half; disc deeply transversely rugose, interspersed punctures indistinct, with deep impression slightly in front of middle. Thoracic venter sparsely setose with thin setae, in front of procoxae setosity denser.

Elytron medially fused, 4.04 X longer than wide between humeri; at greatest width 1.15 X wider than between humeri; side evenly rounded; striae deeply foveate from base to apex; intervals transversely rugose resulting in areolate pattern; areoles of intervals 1–2, 3–4, 5–6 sometimes merging, below with yellow exocuticular pigments of mycelium-like structure ( Fig. 68 ); intervals 3, 5, 7 markedly costate, interval 7 forming sharp lateral edge in basal 2/3; sculpture of ridges weakly shining, transversely rugose, at apical declivity microsculpture without granules; sutural interval at apical declivity ( Fig. 20 ) forming blunt, sparsely setose protrusion visible in lateral aspect; apices of both elytra jointly rounded. Ala ( Fig. 30 ) vestigial, length 9.2 mm, 0.99 X length of elytron.

Legs. Femora moderately long; metafemur in repose not reaching elytral apex. Tibiae ventrally subapically sparsely denticulate; metatibia apically with subglabrous bevel; posterior distal comb of metatibia consisting of few dentiform setae, terminating ventrally on a protuberance (“secondary mucro”). Tarsi elongate, tarsomere 1 of metatarsus 2.4 X as long as wide, tarsomere 2 1.1 X as long as wide.

Abdomen. Ventrite 1–2 punctate, moderately densely setose; ventrites 3–5 subapically densely, coarsely punctate; ventrite 5 flat, subapically with shallow impression, densely setose. Genitalia. Aedeagus ( Figs. 44– 45) with sides subparallel beyond apical orifice, subapically distinctly constricted, apex extended, rounded; In lateral aspect apical tip distinctly curved dorsad. Transfer apparatus ( Fig. 46) ca. 3 X as long as wide at base.

Allotype, female ( Fig. 6–7 ). Same as holotype except: Length. Total length 18.0 mm; pronotum + elytron 14.5 mm. Coloration black, elytra and legs reddish brown; yellow exocuticular pigment on elytra present, but less conspicuous; head and pronotum subglabrous, with sparse lanceolate scales; elytra with subglabrous areas and densely squamose patches of white-rose scales; ventrally subglabrous except some areas bordering coxae densely squamose with white-rose scales. Rostrum 1.65 X longer than wide at base; maximum width in front of antennal insertion 1.35 X width at base. Antenna. Funicle + club 1.70 X length of scape; club 3.13 X as long as wide. Elytron 3.93 X longer than wide between humeri; at greatest width 1.29 X wider than between humeri; side more distinctly rounded; with subglabrous areas and densely squamose patches of partly overlapping lanceolate scales; sculpture of subglabrous areas areolate and costate, in squamose patches intervals much lower; sutural interval subglabrous, with sparse row of thin suberect setae, at subapical protuberance densely setose; remainder of apical declivity densely squamose; intervals 3–6 basally with another patch of irregular shape; laterally scales largely confined to bottom of deep punctures; sutural interval at apical declivity ( Fig. 21 ) forming rectangular, setose protrusion visible in lateral aspect; more ventrad sutural interval apically extended into short acute process. Legs. Femora shorter; metafemur in repose reaching only middle of abdominal ventrite 5. Tibiae in apical half ventrally markedly denticulate. Tarsi shorter, tarsomere 1 of metatarsus 1.8 X as long as wide, tarsomere 2 0.96 X as long as wide. Abdomen. Ventrite 1–2 markedly convex, subglabrous, with few scattered setae and sparse minute punctures; ventrite 5 flat, with scattered setae and scales. Wing-folding patch of tergite VII ( Fig. 56 ) relatively small, vestigial. Terminalia. Tergite VIII ( Fig. 65 ) wider than long, with blunt median angulation. Sternite VIII ( Fig. 58 ). Hemisternite ( Fig. 54 ) 2.8 X as long as high. Stylus 3.5 X as long as wide, subapically with cluster of moderately long stiff setae pointing laterad. Spermatheca ( Fig. 63 ) with gland ca. 2 X as long as body.

Intraspecific variation. Length. Total length of males 15.0–16.0 mm (n=7, x =15.4 ± 0.4), females 17.0– 20.0 mm (n=6, x =18.6 ± 1.0); pronotum + elytron of males 11.3–13.3 mm (n=7, x =12.3 ± 0.6), females 14.0– 16.3 mm (n=6, x =15.3 ± 0.9). Coloration. Extent and coloration of squamose patches of female elytra highly variable; colour ranges from plain white, over rose with interspersed greenish scales, to mostly ferruginous; either largely squamose (except for sutural interval, interval 2-3 to middle, and humerus plus basal 2/3 of interval 7 subglabrous), or largely subglabrous (except for few, indistinct, relatively sparse patches between striae 3-6). Rostrum in males 1.56–1.73 X longer than wide at base (n=7, x =1.66 ± 0.05), in females 1.50–1.65 X longer than wide at base (n=6, x =1.55 ± 0.06); maximum width in front of antennal insertion 1.23–1.35 X width at base (n=13, x =1.30 ± 0.03). Antenna. Funicle + club in males 1.64–1.83 X length of scape (n=7, x =1.74 ± 0.06), in females 1.59–1.73 X length of scape (n=5, x =1.68 ± 0.06). Elytron in males 4.04–4.24 X longer than wide between humeri (n=7, x =4.13 ± 0.07), at greatest width 1.10–1.21 X wider than between humeri (n=7, x =1.16 ± 0.03); in females 3.56–4.00 X longer than wide between humeri (n=6, x =3.86 ± 0.16), at greatest width 1.24–1.35 X wider than between humeri (n=6, x =1.29 ± 0.04); females with indistinct squamose patches show more distinct vestiture of sparse, but relatively long suberect setae, especially in apical half.

Material examined. Holotype: WEST NEW GUINEA, Jayawijaya Reg., Pass between Lake Habbema and Wamena-River-Valley, N Mt. Wilhelmina [Gn. Trikora], 3450 m, 19–20.X.1993, leg. A.Riedel ( MZB). Paratypes: WEST NEW GUINEA, Jayawijaya Reg.: 4 males, 4 females (1 marked as “allotype”), same data as holotype ( ARC, SMNK, MZB); 1 female, Pass between Lake Habbema and Ibele-Valley, (W Wamena), 3300 m, 21.X.1993, leg. A.Riedel ( ARC); 2 males, 1 female, Lake Habbema, N Mt. Wilhelmina [Gn. Trikora], 3200–3350 m, 17.X.1993, leg. A.Riedel ( ARC).

Distribution ( Fig. 71 ). Jayawijaya Reg. (Lake Habbema). Elevation: 3300–3450 m.

Biology. Collected by opening up cushion vegetation.

Etymology. This species is named in honour of Mr. Gerhard Scherer (Rottweil), a passionate beetlecollector, on the occasion of his 70th birthday. This patronym is seen as a recognition of Mr. Scherer´s family´s most generous support of systematic research and biodiversity conservation through their donation to BIOPAT e. V.

Figures

FIGURES 4 – 7. Penthoscapha gerhardschereri: (4) holotype, dorsal aspect; (5) holotype, lateral aspect; (6) allotype, dorsal aspect; (7) allotype, lateral aspect.

FIGURES 20 – 25. Elytral apex of Penthoscapha species, lateral aspect: (20) P. gerhardschereri, holotype; (21) P. gerhardschereri, allotype, arrow marking apical tooth; (22) P. l o re n t z i, lectotype; (23) P. doormanensis, holotype; (24) P. pulverea, holotype; (25) P. similis, holotype.

FIGURES 26 – 31. Left wing of Penthoscapha species: (26) P. t o x o p e i, paratype; (27) P. similis, holotype; (28) P. doormanensis, holotype; (29) P. p u l v ere a, holotype; (30) P. gerhardschereri, holotype; (31) P. l o re n t z i, lectotype.

FIGURES 32 – 35. Head and rostrum of Penthoscapha species: (32) P. l o re n t z i, lectotype (33) P. gerhardschereri, holotype; (34) P. doormanensis, holotype; (35) P. pulverea, holotype.

FIGURES 53 – 59. Female terminalia of Penthoscapha species: (53) hemisternite of P. toxopei, paratype; (54) hemisternite of P. gerhardschereri, allotype; (55) hemisternite of P. similis, allotype; (56) tergite VII of P. gerhardschereri, allotype; arrow marking wing-folding patch; (57) tergite VII of P. similis, allotype; arrow marking wing-folding patch; (58) sternite VIII of P. gerhardschereri, paratype; (59) sternite VIII of P. similis, allotype.

FIGURES 60 – 66. Female terminalia of Penthoscapha species: (60) P. t o x o p e i, paratype; (61) P. similis, allotype; (62) P. toxopei, paratype, spermatheca; (63) P. gerhardschereri, allotype, spermatheca; (64) P. similis, allotype, spermatheca; (65) P. gerhardschereri, allotype; tergite VIII and ductus spermathecae; (66) P. similis, allotype, tergite VIII.

FIGURES 67 – 70. Detail of elytron of Penthoscapha species with exocuticular pigments [67 – 69], or with degenerate exocuticle [70]: (67) P. pulverea, holotype; (68) P. gerhardschereri, holotype; (69) P. doormanensis, holotype; (70) P. lorentzi, lectotype.

FIGURES 71 – 72. Distribution of Penthoscapha species.