Perelleschus spinothylax Cardona-Duque & Franz

Nico M. Franz & Juliana Cardona-Duque, 2013, Description of two new species and phylogenetic reassessment of Perelleschus O’Brien & Wibmer, 1986 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), with a complete taxonomic concept history of Perelleschus sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque, 2013, Systematics and Biodiversity 11 (2), pp. 209-236 : 218-221

Perelleschus spinothylax Cardona-Duque & Franz sp. nov.

sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque (2013) ( Figs 25 & 26 )

Diagnosis. Perelleschus spinothylax sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque (2013) is distinguished from other members of Perelleschus sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque (2013) by the following traits: antennal scape two-coloured, progressing from dark to light reddish brown; procoxa subglabrous; tegminal apodeme deflexed (as opposed to straight); spiculum relictum forked and pointed; apical margin of the aedeagus slightly projected; spine-like sclerites present along the apical half of the endophallus; appendix of the spermatheca reduced. Perelleschus spinothylax sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque (2013) can be distinguished from Perelleschus carludovicae sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque (2013) by its smaller size, the shorter and sparser pilosity of the procoxa, the endophallic sclerites in males, and the shape of the spermathecal appendix in females. This species furthermore differs from P. evelynae sec. Franz & Cardona- Duque (2013) and P. variabilis sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque (2013) by the more apically positioned, spine-like endophallic sclerites, and by the apically rounded (as opposed to acute) cornu of the spermatheca. The meso- and metatibiae of P. spinothylax sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque (2013) are pubescent along the apical third of the ventral side; whereas other species of Perelleschus sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque (2013) lack this trait.

Description. Male. Small, length 2.2–2.6 mm, width 0.8–1.3 mm, l/w = 1.9–2.8 (N = 6); colour light reddish brown; vestiture short, aurate, conspicuous on antennal funicle and club, pronotum, procoxae, ventral protibiae, metaventrite and sternites. Mouthparts. As in P. salpinflexus sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque (2013), except labium subquadrate, trapezoidal ( Fig. 28 ). Rostrum. Short, 0.4–0.6 mm; r/p = 0.5–0.8; otherwise similar to P. salpinflexus sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque (2013). Antennae. Basal half of scape dark brown, apical half light reddish brown, scape extending to eye in resting position. Head. Light to dark yellowish brown; otherwise similar to P. salpinflexus sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque (2013). Thorax. Pronotum slightly globular, l/w = 0.9–1.5 (N = 6); light reddish brown, posterior margin darkened, anterior margin 0.4–0.9× as wide as posterior margin, greatest width near posterior 2/3; punctate, vestiture short, lateral setae longer. Epipleura . As in P. salpinflexus sec. Franz & Cardona- Duque (2013). Sterna . As in P. salpinflexus sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque (2013), except mesosternum with posterior intercoxal process slightly rounded (as opposed to slightly emarginate) ( Fig. 15 ). Metendosternite. As in P. salpinflexus sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque (2013). Legs. Yellowish to reddish brown; profemur f/p = 0.6–0.8 (N = 6); protibia t/f = 0.7–1.0 (N = 6); meso and metatibia ventrally pubescent along apical 1/3; posterior margin of mesotibia with 9 spines. Scutellum . Reddish brown, with dense vestiture. Elytra. L/w = 1.2–1.5 (N = 5); light reddish brown, laterally darkened along striae IX–X, striae dark brown in anterior region of elytra, lighter and narrower towards posterior region, vestiture longer than on pronotum, thus appearing denser. Wings. Slightly longer than 2× elytral length, l/w = 3.5 (N = 1); posterior margin with setae throughout (except just in the region of the anal fold), setae longer in anal region; stigmal patch apically with a small protrusion and two setae inserted. Abdomen. Tergites complete. Sternite VII slightly longer than V+VI. Terminalia. Sternum VIII ( Fig. 29 ) with membrane of hemisternites situated near fold of intermembrane connecting sterna VII–VIII, subtending a transversally oriented, forked and pointed median process (= spiculum relictum sensu Thompson 1992; see also Wanat, 2007). Sternum IX ( Fig. 30 ) with width of apodeme similar throughout (2.5× as wide as aedeagal apodemes), apex widened, basal fork distally acute, each arm slightly explanate in mid region. Tegminal apodeme slightly deflexed ( Fig. 31 ). Aedeagus ( Fig. 32 ) with l/w = 2.8–3.1 (N = 4); in lateral view narrow, deflexed; in dorsal view slightly narrowed from apical 1/3 to apex, apical margin medially projected; dorsal tectum membranous; endophallus with nearly 20 spine-like, heavily sclerotized sclerites positioned along apical half, sclerites variously oriented in mid region of aedeagus, thereafter aligned in parallel and projected; aedeagal apodemes widened at their basal 1/3.

Description. Fe m a l e. Length 2.4–2.8 mm, width 1.1–1.3 mm, l/w = 2.1–2.3 (N = 4). Rostrum 0.5–0.6 mm, r/p = 0.6–0.8. Pronotum l/w = 0.8–1.0. F/p = 0.5–0.7; t/f = 0.8–1.0. Elytra l/w = 1.3–1.4. Anteroventral spines of the protibia more slender than in males. Abdomen, including pygidum, as in other species of Perelleschus sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque (2013). Sternum VIII ( Fig. 33 ; see comment above on P. salpinflexus sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque, 2013): lamina elliptical, apical margin projected, rounded (not emarginate as in other species of Perelleschus sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque, 2013); apodeme narrow, nearly straight. Spermatheca ( Fig. 34 ) similar to that of other species of Perelleschus sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque (2013); surface striate; corpus basally slightly constricted; appendix reduced, opposed to gland (reservoir) insertion; collum and ramus only slightly separated; cornu apically slightly rounded, with short membranous

projection, extending in a single (two-dimensional) plane.

Variation. The degree of pigmentation varies among teneral and mature individuals, ranging from light yellowish brown to light reddish brown. The rostrum width is also variable, with some specimens having the apex between 1.2–1.4× wider than the base. Some individuals have a mesal, longitudinal, obscure maculation on the pronotum.

Type material. Holotype male (dissected), labelled: ‘COant. [ Colombia, Antioquia], San Lu´ıs, Río Claro , 5° 53' 32.1''N; 74° 51' 17.8'' W, 324 m, bosque, en inflorescencia en fase masculina de/ Carludovica palmata Ruiz & Pavón [non-focal], Ago. 2/2009, leg. Bota, Cardona, Franz & Mazo, CEUA 45757 ’ ( CEUA). Paratypes, same label information as male holotype except for ‘ CEUA 47801’ ( CEUA: 1 female, 1 dissected); ‘COant. [ Colombia, Antioquia], San Carlos, Vereda Paraguas, 6°13' 18'' N; 74° 50' 46'' W, 832 m, dentro de infrutescencica de/ Carludovica sp. cf. palmata [non-focal], Jun. 10/2007, leg. L. S. Barrientos, CEUA 45792’, ‘ CEUA 45794’, ‘ CEUA 45797’, ‘ CEUA 45798’, ‘ CEUA 45799’, ‘ CEUA 45758’, ‘ CEUA 45800’ ( CEUA: 5 males, 2 females, 5 dissected), ‘ CEUA 45796’ (donated to ICN: 1 male, 1 dissected), ‘ CEUA 45793’ (donated to IAvH: 1 male, 1 dissected), ‘ CEUA 45795’ (donated to MEFLG: 1 male, 1 dissected); ‘COant. [ Colombia, Antioquia], San Rafael, Vda. [Vereda] La Rápida, Finca Cantarrana 6° 15' 27.6''N; 75°0 1' 41.5'' W, 1041 m /manual en inflorescencias de Carludovica palmata Ruiz & Pavón [non-focal], May. 25/2007, leg. Cardona & Tuberquia, CEUA 45801’, ‘ CEUA 45802’, ‘ CEUA 45803’, ‘ CEUA 45804’ ( CEUA: 3 males, 1 female, 3 dissected); ‘COant. [ Colombia, Antioquia], Anorí, Vereda El Zafiro, Finca El Pital, cañón del Porce, 7° 1' 48.7''N; 75° 4' 25.6''W, manual en inflorescencia de / Carludovica palmata Ruiz & Pavón [non-focal], Nov. 24/2009, leg. C. Bota CEUA 47809’ ( CEUA: 1 male, 1 dissected); ‘COant. [ Colombia, Antioquia], San Roque, Corr. [Corregimiento] San José del Nus, Estación Piscícola UdeA, Borde de quebrada, 823 m, 6° 29' 14.6'' N; 74° 50' 49.2'' W/inflorescencia e infrutescencia de Carludovica palmata [non-focal], leg. C. A. Bota, Feb. 7/2009, CEUA 45751’, ‘ CEUA 45752’, ‘ CEUA 47819’ ( CEUA: 1 male, 2 females, 3 dissected), ‘ CEUA 45753’, ‘ CEUA 45805’, ‘ CEUA 66685’ (donated to UNAB: 3413 and 3415 - 2 males, 1 dissected, 3416 – 1 female, 1 dissected); ‘ Venezuela, Yaracuy, P.[Parque] N.[Nacional] Yurubí, Yumare-Alberico, cr. Guayabito, 10° 28' 0''N; 68° 39' 0'' W, 200 m, in Carludovica palmata Ruiz & Pavón [non-focal] infructescence, Jun. 28/2002, leg. H. Escobar & M. Mantilla’ (ASUHIC: 6 males, 3 females, 4 dissected); ‘ Venezuela, Yaracuy, P.[Parque] N.[Nacional] Yurubí, Yumare-Alberico, cr. Guayabito, 10°28'N; 68° 39'W, 200 m, en inflorescencia de Carludovica palmata [non-focal] en fase masculina, 23-VI-2002, leg. H. Escobar & M. Mantilla’ (ASUHIC: 4 males, 4 females, 4 dissected), ‘ CEUA 66686’, ‘ CEUA 66687’, ‘ CEUA 66688’, ‘ CEUA 66689’ ( CEUA: 2 males, 2 females), ( CWOB: 4 males, 4 females, 4 dissected), ( CMNC: 4 males, 4 females, 4 dissected).

considered as primarily homologous (de Pinna, 1991) were coded as inapplicable.

Type locality. Colombia, Antioquia, San Luis, Río Claro.

Etymology. Named in reference to the distinct spines of the endophallus, through the combination of the Latin word spina signifying ‘thorn’ and the Greek word thylakos which means ‘sack’ ( Brown, 1956).

Natural history. Perelleschus spinothylax sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque (2013) occurs sympatrically with P. salpinflexus sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque (2013) at all recorded localities except for San Luís, Antioquia, Colombia and Parque Nacional Yurubí, Yaracuy, Venezuela, where individuals of the latter species remain undocumented (see also comments above on P. salpinflexus sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque, 2013). Apparently P. spinothylax sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque (2013) is more abundant on C. palmata [non-focal] inflorescences than P. salpinflexus sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque (2013) where the two species coexist; however these differences have not been quantified.

Figures

Figs 25 – 28. (25) and (26): habitus of P. spinothylax sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque (2013); (25) male, dorsal view; (26) male, lateral view. (27) and (28) comparison of labial shape, ventral view: (27) P. salpinflexus sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque (2013); (28) P. spinothylax sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque (2013).

Figs 12 – 16. Thoracic structures; (12) P. salpinflexus sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque (2013), metanepisternum; (13) P. salpinflexus sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque (2013), sclerolepidia; (14) P. salpinflexus sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque (2013), mesoventral process; (15) P. spinothylax sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque (2013), mesoventral process; (16) P. salpinflexus sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque (2013), metendosternite.

Figs 29 – 32. Male terminalia of P. spinothylax sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque (2013); (29) sternum VIII; (30) sternum IX; (31) tegmen; (32) aedeagus, dorsal and ventral view.

Figs 33 – 34. Female terminalia of P. spinothylax sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque (2013); (33) sternum VIII; (34) spermatheca, lateral view.