Apotomoderes hadroprion Franz, 2010

Franz, Nico, 2010, Revision and phylogeny of the Caribbean weevil genus Apotomoderes Dejean, 1834 (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Entiminae), ZooKeys 49 (49), pp. 33-75 : 62-65

Apotomoderes hadroprion Franz , sp. n.

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Figs. 16, 17

Diagnosis. Apotomoderes hadroprion closely resembles A. chariedris though it has a more patchy beige/dark brown scale pattern on the elytra (Fig. 16A). The pronotum is strongly globular (Fig. 16B) and the protibial ridge is distinctly triangular near the basal 2/5, particularly in large males. In addition, the apex of the aedeagus is point-like and not just narrowly rounded, and in lateral view forms a small, lobe-like (as opposed to knob-like) projection that is neither expanded nor reclined (Fig. 17A). Two mesally reclined, uncinate rami are present along the aedeagal ostium. The cornu of the spermatheca is strongly curved at the basal 2/5 (Fig. 17C), and thereafter gradually curved towards the tip (as opposed to apically slightly deflected). See also the species accounts of A. chariedris and A. hadroprion .

Description - male. Length 8.85–9.58 mm, width 3.15–3.40 mm, length/width ratio 2.60–2.80 (N=2). Scale colors and patterns, to the extent that they are apparent in the available specimens (see remarks on variation), very similar to those of A. lateralis , with pale pink metallic scales restricted to depressed region basad of epistoma, with light green (or similar, yellowish, pinkish to pale blue) metallic scales more abundant on anterior sides of profemora. The pronotum (Fig. 16B) has a larger abundance of transparent scales, thus appearing “glabrous”. The scale pattern on the elytra is slightly more patchy (segregated), with white and beige scales predominating over semi-regular, subcircular to irregular sections of brown scales. Rostrum length 0.92–1.02 mm, rostrum/pronotum length ratio 0.32–0.36, rostrum length/width ratio 0.78. Head with eyes “tilted” posteriad. Pronotum length/width ratio 0.88–0.98, pronotum/elytra length ratio 0.48–0.52, strongly globular and seemingly transverse (short and wide), anteriorly strongly constricted. Profemur/pronotum length ratio

Figure |6. Habitus of A. hadroprion , male: A lateral view B frontal view, showing posteriorly “tilted” eyes.

0.90–1.00, profemur stout, with anteromesal tooth very large, protibia/profemur length ratio 0.98–1.02, anteromesal projection of protibia strongly elevated, triangular, associated teeth large, apically rounded to truncate. Elytra length/width ratio 1.68–1.72, punctures with a small, greenish to turquoise metallic scale (no longer visible in very old specimens).

Terminalia with furcal arms of spiculum gastrale apically strongly curved outwards. Tegmen similar in length to median lobe. Aedeagus (Fig. 17A) with median lobe length/width relation 6.-44–6.88 (N=1), basiventral margin strongly emarginate, lobe-like projections elongate and subtriangular, lateral margins slightly diverging in basal 5/6 of entire length, thereafter slightly rounded and gradually (triangularly) converging towards point-like, through very narrowly rounded apex. Median lobe in lateral view only slightly curved along extended mid region (second and third fourth of entire length), thereafter (apical fourth) dorsal margins converging towards apex in a slightly concave line, apically with very small, lobe-like, narrowly rounded projection that is neither expanded nor reclined. Internal sac with 2 weakly sclerotized, angulateuncinate rami, positioned in ostium and reclined mesobasally.

Figure |7. Terminalia of A. hadroprion : A aedeagus, ventral and lateral view B sternum VIII, female C spermatheca.

Female. Length 9.24–9.38 mm, width 3.73–3.78 mm; length/width ratio 2.48 (N=2). Rostrum length 1.04–1.10 mm, rostrum/pronotum length ratio 0.39–0.41, rostrum length/width ratio 0.80–0.82. Pronotum length/width ratio 0.92; pronotum/ elytra length ratio 0.40–0.42, pronotum smaller, less wide and less globular than in males. Profemur/pronotum length ratio 0.98–1.00, profemoral tooth slightly shorter and more equilaterally triangular, protibia/profemur length ratio 1.00–1.02, anteromesal projection and associated teeth of protibia slightly less pronounced than in males. Elytra length/width ratio 1.75–1.78.

Terminalia with lamina of sternum VIII (Fig. 17B) widely triangular, all sides almost exactly equilateral, anterior margins projected, anterior half with 2 lateral, poorly defined transparent regions. Spermatheca (Fig. 17V) nearly V-shaped, ramus and collum angled at nearly 60°, each very short (reduced) and wide, resulting in a subcontiguous, uniformly swollen structure (corpus reduced), cornu strongly curved at basal 2/5, thereafter more gradually curved and continuously narrowed towards end.

Variation. Except for the male holotype, all available specimens are nearly 30 years old and appear highly worn, with many regions appearing “glabrous” in light of abrasion and other structural changes of the scales, thereby exposing the color of the un- derlying integument (particularly the pronotum and elytra) through a transparent, wax-like cover. Consequently, the original variation in scale color pattern cannot be assessed.

Material examined. Male holotype “ DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: La Altagracia Prov, El Veron, rd. to Hoyo Azul, 26.VI.2005, 18°34.805' N, 68°26.543' W, 40 m, leg. A. Konstatinov, L. Chamorro ” ( NMNH). Paratypes, same label information as male holotype ( MHND: 1 male) ; “Juan Dolio, S. P. Macoris, PROV. S. P. Macoris, R. D., 29-VI-1980, Col. Dguez / 19813” ( MHND: 1 female) ; “Juan Dolio, S. P. Macoris, PROV. S. P. Macoris, R. D., 29-VI-1980, Col. Dguez / 19815” ( MHND: 1 female) .

Etymology. Named for the particularly prominent row of teeth on the protibia, with hadros signifying “well developed”, and prion signifying “saw” (Brown 1956). The epithet is treated as a noun in apposition.

Natural history. Apotomoderes hadroprion is known to occur in low elevation habitats in two southeastern provinces of the Dominican Republic (Fig. 18): La Altagracia (Hoyo Azul) and San Pedro de Macoris (Juan Dolio). The host plant associations remain unknown.