Calocosmus thonalmus Lingafelter

Lingafelter, Steven W., 2013, Hispaniolan Hemilophini (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae), ZooKeys 258, pp. 53-83 : 69-72

Calocosmus thonalmus Lingafelter sp. n. Fig. 6a-d; Map 3

Diagnosis.

This species is very distinctive since it, along with Calocosmus contortus , are the only ones with a highly modified elytral apex with elevated, pubescent ridged costae and deep intercostal spaces, giving a contorted appearance. It is distinguished from Calocosmus contortus by its uniformly black antennae (antennomeres 4-7 fulvous at the base in Calocosmus contortus ); smaller lower eye lobe that is far removed from the genal base (gena is about one-third of the height of the lower eye lobe in Calocosmus contortus ); elytra with two apical pubescent costae separated by a concave depression (a third minor costa is present between the two major ones in Calocosmus contortus ); relatively short metasternal setal brush (this setal brush, apparently only developed in males of some species of Calocosmus , is much longer in Calocosmus contortus ); and in its much shorter, thickened legs with the metafemur barely reaching the third ventrite (extending to the posterior margin of the third ventrite in Calocosmus contortus .) It is also superficially similar to some specimens of Calocosmus hispaniolae since both species possess a dark, shiny apical area of the elytron (with elevated costae in some specimens of Calocosmus hispaniolae ), but they are never convoluted with pubescent crests as in Calocosmus thonalmus .

Description.

Size: 7.0-7.9 mm long; 2.1-2.7 mm wide between humeri. Head with dense vestiture of very short, ashy-white setae, slightly thickened at base, but not obscuring surface, along with scattered long, translucent or dark setae on frons. Numerous well-defined, mostly non-contiguous punctures scattered throughout head. Frons not bulging, either level or slightly concave between eyes, with division by median groove extending to vertex. Gena below lower eye lobe and mandibular base about two-thirds height of lower eye lobe; frontal-genal ridge very short, extending for a short distance vertically toward eye margin from genal margin. Anteclypeal sulcus absent. Eye small to moderate sized, very weakly bulging laterally on lower lobe beyond plane of head, finely faceted, upper lobe connected to lower lobe by 2-3 facets at narrowest point, lower lobe larger than upper lobe, occupying about one-fourth of head from lateral view (slightly smaller in females). Interantennal region not impressed, antennal tubercles not elevated. Antenna moderately stout, short, surpassing elytral apex by less than 1 antennomere in females and a little more than 2 antennomeres in males. Antenna with vestiture of semi-appressed, dense, short, black pubescence and scattered, sparse, long setae, especially at antennomere apices and mesal margins. Antennomeres black, without annulations. Antennomere 3 longer than scape + 2 but shorter than 4+5, subsequent antennomeres short and gradually decreasing in length. Prothorax cylindrical, broader than long (1.3-1.6 mm long; 1.6-2.0 mm wide), distinctly narrower than elytral base, with middle swelling and lateral protuberance, densely covered with short yellowish-orange setae, however not obscuring integument. Pronotum with overall orange appearance, without maculae. Pronotum with distinct, large, mostly non-contiguous punctures throughout. Pronotum about one-fifth length of body. Prosternum inconspicuously pubescent with short, orange or translucent setae. Prosternal process broadly expanded at apex, closing procoxal cavities posteriorly. Elytron with distinct, dense punctures that terminate at anterior margin of dark, apical macula, with areas of dense, short, erect, velvety white, pubescence that does not obscure surface and sparse, longer, erect, black setae scattered on basal two-thirds. Elytron bicolored: slightly more than basal one-half orange, slightly less than apical one-half iridescent purplish-black. Purplish-black elytral apex highly modified and contorted with 2 elevated costae at middle with crest of erect, short, black setae. Intercostal regions concave and mostly glabrous. Humerus not projecting anterolaterally, partially denuded of pubescence at apex. Elytral apices narrowly rounded to suture, without spines. Elytron 4.8-5.7 mm long; 1.0-1.4 mm wide; elytral length/width: 4.0-4.8. Scutellum broadly subtruncate posteriorly, mostly glabrous with orange ground color. Legs with tibiae weakly thickened apically. Femora and tibiae short; metafemur barely reaching third ventrite. Legs with white and translucent pubescence not obscuring surface, becoming most dense at apex of tibiae. Femora orange; tibiae orange to black; tarsi dark orange to black. Venter mostly sparsely and inconspicuously pubescent, not obscuring surface. Venter orange throughout except for apex of fifth ventrite of both sexes which is piceous. Apex of fifth ventrite of females broadly truncate with very small median notch, broadly rounded with relatively larger notch in males.

Etymology.

The species epithet is a Latin noun, nominative case, masculine gender that refers to the similarity of this species to members of the lycid genus, Thonalmus Bourgeois.

Notes.

This species, along with Calocosmus contortus , is a highly modified member of the Batesian mimicry complex with the lycid beetle genus Thonalmus (Fig. 2b). It is known from two specimens.

Material.

Holotype (male): Dominican Republic, La Altagracia Province, El Veron, road to Hoyo Azul, 25-40 m, beating, SpecID: 6701, Nearns & Lingafelter, 26 June 2005 (ENPC, transferred to USNM). Paratype (1 female): Dominican Republic, La Altagracia Province, Parque Nacional del Este, 2.9 km SW Boca de Yuma, 18°21'51"N, 68°37'05"W, 11 m, 28 May 2004, C. Young, J. Rawlins, J. Fetzner, C. Nunez, semihumid dry forest, limestone, UV light, Sample 52114, CMNH 396,805 (CMNH).