Trigonopeltastes mombachoensis, Smith, Andrew B. T., 2016

Smith, Andrew B. T., 2016, Five new species of Trigonopeltastes Burmeister and Schaum from Central America with new country records for other New World Trichiini (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Cetoniinae), ZooKeys 617, pp. 91-127 : 99-101

Taxon classification Animalia Coleoptera Scarabaeidae

Trigonopeltastes mombachoensis sp. n.

Type locality.

Reserva Nacional Volcán Mombacho, Granada, Nicaragua.

Type series.

Holotype male, allotype female, and 2 female paratypes. Holotype male at SEMC labeled a) "NICARAGUA: Granada Dept. / Res. Nat. Volcan Mombacho / 1150m 11°50.05'N 85°58.83'W / 3-VI-2002, R. Brooks, Z. Falin, / S. Chatzimanolis ex. misc. / collecting, NIC1BFC02 165" (typeset), b) "SMO533385 / KUNHM-ENT" (typeset beneath barcode). Allotype female at CMNC labeled "NICARAGUA: Grenada Dept. / Volcan Mombacho Res. Nat. / N11°50.0' W85°58.8', 1150 m / elfin cloud forest, beating, / 2-5.VI.2002, R.Anderson / RSA2002-034" (typeset). One female paratype at CMNC labeled "NICARAGUA: Grenada / Dept. Volcan Mombacho Res. / Nat. 1150 m, 11°50.0'N / 85°58.8'W 2-5.VI.2002, R. / Anderson, ex. elfin cloud forest / beating. RSA2002-034X" (typeset). One female paratype at CMNC labeled "NICARAGUA: Granada / Volcan Mombacho / Bosque nuboso #1 / 30-V-1998, malaise trap / J.M. Maes" (typeset). The types listed above bear my red holotype or allotype label or yellow paratype label.

Description of holotype

(Figs 28-33). Male. Length 9.0 mm, width 4.0 mm. Color: dorsal surface black with orange markings on elytra and light scales on pronotum, elytra, pygidium (Figs 28-29). Legs black. Head: Surface glabrous, clypeus without longitudinally elongate punctures (punctures on head dense, round) (Fig. 31). Clypeus slightly wider than long with midline not elevated, apex emarginate. Antenna with 10 antennomeres, club length approximately equal to length of antennomeres 2-7. Maxilla with long, thin brush protruding beyond clypeus in dorsal view. Mentum densely setose, obscuring surface. Pronotum: Surface of disc dull-black with shiny micropunctures (Fig. 31). Marginal bead complete (obscured mediobasally); with complete ring of short, dense, yellow setae and cretaceous markings inside marginal bead. Pronotal disc with more-or-less complete inverted triangle indented into surface; indentation with light cretaceous markings (Fig. 31). Scutellum: Surface with oblique, cretaceous markings on each side. Elytra: Surface glabrous, matt with shiny micropunctures. Transverse cretaceous band (1 on each side) short, located on basal half of elytral suture. Cretaceous bands (1 on each side) adjacent to lateral edge approximately halfway between base and apex, length approximately ¼ width of elytron (Figs 28-29). Elytral striae 1-4 weakly impressed; remaining striae weakly defined with rows of punctures, not impressed into surface. Orange markings consisting of transverse, basal band; sub-basal, medial spot; 2 longitudinal, medioapical lines (Figs 28-29). Pygidium: Surface with thick, lateral bands of cretaceous makings that are narrowly joined basally; non-cretaceous area of disc setose, especially near apex (Fig. 32). Disc with distinct, concentric microridges; surface evenly convex with apex slightly deflexed. Venter: Metasternum entirely covered with cretaceous markings and light setae, abdominal sternites with broad, medial cretaceous markings and light setae (Fig. 30). Legs: Protibia with 2 teeth near apex, 1 broad medial tooth (Fig. 29). Mesotibia robust with edges weakly bowed outward medially. Tibial spurs acute, unmodified. Holotype with right mesotarsomeres 2-5 missing. Parameres: Robust with weak lateral notches towards apex (Fig. 33).

Variation.

Female allotype (Figs 34-37): length 8.5 mm, width 3.0 mm. The female allotype differs in the following characters: Pronotum: Pronotal indented triangle with minimal cretaceous markings (perhaps due to abrasion, 2 female paratypes have more prominent cretaceous markings in pronotal triangle) (Figs 34-36). Pygidium: Surface with much thinner, rounder lateral bands of cretaceous makings along basal and lateral margins (Fig. 37). Disc flat with apex not deflexed. Venter: Metasternum with greatly reduced, lateral cretaceous markings, abdominal sternites with reduced, lateral cretaceous markings. Legs: Protibia with 3rd medial tooth larger and more distinct. Paratypes: length 9.0-10.0 mm. All characters are similar to those in the female allotype.

Etymology.

This species is named for Volcán Mombacho, where all known specimens were collected.

Distribution

(Fig. 56). NICARAGUA - Granada (4): Reserva Nacional Volcán Mombacho.

Temporal data.

May (1), June (3).

Remarks.

This species is similar to Trigonopeltastes intermedius but can be distinguished by the orange color pattern on the elytra and geographic distribution. Trigonopeltastes intermedius has a solid, transverse, sub-basal, orange line while Trigonopeltastes mombachoensis has a sub-basal, orange spot (Figs 28, 34). Trigonopeltastes intermedius is known from Mexico and Guatemala and Trigonopeltastes mombachoensis is only known from Volcán Mombacho, Nicaragua. Any specimens found of either species in Honduras or northern Nicaragua should be studied to see if these character states are transitional.