Eclipta ficta, Bezark, Larry G., Martins, Ubirajara R., Santos-Silva, Antonio & Berkov, Amy, 2013

Bezark, Larry G., Martins, Ubirajara R., Santos-Silva, Antonio & Berkov, Amy, 2013, New species and new distribution records in Rhinotragini (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae), Zootaxa 3647 (1), pp. 181-193 : 188-189

Eclipta ficta sp. nov.

( Fig. 5 )

Diagnosis. Eclipta ficta sp. nov. is similar to Eclipta thoracica (Bates, 1873) , but differs as follows: distal antennomeres thicker; pronotum without longitudinal tubercles; profemora entirely dark; metatarsomere I about as long as II–III together. In E. thoracica the distal antennomeres are slender, the pronotum has distinct longitudinal tubercles, the profemora are reddish, and the metatarsomere I is distinctly longer than II–III together. It is also similar to E. championella (Bates, 1880) , but differs by the elytra without light vitta, and by the peduncle of femora entirely dark. Eclipta championella has the distinct light elytral vitta, and the peduncle of femora is yellowish.

Etymology. The species name ficta is Latin for false and refers to the fact that this species is different from the type species of Eclipta .

Male ( Fig. 5 ). Body slender. Integument black, shiny, with green and violaceous reflections; antennomeres IV– VIII reddish on base; mouth parts partially reddish; elytra partially brownish.

Head not elongate behind eyes (posterior edge of eyes near the anterior edge of prothorax), but narrowed; rostrum (between apex of inferior ocular lobe and genal apex) about as long as 0.3 times length of inferior ocular lobe in frontal view. Dorsal surface of head coarsely, abundantly punctate on vertex, finer on frons; frons with short, moderately sparse setae, on each side one very long seta; area between inferior ocular lobes with, on each side, a row of short, abundant setae; vertex with long, sparse setae. Labrum dorsally almost glabrous, laterally with a very long seta; distal edge with short setae. Outer surface of mandibles with short, sparse setae; near base one very long seta. Laterally, behind inferior ocular lobes, with short setae, mixed with long, sparse setae. Ventral surface of head striate, punctate laterally; with long, moderately sparse setae. Inferior ocular lobes separated by a very narrow area. Antennae 1.15 times longer than elytra, reaching distal elytral third; antennomeres III–IV filiform; antennomeres V–VII enlarged towards apex, slender; antennomere VIII strongly enlarged towards apex, thick; antennomeres IX–XI almost moniliform; antennomeres VIII–XI forming a distinct club. Scape, pedicel, and antennomeres III–VI with dark, thick setae.

Prothorax cylindrical, distinctly longer than wide, laterally without tubercles. Pronotum coarsely, abundantly punctate; with long, sparse setae. Prosternum striate-punctate on basal half, impunctate on distal half; basal half with short, abundant setae, mixed with long, also abundant setae; distal half with very sparse long setae. Prosternal process narrowed centrally, truncate at apex, with abundant setae. Scutellum with short, very sparse setae. Elytra long, laterally convergent from humerus to middle, then divergent towards apex; dehiscent at sutural distal third; reaching basal third of fourth abdominal segment; surface coarsely, abundantly punctate; carina well marked from base to about middle; basal third with long, sparse setae, gradually shorter and sparser towards apex; apex obliquely truncate, with sutural angle slightly projected. Metepisterna and lateral of portions metasternum microsculptured, coarsely, moderately abundantly punctate, with long, sparse setae; central area of metasternum with moderately short, abundant setae. Ventrites microsculptured, coarsely, sparsely punctate; laterally with short, abundant setae, centrally with long, sparse setae.

Femora clavate; metafemora distinctly longer than pro- and mesofemora; apex of metafemora slightly surpassing apex of elytra. Metatibiae without brush of setae. Metatarsomere I slightly longer than II–III together. Abdomen narrowed, long, cylindrical.

Dimensions in mm (male). Total length (from mandibular apex to abdominal apex), 6.2–7.0; prothorax: length, 1.2–1.3; anterior width, 0.7–0.8; posterior width, 0.7–0.8; humeral width, 0.9–1.0; elytral length, 3.5–4.0. Length of holotype, 6.8.

Type material. Holotype male from COSTA RICA, Guanacaste: 3 km SE R. Naranjo, II.21 –28.1992, F. D. Parker col. Dr. James Pitts (USUL, personal communication) has agreed to donate this type to the California Academy of Sciences (CASC). Paratypes (same location as holotype) - male, II.21 –28.1992, F. D. Parker col. (LGBC); male, II.16 –29.1992, F. D. Parker col. (MZSP).

Remarks. Eclipta ficta sp. nov. is not a true Eclipta Bates, 1873 . Comparison with the type species, E. flavicollis (Bates, 1873) shows considerable differences such as, body slender, and prothorax longer, not laterally tumid. The general appearance is that of the species of Paraeclipta Clarke, 2011 . However, E. ficta differs from the species of the latter by the longer antennae (reaching third abdominal segment), and longer metafemora (surpassing elytral apex). In Paraeclipta the antennae do not reach third abdominal segment, and the metafemora do not reach the elytral apex. The species is provisionally included in Eclipta , because it resembles some species currently belonging to this genus. Eclipta is another genus of Rhinotragini that needs a full revision.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 6. 1, Odontocera cinctura sp. nov., holotype female. 2 – 3, Odontocera limula sp. nov.: 2, holotype male; 3, paratype female. 4, Odontocera bettyae sp. nov., holotype male. 5, Eclipta ficta sp. nov., holotype male. 6, Eclipta lucida sp. nov., holotype male.