Odontocera mthomasi Wappes and Santos-Silva, 2017

Wappes, James E. & Santos-Silva, Antonio, 2017, New Neotropical Rhinotragini and a new country record for Nicaragua (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae), Insecta Mundi 2017 (530), pp. 1-24 : 7-8

Odontocera mthomasi Wappes and Santos-Silva , n. sp.

( Fig. 13–15 )

Diagnosis. Odontocera mthomasi is similar to Odontocera vittipennis Bates, 1873 , but differs as follows (females): body slender; distance between inferior ocular lobes larger (in frontal view 0.75 times length of one lobe); metasternum and ventrites not entirely pubescent. In O. vittipennis the body is wider, the distance between inferior ocular lobes is smaller (in frontal view 0.55 times length of one lobe), and the metasternum and ventrites are entirely pubescent.

Description. Integument primarily black. Pronotum reddish, except for three small brown spots near base (central one narrower and less conspicuous); prothorax, in part, reddish laterally; elytra with light area from near base to near apex with basal 1/6, translucent; metatibiae with reddish spot dorsally on basal 1/4; metatarsi whitish yellow, except dorsal and lateral base of metatarsomere I (black), distal 1/2 of metatarsomere V (brown), and claws (black).

Head. Not elongated behind eyes (posterior edge of eyes close to anterior edge of prothorax); rostrum (between apex of lower eye lobe and genal apex), in frontal view, 0.5 times length of inferior ocular lobe. Frons abundantly, moderately finely punctate; with sparse, short yellowish white setae, denser on band close to lower eye lobes. Vertex abundantly, moderately coarsely punctate (punctures denser than on frons); with sparse, short yellowish white setae. Antennal tubercles sparsely, finely punctate, with smooth areas intermixed; with sparse, short yellowish white setae. Clypeus abundantly, finely punctate centrally, with moderately sparse, short yellowish white setae, interspersed with sparse, long setae; lateral surface smooth and glabrous. Labrum with transverse row of short, yellowish setae on basal 1/2, sparsely interspersed with long setae; distal 1/2 shining and glabrous; posterior edge with fringe of short, yellowish white setae. Outer surface of mandibles with sparse, short setae, sparsely interspersed with long setae (mainly on basal and distal 1/3). Area behind lower eye lobes with fringe of sparse, long yellowish white setae close to eye. Genae sparsely, finely punctate; with sparse, short yellowish white setae. Gula almost smooth centrally at base, striate, sparsely punctate towards submentum; transversely striate on base laterally; and anteriorly, with sparse, long yellowish white setae laterally. Submentum transversely striate-punctate, except only with sparse punctures centrally; with sparse, long yellowish white setae. Distance between upper eye lobes 0.6 times length of scape; in frontal view, distance between lower eye lobes 0.6 times length of scape. Antennae1.3 times elytral length; reaching about apex of second abdominal segment; antennomeres III–V filiform; antennomere VI slightly enlarged towards apex; antennomeres VII–VIII more distinctly enlarged towards apex, with rounded outer angle distally; antennomeres IX–XI thick; antennal club not distinct; scape, pedicel, and antennomeres III–VI with moderately long, dark, thick setae; antennal formula (ratio) based on antennomere III: scape = 0.71; pedicel = 0.26; IV = 0.66; V = 0.92; VI = 0.71; VII = 0.73; VIII = 058; IX = 0.55; X = 0.50; XI = 0.58.

Thorax. Prothorax subcylindrical, longer than wide, widest at middle, without lateral tubercles. Pronotum with one lightly marked, narrow central callosity near base and a small rounded pair, one each side of central callosity; densely, coarsely, confluently punctate; with sparse, short yellowish white setae, sparsely interspersed with long setae. Prothorax sparsely, moderately coarsely punctate laterally (slightly denser on part of basal area); with sparse, short yellowish white setae. Basal 3/4 of prosternum abundantly, coarsely punctate, with abundant, moderately long whitish setae; anterior 1/4 sparsely, moderately finely punctate, with sparse, long setae. Prosternal process narrowed centrally, broadly enlarged towards truncate apex; with short setae, interspersed with long to very long setae. Metepisterna with abundant, short, whitish setae, sparsely interspersed with long setae, more so anteriorly. Metasternum with abundant, whitish setae laterally, interspersed with sparse, long setae; with sparse, moderately long, whitish setae in central area. Scutellum pubescent. Elytra. Narrowed from base to apex, dehiscent along suture on distal 1/2; abundantly, moderately coarsely punctate on base and laterally; translucent area sparsely, coarsely, shallowly punctate; with sparse, long setae on base, gradually sparser and shorter towards apex. Legs. Femora clavate; metafemur distinctly longer than mesofemur; apex of metafemora reaching middle of fifth abdominal segment. Metatarsomere I 1.65 times longer than II–III together.

Abdomen. Ventrites with abundant, short whitish setae laterally, sparsely interspersed with long setae; remaining surface with moderately abundant, short and long whitish setae.

Dimensions in mm (female). Total length (from mandibular apex to abdominal apex), 12.9; prothorax: length, 2.1; anterior width, 1.4; posterior width, 1.6; humeral width, 2.0; elytral length, 6.4.

Type material. Holotype female from GUATEMALA, Zacapa: near San Lorenzo (4–6000’), 13 IV, 1990, J. E. Wappes col. ( FSCA).

Etymology. Named to recognize Michael C. Thomas, long-time friend, and former Chief Entomologist of the Florida State Collection of Arthropods (now retired), for his many contributions to our knowledge of the Laemophloeidae and for his welcome hospitality to hundreds of visitors during his 20 plus years as FSCA’s entomological leader.

Figures

Figures 13–18. Odontocera spp. 13–15. Odontocera mthomasi sp. nov., holotype female, habitus: 13) Dorsal; 14) Ventral; 15) Lateral. 16–18. Odontocera skelleyi sp. nov., holotype female, habitus: 16) Dorsal; 17) Ventral; 18) Lateral.