Plumolepilius branstetteri Barrios-Izás & Anderson, 2016

Barrios-Izás, Manuel A., Anderson, Robert S. & Morrone, Juan J., 2016, A taxonomic monograph of the leaf-litter inhabiting weevil genus Plumolepilius new genus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Molytinae: Conotrachelini) from Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador, Zootaxa 4168 (1), pp. 61-91 : 69-71

Plumolepilius branstetteri Barrios-Izás & Anderson , new species

( Figs. 9–15 , 72, 81 , 90 , 99 )

Diagnosis. Male. Length (1.65–2.00 mm). Width (1.00– 1.45 mm). Subovate, nigropiceous, infused with dark orange at legs and apex of rostrum, coarsely punctate. Vestiture of recurved, clavate, variegated yellow to dark brown scales; adpressed at mesepisternum. Rostrum stout, base slightly humped, finely punctate. Antenna inserted at the middle, setulose, except for scape, scape slightly larger than desmomeres 1 and 2 together, both desmomeres elongate, desmomeres 3 to 7 moniliform. Pronotum narrower than elytra, constricted in front, three vittae of ochreous scales, the middle vittae incomplete. Elytra punctate-striate, parallel and abruptly confluent at the elytral declivity, flanks acuteangulate with dorsum, two large rounded tubercles on interstice 3 at base of elytral declivity, various callous tubercles, humeri angle sharp. Abdominal ventrite 5 broad, flat, bearing two tufts of setae at apex (not always evident), strongly punctate at anterior half, posterior half finely punctate. Femora with scattered scales, small tooth at inner margin, tibiae slender, shorter than femora, apical transverse comb of setae, uncinate, premucro absent. Pedon subparallel, apodemes at least 3X longer than pedon.

Female. Length (1.95–2.10 mm). Width (1.10–1.35 mm). Elytra tuberculate, humeri not produced but acuteangulate.

Geographic distribution. Guatemala (Huehuetenango, Quetzaltenango, Quiche, and San Marcos) and Mexico (Chiapas). Fig. 99 .

Derivation of the specific name. Patronym, named after Michael G. Branstetter, a myrmecologist at the University of Utah.

Material examined: 12ƋƋ, 24♀♀ (ASUHIC, BMNH, CMNC, CWOB, USAC, USNM). Holotype Ƌ ( CMNC): GUATEMALA : Quetzaltenango. Las Nubes , 14.80143°N 91.67197°W, 2190m, 12.IX.2008, oak forest ex sifted leaf litter, R. S. Anderson RSA 2008-116 / WWD0023227 / Holotype Ƌ Plumolepilius branstetteri Barrios-Izás & Anderson sp. nov. Aedeagus extracted . Paratypes: same data as holotype / WWD0023187 (1Ƌ CWOB) . WWD0023188 (1Ƌ USNM). WWD0023192 (1♀ CWOB). WWD0023193 (1♀ CMNC). WWD0023195 (1♀ USNM). WWD0023199 (1Ƌ ASUHIC). WWD0023200 (1♀ ASUHIC). WWD0023201 (1♀ ASUHIC).

WWD0023202 (1♀ USAC). WWD0023204 (1♀ CMNC). WWD0023206 (1♀ CMNC). WWD0023211 (1♀ CMNC). WWD0023217 (1Ƌ USAC). WWD0023224 (1♀ CMNC). WWD0023225 (1Ƌ BMNH). WWD0023226 (1♀ CMNC). WWD0023228 (1♀ CMNC). WWD0023229 (1♀ CMNC). WWD0023230 (1♀ CMNC). WWD0023231 (1♀ CMNC). WWD0023235 (1♀ CMNC). WWD0023240 (1♀ CMNC). GUATEMALA : Quiche, Joya Larga , 15.41997°N 90.83630°W, 2025m, 15.IX.2008, oak/cloud forest, ex sifted leaf litter, R. S. Anderson, RSA 2008 -124 / WWD0028871 (1♀ CMNC). WWD0028875 (1♀ CMNC). WWD0028880 (1♀ CMNC). WWD0028942 (1Ƌ CMNC). WWD0028948 (1Ƌ CMNC). GUATEMALA : Huehuetenango. Max , oak/cloud forest, 15.50673°N 91.644473°W, 2750m, 14.IX.2008, ex sifted leaf litter, R.S. Anderson RSA 2008 - 119 / WWD0023523 (1Ƌ CMNC). GUATEMALA : San Marcos. La Fraternidad, 1920m, 14.93604°N 91.86778°W, 11 Sep 2008. M.G. Branstetter, disturbed cloud forest, MGB-938 (1Ƌ CMNC) . MEXICO: Chiapas, Volcan Tacana , lower slopes, ca. 4km. N.Union Juarez, 2000m, 19.IX.1992, R.S.Anderson, 92-110, cloud forest litter (2♀♀ CMNC) . Same data except for 92-111, cloud forest litter (2ƋƋ, 2♀♀ CMNC).

Figures

FIGURE 99. Map of Plumolepilius species distribution, each color dot represents species distribution. P. trifiniensis (red), P. branstetteri (yellow), and P. yolnabajensis (blue).

FIGURES 9 – 15. Plumolepilius branstetteri. 9, Male dorsal habitus. 10, Male lateral habitus. 11, Aedeagus lateral view. 12, Aedeagus dorsal view. 13, Male abdominal ventrites 1 – 5. 14, Female dorsal view. 15, Female lateral view.

FIGURES 72 – 89. Male aedeagus. 72, Plumolepilius branstetteri. 73, P. c an oi. 74, P. c or tez i. 75, P. da r y i. 76, P. longinoi. 77, P. macalajauensis. 78, P. schusteri. 79, P. trifiniensis, 80. P. yolnabajensis. Male genital sclerites. 81, Plumolepilius branstetteri. 82, P. canoi. 83, P. c o r t e z i. 84, P. d ar y i. 85, P. longinoi. 86, P. macalajauensis. 87, P. schusteri. 88, P. trifiniensis, 89. P. yolnabajensis.

FIGURES 90 – 98. Female genitalia. 90, Plumolepilius branstetteri. 91, P. canoi. 92, P. cortezi. 93, P. da r y i. 94, P. longinoi. 95, P. macalajauensis. 96, P. schusteri. 97, P. trifiniensis, 98. P. yolnabajensis.