Cymatodera paucipunctata Rifkind

Rifkind, Jacques, 2015, New species of Cymatodera Gray (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Tillinae) from México and Central America, with notes on others, Zootaxa 3946 (4), pp. 519-552 : 537-539

Cymatodera paucipunctata Rifkind , n. sp.

( Figs. 37–39 )

Type specimens. Holotype male: México, Méx [ico], Río Frío, 1-IX- [19]69, L. A. Kelton. Holotype deposited in CNCI. Paratypes: 2, same data as holotype; MEXICO, MEXICO: 1, Parque Nacional Ixtapopo, 10,000’, 31-V- [19]74, L. B O’Brien, beating Pinus at night; TLAXCALA: 1, Villareal, Pheromone trap seudonol, VII-19–VIII-3– 1978, M. M. Furniss, collr., “Hopkins no. 61940”; 1, same data as previous, except “Pheromone trap ipsdienol”; PUEBLA: 1, El Recreo, Pheromone trap on Pinus patula , VII-3-1978, M. M. Furniss, collr., “Hopkins no. 61947A”; DISTRITO FEDERAL: 1, Monte Alegre, Cerro de Ajusco, 3150 m, Sept. 4, 1982, C. W. & L. B. O’Brien & J. Wibmer, colls. Paratypes are deposited in CNCI, CNIN, JNRC and WFBM.

Diagnosis. This is the only known brachypterous Mexican Cymatodera species with short, unmarked, pale testaceous elytra.

Description. (Holotype). Length: 7.20 mm. Form: brachypterous; rather squat; elytra distinctly shorter than abdomen ( Fig. 37 ). Color: reddish brown; elytra pale testaceous above, sides infuscate on anterior 1/2, elytral disk bearing a few scattered darkened punctures; pronotum darker longitudinally on either side of midline; head and femora with vague infuscations; mouthparts and venter testaceous except posterior margins of ventrites darkened. Head: antennae rather elongate (extending past elytral base when laid alongside); surface shining, shallowly rugulose–punctate, inconspicuously clothed with very fine, mostly short, suberect, pale setae, interspersed with a few longer, erect, pale setae. Pronotum: longer than broad, broadest across middle; disk subflattened; surface transversely rugulose–punctate, vested as on head. Elytra: rather short (ratio of length to width 35:24); form typically brachypterous; anterior margin arcuately emarginate; sides expanded posteriorly; apices broadly, arcuately, separately rounded and dehiscent; disk flattened above; sides rather deep and precipitous anteriorly, becoming shallow and explanate posteriorly; surface shallowly, irregularly dimpled, with faint striae; anterior 1/2 bearing a few scattered punctations of moderate size; vestiture as on pronotum. Metaventrite: broadly sulcate posteriorly, armed with a shallow, infuscate tubercle on either side. Abdomen: shining, moderately densely punctulate, moderately densely but inconspicuously set with short, fine, suberect, pale setae; ventrite 4 depressed posteriorly at middle; ventrite 5 ( Fig. 38 ) broad, rather short, with posterior angles tumid, slightly oblique, posterior margin broadly, shallowly emarginate; ventrite 6 ( Fig. 38 ) with hind angles moderately produced, subacute, posterior margin rather deeply, arcuately emarginate; tergite 5 with hind margin shallowly emarginate; tergite 6 ( Fig. 39 ) subquadrate, feebly sinuate laterally, posterior margin broad, broadly rounded, feebly inflexed at middle.

Variation. The female has ventrite 5 with posterior margin truncate, and ventrite 6 with posterior margin broadly rounded.

Etymology. T he specific name refers to this species’ distinctively reduced elytral punctation.

Distribution. Known from the Transmexican Volcanic Belt Province ( Morrone et al. 2002), in the Mexican states of México, Tlaxcala, Puebla and the Distrito Federal.

Biology. Cymatodera paucipunctata appears to be a high altitude species: specimens were taken at locations over 3,000 m elevation. Two specimens were collected in pheromone baited traps set in pine forest; one was beaten from pine at night.

Figures

FIGURES 37 – 39. 37. Habitus of Cymatodera paucipunctata Rifkind, n. sp. (holotype male). 38. Pygidium (ventral view) of male Cymatodera paucipunctata. 39. Pygidium (dorsal view) of male Cymatodera paucipunctata.