Lechriops variegatus, Hespenheide, 2003

Hespenheide, Henry A., 2003, New Lechriops Species for the United States (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Conoderinae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 57 (3), pp. 345-352 : 348-349

Lechriops variegatus new species

Fig. 2

Description. Holotype male: Black, except tibiae and rostrum reddish brown; uniformly and densely covered with setae on pronotum, less densely so on elytra and somewhat less densely so beneath and on legs, setae sparse and minute on metasternum and on middle of first two ventral abdominal sternites; rostrum glabrous below insertion of antennae. Color pattern complex and variegated: setae white on head below middle of eyes to just above insertion of antennae on rostrum, setae elongate and yellowish to dark brown on disk of pronotum with a few white setae anterior to scutellum and in posterior angles, uniformly pale buff and shorter on sides, setae variegated on elytra in a ‘‘salt and pepper’’ mix of white, dark brown and pale yellowish brown, denser patches of yellowish brown setae along suture in oval spot beyond middle and at apex, setae beneath and on legs mostly white admixed with some pale brown, except mostly pale brown on last three ventral abdominal sternites; 2.5 mm long.

Pronotum with lateral margins very weakly arcuate, inconspicuously carinate along / midline, somewhat wider than long. Elytra about ¼ broader than pronotum, elongate, about 3 8 longer than wide. Abdomen with first ventral sternite with shallow / medial oval concavity. Posterior femora with indistinct tooth on inner margin at apical 2 3. Aedeagus narrowly elliptical, apex abruptly acute, arcuate and thin from side ( Fig. 2 ).

Allotype female: As male, but rostrum only sparsely setose at base, elytra with spot of white setae along suture beyond the middle and abdomen with first ventral sternite very weakly convex, almost flat, rather densely, uniformly setose; 3.4 mm long.

Holotype Male. Arizona, [Coconino Co.,] Williams, 30.06.[year?], Barber and Schwarz Coll. ( USNM).

Allotype Female. Arizona, same data as Holotype, but 09.07.[year?], ( USNM).

Paratypes. United States: Arizona, [without further locality], ‘‘8808’’ (3, USNM) , [Coconino Co.,] same data as Holotype, or 27, 28, 29, 30, 31.05, 05, 11, 12, 16, 30.06, 09, 17, 20, 23, 27.07 (35, USNM, CHAH) , 10 mi N Flagstaff , 27.07.1998, Wappes and Huether (1, CWOB) ; Flagstaff , 25.06.1947, A.T. McClay (1, UCDC) , 07.07, Barber and Schwarz Coll. (3, USNM), 31.05.1904, Webb (1, USNM) , Coconino N.F., 02.05.1951, Hopk. U.S., 37206-J, Pinus ponderosa 393624 (1, USNM) ; [Cochise Co.,] Chiricahua Mts., Rustler Pk. , 29.06.1958, C. W. O’Brien, on Pinus (2, CWOB) , 04.07.1959, on Ponderosa Pine (11, USNM) , Rustler Park, 8,0009, Portal (sic.), 04.07.1959, D.G. Kissinger, Acc. No. 515 (1, USNM) , Rustlers’ Park, Chiricahua Mts. , C. W. O’Brien, 06.09.1965 (1, CWOB) ; Chiricahua Mts., Rustler Park , 2,560 m, 08.06.1978, S. McCleve, under pine bark (1, TAMU) , Chiricahua Mts., Rustler Park , 8,700 ft, 07.06.1957, J.W. Green (1, CASC) , Chiricahua Mts., Cave Creek Canyon, Rustler Park , 8,4009, 318549N 1098179W, 21.07.1981, H.A. Hespenheide, on pine (1, CHAH) ; Onion Saddle, Chiricahua Mts. , 06.09.1965, C. W. O’Brien (1, CWOB) , Chiricahua Mts., John Hands Dam , 1,706 m, 29.06.1978, S. McCleve, under pine bark (1, TAMU) ; Chiric. Mts. , 10.05, 31.05, 09.06, Barber and Schwarz Coll. (4, USNM) , Chiricahua Mts. , 08.06.1907, J.L Webb, 5561b, Hopk. U.S., Pinus strobiformis (1, USNM) , [no date], J.L Webb, 5552j, Hopk. U.S., Pinus poderosa (1, USNM) ; Huachuca Mts., Carr Cyn. 7,5009, 07.09.1965, C. W. O’Brien (5, CASC, CWOB) ; Graham Co., Graham Mts., Hospital Flat 9,050 ft, 19.08.1952, H.B. Leech, J.W. Green (2, CASC) , Pinecrest, Graham Mts. , 06.08.1958, C. O’Brien (1, CWOB) ; [Pima Co.], Catalina Mts., Htchk Hwy mi. 19, 09.07.1957, Ariz. white pine (1, CWOB) ; [Pinal Co.?], Pinal Mts. , Wickham (1, USNM) ; [Yavapai Co.], Prescott, 19.06, Barber and Schwarz Coll. (5, USNM) . Nebraska, Pine Ridge , July (1, USNM) . New Mexico, Otero Co., Sacramento Cyn., Sacramento Mts. , 20.08.1982, T.P. Friedlander (1, TAMU) , Cloudcroft , 15, 21.06.1951, 3421b A-1, Hopk. U.S (2, USNM) ; [San Miguel Co.?], Las Vegas HS, 05, 06.08 Barber and Schwarz Coll. (3, USNM) .

Discussion. This species is superficially most similar to L. californicus in coloration, but lacks the large white spots on the posterior angles of the pronotum characteristic of Arizona specimens of L. californicus (see discussion above). The holotype lacks the white sutural spot on the elytra of other specimens of L. variegatus , although the size of the spot varies among specimens in the type series. Size varies from 2.3 to 3.45 mm in length (mean ¼ 3.09 mm for 112 specimens). The male aedeagus with the acuminate tip ( Fig. 2 ) is distinctive among the members of the californicus group in the United States, but found in undescribed forms from México.

Figures

Figs. 1–5. Male aedeagi of North American Lechriops. 1) Lechriops californicus (LeConte) (specimen from AZ: E. Turkey Creek, 6.5 mi W Portal, 29.05.1997, H.A. Hespenheide (CHAH)); 2) L. variegatus n. sp. (specimen from AZ: Chiricahua Mts., Rustler Pk., 29.06.1958, C. W. O’Brien (CWOB)); 3) L. oblongulus Champion (specimen from AZ: Chiricahua Mts., 8,0009, 30.07.1957, C. W. O’Brien (CHAH)); 4) L. chiricahuae n. sp. (specimen from AZ: Flagstaff, 30.07.1938, D.J. and J.N. Knull (CHAH)); 5) L. oculatus (Say) (specimen from CT: Storrs, 24.06.1973, H.A. Hespenheide (CHAH)).