Ceratolepis Chapuis, 1869

Smith, Sarah M. & Cognato, Anthony I., 2013, A New Species of Scolytus Geoffroy, 1762 and Taxonomic Changes Regarding Neotropical Scolytini (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 67 (4), pp. 547-556 : 548-550

Ceratolepis Chapuis, 1869 , new status ( Figs. 1–3 , 8–9 )

Ceratolepis Chapuis, 1869: 52 . Type species, Ceratolepis jucunda Chapuis, 1869 by monotypy.

Coptodryas Schedl, 1949: 262 . Type species, Coptodryas hylurgoides Schedl, 1949 by monotypy. New synonymy

Coptosomus Schedl, 1952: 363 . Type species, Coptodryas hylurgoides Schedl, 1949 . Unnecessary replacement name for Coptodryas . New synonymy

Diagnosis. Ceratolepis is readily distinguished from other Scolytini genera by unique features of the antennal club that include: strong asymmetry, a covering of short palmate setae, and a partial septum on suture 1 ( Fig. 2 ). The suture is never marked by rows of setae. The funicle also lacks a setal tuft on each funicular segment and bears two to four setae on the ventral and dorsal margins ( Fig. 2 ).

Ceratolepis is further distinguished from Scolytus and Scolytopsis by the scutellum, which is flush with the elytra, the sutural margin is not impressed ( Fig. 9 ), the gradually ascending profile of the abdominal venter, and the costal margin of the elytra above the metepisternum which is unarmed by a carina ( Fig. 8 ).

Ceratolepis is closely related to Cnemonyx , Camptocerus , and Loganius and is distinguished by the lack of supplemental denticles on the apical margin of the meso- and metathoracic tibiae ( Fig. 3 ), the strongly bilobed tarsal segment 3, the lack of a carina on the base of the tenth interstria (Smith and Cognato 2010; Fig. 8 ), absence of crenulations along the elytral base ( Fig. 9 ), mesosternum shape (type G, Smith and Cognato 2010), and the elongated and distally narrowly rounded scape in both sexes ( Fig. 2 ).

Redescription. Head visible from above, never sexually dimorphic. Epistoma never emarginate, often armed with carina. Frons concave from epistoma to inner apices of eyes, moderately covered with long erect setae. Eye elongate, ovoid, entire, and finely faceted. Antennal scape elongate and narrowly rounded distally, funicle shorter than or equal to length of scape. Each funicle segment with 2–4 setae on ventral and dorsal margins. Antennal club flattened, strongly asymmetrical, covered in short palmate setae, with short partial septum that is not marked externally by rows of setae. Pronotum large, lateral margins marked by fine, raised line. Pronotal disc finely punctate, punctures larger, coarser toward margins, surface appearing smooth to strigate; median line impunctate. Pronotal base bisinuate. Meso- and metathoracic tibia unarmed by supplemental denticles on apical margin. Scutellum smooth, flush with level of elytra. Elytra without scutellar notch; striate. Discal striae weakly impressed. Declivital striae moderately to strongly impressed, interstriae carinate in most species. Elytral apex weakly serrate. Abdominal profile gradually ascending to meet elytra. Mesosternal shape type G (Smith and Cognato 2010).

Distribution. Ceratolepis is restricted to the Neotropical region from Costa Rica to Bolivia.

Biology. Ceratolepis species have only been reported as occurring on Virola Aubl. species (Myristicacae) ( Wood 2007; Smith, personal observation).

Comments. Chapuis’ Latin description of the genus was somewhat vague, “antennarum articuli 2–7 in faemina simplices, clava solida. Tarsorum articulus 1 duobus sequentibus, 3 bilobatus” which translates as “antennal articles 2–7 in the female

10) L. flavicornis , lateral view; 11) L. flavicornis , dorsal view.

simple, club solid. Tarsal joint 1 following 2, 3 bilobed” (S. M. Smith translated). The description of the club could be applicable to Camptocerus species , and the tarsal description is characteristic of Scolytini . However, the type species, C. jucunda , is morphologically distinct from Camptocerus and Cnemonyx .

The holotype of the type species of Coptosomus , C. hylurgoides Schedl , has been lost except for a slide mount of an antenna ( Wood 2007). Coptosomus is placed in synonymy with Ceratolepis because of the lack of supplemental denticles on the meso- and metathoracic tibiae and by the characteristics of the antennal club.

Ceratolepis exhibits very little sexual dimorphism in external characters. Determination of the sex of specimens requires examination of the shape of abdominal tergites 7 and 8 or dissection.

Figures

Figs. 1–7. Diagnostic characters of Ceratolepis and Loganius species. 1) C. jucunda, antennal club; 2) C. jucunda, frons; 3) C. jucunda, meso- and metathoracic tibia; 4) L. flavicornis, antennal club; 5) L. flavicornis, frons; 6) L. flavicornis, meso- and metathoracic tibia; 7) L. flavicornis, antennal funicle and club (from Hagedorn 1910).

Figs. 8–11. Ceratolepis and Loganius, habitus. 8) C. jucunda, lateral view; 9) C. jucunda, dorsal view;