Obscenoides, Nascimento & Santos-Silva, 2020

Nascimento, Francisco Eriberto de Lima & Santos-Silva, Antonio, 2020, Two new genera of Desmiphorini (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae) with description of a species with non-retractile parameres, Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia (Pap. Avulsos Zool., S. Paulo) 60 (20), pp. 1-10 : 6-8

Obscenoides gen. nov.

( Figs. 6, 9, 12-14 ; 15-19 ; 20, 23 , 26, 29 )

Type species: Desmiphora (D.) compta Martins & Galileo, 2005 .

Description: Body with cylindrical shape. Frons transverse; palpi with apical segments fusiform. Antennal

tubercles gradually elevated from median groove. Eyes coarsely faceted; lower eye lobes longer than genae; low- er and upper eye lobes narrowly connected. Antennae slender with antennomeres gradually decreasing in length; with long, erect, moderately abundant setae; scape elongate, moderately widened toward apex; antennomere III shorter than scape; XI fusiform. Prothorax about as wide as long; sides with central tubercle. Procoxal cavities closed behind. Central area of prosternal process less than half diameter of procoxal cavity. Elytra parallel-sided;apex unarmed, jointly rounded; with long, erect setae throughout. Femora subfusiform; tibiae shorter than femora; metatarsomere I subequal to II + III.

Abdomen ( Figs. 15-19 ): Abdominal ventrites I-IV subequal in length; V with posterior median margin ventrally folded; with strongly elevated median tubercle with dense, short, thick setae apically ( Fig. 17 ).

Male genitalia: Tergite VIII visible ventrally;heavily twist- ed around parameres ( Fig. 16 ). Parameres exposed, with basal support flap; with long, erect, moderately abundant setae dorsally. Median lobe with a small hook -like projection apically ( Fig. 29 ).

Female: Similar to males except for absence of abdominal tubercle, and with narrow central-longitudinal sulcus on ventrite V.

Etymology: Latin, “Obscen” from Obscenum = indecent/ obscene; Greek, oides = form, likeness. The name refers to non-retractile parameres. Feminine gender.

Remarks: Martins & Galileo (2005) characterized D. (D.) compta by having an evident central tubercle on abdominal ventrite V of males. In the same work, the authors compared D. (D.) compta with D. (D.) elegantula White, 1855 and D. (D.) pitanga Galileo & Martins, 1998 (translated): “ Desmiphora (D.) compta sp. nov. is characterized by the last urosternite of males with large central tubercle. By the glabrous or sparsely pubescent center of pronotum, with sides covered by dense pubescence, resembles to D. (D.) elegantula White, 1855 and differs by the absence of a crest on the inner side of the yellowish pubescence of prothorax, by the presence of glabrous area on each side of middle of pronotum, by the orange pubescent humeral area and by the absence of white hair brushes in the apical part of elytra. The pronotal glabrous spots are similar those of D. (D.) pitanga Galileo & Martins, 1998 , but the color pattern easily separates the two species.”

In addition to the tubercle on ventrite V, mentioned by Martins & Galileo (2005), the non-retractile parameres are extremely rare and we are unaware of other similar cases even in Cerambycidae . Although most species of Desmiphora were examined, for comparison purposes, we provide photograph of D. (D.) elegantula and D. (D.) fasciculata (Olivier, 1792) (type species of Desmiphora ) ( Figs. 7, 8, 10, 11 ).

In addition to non-retractile parameres, the new genus differs from Desmiphora by the presence of a support-flap on the parameres ( Figs. 20, 23 , 26a, b ), which possibly has a function of, together with the tubercle on ventrite V, avoiding the contact of parameres with the substrate, or it is a support structure for copulation. The new genus also differs by the setae of parameres present throughout the dorsal surface ( Fig. 26c ) (present only at the apex in the others species of Desmiphorini [e.g., Figs. 21, 22, 24, 25 , 27, 28 ]); the median lobe in Obscenoides gen. nov. has a hook -like projection ( Fig. 29 ), absent in other Desmiphora species and others genera ( Figs. 30-31 ).

The genitalia in Cerambycidae is telescoped (as in other Coleoptera families), in other words, they can fit entirely within the abdomen ( Wood, 1952). The males genitalia have the typical Cucujiform shape, basically composed by a median lobe, tegmen divided into a ring part (the biggest), paired parameres and an internal sac ( Ehara, 1954). The parameres are separated from each other and when in retracted position, the posterior portion of tegmen is located dorsal to median lobe, and tegminal struts pass ventrally around the median lobe ( Ślipiński & Escalona, 2013).

Because of its non-standard combination of characters, the genitalia of Obscenoides compta comb. nov. presumably play a significant role in mating behavior. Although there are few specific studies on the function of genitalic structures in Cerambycidae , according to Kingsolver (1970), the parameres in Bruchinae (Chrysomelidae) are used as guides to position the median lobe into the vaginal opening. When studying morphology and function of parameres in Cerambycidae and Chrysomelidae (both Chrysomeloidea), Hubweber & Schmitt (2006) commented that the setae on parameres have a sensorial function to facilitate the release of sperm to the proper regions inside the female.The same authors identified the presence of small openings that possibly works in the glandular secretion.

Obscenoides compta ( Martins & Galileo, 2005) comb. nov.

Desmiphora (Desmiphora) compta Martins & Galileo, 2005: 247 ; Wappes, Arias & Nearns, 2009: 2; Wappes et al., 2013: 11; Wappes & Arias, 2016: 5; Moura & Von

Groll, 2017: 451. Material examined: PARATYPE ♀ ( MZSP): BOLIVIA, Santa

Cruz: Buena Vista (4-6 km SSE,Flora & Fauna Hotel), 01-15. III.2003, R. Clarke col.

Other material examined: Same data as paratype, 21-22.X.2008, R. Clarke col. (1 ♂, MZSP).

Redescription

Male: Head, scape, prothorax, ventral surface of meso- and metathorax, and mostly of abdominal ventrites dark brown; pedicel and antennomeres mostly reddish brown; posterior area of elytra reddish brown, gradually lighter toward apex; legs mostly reddish-brown.

Head: Frons with moderately sparse,decumbent yellowish-white pubescence; coarsely punctate.Median groove distinct from postclypeus to area behind eyes. Vertex and area behind eyes punctated as frons; with dense yellowish pubescence laterally, close to posterior margin of upper eye lobes; median area with erect brownish setae. Distance between upper eye lobes about the width of an upper eye lobe; upper eye lobes with seven rows of ommatidia. Antennae slightly exceeding the elytral apex. Scape and pedicel with yellowish pubescence dorsally, nearly glabrous ventrally; with moderately abundant, short, erect dark setae dorsally, and long, erect, sparse yellowish setae ventrally; flagellomeres with yellowish pubescence not obscuring integument, and long, erect yellowish setae at posterior external margin, and along entire inner side. Antennal formula (ratio) based on length of antennomere III: scape = 1.3; pedicel = 0.4; IV = 1.3;V = 1.0;VI = 0.9;VII = 0.8;VIII = 0.8,IX = 0.7, X = 0.7, XI = 0.7.

Thorax: Pronotum coarsely, abundantly punctate; with two parallel tufts of blackish setae at middle; anterior half with area of yellowish pubescence laterally converging toward dorsal area; band of whitish pubescence from posterior margin, converging to middle, reaching blackish tufts; median posterior margin with dense row of erect blackish setae; remaining surface with sparse yellowish-white pubescence. Lateral margins of prothorax with rhomboid tubercle at middle; with sparse yellowish-white pubescence, except dense, triangular white macula close each tubercle. Mesanepisternum, metanepisternum and posterior sides of metaventrite with dense whitish pubescence. Scutellum with decumbent, elongated blackish setae on posterior margin, and sparse yellowish pubescence on remaining areas.

Elytra: Coarsely, densely punctate on anterior twothirds, punctures gradually sparser toward apex; suture carinate. Pubescence as follows: yellowish-brown pubescence on humerus, with oblique band projected from it dorsally; wide, obliquely divergent yellowish-brown pubescent band from about middle to posterior third; two tufts of white erect setae, one at about posterior third, another at posterior fifth; circular band of whitish pubescence connecting the two tufts laterally; and whitish pubescent band along anterior sutural quarter, becoming yellowish along suture toward posterior third, and whitish toward apex; remaining surface with sparse yellowish pubescence, and long, erect dark setae.

Legs: Femora with dense whitish pubescence, partially obscuring integument on some areas. Tibiae with dense whitish pubescence, with erect, elongated whitish setae interspersed.Abdomen ( Figs. 15-19 ).Ventrites with moderately dense yellowish pubescence, denser laterally.

Male genitalia: Tergite VIII ( Figs. 16, 18 ) with elongate setae at ventral fold. Tegmen about four times longer than wide, strongly sclerotized ( Figs. 20, 23 , 26, 29 ). Tegminal rings, in lateral view, strongly curved on anterior half, then strongly oblongly widened laterally, triangularly notched ventrally ( Fig. 26B ). Tegminal struts ( Fig. 26A ) about one-sixth tegmen total length. Parameres about one-third tegmen total length, gradually narrow distally; basal support flap slightly curved, strongly sclerotized ventrally. Median lobe ( Fig. 29 ) strongly curved, about 1.1 times longer than tegmen in lateral view.

Dimensions (mm, male/female): Total length, 5.6/5.9-6.5; length of prothorax, 1.4/1.5-1.6; larger width of prothorax, 1.5/1.5-1.9; elytral length, 3.9/4.0-4.6; humeral width, 2.0/2.2-2.3.

Figures

Figures 6-14. Obscenoides compta (Martins & Galileo,2005) comb. nov.,male. (6) Dorsal habitus;(9) Abdomen, lateral; (12)Ventral habitus; (13) Lateral habitus; (14) Head,frontal.Desmiphora (Desmiphora) elegantulaWhite,1855,male: (7) Dorsal habitus;(10) Abdomen,lateral.Desmiphora(Desmiphora) fasciculata (Olivier, 1792), male:(8) Dorsal habitus;(11) Abdomen,lateral.Scale bars:6-8, 12-13= 5 mm,9-11, 14 = 1 mm.

Figures 15-19. Obscenoides compta (Martins & Galileo,2005) comb.nov., male abdomen:(15) Dorsal;(16) Ventral with detailed tergite VIII;(17) Lateral with detailed tubercleat ventriteV;(18) Posterior;(19) Lateral,schema highlighting the internalposition of the genitalia:ml(ingreen) =median lobe,viii(inred) = tergite VIII, tg (in yellow) = tegmen.Scale bars:1 mm.

Figures 20-25.Tegmen and median lobe.Obscenoides compta (Martins & Galileo,2005) comb.nov.(20)Ventral;(23)Lateral.Desmiphora(Desmiphora) fasciculata (Olivier,1792):(21)Ventral;(24) Lateral.Desmiphora(Desmiphora) elegantula White,1855:(22)Ventral;(25) Lateral.Scale bars:1 mm.

Figures 26-31. Schemes of aedeagus. Obscenoides compta (Martins & Galileo, 2005) comb.nov.: (26) Tegmen: A = Ventral, B = Lateral, C = Dorsal; (29) Median lobe: A=Ventral;B = Lateral.The acronyms correspondto:ba =basal apophyses;bs =basal support flap;dl= dorsal lobe;ml= median lobe;mo= median orifice; pa = parameres;ri =ring part;ro = roof;sn =hook-like projection;st= setae;tg = tegmen;ts= tegmen struts;vl = ventral lobe.Desmiphora (Desmiphora) fasciculata (Olivier,1792). (27)Tegmen:A = Ventral;B = Lateral;(30) Median lobe,lateral.Desmiphora (Desmiphora) elegantula White, 1855.(28)Tegmen:A =Ventral; B = Lateral;(31) Median lobe,lateral.