Telephanus monstrosus Thomas

Thomas, Michael C., 2011, Two new Neotropical species of Telephanus Erichson near T. serratus Nevermann (Coleoptera: Silvanidae) Michael C. Thomas, Insecta Mundi 2011 (197), pp. 1-11 : 4-5

Telephanus monstrosus Thomas , n.sp.

Figure 3 , 10

Diagnosis. This is the most distinctive of the Mesoamerican Telephanus species , with strongly spinose pronotal margins, rounded elytral humeri, and absence of hind wings. The parameres differ from the other two species treated here in being relatively broad, the exterior face almost straight, and the mesal face sinuate.

Description. Holotype, male, deposited in FSCA, with following label data: “ MEXICO: Chiapas Mpio. Huixtan San Cristobal de las Casas Airport 2350m 16 o 41’25”N 92 o 31’48”W 24.VII.2005 R. Anderson oak-pine forest litter” [dissected and genitalia mounted on point in dimethyl hydantoin formaldehyde with specimen].

Body. Length, 3.32mm. Color dark testaeous, antennal flagellomeres, mouthparts, tibiae and elytra paler, elytra immaculate ( Fig. 3 ).

Head. 1.2× wider than long, measured across eyes; temple long ( Fig. 3 ); eyes located anteriorly, about 0.32× length of head; surface sculpture strongly reticulate with a reclinate seta arising from the posterior edge of each puncture, most setae directed anteriorly. Antennae elongate, filiform, attaining about basal third of elytra, scape elongate, 0.8× length of head, broader basally than anteriorly; ratios of antennomeres: 3.3:1.0:1.2:1.3:1.2:1.2:1.2:1.2:1:1:1.5. Several spine-like setae are located at the posterior edge of the eye and extend anteriorly over the base of the eye.

Pronotum. Transverse, 1.3× wider than long; broadest near midpoint, slightly narrowed basally, lateral margins with eight socketed denticles and long rigid spines, anteriormost group of denticles distinctly produced and lobe-like ( Fig. 3 ), all denticles extending from the margin 2-3× their apical diameter; surface sculpture strongly reticulate, pubescence as on head.

Elytra. Elongate, ovate, 1.6× longer than wide, widest near midpoint; humeral angles rounded; apices separately rounded; elytra with punctate striae, each puncture with fine pale seta arising at anterior margin; intervals with a single row of slightly thicker, suberect setae; lateral margins broadly explanate, with pronounced denticles along about the basal third and alternating longer and shorter, socketed spines, angled posteriorly; apical two-thirds of the margin armed with shorter, posteriorly directed spines; first interval above marginal stria not bearing a row of long erect spines. Hind wings absent.

Male genitalia. Parameres relatively broad, lateral face almost straight, and mesal face sinuate; apex not produced beyond insertion of large latero-apical seta ( Fig. 10 ).

Variation. The paratypes range in length from 2.96mm to 3.64mm.

Paratypes. 15, as follows: 1, “ MEXICO Chiapas Mpio: San Cristóbal Reserva Huitepec 25-VIII-94; B.

Gómez HR 15-7”/” ECOSC-E 24958 ” ( CEET) ; 1, same data except HR 15-5 and no second label ( CEET) ; 1, “ MEXICO Chiapas Mpio: San Cristóbal Reserva Huitepec 27-V-94; B. Gómez; O. Gómez HR 11-10 Bosque de Encinos ”/” ECOSUR 3683 ” ( CEET) ; 1, same except 3684 (CEET); 6, “ MEXICO Chiapas Mpio: San Cristóbal 3 Km E San Cristóbal 15-II-94; R. W. Jones Hojarasca 4m 2”, each specimen bears a second label reading “ ECOSC-E ” and one of the following numbers: 24816, 24827, 24828, 24829, 24954, 24955 ( CEET, FSCA) ; 1, “ MEXICO Chiapas Mpio: San Cristóbal Reserva Huitepec 24-I-95; R. Jones, B. Gómez HR 25-5” ( FSCA) ; 1, “ MEXICO Chiapas Mpio: San Cristóbal Reserva Huitepec 20-VI-95; B. Gómez M. Girón, A. Mendoza HR 38-6”/” ECOSC-E 24956 ” ( CEET) ; 2, “ MEXICO: Chiapas Mpio. Coapilla Ca. 10.5kn NE Coapilla, 1900m 17 o 09.916N, 93 o 08.337W ”/” 12.vii.2007, R. Anderson mixed liquidambar-magnolia-pine forest litter 2007-010” ( CMNC, FSCA) ; 1, “ MEXICO: Chiapas: Mpio. Coapilla Coapilla , 17 o 08’N, 93 o 10W ” 1600m, 26.VII.2005 R. Anderson oak forest litter MEX1A05-010”/[barcode] SM0711104 KUNHM-ENT ”( SEMC) .

Etymology. The specific epithet is the Latin word for “monstrous.”

Discussion. This species is the first known flightless species of Telephanus described from a continental locality. Only three other flightless species are known, all from islands: T. darlingtoni Nevermann (1937) and T. acrolophus Thomas (1984) , both from Jamaica; and T. gomyi Thomas (1992) , from Reunion Island.

All three species treated here, having eight pronotal spines, which will lead to couplet 23 in the key to the Mesoamerican species by Nevermann (1931). The key is modified here to include the two new species. A fourth species, T. glycerius Nevermann also has eight lateral pronotal spines but based on Nevermann’s description and his comparison of it with T. hirsutus Nevermann it is not especially close to this group of species.

23. Elytra yellow with dark longitudinal stripes on the lateral declivity; antennomere I red-yellow, remainder of antenna brown-yellow ............................................... T. glycerius Nevermann

— Elytra without longitudinal markings, immaculate or with transverse markings; antennal segments concolorous ............................................................................................................ 23A

23A. Hind wings absent; elytra immaculate....................................... T. monstrosus Thomas , n.sp. — Hind wings present; elytra with dark markings..................................................................... 23B

23B. Elytra with black M-shaped mark; gound color yellowish brown ...... T. serratus Nevermann — Elytra with broad, transverse black macula; ground color reddish brown...................................

............................................................................................................. T. bellus Thomas , n.sp.

Figures

Figure 3. Telephanus monstrosus Thomas, n. sp., habitus.

Figure 8-10. Parameres. 8) Telephanus serratus. 9) Telephanus bellus. 10) Telephanus monstrosus.