Leptostylus cristulatus Bates, 1872

Santos-Silva, Antonio & Botero, Juan Pablo, 2024, The unbelievable fauna of American Lamiinae (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae): description of two new species, transference, and notes in Acanthocinini, and a new record in Calliini, Insecta Mundi 2024 (28), pp. 1-17 : 10-12

Leptostylus cristulatus Bates, 1872

( Fig. 20–25 )

Leptostylus cristulatus Bates 1872: 213 .

Remarks. Leptostylus cristulatus was described based on a single specimen from Nicaragua. According to Bates (1872) (translated): “Oval, brown, with a grayish-white discoidal macula on each side behind the middle of the elytra; thorax with two large tubercles near the anterior margin, and two other tubercles on each side [prothoracic tubercles]; elytra acutely rounded apically, with centrobasal crest bearing four tubercles, and with three rows of tubercles on the disc; antennae with segments 4–9 yellowish-testaceous basally.” However, the photograph of the holotype ( Fig. 25 ) shows that there is an elongated whitish pubescent macula close to the suture on the anterior third, and two small, narrow, and elongated whitish pubescent spots on the dorsal surface near the superior region of the wide and oblique whitish pubescent band on the posterior half. Furthermore, the base of antennomere IV is as on III, and it is antennomeres V–IX that have a whitish pubescent ring anteriorly; in fact, the pubescent ring does not start on the base in some of these antennomeres. Bates (1885) recorded L. cristulatus from Panama, and we do not know how many specimens from this country Bates examined. However, we believe that the specimen illustrated in Bezark (2023a) ( Fig. 24 ) is, at least, one of these specimens. This specimen does not have the whitish pubescent macula on the anterior third of the elytra and the two small whitish pubescent spots were replaced by a wide and transverse whitish pubescent band that reaches the suture, which was not mentioned by Bates (1885). Furthermore, the dark and arched area starting on apex of the posterior whitish pubescent band is more distinct, forming a semicircle when considering both elytra.

Although we examined a single specimen of L. cristulatus , we did examine photographs of specimens from Mexico and Honduras identified as L. cristulatus (see Bezark 2023a) as well as photographs of five specimens from Costa Rica (as we are not authorized to illustrate these specimens from Costa Rica and since they are of low resolution, we prefer not to indicate the website). However, these specimens from Costa Rica are practically identical to the holotype in shape and general appearance of the elytral pubescent maculae.

Based on the specimen examined and photographs (including the holotype), we can report the following variations in L. cristulatus :

1. Antennomeres V–IX with wide and dense yellowish-white pubescent ring ( Fig. 25 ) or absent on VI and VIII ( Fig. 20 ). The absence of the yellowish-white pubescent ring on the antennomeres VI and VIII was also observed through photograph in a specimen from Honduras;

2. Anterolateral tubercles on the pronotum from subconical to distinctly rounded apically;

3. Elytral length from 1.6 (specimen from Belize) to 1.7 (holotype, measured through the photograph) the humeral width. Although the specimen from Belize is the widest specimen the other features agree very well with the other specimens. Furthermore, the measurement of some other specimens through photographs showed intermediate widths (1.75). Therefore, we consider as an intraspecific variation ;

4. Whitish pubescent macula on the anterior third of the elytra present ( Fig 25 ) or absent ( Fig. 20, 24 );

5. Elytra with whitish pubescence before the oblique whitish pubescent band as two small isolated spots ( Fig. 25 ) or as a wide transverse band reaching the suture ( Fig. 20, 24 );

6. Dark band close to the inferior margin of the first whitish pubescent band or spots on the posterior half of the elytra small and elongate ( Fig. 25 ), absent ( Fig. 24 ), or large and almost reaching the suture ( Fig. 20 );

7. Dark pubescent band close to the inner apex of the oblique whitish pubescent band from absent to very distinct;

8. Centrobasal crest on the elytra from slightly elevated to distinctly elevated, with three or four tubercles dorsally.

Currently, L. cristulatus is formally known from Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama ( Bezark 2023b; Monné 2023; Tavakilian and Chevillotte 2023). Although we have examined a photograph of a specimen from Mexico ( Bezark 2023a) we are not formalizing the record.

Material examined. BELIZE, Toledo: BARC San Pedro Columbia, 15°16′43″N 88°57′49″W, on dead tree trunks at night, 1 female, 23.IX.2004, P.W. Kovarik leg. ( FSCA).

Figures

Figures 20–25. Leptostylus cristulatus Bates, 1872. 20–23) Female from Belize; 20) Dorsal habitus; 21) Ventral habitus; 22) Lateral habitus; 23) Head, frontal view. 24) Holotype, by Jesus Santiago Moure. 25) Specimen from Panama, by Larry G. Bezark.