Nothopleurus castaneus ( Casey, 1924 )

Santos-Silva, Antonio, Swift, Ian P. & Nearns, Eugenio H., 2010, Division of the genus Nothopleurus Lacordaire, 1869 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Prioninae), Zootaxa 2643, pp. 1-44 : 15-19

Nothopleurus castaneus ( Casey, 1924)

( Figs. 1, 2 , 21, 22 , 36, 37 , 57 , 66, 70 , 76 )

Mallodon castaneum Casey, 1924: 225 ; Linsley, 1942: 24 (syn.). Stenodontes (Nothopleurus) lobigenis ; Linsley, 1934a: 59 (distr.).

Male ( Fig. 1 ). Head, excluding mandibles, longer than prothorax, elongated behind eyes. Central area, between antennal tubercles and base of upper ocular lobes with gibbosity well marked on each side of longitudinal dorsal furrow. Central area of dorsal face with coarse, sparse punctures on the region between gibbosities and middle of region between posterior edge of upper ocular lobe and occiput, and finer and more dense towards latter; laterally strongly vermiculated near upper ocular lobes and coarser and anastomosed punctate towards occiput; setation short and sparse on middle region, longer and more dense laterally. Area behind upper ocular lobe depressed and strongly, longitudinally vermiculated near eye, and rough towards occiput; area behind lower ocular lobe less vermiculated than area behind upper ocular lobes. Antennal tubercles rounded, with apex projected laterally. Clypeus short (length ca.0.2 times width), densely punctate, and strongly elevated laterally, forming a wide keel. Labrum sub-vertical (only lateral areas are visible dorsally). Eyes proportionally large; distance between upper ocular lobes 1.9 times length of scape; distance between lower ocular lobes 1.6 times length of scape. Ocular carina narrow and distinct. Hypostomal area ( Fig. 21 ) strongly elevated near gula, and very strongly depressed towards mentum; surface wholly rugosepunctate; setation long, sparse towards gula and more dense at depressed area. Hypostomal carina ( Fig. 21 ) gradually elevated from base to the apex (more distinctly in major specimens), apex curved interiorly. Maxillary palpomere III slightly longer than IV. Apex of labial palps attaining apex of maxillary palpomere III. Galea not attaining apex of maxillary palpomere II.

Mandibles ( Fig. 1 ) longer than head (major male); dorsal carina ( Fig. 36 ) strongly elevated from base to proximity of apical inner tooth, somewhat narrow throughout, and not abruptly lowered at apex; inner face high (from lower margin to apex of carina at middle region, ca. 0.3 times length of mandible), oblique to apex of dorsal carina at punctured area (never perpendicular), and notably wide (major and minor specimens); infero-inner margin without small tooth before middle; outer face more or less flat and oblique at basal half (major male); inner apical tooth distinctly shorter than external; apical one-third not notably narrowed (major and minor specimens). Antennae not attaining middle of elytra; scape dorsally and ventrally coarsely and sparsely punctate, and coarsely and confluently punctate on frontal face; width of scape at apex 0.50 times length.

Anterior angles of prothorax with spine just before apex, not projected forward; lateral angles distinctly spinose; posterior angles distinctly spinose; lateral margins distinctly spinose. Elytra finely punctate; elytral carinae not distinct. Metepisternum ( Fig. 57 ) not notably narrowed and concave at inner margin (width at central region 0.2 times length). Genitalia (see Figs. 66, 70 ).

Female ( Fig. 2 ). Head, excluding mandibles, slightly longer than prothorax (major female). Sculpturation of dorsal face of head, and area behind eyes as in male. Clypeus long (length ca. 0.3 times width), not strongly elevated laterally, with deep depression at each side. Labrum visible dorsally. Distance between upper ocular lobes 1.8 times length of scape; distance between lower ocular lobes 1.5 times length of scape. Hypostomal area ( Fig. 22 ) wholly vermiculated, slightly and gradually depressed from gula to mentum, with irregular and transverse depression near anterior edge; anterior edge abruptly vertical; setation as in male. Hypostomal carina ( Fig. 22 ) slightly and gradually elevated from base to apex, more abruptly elevated near apex. Mandibles ( Fig. 2 ) distinctly shorter than head; dorsal carina ( Fig. 37 ) elevated from base to proximity of apical inner tooth, wide throughout, and obliquely and gradually lowered to apex; inner face (from inferoinner margin to apex of carina at middle region) distinctly shorter than 0.3 times length of mandible, oblique from inner edge to apex of dorsal carina, mainly at middle area, and notably wide; infero-inner margin without small tooth before middle; outer face somewhat rounded; inner apical tooth distinctly shorter than external. Antennae not reaching basal one-third of elytra; width of scape at apex 0.45 times length; sculpturation of scape as in male. Angles and lateral margins of prothorax as in male. Metepisternum slightly concave in inner margin (width at central region 0.2 times length).

Variation. Male: Head, without mandibles, from shorter to slightly longer than prothorax, in major and minor specimens; central area of dorsal face of head, between the antennal tubercles and base of upper ocular lobes, with gibbosity feebly marked on each side of longitudinal dorsal furrow (minor male); central area of dorsal face of head with punctures on region between gibbosities and middle of region between posterior edge of upper ocular lobe and occiput, somewhat dense and from finer to coarser towards latter; dorsal face of head, between upper ocular lobes and occiput, from coarser and anastomosed punctate to strongly rough; area behind upper ocular lobe not or slightly depressed, wholly vermiculated; area behind lower ocular lobe from smooth to rough and slightly rugose close to upper ocular lobe, or wholly transversely vermiculated; clypeus from short (major males) to long (minor males) (length from 0.2 to 0.5 times width); clypeus not strongly elevated laterally (not forming a distinct keel); clypeus somewhat smooth at central area.; labrum almost wholly visible dorsally; distance between upper ocular lobes from 1.8 to 1.9 times length of scape at apex (larger in major male than in minor male); distance between lower ocular lobes from 1.45 to 1.60 times length of scape at apex (larger in major male than in minor male); hypostomal area feebly elevated near gula, and feebly depressed towards mentum; surface of hypostomal area somewhat vermiculated at angle; maxillary palpomere III slightly shorter than IV; mandibles from shorter to longer than head (distinctly shorter in minor male); inner margin of mandible with one or more teeth together protracted (only in minor male and sometimes in males of medium size); outer face of mandible slightly rounded at basal two-thirds (minor male); width of scape at apex from 0.45 to 0.50 times length; anterior angles of prothorax without spine just before apex; anterior angles of prothorax slightly projected anteriorly; width of metepisternum at central region from 0.15 to 0.2 times length.

Female: head as long as prothorax (minor female); length of clypeus from 0.30 to 0.45 times width; depression at each side of clypeus not deep; labrum partially visible dorsally; distance between upper ocular lobes from 1.7 to 1.9 times length of scape; distance between lower ocular lobes from 1.45 to 1.55 times length of scape; hypostomal area coarsely and confluently punctate on area near gula; hypostomal area depressed from middle area to anterior edge; inner face of mandible (from lower margin to apex of carina at middle region, not distinctly shorter than 0.3 times length of the mandible); width of scape at apex from 0.45 to 0.55 times length.

Dimensions in mm (male/female). Total length (including mandibles), 24.6–48.6/30.3–46.2; prothoracic length, 4.0–6.5/4.0–6.7; anterior prothoracic width (between apices of anterior angles), 5.9–10.5/6.5–9.5; posterior prothoracic width (between apices of posterior angles), 6.0–10.3/7.2–11.8; humeral width, 7.1–13.2/ 8.7–13.0; elytral length, 15.2–27.3/20.0–29.8.

Types, type-locality. Two syntypes, male and female, from Mexico, deposited at USNM. The locality of the syntype male is San Felipe, Baja California. The syntype female is from Santa Rosa and, as there are places in Baja California and Baja California Sur with these names, we do not know precisely the correct state of these localities. However, it is likely these localities are in Baja California and Baja California Sur, respectively.

Geographical distribution ( Fig. 76 ). Mexico [Baja California ( Casey 1912) and Baja California Sur (first formal record)].

Material examined. MEXICO, Baja California: San Felipe, 2 females, V.18.1963, J. C. Ball col. ( EMEC). Baja California Sur: Arroyo ca. 13 miles N. San Ignacio, female, IV.2.1961, Allyn G. Smith col. ( EMEC); Cerro Culposo (Cabo Pulmo), male, III.26.1947, [no collector indicated] ( EMEC); San José del Cabo, male, IX.11 –16.1967, J. Chemsak, A. & M. Michelbacher col. ( MZSP); 1.5 miles W San Jose del Cabo, female, VII.17.1968, J. Davidson, J. Bigelow, M. Bentzien, W. Fox, S. Williams, M. Cazier col. ( EMEC); 6 miles N San José del Cabo, 3 males, 1 female, IX.15.1967, J. Chemsak, A. & M. Michelbacher col. ( EMEC); 1 mile NE San Pedro, 3 males, IX.8.1967, J. Chemsak, A. & M. Michelbacher col. ( EMEC); 2 miles NE San Pedro, 10 males, 4 females, IX.19.1967, J. Chemsak, A. & M. Michelbacher col. ( EMEC); 3.5 miles NE San Pedro, male, IX.7.1967, J. Chemsak, A. & M. Michelbacher col. ( EMEC); 5 miles NE San Pedro, male, IX.1.1967, J. Chemsak, A. & M. Michelbacher col. ( EMEC); 7 mi S San Pedro, female, VIII.10.1966, J. Chemsak, J. Doyen, J. Powell col. ( EMEC); 3 miles N Santiago, male, VII.16.1957, R.J. & A. Rychman, D. Spencer col. ( EMEC); San Lucas, female, VII.20.1968, J. Davidson, J. Bigelow, M. Bentzien, W. Fox, S. Williams, M. Cazier col. ( EMEC); 4.5 miles SE La Paz, 2 males, VIII.3.1966, E. & J. Linsley, J. Chemsak, P. D. Hurd col. ( EMEC); male, VIII.4.1966, E. & J. Linsley, J. Chemsak, P. D. Hurd col. ( EMEC); male, VIII.6.1966, E. & J. Linsley, J. Chemsak, P. D. Hurd col. ( EMEC); 5 miles SW La Paz, male, IX.7.1967, J. Chemsak, A. & M. Michelbacher col. ( EMEC); female, IX.7.1967, J. Chemsak, A. & M. Michelbacher col. ( MZSP); 7 miles SW La Paz, 3 females, VIII.4.1966, E. & J. Linsley, J. Chemsak, P. D. Hurd col. ( EMEC); 2 females, VIII.6.1966, J. Chemsak, J. Doyen, J. Powell col. ( EMEC); 2 females, IX.6.1967, J. Chemsak, A. & M. Michelbacher col. ( EMEC); 20 km S La Paz, male, VIII.26 –IX.1.1994, J. E. Wappes col. ( ACMT); 10 km NL Los Barriles, female, VIII.30.1994, J. E. Wappes col. ( ACMT).

Comments. Linsley (1942) synonymyzed Mallodon castaneum with Stenodontes (Nothopleurus) lobigenis , without examining the syntypes. However, he did examine specimens from Baja California and Baja California Sur. We believe that Mallodon castaneum is a different species of Nothopleurus .

Nothopleurus castaneus differs from N. lobigenis mainly by the form of the mandibles. The mandible of major males of N. castaneus ( Fig. 36 ) are not notably narrowed, mainly at the apical one-fourth, the inner face is distinctly oblique in general, more or less concave, and the outer-face is, in general, more densely and coarsely punctate. In minor males and in females ( Fig. 37 ) the outer face is distinctly tumid. Major males of N. lobigenis have the mandible notably narrowed ( Fig. 38 ), mainly at the apical one-fourth, the inner face is almost vertical, and the outer-face is in general, finer and sparsely punctate; minor males and females ( Fig. 39 ) do not have the mandible notably tumid at outer face. Another small difference between N. lobigenis and N. castaneus are the punctures of the outer face of mandibles, which are usually coarser and more dense in the latter.

Examination of a large series of specimens from Mexico allowed us to conclude that N. komiyai is a junior synonym of N. lobigenis .

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. Habitus. 1. Nothopleurus castaneus (Casey, 1924), male; 2. idem, female; 3. Nothopleurus lobigenis Bates, 1884, male; 4. idem, female.

FIGURES 21 – 32. Head and prothorax, ventral view. 21. Nothopleurus castaneus, male; 22. idem, female; 23. N. lobigenis, male; 24. idem, female; 25. N. subsulcatus, male; 26. N. madericus, paratype male; 27. idem, female; 28. Hovorodon subcancellatum, male; 29. idem, female; 30. Hovorodon bituberculatum, male; 31. idem, female; 32. Hovorodon maxillosum, male.

FIGURES 33 – 56. 33 – 35, head and prothorax, ventral view: 33. Hovorodon maxillosum, female; 34. H. santacruzensis, paratype male; 35. idem, paratype female. 36 – 52, mandibles: 36. Nothopleurus castaneus, male, dorsal view; 37. idem, female, dorsal view; 38. N. lobigenis, male, dorsal view; 39. idem, female, dorsal view; 40. N. subsulcatus, male, lateral view; 41. N. madericus, male, lateral view; 42. idem, female, dorsal view; 43. Hovorodon subcancellatum, male, dorsal view; 44. idem, male, lateral view; 45. idem, female, dorsal view; 46. H. bituberculatum, male, dorsal view; 47. idem, male, lateral view; 48. idem, female, dorsal view; 49. H. maxillosum, male, dorsal view; 50. idem, female, dorsal view; 51. H. santacruzensis, male, dorsal view; 52. idem, female, dorsal view. 53 – 56, metatarsus: 53. Mallodon downesii Hope, 1843, male, dorsal view; 54. idem, lateral view; 55. M. arabicum, male, dorsal view; 56. idem, male, lateral view.

FIGURES 57 – 64. Metepisternum, male. 57. Nothopleurus castaneus; 58. N. lobigenis; 59. N. subsulcatus; 60. N. madericus; 61. Hovorodon subcancellatum; 62. H. bituberculatum; 63. H. maxillosum; 64. H. santacruzensis.

FIGURES 66 – 74. 66 – 69. Tegmen, lateral view: 66. Nothopleurus castaneus; 67. N. lobigenis; 68. N. subsulcatus; 69. Hovorodon subcancellatus. 70 – 74. Lateral lobes, lateral view: 70. Nothopleurus castaneus; 71. N. lobigenis; 72. N. subsulcatus; 73. H. subcancellatum; 74. H. bituberculatum.

FIGURES 75 – 78. Maps. 75. Distribution of Nothopleurus and Hovorodon; 76. Nothopleurus lobigenis (circle), N. castaneus (square), N. madericus (star); 77. Hovorodon subcancellatum (circle), H. santacruzensis (square); 78. H. bituberculatum (square), H. maxillosum (star), Nothopleurus subsulcatus (circle).