Embates obliquus (Champion)

Prena, Jens, 2005, The Middle American species of Embates Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Baridinae), Zootaxa 1100 (1), pp. 1-151 : 1-151

43. Embates obliquus (Champion)

(Fig. 155–157, 241)

Ambates obliquus Champion 1907: 161 . Lectotype male, Mexico, upper of two specimens on same pin, labeled: “Type”, “ ♂ ♀ ”, “ Mexico / Sallé Coll.”, “Toxpam” (BMNH). Paralectotypes supposedly 5 (only 3 located), here designated: Toxpam (BMNH); Sontecomapan (BMNH 2). Hustache 1938 (cat.); Blackwelder 1947 (cat.); Wibmer & O’Brien 1986 (cat.)

Ambates sallei ; Jekel in litt.

Embates [ obliquus ]. Alonso­Zarazaga & Lyal 1999 (global combination of all species of Ambates Schönherr 1836 with Embates Chevrolat 1833 )

Redescription. Habitus: as Fig. 152, total length 8.5–10.5 mm (m=9.4, n=15). Color: integument dark brown; basic vestiture of minute scales; scales yellow in subapical elytral fascia (Fig. 155) and variously developed dorsolateral pronotal vitta; venter with small yellow scales on prosternum and along flank. Head: frontal fovea deep, rostrum moderate, subcylindrical (as Fig. 153, 154), sides attenuated between apex and antennal insertion, subcostate dorsomedially (♂♂) or not (♀♀), basolateral margin slightly edged, length of rostrum ♂♂ 1.24–1.40 x (m=1.30, n=8), ♀♀ 1.42–1.51 x (m=1.45, n=7) pronotal length, length of ante­antennal portion ♂♂ 0.35–0.38 x (m=0.36, n=8), ♀♀ 0.41–0.45 x (m=0.43, n=7) total rostral length, dorsal margin of antennal scrobe reaching rostral base before eye; funicular segment 2 much longer than 1, club oblong ovate. Pronotum: length 0.77–0.86 x (m=0.82, n=15) maximum width, sides subparallel in basal third, then roundly narrowed, anterior portion tubulate; disk finely punctate, intervals smooth. Elytra: length 1.72–1.92 x (m=1.80, n=15) width at humeri, width 1.20–1.31 x (m=1.25, n=15) maximum pronotal width, sides subparallel in basal half, apices rounded conjointly, preapical callus weakly developed, striae fine, punctures distinct, interstriae flat, 9 conve x distally. Legs: slender, tibia slightly curved, ventral margin with distal cluster of cupreous hairs, tarsal claws flat and approximate at base. Male: apex of aedeagus round, middle sclerotized, anterolateral portion membranous (Fig. 156), body of aedeagus of moderate length, basal third angular in lateral view, apodemes 1.9 x longer than body of aedeagus, flagellum thin, as long as apodemes, transition to curved base gradual, basal appendage of moderate length, fused subdistally with base of flagellum, projecting beyond base (Fig. 157).

Plant association. Not known.

Distribution. Southern Mexico, Atlantic side, west of Isthmus of Tehuantepec (Fig. 241).

Material examined. MEXICO. Without location: (BMNH 10, MNHP, NMNH, SNSD 2, ZMHB 3). Veracruz: Sontecomapan (BMNH 2, CWOB 2, TAMU); Catemaco area (CMNC, CNCI 2, CWOB 3, HAHC 2); Fortin de las Flores (CWOB); Córdoba (NMNH); El Tropico (CWOB); La Palma (CMNC). Oaxaca: Valle Nacional (HAHC). Veracruz: Tuxpan? [labeled Toxpam]. The Nicaraguan record of A. obliquus in O’Brien & Wibmer (1982) refers to E. flavoplagiatus . Total 39 specimens.

Discussion. Embates obliquus is very closely related to E. heilipoides . The records available indicate that both populations are separated geographically by the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (Fig. 241). Single elements of the elytral color­pattern may be modified or reduced in both species. Embates obliquus exhibits consistently a subapical elytral fascia of yellow scales, and in some specimens a dorsolateral pronotal vitta. Humeral and antemacular elements are absent in the color­pattern.