Tessaropa sp.

Vlasak, Josef, Philips, T. Keith & Ivie, Michael A., 2018, Notes on the Methiini (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) of the West Indies, The Coleopterists Bulletin 72 (4), pp. 691-699 : 696-697

Tessaropa sp.

( Fig. 4 )

Tessaropa luctuosa , not Zayas. Devesa et al. 2015: 109, fig. 2, in part, Holgu´ın specimen only (misidentification).

Devesa et al. (2015) illustrated two specimens under T. luctuosa – fig. 1 labeled as a female (holotype) and fig. 2 as a male. The holotype in fig. 1 is actually a male (see Philips and Ivie 1998). Their fig. 2 ( Fig. 4 herein) shows a badly damaged specimen that is also a male but is not conspecific with the holotype. It differs from the holotype in color, proportions of the antennomeres, and shapes of the elytra and pronotum. The label indicates it was taken at a mercury vapor light, something unusual for the day-active genera of Methiini ( Tessaropa , Coleomethia , and Cyanomethia ).

Through the courtesy of Sergio Devesa, MAI was able to examine in detail the specimen (SDPC) in fig. 2 ( Fig. 4A–C ). As seen in the previously published photograph, the specimen is in very bad shape and glued to a card. It is so fragile that it is feared that removal of the specimen from the card would result in further disintegration. However, it is also clear that it represents an undescribed species. The single specimen is in such poor condition that we feel uncomfortable describing it, but we can generically place it for future reference.

The tiny specimen has the head across the eyes wider than the pronotum ( Fig. 4A ), which is cylindrical. This is the normal condition of Methia species. It is also apparently nocturnal, as evidenced by it being taken at light. However, the eye facets are approximately 0.02 mm in diameter, which fits with the diurnal species in other genera. The male specimen also has a divided eye ( Fig. 4B ), a transverse pedicel, feebly clavate metafemora, and a short metatarsus I ( Fig. 4C ). These characters are all indicative of Tessaropa . We treat this specimen as an undescribed species of that genus. It is hoped that further specimens will be found, allowing a full description of this tiny animal.

KEY TO THE GENERA OF WEST INDIAN METHIINI (sensu Bezark 2016)

Below is a revised key to the West Indian Methiini genera, replacing the one in Philips and Ivie (1998). The divisions between genera are of uncertain validity, being based on nocturnal versus diurnal eye morphology and degree of sexual dimorphism. A future phylogenetic study of the entire tribe may find there should be only a single genus. Coleomethia has not been recorded in the West Indies, but it is possible that it occurs there and so has been included in this key.

1. Ommatidia large, approximately 0.04 mm in diameter; maximum head width across eyes usually distinctly wider than maximum pronotal width when viewed either dorsally or ventrally (rarely only slightly wider); first metatarsomere greater or equal to 2X width... ..................................................... Methia

1 ʹ. Ommatidia small, approximately 0.02 mm in diameter; maximum head width across eyes subequal to maximum pronotal width in dorsal or ventral view; first metatarsomere short, length <2X width ................................ 2

2. Elytra strongly rugose and costate; metathoracic wings with 4 anal veins ................ ......................................... Cyanomethia

2 ʹ. Elytra weakly or not rugose or costate; metathoracic wings with 3 anal veins ................ 3

3. Metafemora relatively stout and feebly clavate towards apex; male abdomen long, normal; females with distal antennomeres 8–11 narrow in width ................................. Tessaropa

3 ʹ. Metafemora elongate (nearly parallel-sided) and clavate, although sometimes very slightly expanded near apex; male abdomen very short, truncate; females with distal antennomeres 8–11 thickened compared to previous ones... ........................................... Coleomethia

Figures

Fig. 4. Tessaropa sp. from Holgu´ın Province, Cuba. A) Habitus, B) Eye and protarsus, C) Lateral view.