Pteroplatus gracilis Buquet 1840
Creators: name: Botero, Juan Pablo
name: Santos-Silva, Antonio
name: Bezark, Larry G.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2019
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Cerambycidae
Pteroplatus
Pteroplatus gracilis

description: Pteroplatus gracilis Buquet, 1840
(Figures 71–96)
Pteroplatus gracilis Buquet, 1840: 287; 1841a: 288; White, 1853: 82; Strauch, 1861: 127; Lacordaire, 1869: 165; Gemminger, 1872: 2966 (cat.); Blackwelder, 1946: 588 (checklist); Monné, 1994: 48 (cat.); Monné & Giesbert, 1994: 133 (checklist); Martínez, 2000: 90 (distr.); Monné, 2005: 451 (cat.); Monné & Hovore, 2006: 114 (checklist); Monné, 2018: 671 (cat.).
Pteroplatus caudatus Martins & Galileo, 2013: 573; Monné, 2018: 671 (cat.). Syn. nov.
Pteroplatus rostainei Buquet, 1840: 287; 1841a: 289; White, 1853: 82; Strauch, 1861: 127; Lacordaire, 1869: 165; Gemminger, 1872: 2966 (cat.); Thomson, 1878: 17 (type); Blackwelder, 1946: 588 (checklist); Linsley, 1961a: 632 (mimet.); Monné, 1994: 48 (cat.); Monné & Giesbert, 1994: 133 (checklist); Martínez, 2000: 90 (distr.); Monné, 2005: 452 (cat.); Monné & Hovore, 2006: 114 (checklist); Monné, 2018: 672 (cat.). Syn. nov.
Redescription. Male (Figs. 71–74, 88–96). Head black except large, oblique yellow macula on each side of vertex, covering nearly all area behind upper eye lobes, anteclypeus yellowish-brown, anterior area of labrum reddishbrown, posterior area of labrum dark-brown, mandibles blackish; mouthparts mostly dark brown interspersed with reddish-brown areas, except palpomeres almost black with yellowish distal area; scape, pedicel and antennomeres III–VI black, and remaining antennomeres dark brown. Pronotum with wide, nearly parallel-sided black central band, yellowish-brown on remaining surface except narrow black band laterally; sides of prothorax entirely black. Prosternum with subelliptical orange macula on each side of middle; ventral side of meso- and metathorax dark brown. Scutellum black. Elytra yellow except wide, transverse black area about middle and entire posterior quarter. Legs dark brown. Abdominal ventrites dark brown except distal reddish-brown distal area.
Head. Frons with moderately elevated, narrow central plate close to clypeus, carina-like toward vertex, rounded anteriorly; transversely depressed on each side of central plate (more distinctly laterally); finely, abundantly punctate except smooth central plate; with short, decumbent, moderately sparse brownish setae, interspersed with long, erect setae of same color, especially laterally, except glabrous central plate. Area between antennal tubercles and upper eye lobes carinate centrally; finely, abundantly punctate; with decumbent brownish setae not obscuring integument, interspersed with long, erect dark setae (more abundant between antennal tubercles). Remaining surface of vertex with punctures slightly sparser than on area between upper eye lobes; with short, decumbent brownish setae not obscuring integument on dark area, yellow on light area extending to behind upper eye lobes. Dark area behind upper eye lobes with sculpturing and setae as on dark area of vertex. Area behind lower eye lobes moderately finely and sparsely punctate, with long, erect brownish setae close to eye, glabrous toward prothorax. Antennal tubercles with sculpturing and setae as on frons except smooth, glabrous distal area. Postclypeus finely, abundantly punctate on wide central area, smooth laterally; with moderately bristly brownish setae interspersed with long, erect setae of same color on wide central area (erect setae notably longer on sides of this area), glabrous laterally. Labrum coplanar with anteclypeus on posterior half, inclined on anterior half; finely, abundantly punctate on posterior half; with short, moderately sparse brownish setae on posterior half, and long, erect, moderately abundant yellowishbrown setae on sides of posterior half, and entire anterior half. Genae finely, moderately abundantly punctate except smooth distal area; with decumbent, moderately abundant brownish setae on punctate area, glabrous on smooth area. Gulamentum finely, sparsely striate posteriorly, somewhat depressed, striate anteriorly; glabrous posteriorly, with long, erect, moderately abundant brownish setae on depressed area. Distance between upper eye lobes 0.61 times length of scape; in frontal view, distance between lower eye lobes equal to length of scape. Antennae (only one specimen measured) 1.15 times elytral length, reaching about posterior seventh of elytra. Antennomeres III–V with tuft of dense and long setae in posterior half; antennomere VI with tuft of dense and long setae in entire ventral surface. Antennal formula (ratio) based on length of antennomere III: scape = 1.17; pedicel = 0.31; IV = 0.94; V = 1.14; VI = 1.43; VII = 1.14; VIII = 0.91; IX = 0.77; X = 0.68; XI = 0.77.
Thorax. Prothorax with rounded tubercle centrally, constricted anteriorly and posteriorly; anterior margin slightly narrower than posterior one, sides about as wide as posterior margin close to anterior constriction. Pronotum with gibbosity on each side of posterior half, slightly tab-shaped; with slightly elevated central gibbosity on posterior half, followed by narrow carina to anterior margin; moderately shallowly, transversely, widely depressed on anterior half; moderately coarsely, abundantly punctate (punctures more distinct on dark area) except smooth, narrow central area; with slightly conspicuous pubescence on dark area (glabrous on central gibbosity), with dense yellow pubescence on light areas; with long, erect, sparse setae throughout, yellowish on light areas, brownish on dark area. Sides of prothorax moderately coarsely, sparsely punctate; with brownish pubescence not obscuring integument, interspersed with long, erect setae of same color. Prosternum with short, erect yellowish-white setae interspersed with long, erect setae of same color on punctate area, nearly glabrous close to anterior margin. Ventral surface of mesothorax with yellowish-brown pubescence, not obscuring integument, sparser toward center of mesoventrite. Ventral surface of metathorax with yellowish-brown pubescence, gradually sparser toward glabrous center of metaventrite; with long, erect, moderately abundant yellowish-brown setae on metaventrite. Scutellum with short, decumbent, moderately sparse brownish setae. Elytra. Distinctly widened from anterior quarter; coarsely, moderately abundantly punctate on anterior 2/3, with small gibbosities on posterior third; with short, decumbent, moderately sparse yellow setae interspersed with erect setae of same color on light area, and decumbent, moderately sparse brownish setae interspersed with erect setae of same color on dark area; elytral apex uniformly rounded. Legs. Femora finely, abundantly punctate dorsally, gradually sparser toward ventral surface; with pale yellow pubescence not obscuring integument, interspersed with long, erect setae of same color. Tibiae moderately finely, abundantly punctate; with decumbent brownish setae interspersed with long, erect dark setae.
Abdomen. Ventrites with short, decumbent, moderately sparse yellowish-white setae interspersed with long, erect setae of same color; apex of ventrite V truncate.
Female (Figs. 75–78, 83–87). Antennae reaching about base of posterior third of elytra.
Variation (male and female). Head mostly dark brown or entirely black; yellow macula on vertex and behind upper eye lobes absent or very small; postclypeus dark brown interspersed with yellowish-brown areas or entirely yellowish-brown; genae and part of area behind lower eye lobes yellowish-brown; area close to inferior margin of lower eye lobes yellowish-brown; gulamentum dark brown anteriorly, yellowish brown on wide posterior area, or entirely yellowish-brown; mandibles yellowish-brown basally (this area with variable size); mouthparts mostly yellowish-brown except palpomeres mostly brown; mouthparts mostly blackish; antennae entirely dark brown; sides of scape dark reddish-brown; posterior half of scape almost entirely yellowish-brown ringed; black central band of pronotum with sinuous sides, often narrowed toward anterior margin; central black band on pronotum narrow and parallel-sided; central black band on pronotum widened anteriorly, centrally and posteriorly; central black band on pronotum notably widened from anterior margin to posterior third, then narrowed toward posterior margin; black band on pronotum with oblique projection on each side of posterior half (shape and size of this projection notably variable); pronotum black except oblique orange band on each side of anterior half; black central band of pronotum interrupted centrally; narrow black band on sides of pronotum absent; sides of prothorax entirely dark brown; elliptical macula on center of prosternum very small or absent; prosternum with narrow orange macula on each side near anterior margin; prosternum orange except narrow brown area; prosternum with transverse orange band close to anterior margin; prosternum entirely orange, dark brown or black; metaventrite yellowish-brown except dark brown sides; central area of metaventrite yellowish-brown and remaining surface black or dark brown; metaventrite black with violaceous reflections; scutellum black with violaceous reflections; scutellum dark brown; elytra entirely yellow on anterior half, and black on posterior half (boundary between these areas irregular or not); anterior 2/3 or 3/4 of elytra entirely yellow and posterior third or quarter black (boundary between these areas irregular or not); anterior black band of elytra moderately narrow or wide (sometimes notably wide), reaching or not epipleural margin, projected or not toward scutellum along suture; anterior dark macula of elytra small, not reaching sides of dorsal surface, often brownish; elytra mostly black, except yellow humeral spot and posterior quarter; elytra black except yellow humeral area; elytra entirely yellow; legs black; peduncle of femora reddish-brown or yellowish-brown; femoral club partially reddish-brown or yellowish-brown; femora entirely reddish-brown; femora reddish-brown except brownish sides and ventral surface of club; tibiae partially dark orangish-brown; tarsomeres brownish; metatarsomeres I–II orangish-brown and remaining segments dark brown; abdominal process of ventrite I yellowish-brown; anterocentral area of abdominal ventrite II yellowish-brown; abdominal ventrites entirely black, often with violaceous reflections; decumbent setae on frons yellowish-brown; erect setae on frons darkened; central carina between antennal tubercles and upper eye lobes absent; area between antennal tubercles and upper eye lobes with abundant yellowish setae; vertex and area behind upper eye lobes with brownish pubescence throughout; area behind upper eye lobes nearly smooth, with punctures denser toward prothoracic margin, or nearly smooth toward upper eye lobe and punctate toward ventral surface; postclypeus with abundant yellow setae interspersed with long, erect setae of same color; erect setae on labrum sparse; part of erect setae on labrum blackish; setae on genae yellow or yellowish; gulamentum smooth posteriorly; anterior area of gulamentum with yellow or yellowish setae; antennomere VI with long erect setae on posterior 3/4; prothorax without tubercle laterally, or with tubercle slightly distinct; gibbosity on each side of posterior half distinctly tab-shaped; pronotum smooth only on central posterior gibbosity; yellow pubescence on pronotum sparser on some areas; sides of prothorax interspersed with yellowish pubescence; elytra slightly widened from midlength; elytra punctate on basal 3/4, and with small gibbosities on posterior quarter (sometimes, small gibbosities almost reaching midlength); elytral apex slightly or distinctly projected on sutural angle; femora with yellow pubescence and yellow erect setae on light areas; tibiae with yellowish setae.
Dimensions (mm), 19 males / 19 females. Total length, 9.45–16.80/10.95–15.25; prothoracic length, 1.35– 2.10/1.50–2.30; anterior prothoracic width, 1.35–2.40/1.50–2.30; posterior prothoracic width, 1.55–2.40/1.80–2.65; maximum prothoracic width, 1.75–2.80/2.05–3.10; humeral width, 2.30–3.90/2.80–4.40; elytral length, 7.20– 12.80/8.40–12.00. According to Buquet (1840) for P. gracilis, length 11 mm, width 5 mm; and for P. rostainei, length 13 mm, width 5 mm. According to Martins & Galileo (2013) for P. caudatus: “Total length, 11.8; prothorax length, 1.9, greatest width of prothorax, 2.5; elytron length, 9.2; humeral width, 3.3.”
Material examined. COLOMBIA, Santander (new department record): Oiba (Hacienda La Becerra; 1420 m), 1 male, 2.X.2009, D. Monrey col. (UNAB). Boyacá (new department record): Cuitiva (Vda. Macias; Fca. El Mirador del Lago Tota; 5º33’N / 72º56’W; 3015 m), 1 male, 18.IV.2014, P. Bermeo col. (UNAB); Duitama (5º49’35”N / 73º02’32”W; 2530 m), 1 male, 31.VII.2004, N. Rosas col. (UNAB); Santuario de Fauna y Flora Iguaque (Cabaña Mamarramos; 5º25’N / 73º27’W; 2855 m), 1 male, 4-21.XII.2000, P. Reina col. (MZSP); San Miguel de Sema (Vda. Sabaneca; 5º31’N / 73º49’W; 2500 m), 1 male, 20.II.2012, V. Suárez col. (UNAB); Saboya (Vda. Vinculo; 5º42’03”N / 73º43’11”W; 2651 m), 1 male, 19.V.2002, W. Villamil & O. Mateus col. (UNAB); Almeida (Tona, 4º12’24”N / 73º21’52”W; 1800 m), 1 female, 5.IV.2004, D. López col. (UNAB). Cundinamarca: Anapoima (4º33’18”N / 74º32’13”W; 698 m), 1 female; 18.IV.1992, C. Brand col. (UNAB); Anolaima (Vrda. Luchima; 4º76’80.47”N / 74º49’23.81W; 1400 m), 1 male, 5.XI.2012, N. Tejedor col. (UNAB); (Finca Betania; Vereda Santa Ana; 1950 m), 1 male, 30.I.2010, R. Sandoval col. (UNAB); Bituima (4º32’51”N / 74º32’23”W; 1412 m), 1 male, 2.V.1992, O. Bilvao col. (UNAB); Bogotá: Bogotá (alredores de la UPN; 2640 m), 1 female, 21.IV.1986, R. Ovalle col. (UNAB); (4º35’56”N / 74º04’51”W; 2600 m), 1 male, 20.IX.1998, G. E. Castañeda col. (UNAB); Cáqueza (4º24’30”N / 73º56’58”W; 1746 m), 1 female, 21.IX.1994, F. Montes col. (UNAB); Gacheta (Vda. Santa Barbará; 1745 m), 1 male, 4.X.2009, M. Galindo col. (UNAB); Guasca (Vda. Potreritos; 4º48’59.4”N / 73º45’26.8”W; 2700 m), 1 male, IV.2015, A. Rodríguez col. (UNAB); La Mesa (Laguna Pedro Palo; 4º38’05”N / 74º27’57”W; 1298 m), 1 male, 18.III.1990, B. Diaz col. (UNAB); 1 female, 23.V.1994, L. Sarmiento col. (UNAB); San Bernardo (San Miguel; cercana al Río Negro; 2000 m), 1 female, XI.2009, M. Zabala col. (UNAB); Zipaquirá, 2 males, 2 females, VII.1974, M. Pedroza col. (UNAB); 2 females, VII.1976, M. Pedroza col. (UNAB); Ubaté, 3 males, 7 females, 21.XI.1981, M. Bohorquez col. (UNAB); Anapoima (Via Apulo km 6; 680 m; 4º32’57”N / 74º32’21”W), 1 male, 19.III.2012, C. Cárdenas col. (UNAB). Tolima: Melgar (4º12’24”N / 74º38’44”W; 323 m), 1 female, 11.V.1972, L. Laverde col. (UNAB). Quindío (new department record): Calarca (4º31’59”N / 75º38’37”W; 1483 m), 1 female, 10.IV.1990, B. Diaz col. (MZSP). PERU, Junín, (new country record): 11 km NE Puerto Ocopa, Los Olivos, 1,200 m, 23-24 March, 2009, A. K. Tishechkin, collector (LGBC).
Distribution. Pteroplatus gracilis is known from Colombia (Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Boyacá, Quindío, and Santander), and Peru (Junín).
Types. Pteroplatus gracilis — Holotype from Colombia (Bogotá), deposited at MNHN; P. caudatus— Holotype from Colombia (Cundinamarca), deposited at UNAB; P. rostainei — Holotype from Colombia (Bogotá), deposited at MNHN.
Remarks. Pteroplatus gracilis exhibits distinct chromatic variation, as well as noticeable variation in the elytral shape. However, all the extremes are represented by intermediate forms. This is particularly noticeable when we see specimens with very different elytral shapes, but collected in the same place on the same date.
description: Published as part of Botero, Juan Pablo, Santos-Silva, Antonio & Bezark, Larry G., 2019, Revision of the genus Pteroplatus Buquet, 1840 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Cerambycinae) and taxonomic notes in Pteroplatini, pp. 69-100 in Zootaxa 4658 (1) on pages 91-97, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4658.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/3373091