Cactophagus morrisi Anderson, new species
Creators: name: Anderson, Robert S.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2002
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Dryophthoridae
Cactophagus
Cactophagus morrisi

description: Cactophagus morrisi Anderson, new species
(Figs. 24, 27­28)
Identification.—The three known specimens of this species can be easily recognized by the laterally incised pronotal margins, pattern of elytral coloration and the pattern of elytral sculpture (Figs. 27­28). The pygidium is at most convex with the median line not distinctly raised or carinate, although it is setose, and, the prosternum in front of the coxae is flat, but sloping anteriorly. It is also larger and more robust that the related species of Cactophagus, which were formerly placed in the genus Cactophagoides.
Description.— Male not known. Female, length, 5.5­17.7 mm; width 6.7­8.2 mm. Color black, metasternum reddish, infused with black, elytra with red spots as follows: at base, just before midlength and subapically on interval 2; just before midlength on interval 3 (small and vague); basally and from midlength to apical one­third on interval 8; and, humeral region.
Rostrum subequal in length to pronotum; elongate, cylindrical, evenly curved, densely, coarsely, deeply punctate dorsally at base and laterally at point of antennal insertion; apical one­half glabrous and very finely punctate, shining; base of rostrum expanded in dorsal view, basal expanded area long, about one­third total rostral length; in dorsal view with deep median sulcus in basal expanded area becoming subfoveate above eyes; in lateral view with large deep coalescent punctures behind point of antennal insertion. Peduncle slightly convex, deeply bilamellate. Scrobe with posterior margin about four times width of base of scape from anterior margin of eyes. Antenna with scape long, about two­thirds length rostrum; club elongate­oval; apical pilose part subequal in length to basal glabrous part. Pronotum with lateral margins subparallel to slightly divergent, abruptly constricted subapically, tubulate to apex; pronotum at constriction behind eyes slightly to deeply excavate; moderately densely, deeply, irregularly punctate on disc and flanks; disc moderately deeply impressed subbasally at middle, impression with midline with very slight low carina. Elytra one and one­third times length of pronotum; intervals impunctate to very slightly punctate apically, convex; striae deeply impressed, impunctate. Disc laterally transversely creased or plicate at basal one­third and twice again just behind midlength; bases of intervals 2­4 swollen (especially of 2) and base of 2 expanded; intervals 1­5 swollen in transverse band variously at midlength and again at elytral declivity; intervals 1­2 convex subapically; intervals 5 and 7 slightly to markedly constricted basally; scutellar area not distinctly depressed. Scutellum small, “V” shaped, length slightly greater than width at base, concave. Pygidium slightly convex; coarsely deeply punctate throughout; apex subtruncate; with median row of short sparse setae in apical one­half and across apical margin. Ventrally with front coxae separated by only width of scape; prosternum moderately densely, irregularly punctate, flat but slightly sloping anteriorly. Lateral portions of metasternum with large irregular punctures, otherwise venter moderately densely, irregularly shallowly punctate; punctures smaller medially on ventrites 2­4; last ventrite flat, punctate. Legs moderate in length, moderately densely, shallowly punctate; femora clavate, hind femur longer, almost reaching apex of pygidium; front coxae with inner faces subtuberculate; inner margins of front and middle tibiae slightly sinuate subbasally, hind straight; inner margin of all tibiae with only short, sparse, peglike setae. Tarsi each with third article widely dilated, pilose ventrally except in broad fusiform median area in basal one­half; all tarsi with third articles symmetrical and apical margins truncate.
Variation.—One paratype has a reduced pattern of red spots and is lacking spots on intervals 2­3 just before the midlength. In addition, the elongate red marking on interval 8 is reduced to two spots, one at the midlength, the other at the apical one­quarter. There is also variation in the depth of the excavation on the pronotum behind the eyes and in the extent to which elytral striae 5 and 7 and constricted basally.
Material Examined.—Female HOLOTYPE labelled “ Panama: Chiriqui Prov. / Cont’l Divide Trail / 3­4.VII.1997 / Morris and Wappes” (CMNC). PARATYPES (2). PAN­ AMA. CHIRIQUI PROVINCE. Continental Divide Trail, 11­15.V.1999, Morris and Wappes (1). Fortuna Dam, 28 May 1984, H.W. Churchill (1). Paratypes in CMNC.
Distribution.— Panama (Chiriqui).
Natural history.—No information is available on natural history of this species.
Derivation of specific name.—This species is named after Roy Morris of Lakeland, Florida, one of the collectors of the holotype.
description: Published as part of Anderson, Robert S., 2002, The Dryophthoridae of Costa Rica and Panama: Checklist with keys, new synonymy and descriptions of new species of Cactophagus, Mesocordylus, Metamasius and Rhodobaenus (Coleoptera; Curculionoidea), pp. 1-94 in Zootaxa 80 on pages 37-38, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.156033