Potemnemus sepicanus Kriesche 1923
Creators: name: Wallin, Henrik
name: Kvamme, Torstein
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2015
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Cerambycidae
Potemnemus
Potemnemus sepicanus

description: Potemnemus sepicanus Kriesche, 1923: 429
Figs. 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 59, 60, 61, 62, 81.
Potemnemus hispidus Gressitt, 1952: 54 nov. syn.
Examined type specimen. HT ♀ MNHUB, BL = 51.0 mm, BW = 16.2 mm, Papua New Guinea, Etappenberg (near Wewak, East Sepik Province); 1912.10.9–17, leg. S.G. Ledermann;
Other specimens examined. Papua New Guinea: 1♂ CUN, BL = 39.6 mm, Morobe Province (MP), Aseki, 1992.10; 1♀ CUN, BL = 43.5 mm, MP, 1992.10; 1♀ CUN, BL = 53.0 mm, MP, Aseki, Pawamanga Village, 2006.03.27, leg. M. Hudson; 1♂ CHW, BL = 55.0 mm, Maprik, East Sepik Province, 1995.12.21; 1♀ CHW, BL = 47.0 mm, MP, Aseki, Yeva Village, 1997.06.30; 1♂ CHW, BL = 45.0 mm, MP, Aseki, Hiyewini village, 1995.03.28; 1♂ CHW, BL = 45.0 mm, MP, Aseki, 2004.10.10; 1♀ NHRS, BL = 51.5 mm, Sekar, leg. H. Kuhn (ex. coll. F.R. Mason).
Potemnemus hispidus Gressit, 1952: 54 nov. syn. (Fig. 28).
Examined type specimen. HT ♀ AMNH, BL = 39.0 mm (photo examination), Papua New Guinea, Mount Mabion (near Selbang, Western Province).
Morphological characteristics: a large to very large and robust species (BL = 39.0–55.0 mm, BW = 16.2) with body approximately 3.1 x longer than wide (Figs. 24–28). Antennae: relatively long in females and very long in males: extending beyond apices by about 4–5 antennomeres in females and by about six antennomeres in males. Thorax: pronotum with a longitudinal yellowish and narrow band interrupted medially with a dark brown spot. Pronotum is densely granulated apically and below the broadened base at each lateral spine. Medially pronotum has a raised “bulb-like area with very fine granules along posterior margin (more pronounced in larger male specimens). There are also two tiny and conical tubercles on the middle of pronotum. Elytra: sub-parallel with small spines scattered over the entire surface. The colour is dark brown with distinct, white patches forming two irregular, transverse white bands. Lateral carina on elytra with a series of large granules (Fig. 27). Humeral spine in males is short and straight. Legs: strongly mottled with white and brown pubescence. Venter: dark brown to black and weakly mottled with a mixture of short brownish and greyish pubescence. Prosternal process with a broad and blunt tubercle anteriorly. Male genitalia: aedeagus 12.0–18.0 mm long and strongly curved towards apex (Fig. 59), with dorsal surface smooth and shining (Fig. 60). Parameres (3.0– 3.5 mm long) broad, slightly narrowing towards anterior margin, inner margins straight and well separated, with relatively long setae attached dorsally and ventrally, dorsally deeply punctured towards apices, and the projection at base (between the two parameres) blunt (Fig. 61). Tergite VIII (3.5–4.0 mm long) large and elongated with a straight posterior margin covered with relatively fine and short setae (Fig. 62). The colour of male genitalia is brownish.
Remarks. This species is most similar to P. ennevei, but is easily separated by the weakly mottled ventral surface, the short and straight humeral spine in males, and the distinct white patches forming two irregular, transverse white bands on elytra. P. sepicanus has, so far, only been found in the eastern parts of the island of New Guinea (Fig. 81).
description: Published as part of Wallin, Henrik & Kvamme, Torstein, 2015, A review of the genus Potemnemus Thomson, 1864 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) with description of a new species from Papua New Guinea, pp. 501-542 in Zootaxa 4040 (5) on pages 517-518, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4040.5.1, http://zenodo.org/record/239016