Cymatodera mexicana Rifkind, n. sp.
Creators: name: Rifkind, Jacques
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2015
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Coleoptera
Cleridae
Cymatodera
Cymatodera mexicana

description: Cymatodera mexicana Rifkind, n. sp.
(Figs. 4–10)
Type specimens. Holotype male: México, Michoacan, 18 –20 mi. S. Capirio, VII (21–22) 1984, B. K. Dozier, coll. Holotype deposited in CSCA. Paratypes: 4, same data as holotype; MEXICO, MICHOACAN: 1, 7 mi. S. Papatzindan, 0 8 JUL 1982, M. A. Ivie, colr.; 4, 9 mi. S. Quatro Caminos, 13.VII-1972, collector G. H. Nelson; 1, 4 mi. N. Capirio, IX-18-1986, B. K. Dozier, coll.; 2, 12 mi. S. Capirio, VII-22-1984, B. K. Dozier, collector; 3, 9 mi. S. Cuatro Caminos, 11-VII-1972, collector G. H. Nelson; 7, 17 mi. S. Capirio, VI-17-1987, beating Prosopis sp., B. K. Dozier, collector; 1, 11 mi. E. Apatzingan, VIII-20-1954, E. G. Linsley, J. W. MacSwain, R. F. Smith, collectors; 1, 3 km N. Capirio, 12 July 1981, collector John D. Pinto; 2, km 167.5, Hwy 37, 32 km S. Cuatro Caminos, N 18°47.643' W 102°04.782', 230 m, 24-25-VII-2003, C. L. Bellamy, CLB 866, misc. beating; 5, MX 37, 98 km S. of Nueva Italia, 13/VII/2006, Skillman & Hildebrandt, black light; 2, same data as previous except 15-VII-2006; 2, MICH 10, 4 km N. of Morelos de Infiernillo, 15-VII-2006, Skillman & Hildebrandt, beating acacia; GUERRERO: 7, Hwy. 95, 3.6 km S. Zumpango del Río, G. H. Nelson, 24-VII- [19]92, on Acacia cochliacantha; 1, 10.3 mi S. Iguala, July 23,1981, Bogar, Schaffner, Friedlander; 1, 2.4 mi. N. Chilpancingo, VI-24-1983, B. K. Dozier, coll.; 11, Iguala, VII-23 -[19]83, J. Chemsak, A. & M. Michelbacher; 3, Mexcala, VI-29 -[19]51, at light, H. Evans; 1, 24 mil South Iguala, VII-18-1963, F. D. Parker, L. A. Stange, collectors; 1, 10 mi. North Zumpango, VII-22-1963, F. D. Parker, L. A. Stange, collectors; 2, Mexcala, VI-29 -[19]51, P. D. Hurd, coll.; 4, Hwy. 95, 3.6 km S. Zumpango del Río, 23-VII- [19]92, G. H. Nelson, on Acacia cochliacantha; 2, Hwy. 95, 3.6 km S. Zumpango del Río, 7-VII- [19]92, G. H. Nelson, on Acacia cochliacantha; 1, Hwy. 95, 2 km S. Milpillas, G. H. Nelson, 6-VII- [19]92, on Acacia cochliacantha; 1, Hwy. 92, 5.9 km S. Río Mezcala, G. H. Nelson, 22-VII- [19]92, dead limb Zizyphus amole; 1, Hwy. 95, 3.6 km S. Zumpango del Río, G. H. Nelson, 25-VII- [19]92, on Acacia cochliacantha; 1, 16 km NW Iguala, IX-12-15-1982, elev. 1160 m, J. A. Powell, J. A. Chemsak, at light; 1, Iguala, VIII-17 -[19]81, J. A. Chemsak, collector; 2, 23 km W. Iguala, 18 Sept. 1989, R. Turnbow; 1, Iguala, VIII-21-1981, J. Chemsak, A. & M. Michelbacher; 1, 12.4 km W. Tetelcingo, 1900', 21 Sept. 1989, R. Turnbow; 1, 25 km S. Taxco, 27 July 1987, R. Turnbow; 2, 59.4 km N Chilpancingo, 26 July 1987, R. Turnbow; 2, same data as previous except 24 July 1987; 2, 3 km S. Xalitla, Hwy 95, 610 m, N 18°001' W 98°24', July 17, 1992, C. L. Bellamy, coll.; 1, same data as previous except July 1, 1992; 1, 3 km N. Mezcala, 17°54, 99°35, 16 -VII-1992, R. L. Westcott; 1, 5 km S. Mezcala, 595 m, 17°54', 99°35', 16-VII-1992, R. L. Westcott; 1, 10-– 12 km E Xochipala, 795–885 m, N 17°48', W 98°24–25', June 30, 1992, C. L. Bellamy, coll.; 2, 5 km S. Mezcala, Hwy. 95, 595 m, N 17°54' W 99°35', July 16, 1992, C. L. Bellamy, coll.; 1, 3.5 km S. Zumpango del Río, June 30, 1992, C. L. Bellamy, coll.; 1, 3 km S. Mezcala, 550 m, N 17°54' W 99°35', 16-VII- [19]92, R. L. Westcott; 1, Zopilote Cyn., 20-28-VI- [19]89, Jim Cope, coll.; 1, 6 km norte de Mexcala, 13/VI/2001, H. Brailovsky, E. Barrera; 1, Planta Nueva, Mezcala, trampa de luz, 10/VII/1969, H. Pérez; 1, 6 miles E. Xachipala, 3500', 5-6/VII/1987, Kovarik & Schaffner; COLIMA: 2, MX 120, 18 km W. of Tepalcatepec, 13-VII-2006, Skillman & Hildebrandt, slash pile, acacia, weeds; PUEBLA: 1, Puerto del Gato, 1220 m, 12 km NW Tehuitzingo, July 4, 1992, C. L. Bellamy, coll.; 1, Tepexco, 28/VI/1996, 183985 N, 984347 O, H. Brailovsky, E. Barrera; 1, 14 mi. W. of I. de Matamoros, 3-VII-1992, B. K. Dozier, coll; ESTADO DE MEXICO: 5, Tejupilco, Temascaltepec, VII-[19]33, H. E. Hinton, R. L. Usinger, collectors, on mesquite, beating; 1, Tejupilco, VII-11-1932, alt. 3960 ft., H. E. Hinton, coll.; MORELOS: 1, Alpuyeca, 27 June, 1951, P. D. Hurd, coll.; 2, Yautepec, V-4-1962, F. D. Parker, L. A. Stange, collectors; 1, Tlaquiltenango, 4 km NW de Santiopa, 18.44630° N, 98.95906° W, Alt. 1211 m, Selva Baja Caducifolia, Trampa de Luz, 04-VI-2013, Col. Reyes, Hernández; 2, same data as previous, except Col. R. Reyes, J. A. Hernández; 2, same data as previous, except Col. V. Toledo, J. Martinez, I. Villanueva; 2, same data as previous, except 18.44170’ N, 98.97671° W, Alt. 1094 m, 05-VI-2013, Col. V. Toledo, J. Martinez, I. Villanueva; 1, same data as previous, except 18.44115° N, 98.95642° W, Alt. 1096 m, Col. R. Reyes, J. A. Hernández; 2, same data as previous, except 3 km NW de Santiopa, 18.44292° N, 98.95771° W, Alt. 1166 m, 06-VI-2013, Col. Toledo, Martinez, Villanueva; 1, same data as previous, except 18.44239° N, 98.95800° W, Alt. 1150 m, Col. Reyes, Hernández; SAN LUIS POTOSI: 2, Tamazunchale, 21 June, 1963, D. Bixler; OAXACA: 1, 7 km SSE Tehuantepec, 13-VII-1992, R. L. Westcott; 1, 18.7 km W, 1.8 km SW Tehuantepec, 185 m, 13-VII-1992, R. L. Westcott; 4, 7.5 km SE Las Majadas, Km 195.5, Hwy. 190, N 16°25.003' W 95°40.189', 375 m, 17-VII-2003, C. L. Bellamy, CLB842, misc. beating; 2, 10.5 km N. Rincón Moreno, km 21, Hwy. 200 (new), N 16°18.34', W 95°16.876', 90 m, 15-vii-2003, C. L. Bellamy, CLB 835, misc. beating; 2, 16 km NE Tejuantepec, 12/ 13-VII-1992, R. L. Westcott, coll.; 1, Totolapan, 30/VI/1996, 3000 m, 16 39 50 N, 96 16 75 O, H. Brailovsky, E. Barrera; 1, Hwy. 190, 8 km E. El Camarón, 3669’, TDF/Oak, VI-24-2014, J. Rifkind, coll., beating Acacia pennatula; 1, 3 mi. W. of Tehuantepec, VII-9-1965, collector G. H. Nelson, on dead limbs pink flowered Acacia; 2, 3 mi. W of Tehuantepec, VII-19-1965, collector G. H. Nelson, on Cercidium pleurifoliatum Micheli [sic]; 3, 5 mi. W. El Camaron, 20-VI-1969, J. E. H. Martin; 1, 11.6 miles West of Jalapa de Marques, July 12, 1971, taken at light, Clark, Murray, Hart, Schaffner; 1, 2.7 mi nw. El Camaron, July 24, 1973, taken at light, Mastro & Schaffner; 3, 2.7 mi. nw. El Camaron, July 21-22, 1974, taken at light, Clark, Murray, Ashe, Schaffner; 1, 31 mi. S. Totolapan, 750 m elev., Code M-66, 21 -VIII-1970, A. Hardy & B. Cheary; 1, 3 mi. W. of Tehuantepec, VII-20-1965, collector G. H. Nelson; 1, 5 mi. W. of Tehuantepec, VII-1-1972, collector G. H. Nelson; 1, Tehuantepec, VII-23-1964, Paul J. Spangler; 1, 7 mi. W. of Tehuantepec, 2-VII-1972, collector G. H. Nelson; 1, 3 mi. W. of Tehuantepec, VII-2-1965, collector G. H. Nelson, on dead limbs; 2, 2 mi. NW Totolapan, 3300 ft., VII-6 - [19]53, Univ. Kans. Mex. Expedition; 1, 13 km west of Tehuantepec, Aug. 11, 1967, el. 100’, H. R. Burke and J. Hafernik; 1, 2.7 mi. nw. El Camaron, July 13, 1971, taken at light, Clark, Murray, Hart, Schaffner; 1, 6 miles west of Jalapa del Marques, July 23,1973, taken at light, Mastro & Schaffner; 1, Hwy 190, 10 km W. Tehuantepec, 11- vii- [19]92, G. H. Nelson, on dead limbs; 6, Hwy. 190, 55 km NW Tehuantepec, 16-vii- [19]92, G. H. Nelson, on Acacia cochliacantha; 4, Hwy 190, 16 km E Tehuantepec, 13-VII- [19]92, G. H. Nelson, on Haematoxylon; 2, same data as previous except 14-VII- [19]92. Paratypes are deposited in CASC, CIUM, CJSC, CNIN, CSCA, EMEC, FMNH, JNRC, KSUC, LACM, RHTC, SEMC, TAMU, UCRC, and WFBM.
Diagnosis. Specimens of Cymatodera from the southern half of México can be reliably assigned to this species if they possess the following combination of characters: integument dark brown, with at most a faintly indicated pale median elytral fascia; 8.0 mm or greater in length; pronotum transversely wrinkled; pubescence fine, short, silvery; elytral punctures serially arranged, obsolete before apices. In addition, the males have a uniquely shaped pygidium (Figs. 5–7) and a distinct pattern of scarlike metasternal carinae (Fig. 8). Females of C. mexicana and C. kolbei are superficially similar, but the latter are generally paler and have the pronotum coarsely, very densely punctate rather than shining and transversely wrinkled.
Description. (Holotype). Length: 13.0 mm. Form: elongate; elytra subparallel. Color: dark brown; umbones and an indistinct median elytral band, paler; apical 1/2 of antennomere 11 testaceous. Head: shining, densely, very finely punctate, sparsely setose; antennae moderately elongate; antennomeres as follows: 2 slightly shorter than 3; 3 and 4 subequal; 5 slightly longer than 4; 6 and 7 subequal, each slightly shorter than 5; 8 slightly shorter than 7; 9 and 10 subequal, each slightly shorter than 8; 11 elongate-ovate, as long as 10. Pronotum: elongate (ratio of length to width 26:17), subflattened on disk above; surface shining, rather inconspicuously vested with fine, mostly short, suberect silvery setae; integument distinctly transversely rugulose and very finely, moderately densely but inconspicuously punctate. Elytra: elongate (ratio of length to width 8:3); humeri weakly rounded; anterior margin broadly V-shaped; sides subparallel, arcuately convergent posteriorly to separately rounded, slightly dehiscent apices; dorsum rather broadly subflattened with a gradual apical slope; integument shining, moderately densely but inconspicuously set with short and slightly longer fine, suberect, silvery setae, these somewhat more densely arranged and conspicuous on posterior 1/2; punctures arranged in longitudinal rows, moderately coarse and cribrate anteriorly but progressively finer and more shallow posteriorly until becoming obsolete at posterior 1/5; diameter of strial punctures smaller than width of interstrial integument on disk; surface of interstrial area extremely finely punctate. Metaventrite: with a broad, flat, triangulate area at middle, its surface asperate, pustulate and bearing a distinct pattern of scarlike carinae, arranged as in Fig. 8. Abdomen: ventrites 1–4 with surface shallowly, coarsely punctate and wrinkled, posterior margins membranous at middle; ventrite 5 with surface more deeply, distinctly punctate and roughened, sides obliquely convergent, hind margin as in Fig. 6; ventrite 6 with surface very coarsely, irregularly asperate–punctate, bearing a short longitudinal carina at base; shape complex: sides deeply furrowed and flanged, with posterior angle of each flange produced to a short, sharp, triangular point below, and a longer, slightly decurved apically blunted point above (Figs. 5–6); hind margin arcuately emarginate; tergite 6 densely, shallowly, rather coarsely asperate; form elongate, with broadly arcuate sides, posterior margin feebly emarginate (Fig. 5). Aedeagus: apex of phallus upturned.
Variation. Length of available specimens ranges from 8.0 mm to 13.75 mm. Some specimens are reddish brown rather than dark brown. The pale median elyral fascia is obsolete in a small minority of examples. The female metaventrite is rugulose, and lacks the asperate sculpturing and carinae of the male. The pygidium of the female appears as follows: ventrite 5 with sides oblique, hind margin rather deeply, semicircularly emarginate; ventrite 6 rather short, with sides feebly convergent, surface slightly tumid anterior to hind margin, hind angles rounded, hind margin feebly, triangularly incised at middle; tergite 6 with sides oblique, hind angles rounded, hind margin slightly inflexed, minutely notched at middle.
Etymology. I chose the specific epithet “ mexicana ” as an appropriate descriptor for this most widely distributed Mexican Cymatodera species.
Distribution. As the extensive paratype series attests, the new species has been collected in numbers throughout the southern half of México. It is known from the following Mexican states: Michoacán, Colima, Morelos, San Luis Potosí, Estado de México, Guerrero, Puebla and Oaxaca. It will doubtless be found in other Mexican states where there is appropriate habitat.
Biology. This species has been taken at light, and beaten from dead limbs and a variety of plants, including Acacia pennatula (Schltdl. & Cham.) Benth., Acacia cochliacantha Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd., Haematoxylon sp., and Ziziphus amole (Sessé & Moc.) M.C. Johnst. Based on location and other label data, it seems to be associated with thorn forest, tropical deciduous forest and the tropical deciduous forest / oak forest ecotone, and ranges in elevation from near sea level to approximately 1100 m (Fig. 10). A male specimen I captured and photographed alive (Fig. 9) did not stridulate when held in the hand (see Rifkind 2006), but energetically and persistently attempted to “sting” with the downturned pygidium.
Remarks. Relationships of the new species are unclear. Like Cymatodera cicatricula (described below), C. mexicana males have a flattened, roughly sculpted metaventrite bearing scarlike carinae; unlike the former, they possess an essentially concolorous, undecorated elytral integument. The new species has a similar habitus to C. tlahuica Rifkind, Toledo & Corona from Morelos and Guerrero, but that species lacks modifications of the metaventrite in the male. Another superficially similar species is C. kolbei, discussed above, but here again the male of that species has the surface of the metaventrite mostly smooth, and quite different pygidial modifications (Figs 1–3). The female of C. kolbei has a more coarsely punctate pronotum than in C. mexicana, and its sixth abdominal ventrite is not tumid basally. The relative phylogenetic significance of these characters must await a more complete descriptive catalog of the genus.
description: Published as part of Rifkind, Jacques, 2015, New species of Cymatodera Gray (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Tillinae) from México and Central America, with notes on others, pp. 519-552 in Zootaxa 3946 (4) on pages 522-525, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3946.4.3, http://zenodo.org/record/238608