Ceratophila, a new genus of erotylid beetles (Erotylidae: Pharaxonothinae) inhabiting male cones of the cycad Ceratozamia (Cycadales: Zamiaceae)
Author
Tang, William
Author
Skelley, Paul
Author
Pérez-Farrera, Miguel Angel
text
Zootaxa
2018
2018-10-31
4508
2
151
178
journal article
28054
10.11646/zootaxa.4508.2.1
da79b654-bd50-4715-8ed3-80fa7a00d469
1175-5326
2606934
5E2BC894-1919-4F63-8EF5-BAAC91913388
Ceratophila
(
Ceratophila
)
Tang, Skelley & Pérez-Farrera, nominate subgenus
Type
species.
Ceratophila
(
Ceratophila
)
picipennis
,
n. sp.
, here designated.
Adult diagnosis.
The subgenus
C
. (
Ceratophila
) is distinguished from the subgenus
C
. (
Vovidesa
) by the convex pronotal surface near lateral carina; lateral carina distinctly thicker anteriorly; metatibia triangularly dilated toward apex; and apparently lacking sexual dimorphism.
Adult description.
Length
3.03–5.11 mm
, width
1.26–2.04 mm
. Mouthparts: submentum without long erect or reclining setae. Pronotum: nearly quadrate, length/width = 0.78–0.90; anterior margin near eyes weakly emarginate, anterior angles slightly projecting, anterior angles rounded; surface near lateral carinae not explanate, carinae in dorsal view evenly arcuate; in lateral view thickening anteriorly, 2× thicker than posterior edge; pronotal disc lacking longitudinal groove extending anteriorly from lateral basal pore in margin. Elytra: in most populations often laterally with dark coloration that may extend to disc, maculation merges gradually with lighter ground color anteriad and posteriad; lacking visible setae on surface. Legs: protibia with distal lateral tooth strongly developed in both sexes, apex of tooth with cluster of 3 short stout spinules; meso- and metatibiae moderately angularly dilated at apex which is fringed with short stout spinules. Male genitalia: median lobe and tegmen compressed laterally, penile struts 1.15–1.90× longer than median lobe. Sexual dimorphism absent, except in
C
.
(
C
.)
chemnicki
.
Remarks
.
Ceratophila
(
Ceratophila
)
is notably different from
C
. (
Vovidesa
) in an apparent lack of external sexual dimorphism (exception, see remarks under
C. chemnicki
) and in other noted external characters. Many populations of
Ceratozamia
appear to have a member of each subgenus on the male cones. The morphological differences between these beetles imply they occupy different niches on the cones, fulfilling different functions.