Eupogonius baorucensis Lingafelter, 2024

Eupogonius baorucensis Lingafelter , new species

( Fig. 27–28 View Figure 26–30 )

Diagnosis. Individuals of this species lack a distinct longitudinal median pale pubescent stripe on the pronotum, and have ochraceous pubescence on the outer edge and suture of the elytra, fading to mostly white pubescence in the middle of the elytra. Specimens are much smaller than the other two species of Hispaniolan Eupogonius , E. haitiensis Fisher and E. nigroapicalis , new species, described herein.

Description. Holotype male. 4.6 mm long; 1.5 mm wide at humeri. Paratypes: 3.3–4.9 mm long; 1.1–1.6 mm wide at humeri. Color: Most of integument reddish-brown with head, pronotum, apices of most antennomeres and legs darker brown. Elytra with variegated, appressed ochraceous pubescence at base, along suture, and along outer edge with variegated white pubescence mostly at middle of elytra extending to humerus. Scattered long, erect black setae present over elytral surface. Pronotum with three longitudinal narrow bands of appressed ochraceous pubescence, one at middle and one at either side, and sparse, black erect setae, mostly at anterior margin. Outer bands divided by mostly white pubescence. Antennomeres reddish-brown with 3–8 very dark brown annulate at extreme apices. Legs reddish-brown except for middle of femora and apices of tibiae and tarsomeres that are darker brown. Venter reddish-brown except for posterior margins of abdominal ventrites that are dark brown. Head. Nearly as broad as pronotum, vertical, flat anteriorly, not protuberant, with elevated divergent and widely separated antennal tubercles. Head (including bases of antennal tubercles) moderately punctate, but with some punctures hidden under ochraceous pubescence. Eyes with lower lobe occupying about two-thirds of the height of head below the antennal tubercle; with coarse ommatidia. Upper eye lobes narrowly connected to lower lobe by 2 ommatidia. Upper eye lobes separated by about the greatest width of scape. Antennae extending beyond elytral apices by about 2–3 antennomeres. Antennomeres filiform, unexpanded at apices, and covered with mostly light brown and off-white setae which are long mesally. Antennomeres with narrow, dark brown apical annulations as described above. Scape extending to basal third of pronotum, about two-thirds the length of antennomere 3 which is longest, followed by antennomere 4 which is 0.75 × its length. Apex of antennomere 4 extends to about the middle of the elytra. Antennomeres 5–8 each almost half the length of antennomere 4, 9–10

successively shorter, 11 slightly longer than 10. Antennomeres 1–4 together longer than 5–11.

Thorax. Pronotum broader than long with lateral tubercle on each side barely indicated by slight bump under pubescence; lacking dorsal tubercles. Densely punctate, but with some punctures hidden under dense longitudinal bands of ochraceous, appressed pubescence. Prosternal process less than one-third the breadth of procoxa between procoxae, with apex expanded to about two-thirds the width of procoxa at apex, closing procoxal cavities posteriorly. Lateral thoracic sclerites sparsely punctate, becoming shallower and sparser on ventral thoracic sclerites. Elytra lacking prominences and tubercles. Elytra with moderately dense, irregularly spaced punctures, becoming shallower and sparser toward apices; most not setigerous. Elytral apices rounded to subtruncate. Scutellum rounded posteriorly. Femora clavate, short; hind femur extending to third abdominal ventrite. Femora coated with appressed off-white pubescence and scattered, long, white setae. Tibiae with mostly appressed and long white setae. Mesocoxae separated by mesosternal process that is about one-third the width of mesocoxa.

Abdomen. With dense, appressed, golden-brown and off-white setae and scattered, longer, suberect setae; mostly impunctate. First ventrite shorter than metasternum and longer than ventrites 2–3 combined. Apex of ventrite 5 truncate.

Type material. Holotype (male): DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Barahona Province, 4.5 km S. Barahona, 17 May 1992, R. Turnbow ( RHTC, donated to USNM) . Paratypes: same data, but 18 May 1992 ( RHTC) ; same data but 22 May 1992 ( RHTC) ; Pedernales Province, Parque Nacional Jaragua , 13 July 1996, R. Turnbow ( RHTC) ; Pedernales Province, Las Abejas , 38 km NNW Cabo Rojo, 18°9′ N ; 71°38′ W, 1160 m, R. Davidson, J. Rawlins, CMNH #329,759 ( CMNH) ; Pedernales Province, Cabo Rojo , 10 m, 17°55′ N ; 71°39′ W, 26-27 September 1991, C. Young, S. Thompson, R. Davidson, J. Rawlins, coastal desert, CMNH #327,033 ( CMNH) ; Baoruco Province, 5.8 km SW Neiba, eastern playa of Lago Enriquillo , 18°25′17″N ; 71°26′38″W, 0.5 m, 3 April 2004, J. Rawlins, R. Davidson, C. Young, salt scrub on sandy playa, collected sample 50143, CMNH #397,801 ( CMNH) ; San Pedro de Macorís Province, 12 km W. San Pedro de Macorís, 5–19 May 1985, E. Giesbert (3, EFGC) ; Barahona Province, 4.5 km S. Barahona, 22 May 1992, M. C. Thomas ( FSCA) ; 13 km E. Boca Chica , 14 May 1992, M. C. Thomas ( FSCA) ; Pedernales Province, Cabo Rojo , 21 May 1992, M. C. Thomas ( FSCA) ; Pedernales Province, 14 km N. Cabo Rojo , 150 m, 19 August 1988, thorn scrub trop. dry forest, M. A. Ivie, K. Philips & K. A. Johnson ( WIBF) ; Independencia Province, ESE Jimaní, La Florida , 18°24′N, 71°44′W, 20 m, at UV light, 14 April 1993, M.A. Ivie, D. Sikes, W. Lanier ( WIBF) GoogleMaps ; Barahona Province, 4.5 km S. Barahona, 17 May 1992, R. Turnbow ( RHTC, donated to SWLC) .

Etymology. The specific epithet is based on the type locality in the Sierra de Baoruco from which the holotype and most paratypes were collected.

Remarks. Most specimens of this species were collected in the Sierra de Baoruco on the Barahona Peninsula of the Dominican Republic from May through September. Specimens were taken by beating vegetation and attracted to UV lights. No host plants are known.