Cymatodera tica Rifkind, 2020

Cymatodera tica Rifkind , new species

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( Figs. 2 View Figs , 31, 32 View Figs )

Specimens Examined. Holotype male: Costa Rica, Guanacaste Prov., El Ocotal , May 24, 1989, R. McPeak, coll. ( CSCA) . Paratypes: 1 M ( JNRC), same data as holotype ; COSTA RICA: GUANACASTE: 2 F ( JNRC), 1 F ( MUCR), 1 M ( WFBM), Santa Rosa National Park , 1– 5 May, 1995, F. T. Hovore, coll .; 2 F ( JNRC), 1 F ( CSCA), Playa Pan de Azucar (Hotel) , V-12–14-2003, Tropical Deciduous Forest, J. & A. Rifkind, P. Gum, colls .; 1 F ( WFBM), Ca~ nas , 20–25 Jan 1991, D. Thomas, F. Parker ; NICARAGUA: 1 M ( JNRC), Managua Dist., Laguna de Xiloa , January 4, 1994, van den Berghe.

Description ( Holotype). Length: 15.75 mm. Form: Elongate; elytra subparallel. Color: Dark reddish brown; clypeus pale testaceous; labrum, palpi, antennae, femora, and venter, reddish brown; each elytron with a rather faintly indicated, rather broad, oblique/sinuate, pale reddish post-median fascia. Head: Rather massive (1/3 again broader measured across eyes than pronotum at its anterior margin); surface shining, shallowly, finely, densely punctate; epicranium minutely rugulose; surface sparsely set with fine, silvery, adpressed setae of moderate length; antenna moderately elongate, loosely composed; antennomeres as follows: 2–3 subconical, 2 approximately 2/3 the length of 3; 4 slightly longer than 3; 5–10 subequal in length; 4 and 5 conical; 6–10 subserrate; 11 elongate, 1/3 longer than 10, feebly emarginate internally on distal half, apex narrowed, rounded. Eye moderate in size. Pronotum: Elongate (ratio of length to width 6:5), subflattened on disc above; integument shallowly, transversely rugulose; surface shining, but relucence dulled by a rather densely set covering of fine, short, reclinate silvery setae, intermixed with longer, more robust suberect grayish setae, these most conspicuous laterally. Elytra: Elongate (ratio of length to combined width greater than 2:1); sides subparallel, arcuately convergent posteriorly to separately rounded, slightly dehiscent apices; dorsum broadly subflattened; integument shining, but relucence dulled by a dense covering of short, fine, reclinate and suberect testaceous setae, and fewer, somewhat longer and more robust erect testaceous setae; punctures arranged in longitudinal rows, coarse and rather deep anteriorly but progressively smaller and more shallow posteriorly; punctures extending to nearly apical 1/6. Metaventrite: Shining, finely punctate, very sparsely setose; posteriorly with a bilateral pair of small, shallow tubercles. Abdomen: Ventrites 1–4 shining; surface shallowly, moderately densely punctate and sparsely setose, with posterior margins membranous at middle; ventrite 5 ( Fig. 31 View Figs ) with surface more densely punctate and roughened, hind margin broadly, arcuately emarginate; ventrite 6 ( Fig. 31 View Figs ) oblong, sides gently, obliquely convergent posteriorly; hind margin with a deep, narrow, U-shaped emargination; posterior angles slightly produced, feebly upturned posteriorly; surface roughened, each side bearing a shallow, slightly arcuate carina originating at anterior 1/3 and extending posteriorly to apex of hind angle; tergite 6 ( Fig. 32 View Figs ) shining, sparsely setose, form elongate, narrower than ventrite 6 in dorsal view, sides broadly arcuate anteriorly, subsinuate and slightly convergent posteriorly, posterior angles subacute, slightly produced; posterior broadly, shallowly, triangularly inflected at middle; margins minutely sinuate. Aedeagus: Parameres robust.

Variation. Length of available specimens ranges from 12.5 mm to 15.50 mm. The pygidium of the female is as follows: Ventrite 5 with posterior margin very broadly, arcuately emarginate; ventrite 6 with sides arcuately convergent posteriorly, hind margin shallowly inflected at middle; surface with a longitudinal depression extending from middle of hind margin to posterior 1/3 of ventrite; surface dull, shallowly transversely rugulose; tergite 6 with sides slightly oblique, hind angles rounded, posterior margin downturned at middle, appearing feebly notched in dorsal view.

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the feminine form of the colloquialism that Costa Ricans affectionately use to refer to themselves. The name is treated as a noun in apposition.

Distribution. The new species is known from Guanacaste province in northwestern Costa Rica and ranges northward to western Nicaragua.

Biology. Cymatodera tica has been collected during May, which is the rainy season, in tropical deciduous forest. One specimen was beaten from dried rolled leaves and stridulated when held in the hand. The record from Nicaragua is from January.

Diagnosis. Cymatodera tica is most similar to C. opitzi , described above. From C. opitzi , C. tica can be separated by virtue of its duller, more densely setose dorsum, and males by differences in the integumental sculpturing of abdominal ventrite 6, and by the shape of the last abdominal tergite, which is broadly, triangularly emarginate in C. tica , but with the margins irregularly, minutely crenulated or subsinuate. In addition, these two species appear to be allopatric: C. tica is known from northwestern Costa Rica and adjacent Nicaragua, whereas C. opitzi is known from coastal west-central Mexico. As mentioned previously, the status of C. guatemalensis and C. hoegei is unsettled, and the former may eventually prove to be a junior synonym of the latter. For the present purpose of diagnosis, it is sufficient to note that both these nominal species, though similar to C. tica , possess a testaceous apical elytral macula, and often a testaceous subbasal marking as well, neither of which are present in the new species. No difference in aedeagi among these species was observed: They share inwardly slanted, acuminate parameres and a phallus unmodified at the apex.